Miami Dice - Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra 

The placement of Sam's head frequently results in "Ass of Sintra" throughout the video and it's cracking me up.

After playing this at Essen I found that this game will be actually easier to teach than the original. The reason why I think so is due to the scoring, which is far more intuitive in this version that the last one. The scoring was always the one part where people needed extra explanation when explaining the game. The other reason is the tile placement, which I also find more intuitive than the original. I liked Azul, however I will be replacing it with this immediately after it comes out.

I think what made the original Azul appealing was at that it's very simplistic, easy to learn and teach. You also have a beautiful grid by the end of the game. This just doesn't have the charm that the original did

Not sure why the original and this game do not come with TWO bags. One to draw from, another to discard. When you’re ready to reuse the tiles, just switch bags. Simple.

Sam, Of COURSE I need another game.

Great review, and now I know I don't need to buy this version. I own both original Azul and Sagrada, both fun games. Tom, I really love your attire of late and the way you play with color. Perfect for a master boardgamer!.. 💕

You could also print the boards for the new one on BGG and play with the original rules which is a good consideration to have.

I heard about this coming out. I prefer the stain glass as well. This will be joining my other games at the table.

Omg waiting patiently for my copy to be delivered - not an expansion - a new Azul concept - I will be keeping both - two good games - light gamer approved👍

Azul: The Sagrada Edition

Sargrada so good Azul trying to steal its glass.

"I challenge you to Azul you rapscallion!" said the Azulist

Do you need this if you have Azul? For us, we like both. If you only play with a gaming group or just your family, STAINED GLASS is enough like the original to be enjoyable, but with it's own unique DNA and strong variation and new strategic play/ scoring elements to feel like a deeper experience. Azul is much easier and quicker to teach if your family has visitors come to play (kids' friends, relatives) and there is something satisfying with the streamlined clarity and setup of the original. STAINED GLASS does demand a bit more from players with a bit more setup/ management of scoring. Overall, this is a new game with familiar mechanics, so its not hard to teach players who already like AZUL, but also offers a richer experience for those who are wanting to take AZUL to the next level. If you dont have either game and can only get one, it will mostly depend on if you want a more complex or a simply elegant version. As much as I love STAINED GLASS, I would still recommend AZUL first for those who expect to play with different players or if the other player is a casual gamer. I would recommend STAINED GLASS if you only play with your significant other or same gaming group and want a bit more depth and challenge. AZUL: Elegantly simple to teach and play. Streamlined experience with easy setup and scoring. Plays well with both gamers and non-gamers. STAINED GLASS: More complex and more choices, but not hard to teach. Richer experience and more to pay attention to during play. Both look very different on the table and the components (other than the flimsy broken glass tower) are STUNNING. (If you want to keep the vibe, but want something more hearty, steal the dice box from SAGRADA 5-6 player expansion for your broken glass tower. It fits the theme and is sturdy.)

I like Azul, but what you guys were saying about getting stuck with pieces and being able to count it out is definitely a negative of that game. I’m so happy to hear that this is fixed. It’s the exact reason I won’t play seven wonders duel without pantheon. Because it adds another layer of choice.

I feel like in two years we’ll still be talking about the original Azul but we won’t be talking about this game.

I have both Sagrada and the original Azul and love them both. This kind of combines them but doesn’t seem to result in a better game.

The only thing I'm not really digging is the idea that by the end of the game you aren't looking at a beautiful stained glass creation, because you'll be removing strips as you score them. That is, unless I missed something.

I call the tiles in the original Azul “Starburst.” In this one, though? There's no question - they are JOLLY RANCHERS. 👍🏻 I'm really perplexed why people keep saying this is an improvement, though. It took out the grid and replaced it with just columns. It gave up all the grid-based endgame bonuses and instead had the four corners mechanic, which requires no spatial thinking. The only major strategic addition was the pawn. I don't like having a pawn in this type of tableau/mat game, because the way it limits you feels silly. People speak of the strategy added, but in Sintra it's merely a matter of making sure you don't reset at a bad time. In the original Azul, you can change the turn flow by adjusting your choice of what to take, thus influencing who plays last in the round.

10:48 - lol you stopped yourself from saying bathroom. :)

I would play it.

Tom, have you ever visited cultures which have beautiful mosaic traditions? Because places like Spain, Morocco, etc have mosaics that are definitely worth popping over to see!

