Board Game Review! Call To Adventure from Brotherwise Games!

Greetings Fellow Board Gamers!

 

The featured game for this article and video review is a game from Brotherwise Games, Call to Adventure.

Call to Adventure on Board Game Geek – here.

* Note – This is not a ‘How to Play’ or tutorial type article. This is a review of the game components and brief review of game play.

Make your fate! Inspired by character-driven fantasy storytelling, Call to Adventure challenges 2-4 players to create the hero with the greatest destiny by acquiring traits, facing challenges, and overcoming adversaries.

Call to Adventure features a unique “rune rolling” system for resolving challenges, a point-based system that encourages storytelling, and over 150 unique cards. Players begin each game with an origin card that provides their backstory as well as two “starter” abilities. Each round they may either acquire trait cards from the board or face a challenge. Challenges each have two possible paths a player can choose from. For example, players who encounter the Thieves’ Guild may choose to train as a spy, or train as a killer. Each challenge has a difficulty that must be overcome by rolling successes on carved runes. The more a player has of the abilities required to overcome the challenge, the more runes they will be able to cast.

Failed challenges lead players to acquire experience points that may be spent to “push” through tougher challenges. But beware, while some negative experiences will help your hero grow, too many tragedies set them on a dark path.

As players’ heroes grow in ability and experience, they move on to harder challenges, eventually facing deadly adversaries and acquiring more and more destiny points. The player whose hero has the highest destiny score wins the game.

If you like storytelling or just like acquiring as many points as possible, you might want to check this game out!

Rules

I noticed that Brotherwise has taken note of particular things and is planning to update the rule books for future printings. That’s something I love about gaming companies – when they take note and listen to their players! My rule book is a first edition, so it’s already out of date. My judgement on the rule book is not over the updates – only the first edition version.

The rule book is simple to follow and also appears to cover everything, until you start playing. Then you’re left trying to figure out what particular things mean or how certain cards work. We had to turn to BGG forums for several things, but we eventually figured it out. Once the errata is added to the new printings, I think the books will be fine.

Components and Game Play

You can find a review video on my YouTube channel that shows all of the components with a brief description and also a review of the game play.

You can follow this link directly to my video – HERE.

Summary

This game appeals to my players that like storytelling games, but also to the ones that don’t. That’s because they can play for points and not feel pressured to tell a story at the end. We have played several times where only one or two players would tell their hero’s story, and other times where we all told stories. Playing for points over story doesn’t always guarantee you will win either. I’ve played for story many times and won or came close to winning.

Call to Adventure is loads of fun, even if you have trouble succeeding at challenges. It’s like your character is struggling to advance in their life, but at some point, the tides could turn and they make a comeback. I actually had that happen to me recently. I was still in Act I, with only one card, when the other players were in Act II already. I found my footing and completed the story with three cards under each phase of my hero’s life. I’ve also seen heroes end with only one card in the second phase of their story.

I love that the game randomness is achieved through casting runes versus rolling dice. I love rolling dice, but there times that I crave something different and unique. Not only is this game unique in its choice of random generators, but also in its game play.

Buy or Bye?

Buy!!!

This is a game that always finds its way to the table during game nights. Our group loves making stories and seeing where destiny takes their hero or villain!

Have strategies or tips for this game? Leave them in a comment!
Have cool accessories or custom pieces? Show them off!
Thanks for reading and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe for more gaming and Star Trek related content!

Board out and game on!

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Board Game Review! Remnants from Fireside Games!

Greetings Fellow Board Gamers!

 

The featured game for this article and video review is a game from Fireside Games, Remnants.

Remnants on Board Game Geek – here.

* Note – This is not a ‘How to Play’ or tutorial type article. This is a review of the game components and brief review of game play.

The world ended some time ago. Our days are dust and sand. We build what we need to survive from the remnants of the old world . . .

Remnants takes place in a post-apocalyptic world. Each player builds a compound and fights to survive Raiders and mutant creatures. Send Survivors into the Badlands to roll dice in a real-time race for Resources, and then take turns spending those Resources to buy weapon, defense, and special development cards. When threats attack, roll dice and use abilities from cards you purchased to stay alive and fend off the assault. Designed by Matthew O’Malley, Ben Rosset, and our own Justin De Witt.

