I suspect that you're playing it wrong, or with the wrong people -- particularly if it's taking you hours to play. Typically, there'll only be one or two reall

I suspect that you're playing it wrong, or with the wrong people -- particularly if it's taking you hours to play. Typically, there'll only be one or two really good spots (say, 8-10-5 or something). The players on those spots will/should get a disproportionate share of the baron, both because they have more cards and because they're in the lead and need to be dragged down to everyone else's level. The game then becomes an issue of trying to get good without appearing so and picking the right time to make your move, rather than 'I have x points/regions, therefore I win'. Sounds pretty similar to the Monopoly rules, now that I think about it...