Why I am backing Story of Many - an open world sandbox adventure game 

As a German-Greek I am happy, that the designers are Greeks. By the way Titan Quest is my favourite Action-RPG on PC.

This looks like a dream game for me. I've always wanted an overland game with smaller locales to visit and explore. The character progression looks deep and varied, and the sheer amount of story packed into the game is amazing. The art is unique and high-quality, and the overall grim fantasy aesthetic is great. This seriously looks like the exact game I have been looking for since I first started collecting fantasy adventure games. However, I am not sure I can back this game. This definitely looks like another game that is trying to be a new lifestyle for the player. I have come to appreciate games that are simple one-and-done affairs that can be enjoyed in a single evening and then shelved until you feel like having another adventure. Runebound: Second Edition is my favorite in this category because it doesn't ask too much of the player. This game looks like one where you will only get to enjoy the full experience if you play it over and over. To do that, I have to choose to play this game more than once over the plethora of great games I have on my shelf currently. The sheer amount of components, combined with the massive footprint, make it seem like it will be an absolute behemoth to set up and pack away, which would incentivize keeping it set up for a long time. Almost $120 USD for just the base experience, not including shipping, is not a small amount of money. Granted, the base game looks like it comes with a wealth of content, so you are certainly getting what you paid for. However, I am imagining a game like this that doesn't come with literal thousands of components, doesn't cost almost a full day's pay, and doesn't ask me to play it over and over to get the true experience. I know there are one-shot adventures included in the box, but I am unsure of the value of these adventures given the amount of components and the price. I feel if I paid for this game just for the one-shot adventures, I would be paying full price for maybe a third of the overall content. The game also locks the characters into a party, preventing them from splitting up and exploring their own areas of the map. I understand why this is necessary mechanically, and it is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is the reason why I got rid of HEXplore It and it is why I preferred Dungeon Degenerates while I owned it. Being able to split the party and then reform it later for tougher challenges is something I love in adventure games. Finally, I AM TIRED OF SOLO GAMES THAT ASK ME TO PLAY TWO-HANDED! The campaign page talks at length about the robust character creation system, and how each player gets to create their own unique hero. Nowhere on the campaign page does it mention the fact that a solo player must control at least two characters. It only vaguely mentions creating "your own party of heroes," which I believe is purposefully vague. If your solo game involves the player handling two sets of player components, it is not a solo game, but a game with a two-player minimum that can be played solo, just like many other cooperative games. I want to play my character and become that character in my mind, investing all of my energy into growing their power and immersing myself in their experience. If this game had a true solo mode where I play as one character, I might have been able to look past everything I have mentioned and taken the plunge. However, the idea of playing and leveling two characters with the amount of depth that the progression system promises seems like a chore. I am sure this game will be an awesome time for those who are dedicated enough to explore its vast offerings, but I cannot promise I will be that dedicated.

Damnit. I’d decided to NOT back it. But NO! Here comes Daniel, being an enabler. *sigh*

4 minutes online, 39 views, 3 thumbs up. I hope, that your channel grows more and more. I enjoy all your content a lot. Recently I got into mörk borg and cy_borg because of your channel. So thank you and I hope you are doing well and if not, I hope you are soon

I went to back this today then stopped until I found out more. I needed this info. if I do back this it will be the standee version only. I don't have room for all these miniatures that keep coming out. Thanks for this. More great content as usual.

I can’t think of this without going “The story of ONE! The story of TWO! The story of Maaaaanyyyy” in my head 😂

this will be exactly the game what i wanted tainted grail to be

Wow. Completely under my radar ! Thanks, it looks really great! I now need to investigate.

I listened to your love letter for this game after watching it actually played. I think that’s the right order to Do Things. You’ve just made me want it more thanks. -Toby

Thanks for this video! Just heard about this game and was looking for an overview like this to learn more without a detailed mechanics overview. Yay for standees only! Hoping this type of story-based, emergent narrative game focused on rpg elements instead of minis continues to become a bigger part of the hobby space.

The backside art of that standard enemy deck is great.

I have just backed this project! Yes can't wait to get it!

Definitely up my alley as well. I'm in for the base version also, I don't need any more miniatures right now but might pick them up in the inevitable re-print campaign if the game turns out to be top tier.

Ok ... with the expected delivery in 2026, it will give me enough time to play my other games then, so I am in! Looks fantastic!

Yep, me too and I am happy for the miniature option for the heroes as well.

Looks great, but… I’m already staring at unplayed copies of League of Dungeoneers and Tanares Adventures sitting on my shelf. This will just join that same unplayed collection. 😢😢

I want to like this game more than I actually do. It feels very generic and fiddly at rhe same time. And open world used to be fascinating, now it just gives me burn out just thinking about it. Also playing two handed solo, while not a no go for me, takes away some fun and doubles the bookkeeping in some aspects. Also I do not know if it keeps its promises as of yet. So many games like these become repetitive and in worst case boring. I hope every backer will enjoy it, though.

