I was actually the rules editor for this game. It is heavy, but like you said, the theme integration is absolutely fantastic: I have never played a game like this before! My recommendation for new players is to just focus on their role for the first game. After a few rounds, you will see how it all comes together. This makes the learning curve more manageable.
Thanks for the impressions. Back in the day I would have jumped at this. But at age 72 it sounds from this video, and others, that it would be overwhelming. Especially as I would be playing solo.
I'm with ya Cody! I totally agree with you with regards to Euros, theme and the lack of interaction . Although I have come around to them to an extent, I have the same problems with Euros that you do. But I really like this game. The way the economy interlocks is really interesting. It also has an element of "push-your-luck" to it in that you want to do well, but if you do *too well* you begin to tank the economy by dominating at the expense of the other players who can't supply you with the "customers" you need to sustain yourself, and they actively begin to play against you. We found that, by the end of our first play through, we were really "getting it" and could see a lot of potential. Subsequent play tjroughs were a lot of fun as we got to grips with the inter-player interaction. Inter-player interaction. In a Euro. What a concept! It's long though - that's the biggest issue. It demands a day all to itself.
Nice review but I just wanted to point out how i liked the different Cody's we had. Gamer Cody (Long Beard), Professor Cody (Goatee) and Reviewer Cody (Clean Shaved).
The idea of a game where you play a middle manager or laborer reminds me of the old cartoon with a bunch of mythical creatures sitting around a table playing an RPG where their characters are all office workers.
I really like the look of this game, but I’m not sure I could talk anyone into playing it with me. Has anyone played and if so was it really that hard to learn?
I have read the whole rulebook by now, and watch some playthrough. But the copy of my friend will probably arrive in a few weeks. I hope me and my friends have a blast.😁 PS. im also not fond of euros for usually lacking theme.
Hey Cody, love your channel. Looking to pick this game up, love the way you explained it but I’m curious would you say it leans more towards ”roleplayable” or negotiation? I skipped John Company because that’s basically negotiation The Game to me and my group just gets bogged down indefinitely in those kinds of games. A bit of roleplay however sounds great!
Another solid video! Thanks for doing it. I’m still hesitating to remove the shrink from mine. I think you may’ve helped me get a step closer! Anyway, I’d argue that ‘Hegemony’ is NOT a Euro. Just because a game focuses on economics doesn’t automatically make it one. “Ameritrash” games can also be about economics as well. Especially if the mechanics are DRIVEN by the theme, which for ‘Hegemony’ seems to be the case. I submit that if it was a Euro, then you wouldn’t have been immersed as much as you were. ‘Hegemony’s use of “take that” interaction, head to head confrontation, integration of theme+mechanics, detailed situational rules, and victory objectives make it more “Ameritrash” then Eurogame. Also, it sounds a lot like ‘2 Minutes to Midnight’, a recent game by Plague Island Games, about Cold War era world-wide geopolitics. That too, is an “Ameritrash” game. It’s the best Cold War geopolitical simulation out there. Finally, have you played ‘High Frontier’? (Latest version, ‘High Frontier 4 All’). If so, then how do you feel the complexity of the two games compare?
If it ain’t got dice, it’s a Euro 😅. I played High Frontier maybe ten years ago and just couldn’t get into it. Part of it was my newness to the wider world of gaming, part of it was a lousy rulebook and overly complex systems. Thanks!
I agree with you although I don't really care about the labels. You can call it Euro, doesn't matter, but... Hegemony has nothing in common with other "heavy euro" games I have (ex. weather machine, kanban). It's not as complex, abstract, I'm focused more in interaction and politics than the end goal strategy and point salad. Most of the time, I'm not even thinking about points, I'm too immersed (even in SOLO) in the theme. For example, when playing WC, I think "I need union in blue and red, I need L3 wages, I need free healthcare". I don't think "I need to go there, do that in order to then do that and the other thing so I can get the series done and get 10 points".
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Well, if at ALL interested, you MIGHT want to take a fresh look at the 4th edition. They've made significant steps toward making the game more "accessable", and have re-organized/revised the rulebooks.
I absolutely love the ambition and theme of this game, but the 4.0 weighting on BGG is too much. I like things around the mid 2s like Sniper Elite, Wingspan, Tyrants of the Underdark, Raiders of Scythia. That depth of rules is optimal for my sanity.
Thx for this review. Please say your other channel's name more slowly, or spell it out, or reply here. I really couldnt follow it, but our gaming group is interested in history. Thx
I was actually the rules editor for this game. It is heavy, but like you said, the theme integration is absolutely fantastic: I have never played a game like this before!
My recommendation for new players is to just focus on their role for the first game. After a few rounds, you will see how it all comes together. This makes the learning curve more manageable.
Thanks!
@ericengstrom2138 I think you did a great job with the manual/instructions! 🙂 Most of the information is very digestible and easy to find.
@@ronnieballs8145 Thank you!
Good timing with this one. Just received mine. Can’t wait to dig in.
I think you’ll enjoy it.
Thanks for the impressions. Back in the day I would have jumped at this. But at age 72 it sounds from this video, and others, that it would be overwhelming. Especially as I would be playing solo.
Happy to help.
Man, I rarely see you struggling so much to tell us how you feel about the game! 😁 Must really be a hard one. Great review, Cody!
@@DonBuonasera Eh? I told you how I felt. No struggles here.
The poker pun in the beginning won me over. Solid review. I'm excited to table this this week.
Thanks! There’s a learning curve, but it’s awesome!
I'm with ya Cody!