Remnants takes place in a post-apocalyptic world. Each  player builds a compound and fights to survive Raiders and mutant creatures. The game is played in 5 phases: Scavenge, Build, Fight, Heal, and Cleanup. In the Scavenge phase, you send Survivors into the Badlands to roll dice in a real-time race for Resources. In the Build phase, you take turns spending those Resources to buy weapon, defense, and special development cards that enhance your compound. When threats attack, you’ll roll dice and use abilities followed by a Level 2 threat, and then finally face down the Raider Boss. After the final attack, the game ends and the player with the most Victory points is the winner.

If you like Mad Max, you should definitely be looking into this game!

Rules

I can’t think of any rule book from Fireside that’s given me serious trouble. Fireside is great about explaining things in detail and so their rule books tend to be thick and intimidating when you first pick them up. The rule book is detailed and covers just about every aspect of the game. We haven’t had a single question about Remnants that wasn’t covered in the rule book.

As a general tip, I recommend that you give yourself time to sit and read the rule book in its entirety. Then sit down with a friend or two that doesn’t mind trying to learn a new game so you can work out the ins and outs of the game. I’d do all of this before introducing it to a larger group. If your group likes learning new games together, then board out and game on!

Fireside has a link to the rule book, here.

Components and Game Play

You can find a review video on my YouTube channel that shows all of the components with a brief description and also a review of the game play.

You can follow this link directly to my video – HERE.

Summary

Remnants is not a difficult game to learn or play. It takes about ten to fifteen minutes to teach to a group. The complexity of the game comes in with the various RNG that’s in the game. You’re trying to accomplish whatever purchasing goal you have with the randomness of the Badlands cards and the dice. The development cards are different with each setup too, which I definitely like. You can bet that no two games will ever be the same. I also like that you don’t have to focus on defeating attackers in order to win. There are other ways to get the Flavor Pack VPs. I know they’re called “Flavor Packs”, but they totally look like Ketchup Packs. I almost want to buy a box of Ketchup Packs from somewhere just to use for this game. One of my favorite descriptive things from Remnants is this:“Victory Points are flavor packets because in the future, flavor is the most valuable commodity.”

Fireside is always good about putting player aids on the board, on cards to hand out, or somewhere in the game components. Once again, Fireside has not let me down! Your player board has a detailed turn order, which is really all you need once you’ve got the basics down.

I also enjoy the randomness of the attacking Raiders and the various ways you can set up the boss, like not revealing their Power Up card until the boss is actually attacking. It adds some suspense to the boss and I love it! We typically wait until we’re done with the Dread turn before flipping the Raider/Boss – which makes it that much more fun!

This game is loads of fun and it plays relatively quickly. If you like Mad Max or something similar (I LOVE Mad Max), you might like the feel of this game. It’s definitely got that Mad Max feel – you’re fighting against other players for resources and the opportunity to development your compound, while fighting for your life against the attacking Dread!

I would like to see additional Dread cards, either as an expansion/upgrade, or as an addition to a deluxe/collector’s edition of the game. I could also see miniatures and plastic tokens added as an upgrade pack or for a deluxe/collector’s edition and I would totally buy it!

The only complaint I have, has nothing to do with game play or anything really important. I wish there was a base piece or punch out spot on the player board for the turn player flag. I would love to see flag ‘flying’ over the turn player’s compound.

Buy or Bye?

Buy!!!

I hope to see expansions or upgrades in the future! This game deserves upgraded tokens! Even if you don’t dig the theme, give this game a try!

Have strategies or tips for this game? Leave them in a comment!
Have cool accessories or custom pieces? Show them off!
Thanks for reading and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe for more gaming and Star Trek related content!

Board out and game on!

Board Game Review! Tiny Epic Galaxies from Gamelyn Games!

Greetings Fellow Board Gamers!

 

The featured game for this article and video review is a game from Gamelyn Games, Tiny Epic Galaxies (base game).

Tiny Epic Galaxies on Board Game Geek – here.

* Note – This is not a ‘How to Play’ or tutorial type article. This is a review of the game components and brief review of game play.

In Tiny Epic Galaxies each player controls a galactic empire, aiming to expand their influence by acquiring highly contested planets and increasing their cosmic armada. The game revolves around an innovative dice-rolling combo mechanic. The number of dice you roll is determined by the strength of your galaxy. Each die is engraved with symbols representing the various actions you can take, such as moving a spaceship, increasing your culture or energy resources, or advancing your political or economic influence over newly discovered planets.

