Subject: Re: Help request: Merchant of Venus General? From: David R L Porter The message <820nmh$rqu@nnrp2.farm.idt.net> from "MGagan" contains these words: > Can anyone out there please post the alternative set-up rules published in > the General magazine that featured Merchant of Venus? I am digging this > great old game out of the closet after not having played for years, and I > don't have the General that accompanied it anymore. The alternative set-up > rules were, superior, IMHO, and they were the only way I played, but I can't > remember them exactly. I believe they can be summed up in two or three > lines. Please help. Richard Hamblen in his Designer's notes (vol 26/1, page 10) suggested 'Fast Setup': 'Mix the goods markers in with the bonus markers, pick 20 markers, and leave the rest in the cup. Each time a new culture is discovered, pick 4 more markers from the cup and place them appropriately. Otherwise, put all markers in the cup abd oick replacements as deliveries are made normally. Factory goods remain unavailable until the respective factories are built.' Richard comments that this shortens set up time considerably and 'the early appearance of the Bonus markers makes the game faster and more interesting; the rule does serve to slow down early trading, but this serves to encourage exploration and the construction of factories, which leads to more efficient routes later on. The rule does make the solitaire version more exacting, however.' Happy merchandising! -- David david.porter@zetnet.co.uk