I totally agree with you with regards to Euros, theme and the lack of interaction . Although I have come around to them to an extent, I have the same problems with Euros that you do.
But I really like this game.
The way the economy interlocks is really interesting. It also has an element of "push-your-luck" to it in that you want to do well, but if you do *too well* you begin to tank the economy by dominating at the expense of the other players who can't supply you with the "customers" you need to sustain yourself, and they actively begin to play against you.
We found that, by the end of our first play through, we were really "getting it" and could see a lot of potential. Subsequent play tjroughs were a lot of fun as we got to grips with the inter-player interaction.
Inter-player interaction.
In a Euro.
What a concept!
It's long though - that's the biggest issue. It demands a day all to itself.
True dat. Long game. Thanks.
The class dynamics in this game are very interesting!
Indeed they are.
Nice review but I just wanted to point out how i liked the different Cody's we had. Gamer Cody (Long Beard), Professor Cody (Goatee) and Reviewer Cody (Clean Shaved).
I'm glad you categorized them. I'm still trying to figure out who's who!
Great first impressions! Thank you. I would love to get a video with your thoughts on John Company, 2nd Edition.
Thank you. I may try to hit John Company in the future. Thanks.
Thanks for being honest. I will see if my gamer group has this one...give it a try.
I always try to be. Hope you get a chance to check it out.
I just got shipping notification today for it!
Fantastic! Hope you enjoy it.
I'm definitely interested in this game and hope I get a chance to play it even though I'm also not into heavy euros. Heavy gyros on the other hand...
I hear you, sir.
The idea of a game where you play a middle manager or laborer reminds me of the old cartoon with a bunch of mythical creatures sitting around a table playing an RPG where their characters are all office workers.
Ha!
Thank you for this review!
Question, how would you compare it to Mr President? I know you liked that game too
They don’t compare. Very different games.
I really like the look of this game, but I’m not sure I could talk anyone into playing it with me. Has anyone played and if so was it really that hard to learn?
There is a very high learning curve. But it is worth it.
I have read the whole rulebook by now, and watch some playthrough.
But the copy of my friend will probably arrive in a few weeks. I hope me and my friends have a blast.😁
PS. im also not fond of euros for usually lacking theme.
You should enjoy it.
Hey Cody, love your channel. Looking to pick this game up, love the way you explained it but I’m curious would you say it leans more towards ”roleplayable” or negotiation? I skipped John Company because that’s basically negotiation The Game to me and my group just gets bogged down indefinitely in those kinds of games. A bit of roleplay however sounds great!
There is negotiation, for sure. But you really get caught up here in your role, and it leads to a lot of fun interactions.
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Cool, that’s what I was looking. Thx!
Another solid video! Thanks for doing it. I’m still hesitating to remove the shrink from mine. I think you may’ve helped me get a step closer!
Anyway, I’d argue that ‘Hegemony’ is NOT a Euro. Just because a game focuses on economics doesn’t automatically make it one. “Ameritrash” games can also be about economics as well. Especially if the mechanics are DRIVEN by the theme, which for ‘Hegemony’ seems to be the case. I submit that if it was a Euro, then you wouldn’t have been immersed as much as you were. ‘Hegemony’s use of “take that” interaction, head to head confrontation, integration of theme+mechanics, detailed situational rules, and victory objectives make it more “Ameritrash” then Eurogame.
Also, it sounds a lot like ‘2 Minutes to Midnight’, a recent game by Plague Island Games, about Cold War era world-wide geopolitics. That too, is an “Ameritrash” game. It’s the best Cold War geopolitical simulation out there.
Finally, have you played ‘High Frontier’? (Latest version, ‘High Frontier 4 All’). If so, then how do you feel the complexity of the two games compare?
If it ain’t got dice, it’s a Euro 😅. I played High Frontier maybe ten years ago and just couldn’t get into it. Part of it was my newness to the wider world of gaming, part of it was a lousy rulebook and overly complex systems. Thanks!
I agree with you although I don't really care about the labels.
You can call it Euro, doesn't matter, but...
Hegemony has nothing in common with other "heavy euro" games I have (ex. weather machine, kanban).
It's not as complex, abstract, I'm focused more in interaction and politics than the end goal strategy and point salad.
Most of the time, I'm not even thinking about points, I'm too immersed (even in SOLO) in the theme.
For example, when playing WC, I think "I need union in blue and red, I need L3 wages, I need free healthcare".
I don't think "I need to go there, do that in order to then do that and the other thing so I can get the series done and get 10 points".
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Well, if at ALL interested, you MIGHT want to take a fresh look at the 4th edition. They've made significant steps toward making the game more "accessable", and have re-organized/revised the rulebooks.
Cody have you played John company?
I have not. Heard good things.
cody..whats your favorite euro games?
I’d have to think about that one.
Sounds like Monopoly on steroids.
A fair assessment.
I absolutely love the ambition and theme of this game, but the 4.0 weighting on BGG is too much. I like things around the mid 2s like Sniper Elite, Wingspan, Tyrants of the Underdark, Raiders of Scythia. That depth of rules is optimal for my sanity.
Generally I agree with you as far as weight. However, occasionally I will make an exception if something really catches my eye. Thanks.
Thx for this review. Please say your other channel's name more slowly, or spell it out, or reply here. I really couldnt follow it, but our gaming group is interested in history.
Thx
Cody Carlson, PhD. The link is in the description of this video.
Dude cut off his amazing beard 😢
But it lives on in our hearts.
Professor Cody seduced by a political game!
Ha! Yeah. Doesn't take much.
Your intro puns are so bad they might start world war III
Then the world will be forever on the brink!