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Description
The players act as traders trying to get victory points for building a network of offices, controlling cities, collecting bonus markers, or when other traders use the cities they control. After controlling a line between two cities with your pawns, you can decide to build an office (and maybe also establish control and/or get a bonus marker) or to get a skill improvement from some of the cities.
Players have to improve their traders' "skills" for the following effects: getting more VP from offices in their network, getting more available action points, increasing the number of available pawns, and getting the right to place pawns and get more special pawns.
This game appeared originally as Wettstreit der Händler at the Hippodice competition.
Year Published
2009
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 12
This page: 12
Sentiment:
pos 11 ·
mix 1 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–12 of 12
Video UWqrcHJ9b80
Dice Tower top_list at 31:20 sentiment: positive
video_pk 13743 · mention_pk 40158
Click to watch at 31:20
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- excellent engine building
- strong player interaction
- excellent at five players
- beautiful components
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is my most played game of the year
- It is the perfect engine builder
- absolutely adore this game
- one that instantly I fell really hard for it
- would absolutely watch Oathsworn the HBO series
- the story and the setting is that rich
- for me the epitome of what a thematic game can be
- every click of the clock matters
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video _aQQVFP24qI
Our Family Plays Games general_discussion at 27:40 sentiment: positive
video_pk 13139 · mention_pk 38424
Click to watch at 27:40
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- deep strategic decisions
- strong player interaction through competition for routes
- highly satisfying engine optimization
Cons
- steep learning curve
- longer play time for heavier sessions
Thematic elements
- economic engine-building and route control
- Medieval Hanseatic trading network
- analytical/economic
Comparison games
- Through the Ages
- Power Grid
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- engine-building — players optimize placement and actions to maximize future turns.
- route/network building — players improve their trading network across a map via tiles and actions.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- what is it that attracts you to a game
- it's the box
- it's the strategy
- it's the theme pulls me in
- no luck, it's all about the choices you make
- we're one big opg family
- ignorance is a choice
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video JFRQf4tNvP4
The Secret Cabal general_discussion at 6:00 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 11801 · mention_pk 34588
Click to watch at 6:00
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Strong strategic depth and elegant design.
Cons
- Outlandish visual elements in this discussion, which affect perceived aesthetics.
Thematic elements
- Trade routes, influence, and scholar-like optimization
- Medieval Hanseatic trade network
- Strategic, Euro-style
Comparison games
- Nations
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action/token placement — Players select actions via a structured action economy.
- route/network building — Players create and optimize trade routes across a network.
- scoring via influence and connections — Points earned through routes, influence, and achievements.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's insane it helps keep his body heated
- the moustache makes the picture
- the bear cloak going on is insane
- horizontal and vertical stripes and outfit
- the worst fashioned mistake a person could make
- naked with a hat and a rifle
- you better get off of my property
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video _72yevr3XOI
Our Family Games general_discussion at 23:22 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10698 · mention_pk 31602
Click to watch at 23:22
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- tight strategic decisions
- great for two players
- high player interaction
Cons
- can be opaque for newcomers
Thematic elements
- network building and route control
- medieval trade routes in the Holy Roman Empire
- economic, strategic
Comparison games
- Yokohama
- Dune: Imperium
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- engine-building / route building — players acquire actions to place monks and workers to influence routes and revenue
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a fight and we're fighting
- analysis paralysis is here to stay
- it's a brain burner
- it's not that heavy there's a lot to do
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 7GlhUw2TnZg
Our Family Plays Games general_discussion at 51:08 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10115 · mention_pk 29773
Click to watch at 51:08
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Elegant, tight decisions
- High player interaction
Cons
- Can be intimidating for beginners
Thematic elements
- economic network building
- Hanseatic trade network in medieval Europe
- abstract-economic
Comparison games
- Power Grid
- Influenza (Influencia)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Hand/board interaction — activate actions and influence other players
- network building — develop routes and influence across a map
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's mechanics that make the game
- the Rondale (rondel) mechanic is strong
- Survive is the most treacherous blood curdling game in our household
- Starla month
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video v58xb6iNAwg
Our Fan Face Games top_10_list at 24:14 sentiment: positive
video_pk 9420 · mention_pk 27826
Click to watch at 24:14
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Pure strategic gameplay
- No luck involved
- Player controlled decisions
- Requires 3+ players
Cons
- Unattractive components
- Needs 3 players minimum
