Jaw flaps, ego-flation, you sank my battleship!

Word of mouth appears to be working. Three people, two of which I don’t know and have never spoken to have approached me asking to get in on a game of ‘Ohana Proa. They say they’ve heard Good Things from other playtesters and like the look of the game. Multiple other positive murmers and reports in local groups. There appears to be an underground conversation.

Take aways:

• Polynesian theme is popular

• Gift economy is attractive. Get ahead through giving is thought to be weirdly good. Appears to resonate strongly.

• The delivery process with resources constantly being handed to players is attractive. The constant earning without having to manage a snowballing (or not) balance sheet is particularly liked. (‘Ohana Proa requires sustained and rolling income, not income growth or resource accumulation)

• Positive sum aspects are more attractive than negative sum aspects (the reverse of my preferences)

• Map is “pretty” and “cool”. Note: map is mostly a standard issue atlas-style map of the south seas with a network and a few tracks overlaid.

• The piles of bright pastic market tokens are attractive.

• One caught on to the currency exchange basics of the game and called that out as a key interest.

But, no game this last Monday at SB-Boardgamers. Had to miss tonight’s session at SVB (car trouble). Next game scheduled for Monday.