Through careful planning, you must make the most out of your turn, taking the available actions in whichever order you consider most beneficial. But be careful, as each of your opponents can choose to follow each action you take by expending valuable resources. This means that it can always be your turn, even when it is someone else’s turn!

Players will colonize new planets throughout the game, thereby earning victory points and accumulating special abilities which they can activate for their galactic empire. Careful spending of resources will ensure the fastest growth of your empire, while allowing you to receive the biggest possible pay‐off from the actions you take.

Will your influence be enough to control the most powerful planets in the galaxy? Will you be able to meet your secret objective along the way? Will your empire stand victorious?

There are loads of nods to great Sci-Fi classics that are cleverly placed throughout this game! That’s one of the many things I love and adore about this game.

Rules

The rule book is a quick and easy read. I didn’t have any trouble finding answers to game play questions while we played our first game. Once you get an understanding of how the game works, you may not need to pull out the rule book. We’ve played this game too many times to count since June of 2016, and we haven’t pulled the rule book out since then. There is a reminder chart on the Activation Bay that gives a brief description of what each die symbol does.

Gamelyn has a link to the rule book as well as How to Play videos up on their site, here.

Components and Game Play

You can find a review video on my YouTube channel that shows the components with a brief description and also a review of the game play.

You can follow this link directly to my video – HERE.

Summary

I love Tiny Epic games. Why? There are many reasons! One reason is because they’re all in glove-box-sized boxes but they expand into a full table game. I wish more games were like this! This makes transporting and storage so much easier. Another reason is because the games are all unique in their play style and they have various different themes. There are a couple of fantasy themed ones, but they feel different from each other because of how they play. Of all the Tiny Epics, Galaxies is my favorite because of the game play and the theme.

You upgrade your Empire to gain more dice and ships. You fly your ships around the galaxy, landing in a planet’s orbit or on the surface. You might have to race against other players across a planet’s orbit track to conquer the planet before they do. There are ways to ‘follow’ or copy an ability on a die that was just activated by another player, potentially giving you an advantage or setting you up for glorious victories on your turn. Each player also has a different Secret Mission that only they know. If you’re close enough in points to the lead player and you complete it, it could give you enough points to win the game.

There is so much fun in such a tiny box and it’s epic!

Buy or Bye?

Buy!!!

This game is a favorite among my fellow board gamers. We play it often, with and without the expansions and bonus content. I highly recommend this game for folks that love space themed games and dice games!

Have strategies or tips for this game? Leave them in a comment!
Have cool accessories or custom pieces? Show them off!
Thanks for reading and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe for more gaming and Star Trek related content!

Board out and game on!

Unboxing and Review of Star Trek Adventures Starter Set by Modiphius

Greetings Fellow Gamers!

 

Some of you may be following the crew of the U.S.S. Mulgrew already, but if you’re not, be sure to check them out! You can find the most recent (at time of writing), here. We are using Modiphius Entertainment‘s Star Trek Adventures RPG rules. If you’re not familiar with the 2D20 system, then this Star Trek Adventures RPG Starter Set is the product for you! It won’t answer every question, but it’s the perfect place to start.

In my unboxing video (HERE), you can get a look at all the items in the Star Trek Adventures Starter Set. I wanted to take a moment and put a few words in this article about what I think of the product overall as well as the individual items.

Tokens & Dice

In the starter set, you’ll find several different punch board tokens. There are Momentum, Threat, and character/ship tokens. The Momentum and Threat tokens are pieces you will definitely use for every game you play. You can use anything to represent Momentum and Threat, but it’s nice to have actual tokens designed for Momentum and Threat. The character tokens; consisting of player characters, opponents, and ships, are perfect for the starter set. You can easily use these tokens in other games too, especially if you don’t use miniatures or haven’t purchased any yet.

Overall, the tokens are standard cardboard punch out tokens, but they serve their purpose and they’re perfect for a starter set like this one.

The dice included in the starter set are two standard D20’s, and four custom D6’s. The D20’s are opaque dark maroon with white accents. The custom D6’s have two blank sides, a single burst side, a double burst side, and a Star Trek Delta symbol on two sides. The D6’s are opaque black with white accents. The special D6’s are called Challenge dice and you will use them for a variety of things in the game like rolling for work on an Extended Task’s Work Track and dealing damage in combat.

Overall, the dice are as basic as you can get for this game. Modiphius has custom premium dice available for each of the three divisions and those are made by Q Workshop. But the dice in the starter set are more than adequate for all levels of game play, so if you only have the starter dice, you’re set to play!