Thematic elements
- medieval_trading
- economic
- route_building
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
No quotes stored for this video.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video we32a416U6w
Unknown Channel game_review at 0:15 sentiment: positive
video_pk 9367 · mention_pk 27587
Click to watch at 0:15
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Intense, high-interaction competition that rewards tactical disruption of opponents
- No luck-based elements; skill, planning, and positional judgment dominate
- Core mechanics are deeply replayable and scale well with different player counts
- Brings a satisfying sense of puzzle-solving through network and route optimization
- Pushy but not direct conflict provides a compelling Euro-game tension
Cons
- Can be miserable for players who fall behind due to lack of a robust catch-up mechanic
- No solo mode; strictly a 3–5 player experience
- Perceived long playtime and heavy resource management can be draining for some players
- Expansions are not strictly necessary but exist; core game is already dense
Thematic elements
- economic competition through route building, control of towns, and network expansion
- Renaissance Germany, networking between trading towns and routes
- procedural puzzle with indirect player interaction and evolving board state
Comparison games
- Troyes
- Brass Birmingham
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection — five possible actions; the number of actions you can take each turn is determined by a track and can be expanded by upgrades
- Area Control — control of towns is exclusive; the rightmost trading post determines control unless someone has more posts overall
- displacement and reserve management — you can move your pieces to displace opponents; displaced players gain compensation via reserve replenishment
- network building — place trading posts to create a connected network and influence route scoring
- scoring and routes — points come from multiple sources including completed routes, connected towns, and token bonuses; scoring can occur mid-turn and at end-game final scoring
- upgrades and bonuses — upgrading action tracks and placing bonus tokens provide one-off abilities and additional scoring opportunities
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Hansa Teutonica is one of the most intensely competitive and in your face games I've ever played
- the whole gameplay Loop rewards you for getting in the way of your opponents and the person who wins is usually the one who's managed to jam their pieces into the path of everyone else playing the best
- it's also a game where you have to adapt to the constantly evolving board State and sticking to a plan just because it's your plan will end badly every time
- all up Hansa Teutonica is a brilliant game for people who like pushy games that aren't directly confrontational
- best thing about this game is just leaving your pieces in someone's way and making then move them, it's glorious
- however, this is a zero luck game and skilled players can absolutely Dominate and it can be a pretty miserable experience if you get behind as the game has no catch-up Mechanics
- Hansa Teutonica: Cube pushing is cool, gold medal game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video S0WlrO-mRJw
Unknown Channel game_review at 0:46 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8803 · mention_pk 25952
Click to watch at 0:46
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Includes multiple maps in the big box, increasing replayability
- High player interaction with blocking and competition on routes
- Many strategic options and paths due to multiple boards and abilities
- Non-permanent nature of completed routes allows repeated plays and new setups
- Power of a single cube can significantly affect opponents' plans
- Dynamic bonus markers that come in and out of favor
Cons
- Aesthetics: brown/dreary board color and artwork
- Some locations become monopolized, causing friction and frustration
- Underlying train-game mechanics can feel heavy; high cognitive load
- Modeled as a train game but marketed as a Euro, which may frustrate some players
- For some players the non-permanent aspects and potential downtime can be discouraging
Thematic elements
- mercantile growth, route building, and network expansion
- Medieval trade network in Europe with multiple cities and routes
- strategic Euro game with direct player competition; abstracted, businesslike
Comparison games
- Ticket to Ride
- Castles of Burgundy
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- displacement — move or displace opponents' cubes/merchants on routes at a cost to gain control
- Endgame scoring — score prestige, city control, and largest network; end conditions include reaching 20+ points or completing an action
- placement — place Tradesmen on trade routes and city spaces to build networks
- resource management / book of knowledge — use the book of knowledge to move more Tradesmen and access abilities
- route-building — create continuous trade routes by occupying spaces between two locations
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's basically a train game dressed up as a medieval euro
- the power of the cube in this game is unquantifiable
- it's the ball game equivalent of moldy cheese
- nothing is permanent in this game
- aesthetically it's like staring into a biscoffy pie that I cannot eat
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video BNSIhcMiZsg
Before You Play top_10_list at 28:30 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8730 · mention_pk 25776
Click to watch at 28:30
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- tight, tight competition for routes and spaces
- highly strategic with meaningful player interaction
Cons
- rules explanation can be dense for new players
Thematic elements
- building routes and networks while negotiating position
- medieval Hanseatic trade network across Europe
- euro-style strategy with a strong warlike undertone
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- blocking and kicking opponents out — you can displace opponents from spaces to gain action advantage.
