Variants, FAQ, Tips, Suggestions
Variants, Strategy Tips, House Rules, Gripes, etc...

Variants, FAQ, Tips, Suggestions

Here you will find a collection of variants, tips, suggestions, etc. concerning the games listed.  Some of the ideas were developed by members of the Westbank Gamers, others originated with other gamers or groups.  Credit has been given when the originator is known.

We encourage ideas, suggestions and variants from other gamers.  Please send your ideas, etc. to:

gschloesser1@cox.net
 


ADEL VERPLICHTET
This Klaus Teuber German Game of the Year suffers with less players than five.  Austrian game designer Gerhard E. Kodys has suggested a ‘fix’ for three or four players.

ANNO 1452
Gerhard Kody’s noble effort has some flaws, but these following ideas may just help.

ASSASSIN
Westbank Gamers extensive variant which makes this Avalon Hill clunker a much more enjoyable and playable game.

CAESAR & CLEOPATRA
A variant suggested by Nick Sauer adds more mystery to this excellent 2-player game from Kosmos.

CAROLUS MAGNUS
This Year 2000 Spiel des Jahre finalist has received some criticism due to the luck factor involved in the dice rolling.  Two variants have been suggested to help alleviate or minimize this luck factor.

CHINATOWN
If you enjoy negotiation and deal-making games, this one’s a treat.  Plus, there’s enough room for a wide variety of variants to suit just about any taste.

CLASH OF THE LIGHTSABERS
This is a hidden gem released from, of all folks, Hasbro.  It is fast and easy to learn, yet contains a surprising amount of strategy. 

CORSAIRS
Variants to shorten the length of the game and mitigate the bonus awarded by the official variant.

ELFENLAND
Various uses for the Wizard cards.

EMPIRES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD
This new Martin Wallace design is receiving favorable comparisons to both History of the World and Vinci.  Of course, the variants are already surfacing.

FORMULA DE MINI
This streamlined version of Formula De is fast and exciting, but still needed a few tweaks.

GET THE GOODS
Alan Moon’s english version of his German Reibach & Company is a great little game in itself.  Several variants, however, improve it even more.

GIGANTEN
Black gold ... crude ... we’re talking oil here.  Ben Baldanza presents a few simple variants for this 1999 Spiel das Jahre finalist.

HISTORY OF THE WORLD
Patrick Brennan from the land down under offers this intriguing variant for this Avalon Hill classic.

KRIEG UND FRIEDEN
Official variants from the game’s designer, Gerard Mulder.

LORD OF THE RINGS: RISK
This latest addition to the family of Risk games is surprisingly good and VERY quick.  Several variants have been suggested for the game, including a few that have been put forth with the assistance of Hasbro's own Rob Daviau.

LORD OF THE RINGS: THE CONFRONTATION
Matthew Monin offers some excellent strategy tips on how to best play this intriguing 2-player game from Fantasy Flight that is based on the Lord of the Rings epic.

POLITIKA
Variants and ‘Fixes’ for problems with this Tom Clancy endorsed game.

PRINCESS RYAN'S STAR MARINES
Optional Rule for this Avalon Hill ‘Rescue the Princess’ game.

RISK 2210 A.D.
Ralf Brechtel from Germany has devised several variants for this Avalon Hill release.

SAMURAI
Reiner Knizia’s tile-laying game is a joy, but some have expressed concern over its scoring system.  Here are a few variants.

SERENISSIMA
Optional rules for this wonderful game of Mediterranean trade and combat from EuroGames.

SILBERZWERG
Dealing with the ‘luck of the draw’ problem in this new release from Queen Games.

STADENS NYCKEL
Essential rules modificatinos to help make this Dan Glimne title more balanced and worth playing.

SVEA RIKE
For those who want to protect a foundation built early in the game, Mark Johnson proposed this interesting scoring variant.

TIKAL
Several different treasure scoring variants are offered for a change of pace to this 1999 Spiel des Jahre winner. 

TWILIGHT IMPERIUM
Scott DiBartolo is a big fan of Twilight Imperium and offers these interesting variants to spice up your game.

VINCI
This EuroGames release by designer Philippe Keyaerts has created quite a stir and has been fairly accurately described as a cross between History of the World and Civilization.  Unfortunately, the english rules contain a number of ambiguities and contradictions.  Find the clarifications here.

WETTSTREIT DER BAUMEISTER
Several variants, including making the Saboteur more effective ... and nasty ... in this Kosmos release.