Maps

There are several double-sided poster maps included in this box. The maps are beautifully colored and detailed. They don’t have unnecessary reference marks on them, which makes them perfect for games beyond the starter set adventures. There are examples in the Adventure booklet that show you where to place tokens on the maps. I’m so glad that Modiphius put all the Adventure-relevant info in the book and not on the maps. The maps are made from paper, but it feels thicker, like a poster.

Overall, the maps are very pretty and useful for more than just the starter games. That’s a major plus for me. They’re also worth getting laminated, which I’ve never done for any other starter set.

Character Sheets

There are five unique characters included in this box and all of them are a different species and have a different skill set. There are a variety of ranks as well, with Lieutenant Commander being the only duplicate rank. The sheets are easy to read and have all of the important information needed to play the character. The only thing I would change on the sheets is how the Focuses are formatted. I would have made them into a bulleted list like the Values, just so they would be easier to see each individual Focus. I love how they used each characters’ division color for the accents on the sheets. That was a nice cosmetic addition that serves a functional purpose as well.

On the back of each character sheet, as well as the ship’s sheet, you will find a reference sheet that makes it easier to understand the details of play with the chosen character. Some of the reference sheets work for all the players, like the Conflict Reference on the back of the Medical Officer’s sheet.

The ship, USS Magellan, has its own character sheet. I’m so happy Modiphius chose to put a ship in the starter set! This ship can be used outside of the starter set, as well as a reference or guideline for what a ship’s completed sheet should look like. And the back of the ship’s sheet has both charts for Personal and Ship Conflict Momentum Spends – which is invaluable during play.

Overall, the character sheets appear to be complete and well thought out characters. If you read through each of the characters’ lists of Values, you can glimpse highlight of that character backstory. I also like that they left each character unnamed. Being able to name a character, even a pre-generated one, usually gives players a feeling of ownership and control of the character. The character sheets are great and could easily be used for newer players in any game, and not just this starter set. And having the reference sheets on the back of the characters sheets is so great! I’m thinking of getting these sheets laminated as well, mainly to preserve them, but also so a dry erase marker can be used for writing on the character sheet.

Starter Rule Book

This starter rules booklet is as useful as the reference sheets. All of the basic, need-to-know information is in this booklet. I really wish I had purchased this starter set before the Core Rulebook because it would have made our first few sessions go much smoother. We did fine, but there was a lot of time spent digging through the Core Rulebook for things that are easily found in this booklet. It feels like it’s made out of the same paper as the maps. The colors are gorgeous, and I love that it’s white text on black paper. It makes it easier on my eyes when I read for an extended period of time, and it looks super classy too.

Overall, I love this booklet. I didn’t think it’d be as useful as it is until I started looking though it. If I would have had this booklet when we wanted to start playing, we would be much further along in our adventures. I spent several months reading over the Core Rulebook and I would rather have started with this booklet.

Starter Campaign

I haven’t read the entire booklet, but it appears to be a full campaign, from beginning to end. There is a lot of content in this book and as you play through the campaign, it teaches you everything you need to know as a player or GM. I assume this is a TNG Era campaign since one of the playable characters is a Bajoran, but I didn’t see anything to verify this (unless I overlooked it). The Galaxy Class ship, USS Magellan, would definitely be a TNG Era ship as they weren’t in commission during Enterprise and TOS eras. I’m sure the campaign could be modified for TOS play, but not sure about ENT play. Just like the starter rulebook, the pages feel like they’re thicker than normal paper and they’re black with white text. The last few pages show where all the character tokens should be placed on the maps. The pictures are brightly colored and easy to see.

Overall, the starter campaign looks like a fun and easy way to introduce players to the Star Trek Adventures RPG system. It also looks like a great campaign for players that are already familiar with the system.

Conclusion

This is probably my favorite starter set out of all the starter sets I’ve ever purchased. It’s well rounded and contains literally everything you need to play. It has a good price for what you get in the box. You can usually find the starter set for around $30.00 (USD). That price will vary depending on where you buy it from and if there are shipping costs included. I would recommend asking your FLGS if they can order it, and if they can’t, go directly through Modiphius.

For anyone that enjoys playing through the starter, I would highly recommend picking up the Core Rulebook and These Are The Voyages Volume One. There are additional supplements for the different divisions and different quadrants space, premium tokens and dice, and miniatures! All of this is not necessary, but they do enhance game play.

