Remove the gain/lose a plot of land event

[kipley]

This is bound to be a controversial suggestion, but I believe the game would be better if the "Gain a free plot of land" and "Lose a plot of land" events were removed altogether.  My reasoning is that they are too powerful, meaning they can easily swing the entire course of the game either for or against a player in a way that can't be recovered from (against competent opponents).

Evidence:  Look how much players pay for land in auctions now.  $2000 is usually considered cheap amongst good players.  Land routinely goes for $3000, and sometimes even more.  This means that the gain/lose a plot of land event gives an equivalent swing in a player's fortune by about $3000.  That's a MUCH larger swing than ANY other individual event that can befall a player.  (Yes, some global events, such as pirates, can wipe out more cash than that in a single turn... but these events potentially affect EVERYONE, not just a single player).

Even worse is when you get the gain/lose a plot of land when you're in currently in second place.  It doesn't really feel "deserved" to receive such an incredible boon/penalty when you're in not even ranked exceptionally good/poorly to begin with.

Most random events affect things in relatively small ways, costing you $100 here, gaining you $200 there.  And some of the nastier events you can plan for, such as stocking extra food for yourself when you're in the lead as insurance against pests, holding out on going big into crystite until the pirates have already visited, and so forth.  But there's nothing you can do to prepare for the gain/lose plot event, other than staying in 3rd or 4th place almost the whole game.

Some may argue that the game isn't supposed to be fair, it's a tough life on Irata, after all, so buck up and get used to it!  Well, I agree that random events to some extent ARE good, and keep the game from being stale and predictable.  But when the effects of the events are too great, it hurts the game.  For example, there could be a event that arbitrarily wiped out all of a player's cash, or sent a smithore ninja to steal all of a single player's smithore.  I think we'd all agree that those events would be too much, and would make the outcome of the game too random.  And that's where I feel we are now with the land gain/loss events... they often make the eventual winner of the game too arbitrary.  If I wanted a game that was based more on luck than skill, I'd play bingo.

[Rhodan]

I disagree. This event is not to powerful and provides risk vs gain for having the skill to place yourself 1st thru 4th by limiting your production, by not catching the wampus, missing pub, etc. If you take out plot loss and gain as a random event it will change game play and balance a great deal. Without this event there would be less reason to try and  position yourself 3rd or 4th to avoid plot loss and luck out for the gain. I do agree second place appears to get to many positive events including plot gain.
I have recovered many times from plot loss and won the game and lost many a game after receiving a plot.
I feel it is balanced and adds excitement, anticipation, and hope(if you are picking up mule dung in the rear of the pack) to the game. I have lost way more games to pirates and crystite pricing then to someone getting a plot.  The game is well balance and it takes great skill to consistently win yet one knows a random event could occur any round be it plot loss, stite pricing, pirates, meteor, radiation, quake, glac elves, fire, etc and snatch victory from your grasp or hand it to you on a silver platter. If you play around with these events and change them then you will ruin the game.

[Mt-Wampus]

I dont have a problem with the lose a plot win a plot event later on in the game but not in the first 4 rounds is all. Everybody is normally to even and gameplans are just taking shape early on to be giving or taking away plots in my humble opinion. Guy gets a plot early(+ $3000 value) or loses one early(- $3000 value) is a huge deal to be getting or losing when the pack is so close together early on. Round 5 or later OK after guys are established.

[leahcim99]

    Just a little controversy on this one kipley....as someone who has been bitten by this one often (plot loss) I think that this event really BITES - however I would not want it removed from the game....as Rhodan stated, it can be recovered from and it is a large factor in some players strategy (vis-a-vie staying in 3rd or 4th).
    You are right though kipley, in that this can be a game changer especially if it happens later in the game - most players do not make a plan to lose a plot and therefore it can be difficult to recover from...especially if you do not get an opportunity (or dont have enough cash) to buy 1 back through auction.
    This event, and the the other bad events are what make MULE, M.U.L.E - after all, what other game do you play where the best strategy is to NOT be in the lead. Took me a while to figure this out, but I enjoyed the lessons.

[mikman]

I almost have never lost a plot of land when I'm in first place, I know it feels like I always lose it when I'm in second.  I refuse to buy land when I'm in first or second.  but then I can hardly afford it when I'm in 3rd or 4th...  Dunno why I just said that but I did  

Oh and I have almost never got a free plot when I was second.

there I just said that too  

Of course I haven't played in months, maybe this is the reason hmmm 

[Death_Mule17]

  Maybe just change the events so ONLY 1st and 2nd may lose a plot and ONLY 3rd an 4th may gain a plot...I think that would make everyone happy, or maybe just me.

[Rogue Cat]

  Maybe just change the events so ONLY 1st and 2nd may lose a plot and ONLY 3rd an 4th may gain a plot...I think that would make everyone happy, or maybe just me.

But, the game isn't already this way? Only 1st and 2nd player can get the lose plot event.

