Power Grid Bremen & Manhattan

Bremen map can be a very fast map for four players. Our session went from Phase 1 and right into Phase 3 (by luck of the auction, we drew Phase 3 card right as Phase 2 was about to start). Manhattan map is classic PG with couple of twists. The replenishment of resources is static the whole game (Phase 1 to 3 are all the same) and all players are essentially building from downtown up past Central Park and towards uptown/northern Manhattan. Its possible to win without or before building a 40-cost district. I think this map is ideal for five players (four players is also very good).

Bremen - Currently Unplayed Manhattan - Interesting map in which the whole game is played in a single phase. There are unique mechanisms for the power plant auction and choosing building sites as a result. The map is fairly flat in terms of strategic possibilities - the southern spots will get gobbled up and eventually all players will be forced to head into the more expensive areas uptown - but still offers opportunity for clever play with turn order timing. Bremen - Interesting smaller map game with a somewhat shorter play time. Tight fight for available spaces led to some late game struggles to find buildable plots.

Two unique map designs. Both discard the traditional connections between cities.

Manhattan: muy buen mapa. La mecánica potencia los bloqueos y reduce el AP al eliminar la necesidad de calcular múltiples conexiones: todos los desplazamientos cuestan 5 por cada barrio que tengas que “saltar”. Además, la supresión de fases agiliza el ritmo de la partida y hace que todo fluya de forma más directa. Ideal a número alto de jugadores (5 o 6). Manhattan: a very good map. The mechanics enhance blocking and reduce AP by removing the need to calculate multiple connections: all movement costs 5 for each neighborhood you have to “jump.” Additionally, removing phases speeds up the pace of the game and makes everything flow more directly. Ideal at higher player counts (5 or 6).

So far, I have only played the Manhattan map but once again Power Grid's base mechanics make almost any map great. In this one there are no connection costs, locations just have a base cost starting at $10 and move up from there, but you can be blocked, so to bypass a location you must pay an extra $5 per space you jump. Also, there are no phases, the resupply remains the same and you put away the top 2 power plants each round. Once you go through the deck twice, then all 8 power plants become available. Just another spin on a great base mechanic that adds variety, and I enjoyed it just as much as most maps, notably as this one does create some big changes.