Merchant of Venus

Games from the Cellar

Join us this week as we explore one of the Classics, Merchant of Venus.

Merchant of Venus, designed by Richard Hamblin, was first published by Avalon Hill in 1988. The Second Edition was a joint effort by Fantasy Flight Games and Stronghold Games and was published in 2012

Episode Summary: In this episode, we dive deep into the Fantasy Flight Edition of Merchant of Venus, the classic pick-up-and-deliver game set in outer space. We explore its fascinating history, including the collaboration between Fantasy Flight and Stronghold games that led to the version we know today. We discuss the game's mechanics, table presence, and components, as well as the gameplay itself. We also touch on the unpredictable nature of Merchant of Venus and how it can still be enjoyable despite its randomness. The conversation highlights how the game requires players to be adaptable, making the best of the ever-changing board and circumstances. Throughout the episode, we examine various strategies and gameplay elements, such as the constantly changing board, the use of relics, and the different ship types. We discuss the value of personalizing gameplay and how different players can bring unique approaches to the table. Finally, we share memorable experiences and our final thoughts on Merchant of Venus, a game that offers an enjoyable and unique puzzle to solve.

Chapters:

(0:01:05) - Disaster Averted (0:13:15) - Rolling With the Punches (0:20:30) - A Miss or Near-Miss? (0:23:57) - Launching into a Strategic Discussion (0:31:30) - Close Encounter with an Updated Classic (0:40:15) - Seven Steps for Mankind

Chapter Summaries:

(0:01:05) - Disaster Averted (12 Minutes) In this episode, the Panel dives into the Fantasy Flight Edition of Merchant of Venus, playing the classic rules as opposed to the standard rules. We discuss the history of the game, exploring the difficulties surrounding its reprinting and the collaboration between Fantasy Flight and Stronghold Games that led to the creation of the version we know today. We also touch on the game's mechanics, table presence, and components, as well as the gameplay itself. Merchant of Venus is a pick-up-and-deliver game set in outer space, where players buy goods from planets and sell them to other planets to make a profit.

(0:13:15) - Rolling With the Punches (7 Minutes) We explore the unpredictable nature of the game Merchant of Venus and how it can still be enjoyable despite its randomness. The conversation highlights how the game requires players to be adaptable, making the best of the ever-changing board and circumstances. We also discuss the importance of strategy and planning, while acknowledging that sometimes, luck is simply not on your side. The game's complexity and depth are acknowledged as both a challenge and a draw for more dedicated players. Overall, this chapter provides an engaging and insightful discussion of the intricacies and appeal of Merchant of Venus

(0:20:30) - A Miss or Near-Miss? (3 Minutes) In this discussion, we delve into the intricacies of the game Merchant of Venus, focusing on the aspects of the cash system and the visually noisy board design. We mention the challenges with the cash system, such as constantly looking for tens and the possibility of replacing it with other tokens. As for the board design, we emphasize its carnival-like appearance, which imparts a sense of energy and fun, despite being visually noisy. We also touch on the game's replayability and how its randomness contributes to its appeal

(0:23:57) - Launching into a Strategic Discussion (7 Minutes) We examine the various strategies and gameplay elements in Merchant of Venus, such as the constantly changing board, the use of relics, and the different ship types. The conversation touches on the importance of adaptability and the excitement of discovering new ways to play each game. Additionally, we discuss the value of personalizing gameplay and how different players can bring unique approaches to the table. We look further into the different strategies in the game Merchant of Venus, like the Clipper strategy, and how the game setup can impact the effectiveness of these strategies. We also discuss the well-developed nature of the game, despite being built in the 1980s, and compare it to the quality of games produced today.

(0:31:30) - Close Encounter with an Updated Classic (9 Minutes) We touch on the changes and improvements made to the classic game, the advanced game options, and the difference in preferences between generations of players. We reminisce about a memorable Gencon auction experience involving a 1988 unopened copy of Merchant of Venus. The auctioneer's persistence in raising the price created a memorable moment for everyone present.

(0:40:15) - Seven Steps for Mankind (14 Minutes) The Panel shares our final thoughts on the game. We discuss the enjoyable aspects of Merchant of Venus, including the indirect player interaction, the ability to plan and strategize during gameplay, and the memorable experiences it creates. Despite the lack of direct conflict, the game offers engaging challenges and diverse strategies that keep players invested. In the end, the game's lasting appeal and replayability earn it strong ratings from the panel. We appreciate the component quality and flavor text in the game Merchant of Venus, which adds depth and immersion to the game experience. We discuss the fourteen different civilizations and how each one has its unique lore and goods, making for an engaging and diverse gameplay experience. The effort put into world-building and storytelling by Fantasy Flight is commended and adds value to the overall enjoyment of the game.

Shownotes created with assistance from https://podium.page

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