Missed seeing Rusty! Glad he was able to join you! Hope to see him on some regular game night episodes soon! Also, with you all talking about how playing challengers better at the full player count, and how many of you only played it with a small player count, I hope you guys stuck around afterward and filmed a follow up episode where you all played challengers as a group of 8.
Can't believe it's already that time of the year again, it doesn't feel like that long ago since last years. I guess watching weekly and rewatching older videos time to time really makes it feel like times goes fast.
I really enjoy hearing all the viewpoints and opinions - thanks everyone involved! I've not played any of these and only Iki and Planet Unknown appeal to me. Usually I'm very attracted to nominees, but not this year. It feels different!
Challengers was my surprise hit of last year; exceeded my expectations. I've been searching for a lightweight game that could replicate the feel of "Friday Night Magic" and challengers fits this better than Seasons or Milennium Blades did (two games I also enjoy). I've found that setting the expectations during the teach that you're molding your deck and then seeing it in action rather than getting cards and making decisions with them during gameplay has helped ease the way some see it as totally random or war-like. Very happy to see it get nominated.
Dorfromantik needs a few plays. After the first game I thought: ok, didnt need to buy that one. After 4 games: i kind of see, why people like this. After 8 games: ok, this is great - one more game. After 15 games: I could play this all day.
Regarding the very end: Unlock! has just gotten better and better, and Unlock! Kids is honestly the best kids' game I've ever played. Highly recommended!
I didn't quite get that European mentality thing (maybe literally, as English is not my native language) nor do I get that general distinction between Eurogames (deep strategic) and Ameritrash (more luck based) What I do know is this group of people is fantastic!
Fun Facts and Next Station London are the best IMO. Though I would say the determination of the score in FF leads a lot to be desired. Next Station London looks cute and I like stuff about the London Underground
I think it's interesting that the nominees for the SdJ are a blank-and-write...a party game...and a co-operative board game...no traditional competitive board games represented...no card game represented...both are pretty big segments of the hobby...now, the Kenner has a card game and two more traditional board games...so maybe across the board it's fairly equal representation, I guess.
SdJ releases a longlist each year with an much wider approach. So you will find different types of games on that list. This year for example: That's not a hat, Sea Salt and Paper, QE, Akropolis, Mantis, Hitster and Kuzooka. Out of that first round, the SdJ-Jury will then select the three nominees, which in their opinion are best suited to "promote the cultural asset of board games in society". But if no traditional competitive board game (or any other type) recommends itself in a certain year, there won't be any on the list.
I"m 100% convinced that everyone who says Dorf Romantik has "no choices" in their first game was not properly taught the game, and does not understand all the factors they are balancing with every placement.