Buy or Bye?

Buy!

This isn’t just great for beginners, it’s a also got handy and useful resources for players that are already in a campaign. It’s well worth having to help introduce new players to the Star Trek Adventures RPG!

Want to drop me a line? Do it here or on Facebook at Dice Dice Kitty!
Thanks for reading!

Qapla’!

Board Game Review! Bloodsuckers from Fireside Games

Greetings Fellow Board Gamers!

 

Our featured game for the weeks of October 25 and November 1 is a game from Fireside Games, Bloodsuckers.

Bloodsuckers on Board Game Geek – here.

* Note – This is not a ‘How to Play’ or tutorial type article. This is a review of the game components and brief review of game play.

The once quiet small town of Blackwood has become a battleground. A coven of vampires has crept in under the cover of darkness to drain the very life from its helpless citizens. As powerful as these creatures of legend are, they do not prowl the streets unchallenged. A team of skilled vampire hunters with an arsenal of modern weapons has tracked these bloodsuckers down and the battle for the soul of Blackwood is about to begin.

Play as either vampire or hunter, using Attack cards to battle for the citizens of Blackwood, Impact cards to enhance your powers, and deadly Strike cards to destroy your opponent. Unleash powerful combos and use Blood or Adrenaline as you fight, alone or with a teammate, through both night and day. Win battles to recruit the innocent bystanders at the Nightclub, Church, Graveyard, Police Station, and Hospital. Claim the most locations to win control of the town.

Save the town of Blackwood, or drain it dry.
The choice is yours.

This is a fighting card game where you play as either a vampire or a vampire hunter. It’s a thematic game with horror elements.

Rules

The rule book is very detailed and it will take some time to read over it. This isn’t a game that you can crack open and read along as you play. You really should have a good understanding of the rules before playing. There are lots of abilities that you need a reference for, and thankfully, Fireside has the foresight to include player aids with those references and a turn order.

Components and Game Play

You can find a review video on my YouTube channel that shows all of the components with a brief description and also a review of the game play.

You can follow this link directly to my video – HERE.

Summary

The game is easy enough to understand once you’ve read through the rule book a time or two. It can seem overwhelming at first, with all the different abilities on the bystanders, but you don’t have to memorize them. You can find a summary list on the back of your player aid card. So don’t let that discourage you. You don’t really need to memorize the turn order either since it’s on your player aid card too. Everything is pretty straight forward, there’s just a lot to it.

This is not a game for everyone. I like the game well enough, but I used to play competitive collectible card games too. Most of my play group had avoided those type of games. I feel like this game would be good for bringing collectible gaming folks into the board game world.

I love how thematic the game is. You’re literally fighting as a vampire to control the town or as a vampire hunter to save the town. Each game element is thematic for the side you choose, from the different decks to the Blood and Adrenaline Tokens.

Buy or Bye?

Buy

This is a game I wouldn’t mind having in my collection. It likely won’t see much play in my local group though, only because it’s a fighting card game. Most of our locals steer away from card games, but I’ll still play Bloodsuckers with anyone that wants to play!

Have strategies or tips for this game? Leave them in a comment!
Have cool accessories or custom pieces? Show them off!
Thanks for reading and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe for more gaming and Star Trek related content!

Board out and game on!

Board Game Review! Village Crone from Fireside Games

Greetings Fellow Board Gamers!

 

Our featured game for the weeks of October 11 and October 18 is a game from Fireside Games, Village Crone.

Village Crone on Board Game Geek – here.

* Note – This is not a ‘How to Play’ or tutorial type article. This is a review of the game components and brief review of game play.

You and your fellow players are medieval witches who have stumbled upon Wickersby, a village without a crone in this worker placement, resource management game with spellcasting!

Wickersby is built from 6 modular boards, with different locations holding the ingredients flour, fire, silver, and soil. Send your familiars out to harvest these ingredients and use them to cast spells in order to complete Witch’s Scheme cards. Each of the cards is worth 1, 2, or 3 points, which also indicates how difficult the scheme is to complete. Make villagers fall in love, turn them into frogs, or teleport them to different locations as you work to complete your Witch’s Schemes. Every scheme you complete brings you closer to the 13 points needed to win and be declared The Village Crone!

This is a resource gathering and worker placement type of game, with a little bit of sabotage sprinkled on top!

