by astroglide
jpatche wrote:
Well the odds that one particular player wins 9 games in a row is 1:512, never mind the fact that it was by at least nine points. We are evenly matched and were trading back and forth who started with it. Obviously it is possible for someone to win without SP, but have you noticed its close to 50/50 who wins with evenly matched players over a large sample?
It is difficult to determine when players are "evenly matched," and cards add a lot of variability to the mix. I think the best way to answer this question would be a large sample size of the 2P family game on a site like Boite a Jeux, which maintains ELO ratings. I'm not sure I could even justify bidding a single VP to secure going first in a 2P game, even after I'd seen my cards. I think, "but it's important to get something like a Wood Cutter out early to maximize its effects," but then consider that I'd be trading a VP for 1-2 (albeit early) wood.