I’d say COIN is a bit heavier due to it’s added complexety of the area-majority part. The card selection is on par with CDGs, complexety-wise, the recurring 10-years-event is on par with propaganda/winter events in COIN, but the economy activities on the map are simpler as the movements on the map in COIN (but are on par with the area control mechanics in many CDGs like 1989 or Twilight Struggle). WsdV has a few quirks with regard to special areas (mostly west berlin), but you find lots of special casing in COIN games and CDGs, too – usually quite a few more, which adds to their complexity.

I think Cuba Libre (as the “least complex” COIN) is still a bit heavier than WsdV, but not too much, so could be a good stepup if you want to go into that direction. To put my theory to a test, I would first have to create german cards für Cuba Libre, as my wife doesn’t speak english and so CL isn’t an option for us.

Another option you could go for would be Polis, as that is in the same complexety area as WsdV, ditching some complexety with the event cards (only one per round which just tilts rules a little) but adds the troup movement and area majority aspect you will later see in COIN games. So maybe try to go from WsdV to Polis and then go into your first COIN game.

I’d say COIN is a bit heavier due to it’s added complexety of the area-majority part. The card selection is on par with CDGs, complexety-wise, the recurring 10-years-event is on par with propaganda/winter events in COIN, but the economy activities on the map are simpler as the movements on the map in COIN (but are on par with the area control mechanics in many CDGs like 1989 or Twilight Struggle). WsdV has a few quirks with regard to special areas (mostly west berlin), but you find lots of special casing in COIN games and CDGs, too – usually quite a few more, which adds to their complexity.

I think Cuba Libre (as the “least complex” COIN) is still a bit heavier than WsdV, but not too much, so could be a good stepup if you want to go into that direction. To put my theory to a test, I would first have to create german cards für Cuba Libre, as my wife doesn’t speak english and so CL isn’t an option for us.

Another option you could go for would be Polis, as that is in the same complexety area as WsdV, ditching some complexety with the event cards (only one per round which just tilts rules a little) but adds the troup movement and area majority aspect you will later see in COIN games. So maybe try to go from WsdV to Polis and then go into your first COIN game.

According to BGG it is The Gallerist (4.3), Mage Knight (4.2), Lord of the Ice Garden (4.0), Polis: Fight for the Hegemony (3.6) and Wir sind das Volk (3.6). That’s only the heavies I actually played, there are some.more like some CDGs and COIN games I haven’t played, yet. Cuba Libre would be on number 6 (first COIN game I played, 3.5). With my wife the heaviest we played together are Polis and WsdV. The ones above that have only seen solo time.

According to BGG it is The Gallerist (4.3), Mage Knight (4.2), Lord of the Ice Garden (4.0), Polis: Fight for the Hegemony (3.6) and Wir sind das Volk (3.6). That’s only the heavies I actually played, there are some.more like some CDGs and COIN games I haven’t played, yet. Cuba Libre would be on number 6 (first COIN game I played, 3.5). With my wife the heaviest we played together are Polis and WsdV. The ones above that have only seen solo time.

For solo play: The Gallerist, Cuba Libre (might change if I actually play my copies of the other COIN games – both Liberty or Death and Fallen Sky have big chances to rise) and Mage Knight. If I want it to be a tad less heavy and more portable, definitely Greenland – it gives me that brain punch in a much smaller package.

Together with my wife: Wir sind das Volk and The Golden Ages. We don’t play heavy games that often together, though.

For solo play: The Gallerist, Cuba Libre (might change if I actually play my copies of the other COIN games – both Liberty or Death and Fallen Sky have big chances to rise) and Mage Knight. If I want it to be a tad less heavy and more portable, definitely Greenland – it gives me that brain punch in a much smaller package.

Together with my wife: Wir sind das Volk and The Golden Ages. We don’t play heavy games that often together, though.