- drafting/placement of network tokens — players place tokens and manipulate routes to expand influence.
- end-game scoring on multiple axes — points come from route control, network efficiency, and other metrics.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a brain burn—it can cause analysis, but in a good way.
- i love the Mancala-like mechanism in games
- there is potentially you can play with a hidden traitor mechanic in this game
- the heart of the game is in that auction, it feels like auction in a palace
- it's extremely tense
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video SQX6DUWBxw8
John Gets Games rules_teach at 0:02 sentiment: positive
video_pk 7730 · mention_pk 22811
Click to watch at 0:02
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Clear demonstration of rule interaction through play
- Practical guidance for potential strategy (upgrading actions, blocking, displacement)
- Good pacing for a three-player game in the tutorial
- Notes on version differences and how to align with latest rules
Cons
- Some differences between the old edition and the newer rulebooks may cause confusion
- Not all edge cases are deeply explained in a single video
Thematic elements
- Trade, route-building, and city influence through trading posts and upgrades.
- Medieval Central Europe, a network of cities and trade routes.
- instructional tutorial with step-by-step rule clarification.
Comparison games
- Hansa Teutonica
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action economy — On each turn a player has a limited number of actions, determined by desk upgrades and available tokens, selecting from a fixed set of options.
- bonus route bonuses — Some bonus routes grant prestige immediately or give extra actions when claimed later in the game.
- bonus tokens — Bonus tokens provide free actions or special effects, and point toward specific routes on the board.
- displacement with penalties — You can displace an opponent's token by paying penalties drawn from your supply; the displaced token provides a bonus to its owner.
- endgame scoring and networks — Final scoring includes largest connected networks with multipliers, city control, and route-based bonuses.
- endgame triggers — The game ends when ten cities are full, a player reaches twenty prestige, or bonus tokens cannot be replenished.
- network and prestige scoring — Prestige is earned via route completions adjacent to cities you control, and endgame network multipliers amplify the final score.
- prestige icons and special powers — Certain routes or cities grant immediate prestige or unique powers when earned, shaping late-game strategy.
- road completion — Completing a road with your tokens yields potential bonuses such as trading posts, and may unlock upgrades.
- start-of-turn bonuses — Each turn begins with three bonus tokens on the board that players can claim and assign strategically.
- Stock management — Careful management of the general stock and personal stock is crucial for maintaining flexibility and opportunities.
- token placement — Players place cubes (tradesmen) or disks (merchants) onto roads to build routes and claim advantages.
- trading posts and city control — Trading posts placed in cities influence endgame prestige and city control; control affects scoring and bonuses.
- upgrades and actions — Upgrading desk attributes increases available actions per turn and unlocks additional mechanisms or efficiencies.
- upgrading privileges — Privileges and the associated routes influence where trading posts can be placed and how scoring unfolds.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the game won the monthly poll that is voted on by the patreon supporters of the channel
- we are going to play as the purple player
- for hansa tatonica
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video mygoxQgo8PM
No Pun Included top_10_list at 19:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 7350 · mention_pk 21719
Click to watch at 19:00
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- deep strategic tension
- interactive blocking creates constant pressure
- elegant core engine
Cons
- arbitrary aggression can be punishing
- complexity may deter newcomers
Thematic elements
- merchants expanding networks and bottling blocks
- medieval Hanseatic trade networks
- economic, competitive
Comparison games
- Ticket to Ride
- Go
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cascading reimbursements — blocked cubes return on adjacent routes with bonuses
- multiple actions per turn — choose from several actions including upgrades and purchases
- placement and blocking — place cubes to claim routes and trade posts, block others
- scoring via networks and upgrades — points from routes, posts, and upgrades
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- What a good game.
- Through the Desert is one of his best.
- Real board games are the enemies we made along the way.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video mKEXszaIlro
Our Family Plays Games top_10_list at 45:32 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4416 · mention_pk 12934
Click to watch at 45:32
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Deep strategy with strong player interaction
- great worker/engine interaction
Cons
- On the heavier side, may have downtime with more players
Thematic elements
- network building and route control
- Medieval trade routes across the Hanseatic League
- high-interaction, indirect competition
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- hand-management — Have workers and action tokens to manage
- network control — Hold influence over routes
- Route Building — Create trade networks between cities
- Tile/board control — Control spaces to gain points
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's basically Jurassic Park in a box
- the art is beautiful, it's ugly beautiful
- we love Scoville
- we ain't scared
- Amen to you
- the World's Fair is a great game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–12 of 12