My Favorite (and Least Favorite) Games Played! (April 2024) 

13:04 definitely agree with this sentiment. We're working on refining the scope of Bantam West as we speak ;) Our whole team is so excited for your review, Tim. Good or bad, we'll be bringing popcorn and notebooks to the watch party! 🍿📝🤠

Hey Tim, sorry to hear you bounced off Earthborne Rangers! I also struggled with the rules early on, both because it's a very new style of game, and yes, I agree that the various topics are kind of scattered about. Though it is a game where (in my experience), once you get the basic flow of the game under you, you almost never consult the rulebook. You learn its lingo and just go, there are only a few keywords etc, it's really just about learning the general flow and language of the game, which is unique and also does suffer from not having a great opinionated "learn to play" that walks you through some opinionated turns. As to the lack of consequences, I would just say... that's how the game starts out. It intentionally starts very open ended, but quickly (by about day 5) tightens up, and the main consequence you're always dealing with is time. Things are happening in the valley whether you intervene or not, so wasting time is the consequence. And there are definitely branching decisions later in the campaign that can lead to significantly different outcomes. I think one of the potential issues they have with reaching a broader audience is they lean SO hard into some things about the game early (the open, undirected nature, mundane quests like biscuit delivery) because they want to signal the game is different, but I think it can signal to people that it's a certain type of game when it's not. You can't expect people to put in 5-10 hours into a game before they see what it's really like.

Enjoyed the honesty about the rule books. You should definitely do a ranking of best rule books divided by light, med, heavy games. There is simple not enough discourse and conversation about rulebooks (esp in regards to game design). Make a series and interview designers about the rulebook/on-boarding topic. No one does this.

Eloquent as always! Thanks for putting your thoughts out into the world🐺 🐺 🐺

I was looking foward to Earthborn Rangers! Damn. That rule book thing is the kind of stuff that really throws me down. Guess thats some money I will save XD

I played a lot of Marvel Champions in April and Marvel Splendor but I was also able to get a couple new games to me of Scout and Get on Board. I enjoyed both with Scout being a bit of a surprise.

Hi Tim! really love the lists that you made and i'm eyeing on Zoo Vadis! although i might have to disagree on Northgard. I'd much prefer it than Lords of Ragnarok.

I played 77 games of Dwellings of Eldervale! I was trying to hit 100, but I ran out of time. I am all in!

❤❤❤

How about two expansions for Northgard, does they improve complexity and make it more equal game to other mentioned area control games?

Sounds like the group you played fracture sky with needs to step up their game. Ive seen people go no markets and win, and Ive seen people go no forts and win, but never neither and win. Bluffing and hidden info isn't for everyone though.

Love your videos ❤ Can you please tell me where you buy boardgames

Interesting to hear about Earthborne Ranger. I've heard basically nothing but praise thus far. Also, I almost wish these companies would hire someone that knows how a good rulebook works to at LEAST organize them in a way that makes it better for the first play. I've literally taken like PDFs of rulebooks and reorganized them(and sometimes even rewritten them) to make them easier to teach. The art of writing good rulebooks is a dying thing.

Good review! Do you played Euthia? How do you think?

I think that I will explore Northgard rather than Black Rose or some of the other more complicated games. I play with my middle school kids, and simple is better.

i love fractured sky kickstarter, but i cant buy it. so sad

Rule Books: Do glossaries exist anymore?

Idk how on earth it’s possible for you to win without building any markets or fortresses.. because anyone else with that stuff could beat all your bids.. that’s just weird. I think maybe that’s just bad opponents lol.

Earthborne Rangers: tedious symbol matching, eco-warrior nonsense with sub-par components.