You know what I would say I think this is the best game you have ever reviewed!

Nice overview! This certainly helped to decide to back this game.

I loved this video! Thank you!

I'm backing this as well, and your endorsement just makes it a no-brainer.

Great video, you sold it to me, I ran to the page but there is no delivery to Colombia...

You just convinced me to back my first non Japanese board game since Middara

I was recently thinking of a game like that where you would have different books to lookup where the story is going on like one of these choose your path books. It's a really good system for solo players and makes me immediately think of video games like our beloved Skyrim

The stickers on the map are one of the things thats holding me back because I tend to play different games, starting and stopping. Around the 12:00 mark you start talking about the stickers being more like a NG+. That sort of put me more at ease with the stickers not really showing progress you made but of the world changing. Im still not sure based on the combat and overland plays. Ill probably land on the side of getting it, more for the story than the gameplay. I have too many games with similar gameplay.

The game really does look amazing. My ideal thing.

I am backing this as well looks great

I've been following this game for a while and this honestly looks fantastic. Old school adventure with a rich world and many customization options. The only thing that puts me off is the gamefound exclusivity, without any plans to release this at retail too

The table presence and visual presentation are nice, but the gameplay videos I've watched for this game haven't inspired much confidence in its mechanical depth. It feels too shallow on gameplay to justify the heavy amount of bookkeeping necessary to play. I think Lands of Galzyr might be the better option for a story-heavy overland CYOA game since it would be much easier to table. Galzyr offers a similar level of mechanical sophistication and CYOA story focus, but without all the bookkeeping and overhead Story of Many seems to have.

I was hesitant but I’m leaning towards backing. This is so in my wheelhouse in terms of what I dream for in a game that I feel like I really should take the risk of committing to this even if ends up being kind of dud. Im hoping that mechanically in much more interesting than a game like Folklore the Affliction which i had a similar impetus for backing. This will probably take something like 3-4 years to see the light of day but cautiously excited about it.

Interested in this, but for such a 'finished' game an expected delivery date of April 2026 kills my enthusiasm.

Really strange to see 50/50 comments of this game. The ones who see to truly like it and the ones who say it seems boring

What’s just stopped me from backing this is for some unknown reason they want more than double US shipping to ship to Canada. 85$ US vs 40 US. This is just not a rate the reflect current actual costs. Super disappointed with this criminal price gouge

Thank you.

A Titan Quest mention! It's many years since I've played that. Used to love it, and was great for modding too.

i'm backer#20 for all-in pledge , congratulation

Whilst I'm still waiting for my League of Dungeoneers copy, I'm reading about this game. I will be backing up Tainted Grail (which just opened late pledge), and I'm afraid that it will be "too similar" to this one, so I'm hesitant of backing it. Any thoughts on that? This one looks amazing althought some decisions are a bit specific, like divisions for combat, writing on the small rounded spaces on the character sheet... What I love is that each enemy is unique; I hate when a based is used and changing one little detail for monsters, but there is no much difference within them.

Oh! This looks so good. Thank you! Now, please excuse me while I conjure up some more money! (and a bigger table)

I am holding out for Lands of Evershade from Awaken Realms which looks to be everything like this but a better story, in my opinion.

Small correction, the mini version only comes with 64 minis. They are “generic” meaning you use them for multiple enemies of the same type and size. There is an ultimate standee addon that gives you unique standees for each enemy. It’s over 800 standees which is crazy in itself. I’m down for the basic standee pledge myself.

Thanks for this Daniel! My concern with a lot of these games is the quality of writing. You said a 7/10 for the translation side of things, but in terms of the actual quality of writing? I know you've also been critical of this in the past saying that for a lot of this type of narrative game you'd rather read a book unless it's really good (and I agree), so would be keen to know your thoughts around this.

That is so cool!

Daniel, you don't need that gigantic board to play Bardsung. After reading the rules I made a much smaller board that fit very easily. You don’t need the outside rim and you don’t need about a third of the space at the end of the board where each round of quests comes to an end. you need about 60% of the table space that the big board represents. Make your own board. -Toby

This seems to have a dungeon universalis type of idea/vibe

Thanks for the coverage on this...On the fence about backing this or Lands of Evershade.

Watched and giving the thumbs up but this video went from "wow so hyped" to "jeez that is a whole lot of book keeping and writing and stuff". I already have League of Dungoneers at home and I haven't even cracked it open with how daunting it seems. Unfortunately will pass on this.

looks really cool! sent the designers a note asking about the art....learned that Awaken Realms is using AI art for their games. these devs sent a list of artists their using. Just received more League of Dungeoneers expansions, so super hard to justify another massive adventure atm. Looks pretty amazing though

Software designers say that the first 90% of the job takes 90% of the time. the last 10% also takes 90% of the time.-Toby

GRIM DAWN MENTIONED WOOOO

reminds me of lands of galzyr

Hi Daniel! How would you say does this compare to a game like Folklore; the Affliction, if it compares at all?

