Desmond Rossignoli
Of the two games brought in today, my group only had the opportunity to play Nano-bots (because of interviews). Fortunately, RMU’s Tabletop Club will be purchasing Carcassone and its expansions soon, which will give me the opportunity to experience it in the future.
Nano-bots was frustrating to play but in a good way. Not only were moves extremely strategic, but they also provoked loud debates between players, advising alternate moves (which might be more advantageous). I enjoyed this atmosphere a lot, as it introduced a cooperative element into an otherwise competitive game.
The third act came very late in the game, as it took a while for any of the players to get a firm lead. If I had to guess, I would say that the mechanics of this game were developed (mostly) before a theme was concocted.