Equipment:?
The game is extremely well equipped. Both game boards are printed on both sides. The game board “Production” offers on one side a predetermined setup for beginners and on the back the option for a
variable setup. One side of the game board “Plantations” is designed for a 2-player-game, the other for 3 or 4 players.
The game pieces are large and of high-quality wood and of a very pleasing design. The distinction between the various shades of the 2 brown colours needs a bit experince.
A little bag of real coffee beans is included to give the game the appropriate flavor ;-)
Rules:?
The rules are written clearly and comprehensibly and leave (careful and exact reading provided) little room for questions. The basic features of the game are quite easily learnable and its complexity
is not comparable to Puerto Rico or Caylus. Therefore, I would assume it to be well suitable for families/occasional players, as well.
A small drawback appears in the 3-player-game, since the number of pathways is sufficient to build all paths completely. Here, a restriction of available pathways might be useful.
We were wondering whether the evaluated coffee bags were to be placed openly or covertly on the evaluation track. The rules offered no clear statement as to that. This should not present a problem,
however, if the players agree on either of the two alternatives, which both have their own appeal, beforehand.
Complexity/Luck Factor:?
In spite of its simple rules, GC is a very tactical game, since the luck factor is relatively small. There are neither dice nor card stacks to influence the game’s progress. Chance only comes into
play during the distribution of the coffee bags or, if applicable, the variable setup. Choosing plantation resources and building spots needs careful consideration on the one hand, but you are also
dependent on the prior action of the other players. Of particular import is the application of the “blockade rule”. Victory is essentially determined by it. In particular, blockades that were set up
too early will take their toll when no more blockade options are available during the “Big Points” distribution at the end. You should also be careful not to get “bogged down” when constructing
plantations. Building plantations in all 5 colors is likely to be nearly impossible and, in particular, not leading to success.