Dang you got me interested in this game and that's the last thing I need is another game.

Everything just looks so small. Maybe not for my old eyes.

Good video. Can someone help with advice which game to pick - this or to wait for Lands of Evershade. I think i can do LP for Story of Many but i'm not sure do i need two big RPG games

I'm torn. On one hand the over all concept is what I'm looking for in a game. And the price, while high, it's appropriate for this size game. On the other hand, this will probably be another big box game that will never be played. I don't think I like the combat system. (I don't think their is a combat system anywhere that I truly like.) No, I will not back this game, but I may buy it later if it is available for retail purchase.

Was initially interested but now skipping this for Lands of Evershade.

Reminds me of Tainted Grail with all the book keeping. You mentioned that the game is a table hog and that it barely fits on your table. Could you share the dimensions of your table so we can have a measurement of comparison for our own gaming tables ? Thanks.

This made me think, do games like this offer something that the solo role play experience can’t?

I wonder how easy it is to set this up and take down after a game play session? I assume you will not be able to finish the game in a few hours, and I need to able to have some kind of save feature so I can keep track of the progress.

Looks interesting. Will need to do more research before thinking about backing it. That Ultimate Standee Box has 800+ standees. 😱

The fact that they're using wire-bound books tells me they're improving on existing industry design practice - more of these games should have wire-bound books! I am definitely going to give this another look - I love the idea of campaign games, but they always seem to get away from me. If this really does support a shorter, more focused game play experience, that's a huge advantage!

Stickers? Hmmm... I'll have to see how much work there will be to be able to play it without using them (removable or not). 😮‍💨 Even epic campaign video games I like to essily reset and start from the beginning. Maybe some kind of notebook/print-out could help?

According to all the (very disappointing when it comes to mechanics and world building) gameplay videos about Story of Many, I really do not see Story of Many in any comparison to all the games you mention in the intro. The overall gameplay seems to be very boring to be honest.

Thoughts on this vs lands of galyzer?

How does it compare to the League of Dungeoneers ?

In RPG's shops they should add the option of buy back just like real life! Lol 😆

It all sounded great till I heard about the tiers (level scaling in video games).

I don't know man, I'm not a fan of how the new trend is how boardgames are trying to be table top videogames.

did you back arydia? (far off games) what about other campaign games to be released?

The problem with me is I am into too many fandoms! Great for me not for my wallet! Lol 😆

Games are getting too good!

No solo play, no lone wolf adventuring in this world, you said ? Well, not a problem, I'll play a character suffering from dissociative identity disorder !😋

Hmm stickers, I hate those legacy elements even if they are reusable stickers, much rather have a printable sheet I can tick off

I think the overworld part and the exploration seems cool. However i need to see a more complex combat encounter because the one rolling solo showed was pretty much "I roll a die, enemy rolls a die, rince repeat" i know it was a beginning encounter but i couldnt see how it would change. And I already tried folklore the affliction where i loved the other parts of the game but the combat kildede the game for me. While you say 180 enemies is great for variety most games to me can only get up there by being shallow "statfests" instead of each enemy being its own thing. Compare sword and sorcery with descent. Sword and sorcery only has like 12 types of enemies + bosses over its full campaign (original one) but when I fight an orc warrior damn does it feel like an orc warrior

This looks like just what I want. Campaign and bite sized!

Hmm.. If I back this my dream of fighting a rabid pygmy can finally come true, well in game at least.

I really like the card generated mini-dungeon idea. Would be cool if a game like Dungeon Degenerates worked something like that into their overland scheme to introduce a bit of "tactical" feel.

I’m gonna back this. However. I was wondering what your opinion of Vrahode is?.

Love your channel

There certainly something attractive about the game. The open world with many places to explore. The many quests. The fact you don't know what you will face has always drawn me in to what I like about fantasy games. But, having only 50 unique regions to explore considering the size of the map, the smallish number of quest cards per each of the 50 locales might reduce the true extent of what the game will offer. Having said that once the game is finished all of this I hope will expand thereby enhancing the richness and excitement I hope this game is promising to deliver. Until then I wait and see.

Could anyone comment on this game compared to "Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread", which I know has not been fulfilled yet, but comparing what you know about each game and giving a breakdown. They both sound like Grand RPG Adventure Board games, both expensive, and both seemed to arrive on Kickstarter with great acclaim or interest. Thank you very much for your time responding thoughtfully.

Are you backing the expansion or only the base game? Dont know if it adds a lot or not