I have owned every CTG other than Game to Pick a Game. I have preordered some, retailed some, and secondary market purchased others. Based upon the amazing upgrade of Hoplo from the original, and the idea that this game is an evolution of my first CTG game (Too Many Bones) and it is based upon my favorite video game IP, it was a no brainer for me to make this my first crowdfunding of one of their products. CTG is an amazing company, and if you can afford a premium game, you CAN’T go wrong with CTG. Amazing experience, fantastic people. I waited until post campaign to watch this video, but late backing is going to be an option so thought this is still relevant.
This is exactly how I feel. After playing (and loving) Hoplomachus Victorum this weekend, I realized that I will want to get this at some point, so may as well get it now for less. It is too expensive, and I don’t think CTG games are as “premium” as they claim (I hate pvc cards and the chips are not “premium” poker chips), but the play experience they deliver is very tight and enjoyable, and the game will probably hold some value if I ever get tired of it.
Personally very excited for this as huge TMB fan. All the gameplay I've watched has only really reaffirmed this for me. I backed the gameplay all in on day one and have zero regrets. August 2024 can't come soon enough.
I think this is one game where I say it's cheaper for me than it's for you guys in the US. Why? Free shipping? For a game this large the shipping to my country will be around 80-100$. That is excluding vat. Which means BOTSE will only be 100$ for me and that is including VAT if they are using VFI, which what they have been using all this time. So yeah I'm happy to back it
Talking about your independence and potential bias up front may seem silly but it’s important, being direct about the issue is appreciated, thanks Alex.
I was tempted initially as I have TMB & Hoplo and enjoy both of those games, but due the high price (+VAT) and because the core gameplay loop seems similar to TMB & Hoplo I decide not to back as I think I'd be better off getting an entirely new experience from another game (or multiple games for that price) rather than a spin on an existing formula that I've already played.
This game sounds really good ! Might sub in some miniatures from other games I have for the character chips if I do pick it up. Probably will wait until retail however
Honestly I just can't justify the price to myself. Despite my love of the franchise, being able to back both Thorgal and Hexplore It for the price of the TES is just silly. With some to spare to back ISS Vanguard before the PM closes. And being in the EU I have to add another 25% on top of the listed price in VAT, that is included in most of the other it is just stupid.
I enjoyed Too Many Bones a lot from what I experienced of it at 2-3 player. However at 4 Players we found ourselves somewhat constricted in the small play area. BGG also has a fairly high "not recommended" at 4 players (37%) for TMB. As someone whos main game groups are aimed mostly at 4 player games do you think this is a game that might suffer at a higher player count?
Off course you ignorent Canadian 😊. I like the comic Thorgal, got them all. Drawings are more realistic then the well known Asterix and tintin, but I think those kind of comics are more a European thing. Fun thing Thorgal started in the weekly magazine of Tintin.
That $15 discount is to msrp. The free add on will probably cost $25 after the campaign or msrp. So a discount of $40 total. *not to forget the free shipping😊
It's still strange to me. Zombicide white death is way more expensive now (with all gameplay +taxes and shipping) (and I think it'll be more expensive) - but with this game whoo.... The price.... I think this game has more gameplay than zombicide (just composing my Black plague versus TMB - maybe only the base game- ridiculous)....
All those chips and floppy noeprene mats? Not what I imagined either. Great for fans of CTG but it turned me off completely and I love Elder Scrolls. However, well done to CTG the for a successful campaign.
@@Still-Water Sliding chips across neoprene is way more satisfying than it sounds on the surface! As a recent convert I can assure you! But, as always, YMMV
Perhpas your point on view is because it is not an "end product". It is the way CTG works, they don't misunderstood "crowfunding" and "store". So they come with a nice prototype that will involve a lot considering all the feedback they have during the campaign. And each time their game is so good!
I always find it funny that boardgame RU-vidrs always find games great amazing and awesome when they’re still being developed. I mean the rulebook isn’t even available for crying out loud. Have you played your copy of Skyrim the adventure board game yet. If so how does it compare. Because I’m playing a ton of Skyrim board game at the moment
Sure...but I've also played the game...so there is that one small little detail. I've played both Skyrim and Elder Scrolls, I enjoy both but if I had to choose, I'd pick Elder Scrolls. But also different vibes in what they do.
