Herb Witches adds: -Pieces for a 5th player -An ingredient book for each of the existing ingredients -Two new types of ingredients (6 pumpkins and locoweed) -Herb which tiles and pennies Alchemists adds: -Two books for locoweed -More fortune teller cards -Alchemist flask boards and other components to use them (patient charts, essence cards, etc.) If you only care about adding more variety to the existing mechanisms, it looks to me like the first expansion is much better. More stuff that I'll always use.
That was my thought too. First expansion seems way more useful and versatile unless you absolutely want the alchemy board. The event cards you might not even see in a game. I disagree with Tom on this one.
I think Tom is really underselling the first expansion, it just has so many things that I always include so I just forget it’s an expansion. It has: 1 new book for every color, so the regular colors have 6 options instead of 4. The big pumpkins exist, and black has 3 options instead of 1. This is such a great amount of variety that it’s essential to get if you want to play quacks more than maybe 10 times. Player pieces for the fifth player, I almost always play this with 4 or 5 players so the first expansion is a must. Overflowing Bowls for when you have an overpowered set of ingredients and everyone is getting to the end of the pot. New Ingredient book, Locoweed, with 2 options for how to play it. And finally, the only thing that I sometimes skip, the herb witches themselves. I don’t teach quacks with them, but everything else I include. But for seasoned players their one-time abilities are very fun to use. Meanwhile this new expansion has some new fortune teller cards. Patient curing / essence minigame which lengthens the game and is a table hog. And 4 new options for the Locoweed. I think it’s obvious which expansion to get.
I find that you can probably play the overflowing mechanic without the extra cardboard since it’s very simple to remember. I’m not interested in 5 players. And this expansion comes with Locoweed tokens and 4 Locoweed abilities. Imo, I find this expansion a little more interesting.
I like the Herb Witches expansion. It only makes the game slightly heavier whereas Alchmists looks like it will cause more decision space which might slow things down. Great video as always Tom!
Not to be that guy, but... Tom is exaggerating a little about how hard it is to fit both expansions in the one box (if you threw out the insert). I think I'm going to switch back to the base box cos mine is a little tight but currently I have the base game, both expansions and the upgraded chips in the Herb Witches expansion box which is half the thickness of the base game.
To be fair, it’s possible he just had a tough time doing it personally. I know I have that problem often with my game storage till someone goes “put this that way, try it like this” and then I feel dumb hahaha so he might have just tried a different way than others
@@MussoGames point taken, Tom has complained about this in the past and the only reason I commented here was because I'm currently storing everything he's storing in a box half the size so his comment felt especially erroneous this time.
@@Phildiculous no i understand, I’ve seen storage videos where people have everything, including promos and the upgraded bags and chips and containers, and bowls, and it still all fit fine in the box. Maybe he didn’t throw out the insert? But knowing Tom, that seems unlikely hahaha
I've got the upgraded chips and a Folded Space insert, and I've been able to fit the game with both expansions in the original box. There's a bit of lid lift, like 5mm, but I just put the box in a shelf where other boxes help keep it closed and nothing falls out.
Does the folded space insert allow you to use the ingredient pieces right out of the insert while playing? I decided to pick up a sewing tray with a lid that I store the pieces in and set up is just a matter of removing the lid and they're ready to go.
Got the original game and both expansions as well as a 3D printed insert and upgraded chips all in the base box. Sure, the lis is liftet 5-7mm, but that's a small price to pay and doesn't bother me at all. As for never playing with both expansions at once... Why? I got the Herb Witches with the base game and played with them from the start, and that expansion really doesn't add any complexity at all, just a whole lot of variability. The Alchemists on the other hand DOES add complexity, though not that much. I'll play with both any time and have done so many times already.
The Herb WIthces is a must-have expansion if you have 5 players, and makes the game more fun without taking more time, useable for novices, while Alchemists makes it more complicated and takes longer time, best for experts
Bought the base game and it came with 2 dice, 3 boards and not enough of the apropriate white chips for 2 players :( Made it work anyway and we really enjoyed it. Thinking about getting the expansion just to get some more white chips... gawd i hate the white chips!
