Yes! Love to see RUNE getting more attention! It's a ton of fun to play as well as design content for, and hopefully this review helps get a lot more people to check it out! One thing I'd like to point out for anyone that sees this and is on the fence about giving it a try is that the "one-shot" nature of Realms isn't as big of a deal as it might seem at first. For one, there are a boatload of third-party Realms available at this point, so there's no shortage of new adventures to keep things fresh. Plus, there *is* value in replaying Realms you've already explored. You won't get new locations or story, but it can be fun to tackle the puzzle-solving elements in new ways and with new equipment loadouts, like starting a new run in Dark Souls or Elden Ring, and many of the Realms (including my own) offer different choices or ways to play that can encourage additional playthroughs.
It's one of my current fav games. I agree with the more boardgame than RPG argument, but I enjoyed the combat so much that I was trying to incorporate it to Mork Borg solo, since playing with one (or even two) character makes combat so blank and hollow. A premium box would be awesome. What I did was a DIY box. I took a solid papercraft / office open box and draw the combat board on top half, and in its shelf I put some handmande cards. A create-random-realm engine would be incredible usefull, but I know it would miss some of the intricate designs of hand made realms. I took Ironsworn Domain/Theme cards with Rune, and added Cyclic Dungeon Generation, but still misses some steps both on flavour and in level design to be a real realm engine.
Thanks for the review. This game is on my wishlist. Trying to play some of the games I already have before buying more. lol. Also, wanted to mention I like that you change up your intro/title clip on your videos.
Woo, the Rune review is here! Been looking forward to it since you responded to say it was on the list😅 Coincidental timing too, as I just started drifting back towards solo gaming with an eye on returning to Rune.
I know it's not the popular sentiment in this community but I actually find it refreshing, this Solo RPG that is more boardgame than RPG. For quite a while now, I've been convinced that adding components to play with in a Solo RPG actually adds an important immersive element to the gameplay. It has been my mission as a designer to find that middle ground between the best of board games and the best of RPGs. So, thank you for highlighting Rune to us - it's good to approach the Solo RPG experience from 'the other side' like this.
I initially stayed away just because it struck me as one of the types of games where you're having to journal and GM your own story as you play. Glad I was wrong, I think I'd be very into this. A big boxed edition would be really great, a real shame they never added that.
Once you have played one of the scenarios through to the end is that scenario re-playable. There didn't seem to be many options at each of the locations. It appeared that at each location you then run through a list of actions. Nothing changes for another play-thru?
I mention that in the video. Some are one and done. Some you don’t have enough time to do everything. Many of them are only a few dollars. I’ve paid for everything and don’t regret a single cent spent. It’s been more than worth it.
FYI, according to the designer's comments on Itch, ranges of 2+ do count as diagonals. The game is neat, but builds are really unequal there - you gotta have equipment with lots of movement. Moving one square at a time, or not moving at all, while the enemies jump around all over the place - not exactly fun. Also, enemies should really damage each other with attacks, Into the Breach-style; as is, the grid just becomes too cramped with enemies/obstacles/dangers to provide any sort of tactical maneuverability.
I don't really think in such strong strategic / tactical terms, so I'm probably more forgiving of those things than some. I only care if I am having fun, and feel like I am experiencing a thematic adventure, and I get that from this game. I also have fun with the grid-combat, but can totally understand someone wanting and needing more out of it. It's fairly basic.
@@TheDungeonDive , not sure if I wanted more out of the game - I do enjoy simple dice chucking in 4AD and various board games. The grid here just didn't work for me, and honestly felt meaningless. It's entirely possible that I gor screwed by dice, and/or played badly, and/or the Longsword+Sling+Strider Boots combo is just bad (mirrored by other comments on Itch). That's what I'm saying: get as much Move from your weapons as possible. I do agree that the game is a very neat design, a cool take on the gamebook idea, and as souls-y as such games can get.
I agree with you-everything from the font choice to the graphics to the layout screams amateur. Such a shame for what looks like an amazing game-I’m a sucker for aesthetics.