@@juliansykes6668 In order from most to least....with the STRONG caveat that I've only played Elder Scrolls for 2.5 hours and thus subject to change.... TMB Cloudspire Elder Scrolls Burncycle Hoplo
So let’s say I have too many bones and marvel zombies and zombicide undead or alive. So if I’m picking betweeen elder scrolls and zombicide TMNT what do I get?
Yeah I also had an extra set of Premium Chips from Too Many Bones. I got one for Too Many Bones, and then another set for Undertow. Then got the Trove Chest and only 1 fits in their lol.
I am always worried to kickstart a game. Especially as a canadian the shipping gets pretty high. Though I've been hearing so many good things about CTG and I've been wanting a good campaign RPG, but the investment always seemed too high. The 3 session campaign seems like a perfect fit. Looking at recent CMON campaigns (especially factoring in shipping to Canada), it might not be as expansive as it seems at first. CMON games are definitely fun, but they are definitely lighter games and a storage nightmare with all the minis. I am still worried, but I am definitely excited and intrigued. The love the community has for CTG also weighted a lot in my decision to jump on this one.
What would you say to the seasoned gamer who doesn’t shy from complex games and is looking to purchase their first Chip Theory Game? Would you recommend this one or TMB?
Ouch hard to say. This one has no reason to not be excellent, but TMB IS excellent (base game with the extension that gives you many new cards for the 3 first days -a mut have-). Then TES, and give an eye to Cloudspire...my favourite one. Such an incredible game, but complex and hard to bring on the table when you stop playing for a while because you have to read a lot of rules again. But despite its difficulty, Cloudspire is really very good for an amazing gameplay adventure! Good for solo and good for pvp! Your wallet won't like CTG!!!
Thanks for the video Alex, I was waiting for this one. Last year we got "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim The Adventure Game", this year it's all of Tamriel, but different. How do these two games compare, are they different? Is one objectively better than the other? Or can they not compare at all, because the gameplay is simply too different and it becomes a matter of opinion? We're all still waiting for "The Witcher: Old World", but I don't want to flood my collection with possibly mediocre popular (game) franchise based board games that are overpriced due to the IP. (I know I'm part of the problem here, because I'm willing to pay more for these IPs, but if the gameplay isn't there, or the production quality, it won't be worth it for me. This is especially a problem if all the games are just too similar. Perhaps if this game is too similar to and better than Skyrim The Adventure Game, I should get rid of that one, get this one, and keep this and The Witcher? I doubt the Witcher is worse than both of these games. I could use some advice... I'm at a loss with 4 days left to decide.
i was gonna question some gameplay elements like the in combat looting, the item interaction, the mmo-esque quests etc. however considering your involvements i wont put you in that position. the game is expensive, even for a CTG game and the license doesnt feel like it explains it all. which brings us to the free shipping which we know is baked in regardless of what theyve said. this single statement and other interactions has me wary unlike any previous campaign. i think overall you have done a great job covering the game as fairly as possible. you have a great day Alex
Alex, using free shipping as part of a justification for the price isn’t really applicable or legitimate (at least for those of us in the US). Purchases from the Chip Theory store over $200 ship free to the US, so it’s a wash for this game. Situations may be different in other countries.
I actually asked them, and there will likely be a difficulty setting that is more forgiving than Too Many Bones difficulty. Which is great I think for the more casual Elder Scrolls fans.
Mechanism is quite similar except that depending on your character you will have different dice with different results (not just a "hit" but also effects). Then the big difference will be the storyline with many side quests and mainly your character building.
@@yannickpetit1536 ah ok sounds cool. I really dig the combat in Hoplo so was curious. Do you gain allies throughout ES like in Victorum or do you just control your starting character?
I can't decide whether to back this one. Haven't played TMB, but backed the last campaign to get the standalone expac and the base game. I really like the Elder Scrolls theme, but not sure if I like CTG's systems yet. What to do, what to do :)
I have backed and canceled a few times. I want it yes. I backed too many bones and all the new characters which was about the same price. 220 ish. Also I don’t want to spend 400 plus on this one and zombicide. So I’m trying to decide which to get. Zombicide has the teenage mutant ninja turtles. But I have the all in marvel zombies coming…… so do I need this one.
