by dyepbr
Sorp222 wrote:
I think of the Gears as rather wonderful game management tool rather than a mechanic. Because what the gears does is facilitate allocating workers, using workers, moving the turns on. The core mechanic is allocating workers to benefits on future turns, and that the passage or expenditure of time or turns gives bigger and better rewards.
I agree with this. Bringing this concept further, I think it is often overlooked that leaving workers on longer not only gives you bigger rewards it also increases your options to react tactically.
A few examples:
-Delaying the removal of workers could give you newer buildings to look at that get refreshed from opponents buying theirs.
-Backtracking to take a corn tile after opponent lower on wheel took wood tile.
-Have opponents give away what temple they are stepping up on before you make your move.
Obviously, this is at the expense of corn (unless you are on 6 or 7 spot).
Maximizing the placement and removal, is intertwined with taking these risks. "Is it worth 1 or 2 corn to leave my workers on for another turn, so I can remove them all at once," etc.
You have to weigh these decisions constantly and dynamically, wbich makes for a unique strategic and tactical worker placement game for me.