Today's Victim: Balloon Cup!
My streak ends yet again! I had occasion to play this with my uncle while watching Biggest Loser (a show I happen to enjoy watching whilst eating cheese pizza dipped in ranch dressing).
My error was small this time, and while I believe it contributed to relaxing the learning curve of this wonderful game, it was unintentional and thus is a mistake. So, in Balloon Cup you complete progress in different sections ("legs") of a balloon race by playing cards with different values, from 1-13 on them. Some races you want high numbers and others you want low numbers. However, each card also has a color suit (red yellow green blue gray).
Before a leg starts, the suit or suits of the cards which may be played on the leg is determined randomly, and each player may only play one card of a given suit on a leg that allows that color. As with many Euro games, the rules are less complicated in practice than in explanation. In this case, the proper rules made for a much more tactical and rewarding experience. It also put my uncle, once we started playing the correct rules, within shooting distance of a win. Great game!