I don't know if it's that much more. Video games have Collector's Editions, DLC, Season Passes, and micro transactions. It's been about equal in terms of price for me, but I only back around 2 big games a year, and get most of my board games when they go on sale.
If you stay off kickstarter, stick closer to the $30-50 games, it can be cheaper. I look at my collection, I only have like 40 games, but the spread pretty evenly between $15 games to $500+ all ins (with TMB being $1500+), . Almost all of my favourite games are sub $60. quacks of quedlinburg, the crew, aeons end, spirit island,azul, terraforming mars, castles of burgandy. Out of all the $200+ games I have (TMB, FrostPunk, Massive Darkness 2, ISS Vanguard, Kingdom Death, cloudspire, ), only TMB is one the I go back to and is in my top 10 games. The rest I found wasnt worth it and I either sold or probably going to sell. I have one $200+ game coming in (Unsettled), and I think due to cost and what I get out of it, I doubt I am not going to be getting the big all ins anymore. Im still debating on getting Elder Scrolls basegame + expansion though
I'm in because i'm curious of what will be my first (and surely last) CTG game. It appeals me much more than TMB due to the Elder Scrolls background which i like a lot and because i found TMB not immersive enough even if having a great and rich gameplay. And despite the fact that i find it way far too expensive , and for the fan boys and absolute believers of CTG, keep your opinion for you, i know the pro arguments, amazing stuff blablabla, expensive stuff blablabla etc... I don't care, i just hope the gameplay , replayability and fun will be worth the price (partially). And for the record, one tip for you if you want to save a bit your money and pimp the game. You can find for a fraction of the price some nice deluxe red poker chips , with even a red heart on it to match the health chips. 10g each , believe me, worth the price and gorgeous 😄
Well, you will like...the gameplay, repayability and fun...and all the blablabla... And by the way, CTG already gave the advice of poker chips for those ones which cannor afford their premiums...that tells a lot on this company;-) An happy fanboy 😉
You're my go to person for board games information becasue of your in-depth reviews and critisisms. However in this one you're forgetting that VAT gets applied on top of the shipping, CTG offers free shipping above 200 euro. Getting the game in retail for european customers most likely will be cheaper or equal to what you're paying now, taking MSRP into account. I will still be backing regardless, cause I don't want to wait longer and the stretch-pay is nice, but price wise it's probably not the ideal move for europeans.
Ghillie mentioned a couple times that if the EUR/USD exchange rate doesn't improve in their favor, then they will consider a price increase in the EU store. In the past the more expensive EUR covered most of the VAT deficit for them, but not anymore... So the retail EU option may or may not be much better when this game is released, especially if the MSRP rises in the future because of the many stretch goals.
Alex, for the Gamefound currency conversion do you know what rate is used ? The one on the day you made the pledge or on the day the campaign ends and you get charged ?
I'm Canadian and have been tracking, hoping rates will turn around. Eventually I pledged. Every day the quote is different, but it doesn't change inter-day. It's not the American rate - They use the European currency conversion rate every day - but that won't make a huge difference. In any case, I know they apply a 2.3% charge on top of the rate. (which, all my credit cards would charge me between 2.5% and 3%, so... it's better in my case). Anyways, it does change every day if you know your home currency is increasing, you can wait. As to your specific question, it looks like it is on the day of the pledge (to me). It quotes me a specific amount - I went install pay and it sent me an email saying you are being charged $31 CAD each month. Hope that answers your question.
I love my TMB content. I'm an all in guy, have it all. I still might get this, but there's a slight chance ill pull a last min audible and slap myself. $500 CAD for a board game....what am I thinking,. Seriously, we got to stop encouraging this insanity. I want to add, I DO really appreciate the idea of free shipping. Although, telling us its not built-in the cost is honesty, just an insult to our intelligence. I'm straight up offended by that comment they made. Just say you averaged it out and bult in it, like you actually did.
TMB was always too abstract for me, that fight on a 4x4 grid was never interesting to me. I love what they have done now with Betrayal Of The Second Era. They took the mechanics to a more immersive and thematic game. In that sense I do think Elder Scrolls is a TMB 2.0.
