Hey Sam, thanks for the prompt video reviewing the alternative maps! Just a quick correction for 05:27. It seems there are 4 (not 3) spots for Archaeologist.
@@markanderson100 Haha, no I didn't take it that way. It's just funny to me because I also messed up counting map 7 but could edit it before the video went live!
I say "new map" and "old map" a fair bit in the video. Just to clarify - the publisher doesn't see these maps as replacing the original ones in any way. They released them as extra content for the BGA players who have hundreds of games under their belt and want more variety. Having said that, they did a pretty good job of balancing the alternative maps out.
this is kinda random but I wanna say I really appreciated your content. you always go straight to the point and are really good at explaining things, some people are good at the game but really bad at explaining, you're not. Right now I'm a bit bored of Ark Nova but I love watching you plays WAWW and TFM. Cheers!
I played my first game on 5a and can attest it is greatly improved. I was able to open with larger animals and still get good early coverage on the restaurant. I was also able to skip upgrading build and was not punished for doing so.
Also played my first game on it two days ago. Feels really nice to build a size 4 and hit the Restaurant twice! I think not upgrading build will be nearly mandatory on this map. It really doesn't need it!
Thanks for posting! Really like this video and excited for the new maps! Observation Tower is my favorite so was glad it got buffed. I know you haven't played much but curious to hear if you like these changes and how you think it could impact the game
I do like the changes. I've played a couple of games now and the maps feel pretty even. It's still a small sample size, of course, we'll see after a few months of playing. I don't think it will change how the game is played on BGA much. These maps will be in the next arena season, but as everyone gets the same maps their strength is kind of irrelevant.
Do you think these alternatives are balanced with the expansion in mind? There are very limited spots for aquariums in the original formats where the map is split in half rock and water. For my marine world games where I got a map that’s split in half, it’s either you have a starting hand of aquarium animals and build that size 5 aquarium early or ignore aquatic species totally cause you have no space for that size 5 aquarium later on.
That could definitely be part of it. Ice Cream Parlors for sure had issues. Very tricky to fit an Aquarium and Aviary on that map without the new water in the top left.
Great video. From my first few plays definitely enjoying them, as you say, they have addressed a lot of the main criticism of each map. Do you have any thoughts on the overall balance of the 8 maps compared to before, or is that more just time will tell?
I would say they are more equal now for sure. They've nerfed the previous "best" 2 maps (Lake, Outdoor) and buffed the previous "worst" 2 maps (Hollywood, Observation).
It's a common theme with all of the alternative maps, early game placement bonuses seem more spread out and harder to get. The rep and 5 money are rarely near each other. It will be interesting to see after a few months of playing with them. I still feel Observation Tower is going to be very strong
Very interesting changes although most are not that big. I quite like them as most seem to make the maps itself more interesting by making it harder to decide where to play. Only thing I don't like is how they seemed to have made upgraded build spots more annoying. I think the game is more interesting if card upgrades are more fluid. Maps that require upgraded build so much usually make you get it early because it's useful for kiosks etc anyway. Outdoor areas also seems to get gimped a bit much for no reason. In general though many maps the reputation spots seem much more out of the way of the most attractive bonus spots. Makes uni openings much weaker without other sources of rep on those maps because the basic plan of starting on a rep spot, 2 unis, upgrade build and something and building towards the best bonus spots is not so easy anymore. Not sure what to think of that yet because I think you'll just want to open partner zoo more now unless you have reputation in hand. Commercial harbor especially gets gimped by this and I'm not sure if I like it. The map seems better if you got a good partner zoo hand or reputation in hand but otherwise opening uni and starting top right feels very weak, I think that introduces more luck of the draw which I don't like (double uni building on rep was always a solid plan if your hand didn't have uses for partner zoo).
Re: upgraded build spots. Silver Lake definitely got hit with terrible spots. Park Restaurant on the other hand seems like it's almost mandatory to not upgrade build now. I like having any upgrade option open for any map, so maybe those changes are a bit for the worse. Re: universities. No doubt they will still be strong. I think we will just see more 1st upgrade Animals to get that 5th rep and 2nd upgrade. Maybe that is even a good thing!
Hey Sam, thanks for the prompt video reviewing the alternative maps! Just a quick correction for 05:27. It seems there are 4 (not 3) spots for Archaeologist.
Make note people, Sam can't count Archaeologist spots.
@@NoWondersTV Sorry, Sam! Didn't mean it that way!
@@markanderson100 Haha, no I didn't take it that way. It's just funny to me because I also messed up counting map 7 but could edit it before the video went live!
@@NoWondersTV Ah! Given how quickly you put out the video for the alt maps, definitely worth the tradeoff!