They are events that don't happen too often, but when they do in a bad moment, they can kill you. Be it a lost plot you just bought, a fire in the shop when no one has food production in 1st turn, or a pirate invasion when you just collected 77 crystite units at its highest price, or an acid rain when you have no energy. The game is like that, if it had no risk it would be too easy and relaxing to play. :p In my first game, I lost the plot in the second turn, but that didn't kept me out of the game. I lost because of the Ore trick everyone uses, check the log and you can see that I almost got 2nd place at the end. Just 223 points made me stay in 3rd place. Not bad for a first game.

It's not something that happens all the time, most of the games I've played don't see one of those events. It's just that when they happen in the worst time, they seem to be "overpowered". Basically, I'm repeating what Rhodan said.

[Death_Mule17]

 Sorry i worded that wrong/ but watching 2nd gain a free plot makes me ill, mostly when im keeping myself in 4th hoping for a break while every1 buys plots at auction. Maybe i should try to keep myself in 2nd for that free plot? idk

[mikman]

ya 2nd place always seems to get the free plot, and always when I'm in 3rd 

[Mt-Wampus]

Sorry i worded that wrong/ but watching 2nd gain a free plot makes me ill, mostly when im keeping myself in 4th hoping for a break while every1 buys plots at auction. Maybe i should try to keep myself in 2nd for that free plot? idk

We had a game the other day where the 2nd place guy got a event every round while last place got nothing all game long! Everybody remarked on it and noticed. 2nd place is where its at in my humble opinion for breaks!

[leahcim99]

One possible solution is to make the events TOTALLY Random...good and bad events can happen to anyone regardless of position. Just because you are NOT in first does not meen you should ALWAS get bad news...and conversely just because you are at the bottom of the pack does not mean you should get good news.
As long as you enjoy playing the game, the events do not really matter - I belive it was Rho who commented that you can recover from these events.....if you do not, so be it, you have just spent an hour enojoy the company of your fellow MULERS.
I have had more than my share of the bad events, and even though I am sometimes mad enough to hit my computer, in the end, MULE is always an enjoyable way to pass some time.
I say we either leave the events as are, or if we have to change, make them TOTALLY RANDOM where any player can get any piece of new good or bad.

[Makelith]

One possible solution is to make the events TOTALLY Random...good and bad events can happen to anyone regardless of position. Just because you are NOT in first does not meen you should ALWAS get bad news...and conversely just because you are at the bottom of the pack does not mean you should get good news.

I disagree, I think the events should be left as is, it allows for a more competitive game.  Why kick the last place player down even further?  I realize sandbagging at the start to get good news is a common strategy, but that itself is a risk cause you might never catch up.
 

[Blitzen]

Damn wading into this one a lil' late...

In our games, if free plot/take away plot occurs in the first few turns we have resigned to automatically restarting the game... its not just the plots value but its value in production for all the turns remaining... even if its just a common energy plot, that might be one more Crystite or Smithore plot somewhere else.

Plots are hugely important in Mule.  I have NEVER seen anyone win a game after losing a plot early on.  I have also RARELY seen someone lose a game after getting one free early on... if you call second losing...

Whoever said something like I don't buy plots in first... you need to think about this: the game only thinks the plot is worth 500 bucks + outfit cost, so anything over that that you have paid is actually a lose in the games eyes.  Its a great way to get into last buying a plot is.

I never much liked these breaks either but I would miss them if they were completely removed...  There IS a good arguement for removing them from the first 3 or 4 rounds though.  It would make a simple and great option for an initial game settings screen.  Right up there with a Collusion option, not that I want it, I just know some people aren't going to rest until they get it...

[Mt-Wampus]

   Personally i hate to see anybody gain or lose a plot early on! Early on everybody is getting established and guys are moving from 1st to last and back again half the time! I love to see random events happen to people but the major events like Losing or gaining a plot should only happen the 2nd half of the game(after the 5th round).  Bugs eating a guys food round after round early on is also very harsh and can put a guy in a huge hole early on.

[Death_Mule17]

 

I love to see random events happen to people but the major events like Losing or gaining a plot should only happen the 2nd half of the game(after the 5th round). 

  Mt. Wamp ...thats half the game(after the 5th round). That would be a huge change to "mule", i agree it sucks to loose a plot early or watch somone gain a free plot after they just finished buying one in auction(sitting pretty in 2nd)...but too bad ,your just gonna have to deal with it . The whole game cant be a bed of roses you gotta take a kick in the ace once in awhile...thats when you pick up your skirt and try and make a damn comeback. Lifes like M.U.L.E baby, the more you put in...the more you get out.

 maybe try somthing like changing the % a bit, eg. 1st place gain a free plot 0%/2nd place gain plot 10%/3rd place gain plot 30%/4th gain plot 60%.....When you lose a plot from event, it should be 1st place 75% /2nd place 25%/3rd 0%/4th 0%. And maybe remove this event from happening directly after you just selected it from land grant/or purchased from land auction, make it happen to some other plot for once!