I’ve not played Alchemists, but if you don’t have the overflow bowl from the first expansion then don’t you end up overflowing the cauldron too often with the new powers provided? Overflowing the cauldron in the base game was never ideal, especially if you did it before the final round.
I used to do that, until they added all the box openings and tons of other stuff and refuse to separate content into separate channels so you can just follow the game reviews and not all the other junk. Mostly stopped watching because there's way too much, the majority of which I'm not that interested in.
I played both expansions with fairly new gamers who only played it once, and they had no issues incorporating. And I didn’t feel that this added that much more to the table.
Has anyone tried playing Quacks with 2 boxes for 8 players? Seems like it would work since you'd have enough chips for everyone and not too much waiting since everyone "stirs their pot" at the same time?
Great idea, we play 5 players and team up when we are many, always drawing and buying things without waiting for each other (only last round simultaneuas drawing, of course)
We enjoy this game but have not played it in a while and am a bit hesitant on the expansion. I personally don't like how if you explode, you basically lose most of the time. The Rat really doesn't help most of the time. Cubitos handles the 'push your luck' mechanism a bit better. I'm not sure I will get this one though
We house ruled double rat tails and noticed it made for one heck of a comeback mechanic. Deffo recommend trying it, looking to punish ppl who only go safe atm but not quite sure how.
I went for capsule containers instead due to people noting that the GeekUp components' art can wear off. Someone on BGG calculated how many I'd need, and I LOVE the way the tokens feel and sound in the draw bags.
Hm. I do have upgraded Chips. They are even bigger than the Deluxe ones Tom has. And I have both expansions. Still everything fits in the box. Not sure why Tom struggles to fit everything in the box. :-)
Disagree on the expansions! I prefer 1 over 2 frankly it feels like they split one big expansion over 2. Agree on turning into a table hog it really isn’t that bad to play with them all. I like alchemists but it’s swingy for sure.
I'm not really a fan of the 6-pumking chip from the first expansion. It's just too powerful and when you have the money for it, it makes no sense to buy anything else. It kind of makes all the other chips pointless. That said, I'm never playing without it because people love it and get angry. But I do think it was a design mistake.
I feel the exact same way. I hate playing with them, but at the same time, I love playing with them. The idea is cool (an expensive chip with no effect and a high cost), but it just feels like the number is too big. At least considering what it does. Maybe a 5 (still one higher than the biggest normal chips) would have been better at a slightly reduced cost?
Herb Witches adds:
-Pieces for a 5th player
-An ingredient book for each of the existing ingredients
-Two new types of ingredients (6 pumpkins and locoweed)
-Herb which tiles and pennies
Alchemists adds:
-Two books for locoweed
-More fortune teller cards
-Alchemist flask boards and other components to use them (patient charts, essence cards, etc.)
If you only care about adding more variety to the existing mechanisms, it looks to me like the first expansion is much better. More stuff that I'll always use.
That was my thought too. First expansion seems way more useful and versatile unless you absolutely want the alchemy board. The event cards you might not even see in a game. I disagree with Tom on this one.
Don’t forget the overflowing bowl in the first expansion
I think Tom is really underselling the first expansion, it just has so many things that I always include so I just forget it’s an expansion. It has:
1 new book for every color, so the regular colors have 6 options instead of 4. The big pumpkins exist, and black has 3 options instead of 1. This is such a great amount of variety that it’s essential to get if you want to play quacks more than maybe 10 times.
Player pieces for the fifth player, I almost always play this with 4 or 5 players so the first expansion is a must.
Overflowing Bowls for when you have an overpowered set of ingredients and everyone is getting to the end of the pot.
New Ingredient book, Locoweed, with 2 options for how to play it.
And finally, the only thing that I sometimes skip, the herb witches themselves. I don’t teach quacks with them, but everything else I include. But for seasoned players their one-time abilities are very fun to use.
Meanwhile this new expansion has some new fortune teller cards. Patient curing / essence minigame which lengthens the game and is a table hog. And 4 new options for the Locoweed.
I think it’s obvious which expansion to get.
