Based on what I've seen so far about Destinies I agree with your assessment that the players who are after a board game won't find it here. It feels like it would better as a purely digital CYOA. I don't own Tainted Grail, but I was anxiously waiting for the digital version. When I saw that they had replaced their unique card-based encounter system with a generic system that is heavily inspired by Slay the Spire my disappointment rivaled my feelings when the digital version of the LotR LCG game decided to replace the original mechanics in favor of those in Hearthstone. I have no idea why these companies decide to create digital versions of card games and then they rip out what makes them unique.
Perhaps, if you make your PC game as esthetically and mechanically close to the original as possible, some nontrivial percentage of customers choose the digital version _over_ the tabletop version; but as your digital and tabletop versions diverge, their target audiences also diverges. Perhaps, for a given game, there is a sweet spot that optimises the number and the kinds of differences between the digital and the tabletop, thereby maximising the customer base across the two versions of the game. (This is just asspull speculation. I don't play these kinds of games, and I don't know how people who play these kinds of games think)
Im totally with you when it comes to the LotR LCG. Had they released an actual digital version of that game - mechanics and all - I would have been all in! Missed opportunity...
Jeremy, I reckon you're right on the mark here - there's bound to be a strong business case for these decisions... Who knows what's next if they're able to carve out a new market between the two genres of gaming. Hope it's for the good!
I've only had a chance to play solo and 2p, but honestly they both feel about the same... There is a nice benefit to having more players though, in that usually the map gets explored faster and you don't have to spend too long stuffing around to find your next objective 😂
This was far and away our favourite of all these games (Tainted Grail, 7th Continent, Journeys and Destinies). We were able to set up and play it in about 5 - 10 mins. 7th continent we got bored after one session because of its penchant to punish the players. This really felt like a fun board game experience and the app actually helped us get immersed even better than having to flip though and find all these things. Also the narrative in 7th continent was very lacking. It was a great evolution on the Chronicles of Crime formula.