Rules

The rule book is a easy to follow and it doesn’t take long to find a rule if you need to reference the rule book during play.

Components and Game Play

You can find a review video on my YouTube channel that shows all of the components with a brief description and also a review of the game play.

You can follow this link directly to my video – HERE.

Summary

This game is just really cool with how it’s set up and how it plays. You could easily re-skin this game for other IP’s, just like Castle Panic was (hint-hint, Fireside! We need a Star Trek version!). I love the separate board pieces and how you can rearrange the board for loads of different game set ups. I like the mechanics of the game, and I like how the turn order works. The turn order keeps players engaged in what the other players are doing, and the game seems to flow smoothly because of it.

We had lots of fun with this game, not just trying to complete schemes, but also trying mess each other over. I saw that there wasn’t a very good rating for this game on Board Game Geek, and I don’t think it deserves such a low rating. There are games that I’ve played that are terrible and have a very high rating on BGG. I get that everyone is different and has games they prefer over others, but I think Village Crone got the short end of the broomstick. Guess it goes to show, you can’t always trust BGG ratings! You should always demo a game several times before making your own judgement on it. I was definitely surprised as how much fun this game was!

What the Players Said

Wednesday – The game has a good balance between strategy and fun. I like the replay-ability you get with being able to rearrange the board tiles. It’s also easy enough for newer board game players, but still fun and engaging for experienced board game players.

Brian – I think it’s a good game and I really like it. It has intricate details, but it’s not confusing. It’s overall a fun game, and it’s really fun to mess with other players too.

Olivia – I like the game story, like how we’re all witches and we’re messing with a town and the other witches around the town. It’s a really easy game to learn and fun to play!

Buy or Bye?

Buy!

This game just moved high up on my priority list. It’s fun with any number of players and can be played as a solo game. If I spend $50 or more on a game, that’s something I want an option for – solo play.

Have strategies or tips for this game? Leave them in a comment!
Have cool accessories or custom pieces? Show them off!
Thanks for reading and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe for more gaming and Star Trek related content!

Board out and game on!

Board Game Review! Tower of London from WizKids

Greetings Fellow Board Gamers!

Our featured game for the weeks of September 27 and October 4 is a game from WizKids, Tower of London.

Tower of London on Board Game Geek – here.

* Note – This is not a ‘How to Play’ or tutorial type article. This is a review of the game components and brief review of game play.

In Tower of London, players fight for control of the tower using their influence to occupy different buildings and gather ravens. Each turn players play two cards: the first card determines which building their Beefeater (guard) goes into, and the second card has a special power that triggers from the perspective of the Beefeater just placed.

At the end of a round, certain areas of the tower are scored based on who controls the majority of buildings, by having the most Beefeaters in each. The game ends at the end of three rounds or when a player collects 7 ravens, in which case the game ends immediately.

This game is about positioning your Beefeaters so you control more buildings than the other players in a particular color section, while trying to avoid having your Beefeaters taken out.

Rules

The rule book is a little confusing, but it’s a quick read. There are more than just a few typos in the rule book and while it doesn’t impact the game, it’s sad to see so many errors from a company that likes to boast so often about their board games.

Components and Game Play

You can find a review video on my YouTube channel that shows all of the components with a brief description and also a review of the game play.

You can follow this link directly to my video – HERE.

Summary

Oh boy. So, there are lots of things I don’t like and two things that I do like. I like the Raven tokens and I like the art for the Ravens on the cards. I don’t like the poor wording on the Event cards and player cards. I don’t like how the quadrants are off centered from the creases in the game board because it makes for an overly confusing time trying to visually interpret the quadrants. I don’t like that folks who are color blind could have a difficult time trying to play this game. There isn’t a clear way to tell the colored tokens apart, like different shapes or whatnot, and the player cards are not marked with a symbol or anything either. I don’t like that there aren’t any tokens or markers for ‘destroyed’ buildings. I don’t like the overall game play – it’s kind of boring actually. It’s also easy for someone to get ganged up on too and by the end of round two, they might as well not be playing anymore because they have zero chance of winning. I don’t like the convoluted turn order either. You’ve got Rounds, then Phases, then Steps within a Phase, then Turns – it’s all way to complicated for what we thought was going to be a light to medium game.

I also don’t like that game components were missing from the box and also that several of the Raven tokens have chips in them.

What the Players Said

Wednesday – I don’t like the poorly worded abilities on the cards. The most fun thing in the game was messing with opponents’ Beefeaters.