Agreed. I already have the first expansion, and this second one just seems to add extra complexity that I don't think the game needs.
Yeah, the addition of a 5th player made Herb Witches essential for my group.
I find that you can probably play the overflowing mechanic without the extra cardboard since it’s very simple to remember. I’m not interested in 5 players.
And this expansion comes with Locoweed tokens and 4 Locoweed abilities.
Imo, I find this expansion a little more interesting.
I have all the upgrades/expansions and it all fits in just fine.
Probably doesn't fit for him bc he stores then in those plastic bins. Mine fits fine as well but it won't fit anymore
Mine fits with a small organizer to divide the chips
Just buy the quacks big box. It contains the base game plus expansion number one. You can easily fit the second expansion in the big box.
I like the Herb Witches expansion. It only makes the game slightly heavier whereas Alchmists looks like it will cause more decision space which might slow things down. Great video as always Tom!
Not to be that guy, but...
Tom is exaggerating a little about how hard it is to fit both expansions in the one box (if you threw out the insert). I think I'm going to switch back to the base box cos mine is a little tight but currently I have the base game, both expansions and the upgraded chips in the Herb Witches expansion box which is half the thickness of the base game.
To be fair, it’s possible he just had a tough time doing it personally. I know I have that problem often with my game storage till someone goes “put this that way, try it like this” and then I feel dumb hahaha so he might have just tried a different way than others
@@MussoGames point taken, Tom has complained about this in the past and the only reason I commented here was because I'm currently storing everything he's storing in a box half the size so his comment felt especially erroneous this time.
@@Phildiculous no i understand, I’ve seen storage videos where people have everything, including promos and the upgraded bags and chips and containers, and bowls, and it still all fit fine in the box. Maybe he didn’t throw out the insert? But knowing Tom, that seems unlikely hahaha
He did specify, "If you have the upgraded chips". And I have to admit, this isn't the simplest game to fit components in its box.
I've got the upgraded chips and a Folded Space insert, and I've been able to fit the game with both expansions in the original box. There's a bit of lid lift, like 5mm, but I just put the box in a shelf where other boxes help keep it closed and nothing falls out.
Does the folded space insert allow you to use the ingredient pieces right out of the insert while playing? I decided to pick up a sewing tray with a lid that I store the pieces in and set up is just a matter of removing the lid and they're ready to go.
@@Syncopator Yes, you can use the trays during play.
Got the original game and both expansions as well as a 3D printed insert and upgraded chips all in the base box. Sure, the lis is liftet 5-7mm, but that's a small price to pay and doesn't bother me at all.
As for never playing with both expansions at once... Why? I got the Herb Witches with the base game and played with them from the start, and that expansion really doesn't add any complexity at all, just a whole lot of variability. The Alchemists on the other hand DOES add complexity, though not that much. I'll play with both any time and have done so many times already.
The Herb WIthces is a must-have expansion if you have 5 players, and makes the game more fun without taking more time, useable for novices, while Alchemists makes it more complicated and takes longer time, best for experts
I placed my chips on a sheet of Teflon and gave them a quick coat of spray polyurethane to keep them from wearing out.
It didn't make them sticky?
The overflow bowls and the 6 orange chips are a must have from the 1st exp. I feel this ones is a must have for the extra cards and locoweed boards
I have all the tokens in a storage container and have that plus the base game and both expansion components in the base box
There are insert solutions to fit everything into the base game box. I 3D printed mine, works great
Thanks for the great review :)
I’m holding out for a big box for this game with the upgraded components included haha I don’t need this just yet
There is a big box version by North Star games, although price may be inflated because it's no longer in print by them.
Does anyone else call the Locoweed ingredient "Demogorgon" instead, or is it just me?
Bought the base game and it came with 2 dice, 3 boards and not enough of the apropriate white chips for 2 players :(
Made it work anyway and we really enjoyed it. Thinking about getting the expansion just to get some more white chips... gawd i hate the white chips!
Loved the base game and first expansion. Looking forward to playing this
I’ve not played Alchemists, but if you don’t have the overflow bowl from the first expansion then don’t you end up overflowing the cauldron too often with the new powers provided? Overflowing the cauldron in the base game was never ideal, especially if you did it before the final round.
