Having had a lot of fun doing a card-by-card review of Race for the Galaxy (Card By Card - A Review of the 95 Different Cards in the base set of Race for the Galaxy), rather than a traditional review, I thought I’d do the same thing with Le Havre. This is actually just one section of a full, traditional review of Le Havre I’m penning for Gamer’s Alliance. I will post that here roughly a year after initial publication.
Note #1: I am of the opinion that Le Havre is really a game for two or three players only; this fact undoubtedly affects my views.
Note #2: I have included the “cost” of a building, which is equal to the shipping value of the goods required to build the building. All buildings can, of course, be purchased; in all but five cases this is what is listed as the “value” of the building. In the cases where the cost to purchase a building is not the value, it is listed as “cost to buy”.
Which is to say, for “cost”:
Wood , Clay => 1 Franc
Iron , Brick => 2 Francs
Steel => 8 Francs
Energy => 1 Franc
Section 1 – The Starting Buildings
#B1 – Building Firm (Cost: N/A; Value: 4; Use: Free; Type: Craftsman; Symbol: Hammer) – Build 1 building. One of the first buildings used – unless the Sawmill is in play – I must admit to being rather partial to this building firm ever since I saw my younger son start the game by buying it and then taking significant advantage of the fact that it’s a Craftsman building. The symbols and low cost make it a fine choice – and one with a low cost if a cash infusion is needed later.
#B2 – Building Firm (Cost: N/A; Value: 6; Use: 1 Food; Type: Craftsman; Symbol: Hammer) – Build 1 building. I’m not sure why, but I’ve never seen this used much; it seems like a very reasonable purchase option early, to ensure oneself a free way to build a building, while also making the Marketplace more effective.
#B3 – Construction Firm (Cost: N/A; Value: 8; Use: 2 Food; Type: Industrial; Symbol: Hammer) – Build 1 or 2 buildings. The ability to build twice for one action is extremely powerful; of the buildings guaranteed to be available, it’s this one I’m most tempted to purchase – making it free for me is great, and I expect it to bring in a fair bit of food – and some cash, too. 118
And I will almost certainly use the building during the game, even if I don’t own it – 2 Food for 1 action is a trade well worth making.
#01 – Marketplace (Cost: 2 (2 Wood ); Value: 6; Use: 2 Food / 1 Franc; Type: N/A; Symbols: None) – Take 2 different standard goods plus one per Craftsman building owned; look at and arrange the top 2 special buildings. This is a starting building in a shortened game with 1 or 2 players only. A fine building, but this could be the most overvalued building in the game as I write this. I’m not unhappy if I never visit the Marketplace…
#02 – Sawmill (Cost:: 3 (1 Clay , 1 Iron ); Value: 14; Use: Free; Type: Industrial; Symbols: None) – Build 1 building requiring Wood for 1 fewer Wood . This is a starting building in a shortened game with 1, 4, or 5 players only, and is not in play with 2 players. The value/cost ratio of this building is tremendous; I’ve fallen into the habit of building it and then selling it to create some early capital, and I don’t think it’s a bad path. Not the most interesting building to hold on to, given that it’s free to use and rather popular – it’s fun to sell the building when one wishes to use it and it’s occupied, kicking off the current occupant, collecting 7 Francs, using the building – and frequently then buying a better option.
#13 – Black Market (Cost: N/A; Value: 2; Use: 1 Food; Type: N/A; Symbols: None) – Take 2 tokens of each type whose offer space is empty. This is a starting building in a shortened game with 1 player only, and is not in play with 2 players. On occasion this is a reasonably useful building, it’s generally one I avoid, unless it’s in the way of something I want to buy or build. 118