So you will love this one because when you see all the tactics possibility on a simple and not immersive at all 4x4 grid, it is jus unbelievable! (that's why i was hesitating to jump in TMB...and when i discovered how this grid and the mechanics was clever with such a replayability i was impressed!).
Honestly that 4x4 grid integrates tons of strategy for being small. I would argue that having a bigger map with more area to move around doesn't necessarily give you more strategy, and might actually lower immersion as you need to move to get closer before your able to do anything. I think this is one of the reasons a lot of TMB players are calling Elder Scrolls, TMB light. Honestly personally I wouldn't even relate it to TMB, because the way the characters work is completely different in both.
I had it backed, but, after doing some research I just couldn't keep my pledge... $400 for the all-in? I can't justify it. It's so massively overpriced. Even $200 for the base game. Hell, I got Gloomhaven for $100.
@@BoardGameCo I've just about Mcflippin' had it. I think I'm done with *new* boardgames for a couple years after my latest KS / GF campaigns are done. It's just too expensive and a lot of these products are very samey. *goes back to unironically collecting Warhammer 40k*
I really don't understand why not go just for the game Bandle 230$ instead which gives you all gameplay items ... why do you need all in 400 $... that gives you not really needed extra logo-branded bags, chips and boxes ...
@@freakyfriday5620 There's thousands of new board games that cost under $60 being released every year. The hobby is predominantly games $60 or less. You don't have to buy into the ridiculous overproduced, hyped, bloated crowdfunded games.
They lost me when they answered the question "is shipping baked into the price?" In one of their first videos. They said "it's absolutely NOT baked in to the price". Sure you can juggle some words and pretend that the price is not higher to counter for the free shipping. But for me it felt like them lying to my face.
@@BoardGameCo ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_0PZ1RcPYUY.html Here is the link with timestamp in case your interested. They try to justify the high price comparing the components to other games. Saying the high price has just to do with the components and not the "baked in shipping"
Just throwing it out their but shipping on their website is free for orders over 200$. Since the base game for this is 195$ its not far of a stretch that they just pay for the shipping with all extra money they will get from this being a Ip. Also on their website if you order a game and are spending bellow 200$ shipping is no more then 15$. For me the reason the game is 195$ is like every game now their really charging you for the stretch goals your getting, like they have a magnetic counter that we got as a stretch goal lol.
It’s kind of strange they said this because in the FAQ for the game they say they are subsidizing shipping for this game. I don’t really see a difference between “baked in” and “subsidized”, but I’m sure that their splitting hairs has its usefulness in some way.
@@GreenIguanaQi Subsidized usually means using profit to pay for it. You actually have the price of the game, however the price their selling it at is higher then the actually cost of the game, so that they can make a profit on the game. In companies the profit is a separate money amount from the cost, however for most looking from the outside they see it all as cost of the product. Basically all their saying is their using the profit from the game to pay off all the shipping themselves. Profit isn't cost, so for them its using the extra your making to pay for it not using the cost to pay for it.
@@BoardGameCo nah. Manufacturers make compromises every day I don't need neoprene mats They price people out of playing their games Too many Bones is a $120 version of One Deck Dungeon with rubber mats and pretty dice
@@mustardketchup Your comparison to One Deck dungeon doesn't fit, when the tactical aspect revolves around luck, and one or two character skills. In TMB each character is unique, and each dice is a unique ability you can use. I love One Deck Dungeon, but you can literally loose a game just because you rolled bad. Too Many Bones Doesn't have that problem because even if you roll a bad roll, the bad dice start stacking and turn into powerful character abilities. Its like Comparing Chess to Checkers.
@@CheddahSlammer Gotta learn how to spot hyperbole 😉 But, skill dice in TMB are worthless Just build Dex and attack TMB is midwit level stuff, but people want to convince themselves it's great because they blew so much cash on mediocrity and neoprene I do like the characters, though
I hope they won't change anything! When i see their name i am thinking "Great another fabulous game with great components, incredible gameplay and fun adventure". Gameplay all in!!! Each time. And i don't even regret one!