In the Stocks

[Joff]

This hopefully will be ready for final release today.

Although I am keeping with the using of stocks more than once (for all 4 tiles), I have tweaked the rules slightly.

You cannot now use the stocks simply by connecting two (or more) cities containing stocks together. You must be laying a tile with stocks to be able to do this.

It is highly unlikely that when using 4 tiles with stocks that they all become connected in one city, thus enabling the person who lays the newest tile with stocks to detain up to 4 followers within that city. This would be a big city for a start off, and would be doubtful if that many followers were occupying. Detaining those followers would give an advantage to the player following the stocks layer and would require, usually, 3 more tiles to complete the city. This gives time for recumbent followers to be returned from the stocks and back into the city. Other situations that might come up, would be improbable.

I will stick with my latest tile for the stocks, with no further changes.

Edit: We have just, this morning, playtested once more using P&D and A&M and 2 tiles with stocks. Again, it was felt that the stocks did not come out often enough, but using 2 stocks at least it is more controlable. I see no reason not to allow the use of more stocks tiles with a higher ratio of large expansions. I think that this will not be suggestion (as the rules currently are) but make the ratio part of the rules. The players were able to prevent stocks being laid onto their cities by clever tile placement, which is a good thing. I doubt if you are going to be able to lay too many stocks on cities anyway.

[Joff]

This is now completed.

In the Stocks

I have changed the ratio of large expansions to use. 2 tiles with up to 2 large expansions, 3 tiles with 3 large expansions and 4 tiles with 4 or more large expansions.