A slightly odd topic for a list but pretty valid reasons for avoiding the ones I've played (Root, KDM, TI1 2 3 &4, Blood on the Clocktower, or share your view (Lorcana, Frosthaven.) I love Root but it is a dog to teach. I always enjoy TI but I never quite feel it was worth the time it took. I'm also a wargamer at heart but the friends I have who like WotR are fanatical LotR fans and have an unhealthy obsession with this game.
IMO, if there's a reason why you don't want to do something, then you're not missing out. I'm a storyteller for BotC, and it is an incredibly fun game, if you're into deduction, bluffing, and hidden roles. It's also incredibly hard to get enough people together to play, since if you have less than 8, it's just not worth it for some groups. If you can find 7-12 people who love that kind of game and will reliably show up, then it's hella worth it. The only big box game I really play any more is Eldritch Horror. I only play it a couple of times a year, with one other person, and we make it a day-long event, usually. The amount of time it takes to set up and put away just doesn't make it worth it to play a single game. If I had a dedicated space where I could leave it set up, I would probably play more often, but for now, that's not feasible. The reason I have only one friend I play with regularly is because he is interested in the mythos, he has the time, and he has learned it well enough from our previous sessions that playing with just him makes the game run faster than playing with a group of four.
Saying you don't want to play games because they are too long (Twilight Imperium) or because they are too complicated (Root) is always reasonable - it's a hobby about having fun and so you should do what's fun! But I do think it's important to note that these games provide experiences you just don't get in other games. TI4 isn't JUST a boring 4X game (it doesn't even have all 4 X's!) with lots of rules that is also long - it's big event you and some friends set aside a whole day for to become immersed in the setting and have big impactful interactions with! It brings weight to decisions, it brings real emotions to the table, and really lets you engage with your friends much deeper than a slim 1.5 hour game ever can. What it offers isn't guaranteed or even in the rules, but it's an experience you will not forget even if you only play it once, or once a year which is about average for me. As for Root, if you aren't a rules junkie and don't have the patience to teach your players or don't have players who will learn a few rules on their own time, yeah don't play it. But there so few games which offer REAL asymmetric play in such a fun bite size offering. Just that alone is completely worth it for me, worth any trouble. But seriously, if you can play all the games behind you in this video... you can play Root. It isn't some bizarre mystical 100 page rulebook. It does not play like other games, correct, so it's very important not to make assumptions about rules. But I promise it's not that bad. You can probably guess I really like TI4 and Root. Very important games to me, but Twilight Struggle is probably my favorite that you might not play considering these above mentioned games.
I hear you. I think they are amazing for the right people and you are the right person for those games. For me not so much. Glad you have a great time with those games. I could probably learn root it's just the time it would take to sit down and read them when I could be playing something else. Maybe one day, it does look like a great game.
I've played several of these. Of the ones I've played, Frost Haven is definitely my favorite. I will freely admit it's a big time commitment to get through a full campaign, but it's super fun and it addresses a lot of the balance issues from Gloom Haven (note for people who haven't played: it's co-op so balance isn't as important, but some classes and items can make the game a bit too easy essentially). If I were going to play one or the other I would play Frost Haven. I like Root, but the factions aren't super balanced, and they're different enough that it honestly feels like you almost have to relearn the game when you play a new one. I think if you have the ability to go to a local meetup and give play it there totally worth giving it a shot, but I understand not wanting to teach it to a bunch of casual players that you recruit to play games with you. Ragnarok is fun. I have some friends who love it. I think there are multiple ways to win, but they're not equally difficult. Last time I played, two of us sacrificed the opportunity to win the easy way in order to try a more interesting and difficult win condition. Unfortunately, we didn't manage to do it, but I enjoyed the attempt. I know this is a controversial opinion, but Twilight imperium was fine, but I would struggle to even call it "good." I have only played once, and maybe the issue was player count, but I felt like I was waiting forever for my turn and halfway through it was very clear that I was losing badly. I don't love when you know you can't win and have to keep playing anyway, but it was way worse because we still had like 4 more hours after I saw that it was over, and it's not really a game that is fun if you aren't trying to win. (There are games that are very fun to explore or try different things even if you don't have a chance of winning, but this wasn't one of them for me). Literally near the end one of my friends internally helped the guy who was going to win anyway so the game ended a turn sooner because we were all tired of it. I haven't played the other games in this list, but I have some friends who love blood on the clocktower so I suspect I'll be trying it soon.
Glad you enjoy the games. Yea I can’t commit to giant box games. It’s just too hard to find the time. Hope you enjoy Blood on the clock Towner. Let me know how you find it.
Played Keyforge with a friend and it was a mess he bought 2 decks and one was just so much better than the other it crushed the other in the 6 games we played and alternated. Ive played a lot of TCGS/CCGS now and while I like the idea I do not like the business models and keeping up with them so tend to just dabble now. Its rare I find one with something I find fresh tbh. Want to play Twilight Imperium but its never going to happen at least with my friends which is who I would want to play it with, runtime is to much. Was backing Odyssey but pulled out and thank god I did. Tried playing Oathsworn and its just so overproduced its an absolute ball ache to play I packed it away by mission 5. The story and gameplay are fine but I dont want just fine when its that much hassle to set up and play (and this is leaving it set up) I could play a more mechanically satisfying computer game or be reading a good book instead.
