<p>Generally, score handicaps are the way to go. You don't have to worry about playing games and experimenting in order to find a balance, you can just use the knowledge you already have of how much you tend to win by.</p>

<p>Money handicap could possibly work, but I think it'd be pretty tough - you only have so much room to adjust before it basically becomes a "you have waste one early turn to build a lake right away" handicap.</p>

<p>That said, you can also just not make the handicap formal: try to do the best you can every game, and accept the fact that you're striving for a larger margin of victory instead of worrying about winning.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-18T19:00:59.490Z
2015-04-18T19:00:59.490Z
Cascabel
<p>An alternative is to handicap the premium costs for early development</p>

<p>This could be implemented for stronger players as:</p>

<ul>
<li>+$1 or +$2 for every spot</li>
<li>+$1 or +$2 for every spot except the last free spot</li>
<li>+$1 or +$2 for every spot except both free spots</li>
</ul>

<p>Or for weaker players as</p>

<ul>
<li>$1 or $2 less for every spot</li>
<li>$1 or $2 less for every spot except the last free spot</li>
<li>$1 or $2 less for every spot except both free spots</li>
</ul>

<p>Pick one of these.  I think it would be simplest</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-24T21:04:21.430Z
2015-08-24T21:04:21.430Z
Lighthart
<p>I have Suburbia, and I quite like it. However, some of the people I play with, don't quite have the cutthroat edge to win. It makes not so fun to play if I win every game.</p>

<p>What's an effective way to handicap it? </p>

<p>I was thinking I could simply start with less money, in which case, what would be idea starting amount be?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-17T13:35:29.010Z
Maybe play a different game. 
Also, a general strategy in Suburbia is to favor tiles that raise Income early on, while keeping your reputation low.
generalcrispy
<handicap><suburbia>
How can I handicap in Suburbia?
dwjohnston
# How can I handicap in Suburbia?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-04-16)

I have Suburbia, and I quite like it. However, some of the people I play with, don't quite have the cutthroat edge to win. It makes not so fun to play if I win every game.

What's an effective way to handicap it?

I was thinking I could simply start with less money, in which case, what would be idea starting amount be?

**Tags:** handicap, suburbia

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Maybe play a different game.  Also, a general strategy in Suburbia is to favor tiles that raise Income early on, while keeping your reputation low.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-04-18. Score: 2

Generally, score handicaps are the way to go. You don't have to worry about playing games and experimenting in order to find a balance, you can just use the knowledge you already have of how much you tend to win by.

Money handicap could possibly work, but I think it'd be pretty tough - you only have so much room to adjust before it basically becomes a "you have waste one early turn to build a lake right away" handicap.

That said, you can also just not make the handicap formal: try to do the best you can every game, and accept the fact that you're striving for a larger margin of victory instead of worrying about winning.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2015-08-24. Score: 1

An alternative is to handicap the premium costs for early development

This could be implemented for stronger players as:

* +$1 or +$2 for every spot
* +$1 or +$2 for every spot except the last free spot
* +$1 or +$2 for every spot except both free spots

Or for weaker players as

* $1 or $2 less for every spot
* $1 or $2 less for every spot except the last free spot
* $1 or $2 less for every spot except both free spots

Pick one of these. I think it would be simplest


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