The other games of Scepter that I've played haven't seen anyone run away with the game quite as badly as I did with that one. I think what happened was that due to my greater experience, I was able to get my income going better and earlier than the rest of you, and so I was able then to take advantage of the usual sort of "rich-get-richer" mechanisms of an economic development game. In a game with experienced players the competition will be closer.

And if you think that Scepter has a runaway leader, let me assure you that Outpost (with less player interaction and fewer "slow-the-leader" mechanisms) suffers from this far more so. ("Makes Settlers look like Diplomacy" is something I've said in a number of places.)

I also don't think Outpost is normally 6 hours; I've had games of it that took only 4 or so, and that's with Helmut and Kerin playing, both of whom are pretty slow (for different reasons).

Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed the game.