I say "new map" and "old map" a fair bit in the video. Just to clarify - the publisher doesn't see these maps as replacing the original ones in any way. They released them as extra content for the BGA players who have hundreds of games under their belt and want more variety. Having said that, they did a pretty good job of balancing the alternative maps out.
this is kinda random but I wanna say I really appreciated your content. you always go straight to the point and are really good at explaining things, some people are good at the game but really bad at explaining, you're not. Right now I'm a bit bored of Ark Nova but I love watching you plays WAWW and TFM. Cheers!
Thanks! I'll continue playing those on the Sunday stream
Amazing video. No useless banter or going too far into niche situations.
Just very clear analysis of old play patterns and new dilemmas.
Great explanation of the play patterns that guided the designers’ changes. You make it very clear what they are trying to change.
Top notch explanations, very clear and to the point. Thanks for the video!
Thank you Sam, great analysis!
That was fast Sam! Well done
I played my first game on 5a and can attest it is greatly improved. I was able to open with larger animals and still get good early coverage on the restaurant. I was also able to skip upgrading build and was not punished for doing so.
Also played my first game on it two days ago. Feels really nice to build a size 4 and hit the Restaurant twice! I think not upgrading build will be nearly mandatory on this map. It really doesn't need it!
Thanks for posting! Really like this video and excited for the new maps! Observation Tower is my favorite so was glad it got buffed. I know you haven't played much but curious to hear if you like these changes and how you think it could impact the game
I do like the changes. I've played a couple of games now and the maps feel pretty even. It's still a small sample size, of course, we'll see after a few months of playing. I don't think it will change how the game is played on BGA much. These maps will be in the next arena season, but as everyone gets the same maps their strength is kind of irrelevant.
note: clever spot was a practically irrelevant bonus, archeologist on this map was used for the 2 spots that havent been changed
Sure, but what about the Side Entrance players???
Do you think these alternatives are balanced with the expansion in mind? There are very limited spots for aquariums in the original formats where the map is split in half rock and water. For my marine world games where I got a map that’s split in half, it’s either you have a starting hand of aquarium animals and build that size 5 aquarium early or ignore aquatic species totally cause you have no space for that size 5 aquarium later on.
That could definitely be part of it. Ice Cream Parlors for sure had issues. Very tricky to fit an Aquarium and Aviary on that map without the new water in the top left.
Thank you to whoever gave me a gift membership
likewise lol
Very nice breakdown Sam!
I want these maps physically! Map Pack #2?
Don't think there are any plans to release them in the immediate future, but they are printable with files on BGG!
Great video. From my first few plays definitely enjoying them, as you say, they have addressed a lot of the main criticism of each map. Do you have any thoughts on the overall balance of the 8 maps compared to before, or is that more just time will tell?
I would say they are more equal now for sure. They've nerfed the previous "best" 2 maps (Lake, Outdoor) and buffed the previous "worst" 2 maps (Hollywood, Observation).
9:13 there's a weird sound if you can mute it in post-production on the TH-cam editor maybe?
Annoying, but fixed now. Thanks
12:20 too
Not so sure observation tower is a buff. If you have water sure but it also seems a bit tougher to get the placement bonuses like the 5 money now
It's a common theme with all of the alternative maps, early game placement bonuses seem more spread out and harder to get. The rep and 5 money are rarely near each other. It will be interesting to see after a few months of playing with them. I still feel Observation Tower is going to be very strong
Nice job, Sam! I wonder if they will they will release these IRL as well?
Answer is no, although I believe they just added the files on BGG so people can print them!
@@NoWondersTV 😭
Very interesting changes although most are not that big. I quite like them as most seem to make the maps itself more interesting by making it harder to decide where to play.
Only thing I don't like is how they seemed to have made upgraded build spots more annoying. I think the game is more interesting if card upgrades are more fluid. Maps that require upgraded build so much usually make you get it early because it's useful for kiosks etc anyway. Outdoor areas also seems to get gimped a bit much for no reason.
In general though many maps the reputation spots seem much more out of the way of the most attractive bonus spots. Makes uni openings much weaker without other sources of rep on those maps because the basic plan of starting on a rep spot, 2 unis, upgrade build and something and building towards the best bonus spots is not so easy anymore. Not sure what to think of that yet because I think you'll just want to open partner zoo more now unless you have reputation in hand. Commercial harbor especially gets gimped by this and I'm not sure if I like it. The map seems better if you got a good partner zoo hand or reputation in hand but otherwise opening uni and starting top right feels very weak, I think that introduces more luck of the draw which I don't like (double uni building on rep was always a solid plan if your hand didn't have uses for partner zoo).
Re: upgraded build spots. Silver Lake definitely got hit with terrible spots. Park Restaurant on the other hand seems like it's almost mandatory to not upgrade build now. I like having any upgrade option open for any map, so maybe those changes are a bit for the worse.
Re: universities. No doubt they will still be strong. I think we will just see more 1st upgrade Animals to get that 5th rep and 2nd upgrade. Maybe that is even a good thing!