Oct 10 2008
Top Ten Reasons Puerto Rico is a better Game than Agricola
As you may have guessed, or just plain read in my comments section, I think Agricola undeservedly usurped Puerto Rico’s rightful first place in boardgamegeek.com’s ratings.
Here are some of the reasons why:
10. Puerto Rico doesn’t take up three tables to play.
9. Puerto Rico’s rules are better written.
8. Puerto Rico doesn’t need 14 different variants and card decks to remain interesting.
7. Puerto Rico has much less downtime in a game with three or more players.
6. Puerto Rico allows for meaningful player interaction.
5. Puerto Rico allows for spiteful player interaction.
4. Puerto Rico’s design and game components are prettier.
3. Puerto Rico’s theme isn’t boring.
2. There is less chance in Puerto Rico.
1. Puerto Rico doesn’t steal most of its mechanics from Caylus.
8 Responses to “Top Ten Reasons Puerto Rico is a better Game than Agricola”
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It will be interesting to play Agricola to see how it compares to Puerto Rico, one of my favorite games since its release.
Of the games on your favorites list, which is your all-time favorite?
Finally, do you find yourself fighting off the men at the board game table? What man doesn’t like a very attractive woman who enjoys board games, cooking, and who is well-read? :)
Hmm… I feel almost a little bit guilty over it, but I’m thinking if I could only bring one game, it would be Settlers Cities & Knights. I just enjoy the possibilities for player interaction and intrigue a lot. But Puerto Rico, Goa, and Power Grid are probably almost tied with it, and I do enjoy Agricola quite a bit, too, despite my tirade above. It’s all about variety, really, as so many other things in life…
Also, yeah, the nerd boys like me okay, but of course I put up a flattering picture. In my daily life, I wear big nerdy glasses, dress in jeans, and tie my hair back. You probably wouldn’t even recognize me if you saw me on the street!
Also, we’re all afraid that your big burly boyfriend will beat us up.
Ah, an alliteration! How humorous.
To me, the mechanic is more important than any particular game. The auction mechanic, in particular, is one that will attract me to a game.
For this reason, games such as Puerto Rico, Power Grid, Ra, and El Grande are some of my all-time favorite games to play.
How did you first get into the board game hobby and when? Do many of your other female friends play, too, or do you find that it seems to be more of a male hobby?
Some of us happen to like big, nerdy glasses. It makes a woman seem more down to earth.
Auction mechanic in Puerto Rico? Uh…where? I can’t possibly think of any element of the game that could be construed as an auction. And there is only a very limited auction mechanic in El Grande (the numbered cards).
As for your question, I started playing regularly and intensively in 2006 when I founded a board game club at the university I went to, and I’ve been playing pretty much every Sunday since.
And yeah, it’s definitely more of a male hobby, but I’ve never minded that because I generally prefer to hang out with guys. They’re just easier to get along with for me - I’m very competitive, have the sense of humour of a seven-year-old boy and I’m also kind of mean (especially when it’s funny), and that kind of behavior goes over better with men.
What about you? How did you get into gaming?
You’re right, I made a mistake about Puerto Rico. I would argue, however, that the bidding mechanice (or auction mechanic) in El Grande is more important than you think.
I have always been a fan of board games. Instead of asking for toys for Christmas when I was a boy, I would ask for board games. Can’t Stop is the first board game that I can remember owning. I now have about 400 games in my collection, and I play several times a week with different groups.
Do you have any theories as to why board games seem to be more of a male hobby? I know plenty of women who play tabletop role playing games or even live action role playing games, but most will turn their noses at board games.
Wow, 400? I only have about 50 or 60. But I also got rid of quite a few because I moved a great distance recently, from Western Canada to the Maritimes.
As for the lack of female players, I think it has to do with the skill-based competitive aspect of board games. RPGs and LARPing are all about the imagination and there’s a lot of chance involved, whereas games like Puerto Rico come very close to eliminating chance. Our entire culture is based on teaching girls to be nice and nurturing and friendly and peacemakers - that does not go well with showing aggressive traits such as the desire to win.
But then, I’m just a misogynistic female feminist board game junkie, so what do I know.