Olivia – The art is pretty and the flavor text on the Events is kinda humorous. I wish the quadrants lined up with the creases in the game board.

Sol – There is a major optical problem with the board creases and the quadrant lines. They don’t line up and they probably should. Don’t play if you’re color blind. The cards have awkward sizes too. It takes several times playing the game to get used to it, but it’s kind of fun if you can get past those things.

Buy or Bye?

BYE

There should not be that many typos in the rule book and the wording on the cards shouldn’t be so confusing. The game doesn’t look like it was playtested much but I’m not really surprised by this, #BecauseWizKids. This is not a game I’ll ever buy, even at a seriously discounted price.

Have strategies or tips for this game? Leave them in a comment!
Have cool accessories or custom pieces? Show them off!
Thanks for reading and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe for more gaming and Star Trek related content!

Board out and game on!

Board Game Review! Starfall from Pandasaurus Games and IDW Games

Greetings Fellow Board Gamers!

Our featured game for the weeks of September 13 and September 20 is a light tactical, bidding, and set building game from IDW Games and Pandasaurus Games, Starfall.

Starfall on Board Game Geek – here.

* Note – This is not a ‘How to Play’ or tutorial type article. This is a review of the game components and brief review of game play.

The night is still, cloudless and dark. An oasis of interstellar magic lies beyond the stratosphere: countless stars, burning comets, planets, ivory moons, nebulae, and perhaps even a beastly black hole or two. It’s all up there for the finding. At the Royal Hinterland Observatory, endless elaborate sky formations are within reach of discovery — but you have to lay claim before your fellow astronomers nab the glory for themselves. StarFall is a clever game of wits, bidding, and quick thinking in which the aim is to obtain the most impressive portfolio of cosmic curiosities.

This game has a light tactical aspect with some bidding. Players try to collect sets of items for more points or to block an opponent from scoring more points.

Rules

The rule book is a quick read and the learning curve is very small. The game can be easily explained in a matter of minutes. The scoring can get slightly confusing if not explained properly, and you’ll likely need pen and paper to add up your scores.

Components and Game Play

You can find a review video on my YouTube channel that shows all of the components with a brief description and also a review of the game play.

You can follow this link directly to my video – HERE.

Summary

I like games that make me think ahead. This is definitely one of them. If you don’t have access to the entire pool of tiles, you have to think about the odds of not getting a second Black Hole, or if it’s worth it to try and collect Nebula tiles. You also have to think about potentially spending tiles with stars on them instead of your stardust. I love playing this game and it’s simple enough to learn. The complexity comes with tactics and strategy and calculating odds.

Turns go quickly and players need to pay attention to what everyone else is doing. This is not a game for everyone, but it’s a game that everyone can play.

What the Players Said

Wednesday – It’s unique and has pretty art, but I thought it was boring to play.

Olivia – It’s a pretty game with pretty pieces and it’s fun and easy to play.

Buy or Bye?

Buy!

This game is one that’s got mixed reviews among my locals, so it doesn’t get played as much as I’d like to play. I absolutely love this game and play it anytime I have a chance.

Have strategies or tips for this game? Leave them in a comment!
Have cool accessories or custom pieces? Show them off!
Thanks for reading and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe for more gaming and Star Trek related content!

Board out and game on!

Board Game Review! Dragons & Chickens from Devir Games

Greetings Fellow Board Gamers!

 

Our featured game for the weeks of August 30 and September 6 is a party game from Devir Games, Dragons & Chickens.

Dragons & Chickens on Board Game Geek – here.

* Note – This is not a ‘How to Play’ or tutorial type article. This is a review of the game components and brief review of game play.

In this game by Josep Maria Allue and Dani Gomez, illustrated by Siscu Belliso, the winning player is the first to leave the dungeon with the most treasure. Keep a keen eye, because beyond collecting treasure, players must hide from a terrible dragon, catch chickens…and of course, steal from their companions.

This a fun party game for all kinds of players!

Rules

The rule book is a quick read and the learning curve is very small. The game can be easily explained in a matter of minutes.

Components and Game Play

You can find a review video on my YouTube channel that shows all of the components with a brief description and also a review of the game play.

You can follow this link directly to my video – HERE.