I find that you can probably play the overflowing mechanic without the extra cardboard since it’s very simple to remember.
Are the Locoweed books in Alchemists identical to the ones from Herb Witches?
No totally different
I use coin capsules and both expansions fit fine.
But I’m guessing you aren’t using an insert
@@uplift-yourdailypickup6424 oh yes good point. I forgot the game originally had a insert. I ditched that day 1
@Gankatron 5000 I use paper cups haha
I watched because I HAVE TO watch ALL Dice Tower videos, not because I like Quacks! :-)
I used to do that, until they added all the box openings and tons of other stuff and refuse to separate content into separate channels so you can just follow the game reviews and not all the other junk. Mostly stopped watching because there's way too much, the majority of which I'm not that interested in.
The geekbit tokens cost more than the game itself. You'd think they could throw in a bigger box.
So no new books for the colored chips? Disappointing....
Finally!
Well it actually lead to the 6… but who’s counting…
I played both expansions with fairly new gamers who only played it once, and they had no issues incorporating. And I didn’t feel that this added that much more to the table.
Has anyone tried playing Quacks with 2 boxes for 8 players? Seems like it would work since you'd have enough chips for everyone and not too much waiting since everyone "stirs their pot" at the same time?
This an interesting idea! I don’t have the game but that would be cool
Great idea, we play 5 players and team up when we are many, always drawing and buying things without waiting for each other (only last round simultaneuas drawing, of course)
Can you rank the top 10 ingredients?
Well I don't own Quacks and still I'm watching the video.
We enjoy this game but have not played it in a while and am a bit hesitant on the expansion. I personally don't like how if you explode, you basically lose most of the time. The Rat really doesn't help most of the time. Cubitos handles the 'push your luck' mechanism a bit better. I'm not sure I will get this one though
We house ruled double rat tails and noticed it made for one heck of a comeback mechanic. Deffo recommend trying it, looking to punish ppl who only go safe atm but not quite sure how.
How many people aren’t using either coin capsules or geekbits upgraded chips? That was the first thing I bought as soon as I got the game
I'm still using the original chips. My copy has 9 plays so far. Ever since I got the base game I've been thinking about upgrading though.
I’ve got the geekbits and could never go back, they’re fantastic!
Where can I get the upgraded components?! Everywhere I find they are sold out.
Looks like the ones Tom was using, the GeekUp Bits, are getting a restock in Q4 2021. So it shouldn't be too long before they're available again.
I went for capsule containers instead due to people noting that the GeekUp components' art can wear off. Someone on BGG calculated how many I'd need, and I LOVE the way the tokens feel and sound in the draw bags.
They missed the boat by not including more books for the other basic ingredients.
Hm. I do have upgraded Chips. They are even bigger than the Deluxe ones Tom has. And I have both expansions. Still everything fits in the box. Not sure why Tom struggles to fit everything in the box. :-)
What a fantastic game!
Play with both expansions, it’s not too much
Disagree on the expansions! I prefer 1 over 2 frankly it feels like they split one big expansion over 2. Agree on turning into a table hog it really isn’t that bad to play with them all. I like alchemists but it’s swingy for sure.
Can you link the game on the store (ios, Android) when it comes to the stores
You mean you dont have to use those ugly player boards with those creepy characters in the game? Just the cards are fine?
I haven't played this game yet.
I'm not really a fan of the 6-pumking chip from the first expansion. It's just too powerful and when you have the money for it, it makes no sense to buy anything else. It kind of makes all the other chips pointless. That said, I'm never playing without it because people love it and get angry. But I do think it was a design mistake.
I feel the exact same way. I hate playing with them, but at the same time, I love playing with them. The idea is cool (an expensive chip with no effect and a high cost), but it just feels like the number is too big. At least considering what it does. Maybe a 5 (still one higher than the biggest normal chips) would have been better at a slightly reduced cost?
I fit the base game and both expansion in an expansion box. 😅
Jokes on you, I don't like quacks and I watched this video