Thanks for the review. It helps me answer the question - if I have Sagrada and the original Azul, do I need this one ? I think the answer is simple - NO. I do agree that this one is probably the better Azul, but it certainly isn't the better Sagrada. I'm better served putting that money into the upcoming Sagrada expansions.

Azulejos would directly (improperly) translate to Bluers or Bluists. They were tile makers/layers that used exclusively azure blue tiles for noble peoples haciendas during the Arab occupation of Spain.

I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way

I like heavy games but I prefer the simplicity of Kingdomino vs queendomino. This appears to be the same case. Less is more!

i wonder size of pane pieces 1 cm or 1,5 cm ?

Sticking people with a huge pile of discards was the best thing about the original. It's what I miss most in this one.

I think the original looks better especially towards the end of the game.

The real question here is: which do you like better? A. Starburst, or B. Jolly Ranchers? Seriously though, I've never seen what the big deal is about this game compared to the original. It has a couple new elements, yes, but it drops others. The one I miss the most is the grid from the original Azul. Stained Glass of Sintra doesn't have a grid - it has a series of columns that don't interact with each other. I miss the horizontal axis. Heck, not only does the horizontal no longer matter, but neither does the vertical. Each column is just a shopping list. I don't like that the pieces no longer touch each other, not just because it no longer has an impact on the game, but it also doesn't look like a proper stained glass window because the colored “glass” pieces don't touch each other. All in all, I'd say if you want a pretty stained-glass-themed drafting game that's a little bit like Azul but different enough to be its own game, get Sagrada instead. It looks better, plays better, and is more original.

I enjoyed it, but I'm with Tom - there is zero reason to own both, they are 90% the same game because the enjoyable part of Azul wasn't the scoring, it was the tile taking/placement mechanism. Here, that's identical except for a little worker and revised negative points. I like it, but basically, pick your poison. Do you want simplicity or a little extra meat. I have the original, I'll hang on to that one.

I don't see much of a game here, nore do I think it looks good at all. But that's from looking at a video. I would try it if it was on the table, but I can't see. I'm usually stumped on why some games become popular and some don't.

Oh, it's not as pretty as I'd hoped.

Oh man I got lost pretty quickly in this explanation... Still don't get it. Also I don't get how taking glass from the floor is breaking glass.

There have been games that didn't look good until I played them. This game falls deeply into that category. It sure looks ugly in this video. It looks like Lozenge the board game.

I'm with Sam on this one - I've gotten hosed too many times by being forced to take the leftovers that put a bunch of tiles into the penalty area with Azul that it turned me off the game as far as purchasing. So I definitely want to try this version out & see how it plays out.

Is it like Kingdomino and Queendomino?

Am I the only one who wants this just for the 1st Player Token/Tile???

I am keeping Azul when I get this game. Why would I give it up? Sometimes you want to change it up. They are both fun to play. You guys sometimes throw me off on your recommendations. On other games that are a like from the same publisher you have said you should own both. Oh well.

There are no Sintras, there is only Azul.

You don’t ever need another game- ok dad. Lol.

I like Azul, but not really feeling the flow of this one.

Does it replace Sagarda?

I think I would like this one better than the original game wise, but I don't like the design of this one. The stained glass pieces remind me more of jolly rancher than stained glass. They look like candies.

Wait, what? Zee is explaining the game of Miami Dice? I don't understand! :)

I love this game. BUT. I cannot express how much it bothers me that the PINK squares on the player board are associated with RED plastic pieces. Petty, I know.

"you don't need another game" ---- down comes the mood of the video. It showed on Tom's face that it was a bummer of a statement. Sam should know by now by what Tom meant by that statement.

Wait...1.5 thumbs?? Why do they *hate* Azul, gamers, and gamer's mothers with a score like that?? /endsarcasm

This game have a pretty boring look, dunno just not exite me a all, the looks kinda makes me not care for mechanics... mb my opinion would change after playing it, but now deffinatly pass.

Didn't like te original one and love the new one.

Thumbs?? C'mon guys, that's not a unit of measurement. 1 & 1/2 glass azulejos up

Sagrada > Azul. Sorry. Azul is boring. So many more choices with Sagrada.

Azul is boring. Not sure why it is so popular.