New player perspective

[Dreamthief]

Just thought I'd throw a few things out from my first experiences of the game. I have currently gotten so far as submitting my first set of orders
I may continue to update this over the course of my first game....

1. The game has a very nice character to it, the map doesn't look too contrived and the empire descriptions/fluff works well.
2. The game aids section is VERY good, all of you who have contributed here have done a great job.
3. The couple of threads explaining how to start off and what is important for the first turn or two are also very welcome.
4. The on-line order submitter/checker. This thing is brilliant! There were a couple of orders in my first turn which I was unsure about but after putting them in and verifying them a couple of times I worked out exactly how the rule worked.
5. Friendly bunch so far, with folks offering tips and help to a newbie which is always good.

So far, the only minor gripe I have was that there was no table showing each region and it's ID number in the rules. It seems logical enough but the first time I had to use it, I was sweating a little.
I have since found a thread with this list...which is nice

[Jumpingfist]

Do let us know your mistakes if they do not give to much detail about the game your in. It is always good to see what mistakes the new players are still making. Keep your eye on the seasons that normally catches you off guard to first game. Winter is no joke in Alamaze

[Dreamthief]

Cheers...another thing to file away in the dim recesses of my skull

[Frost Lord]

Just thought I'd throw a few things out from my first experiences of the game. I have currently gotten so far as submitting my first set of orders
I may continue to update this over the course of my first game....

1. The game has a very nice character to it, the map doesn't look too contrived and the empire descriptions/fluff works well.
2. The game aids section is VERY good, all of you who have contributed here have done a great job.
3. The couple of threads explaining how to start off and what is important for the first turn or two are also very welcome.
4. The on-line order submitter/checker. This thing is brilliant! There were a couple of orders in my first turn which I was unsure about but after putting them in and verifying them a couple of times I worked out exactly how the rule worked.
5. Friendly bunch so far, with folks offering tips and help to a newbie which is always good.

So far, the only minor gripe I have was that there was no table showing each region and it's ID number in the rules. It seems logical enough but the first time I had to use it, I was sweating a little.
I have since found a thread with this list...which is nice

Dreamthief,

Thank you for the feedback.  I am interested in any insight/comments that you can provide during this learning curve that you are going through.  I was recently wondering if we have included enough information in the Alamaze Rules and Resources , Game Play Basics , and Alamaze New Game Sign-Up! section(s) of the Forums, such that new players can quickly get to what information they need to be successful.  There is a lot of information that new players will have to review and it can be a little overwhelming at first.  We need to put together something akin to a "New player welcome pack" that points them to all of the resources that would help them get through their first game and those parts of the Forum would be a great place to start.

Please continue to share what you can, so that we can make this easier for future new players.

Thanks,
Frost Lord

[Dreamthief]

I spent a few hours, over the course of a week or so, reading through all the basics stuff, the general rules and orders. Not having a game ready to go right away probably helped me ensure I'd been through everything that I could.
Most of it seems pretty logical but there is a LOT of stuff to try and digest which can be tough when you are new and don't know exactly what the more critical aspects are.
I have to say again that the 3 posts in the Important section of Gameplay Basics are very good and give you a feel of how things should unfold at the start of a game and what you should concentrate on at least initially.

Possibly an index at the start of the Rules and Orders would be nice, so that you don't have to flick through it. I guess you soon know many orders off by heart...but it would be useful, especially when new.

[Frost Lord]

I am not in your game since all of mine are on turn 6 or higher, so if you have a specific question or need help deciding what you need to do, please feel free to email me directly at jbalushi@gmail.com (assuming that you do not already have a mentor).

Good luck,
FL

[Drogo]

There is an excel 'tracking' sheet which lists the orders in an index but it is not up to date. I don't know if anyone has an up to date index but it would be a very useful tool to quickly look up orders.

If no one has an up to date version Dreamthief feel free to PM me and I can send you the tracking file I use for games. It tracks your gold and food amounts, lists orders in an index and help you track artifacts and emissaries etc.

[Ry Vor]

Illuminating already, Dreamthief.  Keep it up.  Sort of embarrassing we didn't identify the region numbers with the region names in the rules.  Meanwhile, yes, Alamaze is a bit difficult to settle into.  On the other hand, we have had players playing for more than two decades that have never won a game.  Sometimes I think that one of the greatest compliments to the design. 

I've talked with Uncle Mike about doing a solo or two player game on a smaller map with very limited orders and wonder if that might be a good introduction to Alamaze.  So no sea power, no High Council, no Skeletons in the Closet, not many agent orders, limited spells, no special orders.  Just trying to get the feel for a game that doesn't have players clicking on stuff reflexively and instead can absorb some of the rules without it being quite so daunting.

[manaleshi]

So, having my first game under my belt and just embarking on the second, I think that, so far, the most valuable resources have been Jumping Fist and Head Honcho.

JF emailed us all a package of usefull charts and things as well as answering our many questions.

I can't speak for Prime, but I came out of that game with not only enough confidence to jump into the current game I am in... and I also came out of it with someone I feel comfortable email a question or two to... which is really exactly what I need at this point.

Anyway, my 2 cents... your welcoming committee is solid.

[HeadHoncho]

Thanks, manaleshi! Always happy to help.