Summary

I’ve played plenty of party games and this one is definitely a hoot. It’s way more fun than I thought it would be, and it’s not as much about dexterity as other games that incorporate dexterity. The main focus of the game of recognition – you need to be able to recognize shapes and items easily and then be able to determine if there are more of those than the others. The only time dexterity comes into play is if the Dragon shows up and then you have to race for the shield. The good part about that is you don’t have to be first, just don’t be last! The other times it comes into play is if there are items tied for the most or if there is an unlit torch. But dexterity is only a real factor for those that notice the visual queues.

I like that this game plays quickly. I think the setup is what seems to be the slowest part because you have to divide the cards evenly among the players. I do like that you don’t have to be the fastest person to win this game. So long as you don’ get caught by the dragon, you won’t lose treasure. And if you happen to get caught, if you have a Chicken card, you can avoid the Dragon by giving it to him.

This is a game I’d definitely play with kids or at a family get together. It’s fun and easy to understand and doesn’t require long explanations. I’m not sure it would be a good gateway game, but it’s definitely one that you can play with folks that aren’t serious board gamers and everyone can have a good time.

What the Players Said

Brian – Always look for matches and don’t worry so much about the Dragon. It’s a really fun party game.

North – Don’t let the title fool you! This is a game worth playing. It’s a great family game with a super easy learning curve.

Wednesday – I love the fast paced panic and how very violent it can feel for being short game, but it’s very fun! It’s surprisingly fun, but I don’t like touching other people, so I don’t like that part.

Katie – I love the chickens! It’d be really great as a gateway family game. Super easy and would be great for kids. I love the treasure chest and shield components. I love the art and how the Dragon is hidden and not always easy to spot right away.

Buy or Bye?

Buy

This is a game I need to keep with me wherever I go. It’s a great game for various occasions.

Have strategies or tips for this game? Leave them in a comment!
Have cool accessories or custom pieces? Show them off!
Thanks for reading and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe for more gaming and Star Trek related content!

Board out and game on!

Board Game Review! Ticket to Ride from Days of Wonder

Greetings Fellow Board Gamers!

 

Our featured game for the weeks of August 16 and August 23 is a unique game from Days of Wonder, Ticket to Ride.

Ticket to Ride on Board Game Geek – here.

* Note – This is not a ‘How to Play’ or tutorial type article. This is a review of the game components and brief review of game play.

Ticket to Ride is a cross-country train adventure in which players collect and play matching train cards to claim railway routes connecting cities throughout North America.

The longer the routes, the more points they earn.

Additional points come to those who can fulfill their Destination Tickets by connecting two distant cities, and to the player who builds the longest continuous railway.

This a lightly competitive game that lots of players can enjoy. There is some light reading on the ticket cards, which could make it difficult for younger players that can’t read yet to complete the Tickets. You’re trying to complete Tickets while completing additional routes for more points.

Rules

The rule book is a quick read and the game is very easy to learn. The difficulty comes in the tactics and the randomness of the cards. It’s not hard to play at all, but your strategy and tactics will not be the same, based on your draws or the selection from the face up cards.

Components and Game Play

You can find a review video on my YouTube channel that shows all of the components with a brief description and also a review of the game play.

You can follow this link directly to my video – HERE.

Summary

I’ve played the USA and Europe version of Ticket to Ride and I thoroughly enjoyed both. The Europe version is slightly different, but both play similar. I haven’t played any of the other versions. The USA version of the game is the one we will be playing on August 16 and 23 (2018). Ticket to Ride is such a wonderful family game and it’s a lot of fun. It’s definitely easy enough for folks that aren’t frequent board game players. It’s also a great gateway game to get those folks into more advanced board games as well.

I like how the strategy and tactics can change in the blink of an eye, depending on what face up cards are available and what cards you draw. I also like that you can get additional Ticket cards and that there is a drawback for not completing them, which prevents players from hoarding too many.

What the Players Said

Katie – The pieces are cute and fun. The game feels almost too easy to play, but it’s a lot harder to play when the board is upside down.

North – The states could use a different color treatment or lighter shading or something to make the cities easier to locate. I still love it and it’s a staple for my collection. “Tickets, please!”

Wednesday – I like the steampunk look but I hated playing it. It feels clunky and I don’t like the game play or strategy.

Buy or Bye?

Buy

I need to add this game to my collection. It’s fun, strategic, and engaging.

Have strategies or tips for this game? Leave them in a comment!
Have cool accessories or custom pieces? Show them off!
Thanks for reading and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe for more gaming and Star Trek related content!

Board out and game on!