I'll definitely be getting forbidden psalm to the table and reviewed, though I don't usually put my actual playthroughs up... But maybe. Not a lot for people to correct me on there. I'm afraid you might be disappointed at my ability to riff live, though! Do you play Mork Borg base game solo? If so, do you have any favorite adventures that are solo suitable, or do you make it all up as you go? Do you use Solitary Defilement? And thanks so much for the kind words!
I think your description of Spirit Island feeling like you’re losing until you win is entirely accurate. Remember the win conditions will change as you play. And the digital edition plays great! Nice jump cut!
I personally love your "what's on my table" sections! At the end of the video is perfect. Solo gamers want to talk about their games as much as social gamers, but... solo, so... yeah, I resonate with your comments on this.
I was rummaging through my sadism bag, went really deep and thoroughly through it, but couldn't find anything suitable for today's video. 🤷🏻♂️ So instead, here some words of encouragement. Don't give up on Undaunted. If you could elaborate a bit on what doesn't click for you, I might be able to help you out. From my experience, some people I taught the game too struggled with separating the field units from the command units. In Normandy you have field units like squad units (scout, rifleman, machine gunner) which come assigned, surprise, to squads (A, B, C) and the standalone field units (sniper, mortar). These units have token representation on the map and get "played" (move, attack, defend, scout, capture, die). They activate by playing matching cards. When they die on the board, you lose a card of their type. The command units (platoon sergeant, platoon guide, squad leader[A, B, C] ) exist only as cards and act from off the board. They manage supply lines (from supply to discard pile) and reinforcements to your hand (adding cards from deck to hand), inspire (put a played card back to hand [mostly squad limited]) and give guidance to units on the board (extra movement) They can't die (cards are not lost). Once you understand this, the rest should be cake. Edit: In relation to Reinforcements, make sure you take the proper AI cards that no only matches the units but also the scenario number (shown at the very top of the cards). Otherwise nothing will make sense. Edit 2: Since you have Reinforcements V1, there is a deviation of the color scheme on the backside of the cards. Just something to be noted.
That's a good summary. I do think that what you described is what throws me. I'm going to review this when I get undaunted to the table again. Thanks so much!
I played the entire Gloomhaven campaign with the physical copy, but once Gloomhaven Digital was created I sorta swore that I'd never take out my original copy again. Setup is way too long, I'm fine with losing scenarios a few times to like master them but having to do a 30-45 minute cleanup/resetup after each unlucky game. Outside of the game, I think its a phenomenal solo game.
I had similar new board gaming experience with Scythe. Too much too soon. I need to try it again. I would love to be able to sort BGG ratings on complexity weighting. I find 2.5-3.0 fit great for me. On my table is Liberalia and about to replaced by just delivered Star Tycoon. Enjoy the videos. Take care
A lot of my second chance games shift to the computer. It is a cheaper way to retry them for me, I'll only consider them if they are on sale. Gloomhaven became a computer game for me. Spirit Island became a computer game for me. Root became a computer game for me. I think a big issue, like you were saying, is upkeep. When upkeep becomes longer than my turn I usually give up on it, and if I could see the potential, it goes digital. Also, I absolutely hate when I am halfway through a turn and realize I forgot to do an upkeep and have to decide how to mitigate that instead of play the game.
This is a good point. And you know, another benefit of the computer game is that it usually unlocks the complete game experience, which can make a big difference. I haven't played root, but I'm guessing digital provides a better multiplayer experience than the physical game AI
The spirits in the Horizon box are also much more friendly to new players in my opinion. The core box had low-complexity spirits too, but some of them are more difficult to grasp for a new player or even underwhelming (I'm glaring at you, Vital Strength of the Earth and Shadows Flicker like Flame). They really aced it with Horizons. My only complaint is about the large carboard tokens that really crowd some spaces on the board and make it hard to "read" at a glance. I guess I can't complain too much about it since it's one of the major factors that allowed the price tag to be so low. I wish you plenty of success (and hopefully enjoyment) from your Spirit Island plays! I couldn't agree more with you on your analysis about games you bought/tried too early in your solo gamer life. Robinson Crusoe and Mage Knight were two victims of that for me. However, I really felt like buying Mage Knight again, and I haven't regretted it one bit.
That's good to hear about Horizon. I might use some cubes instead of tokens. I do that a lot even when the tokens are working fine just because cubes or pawns are easier to grab. I'm glad Mage Knight stuck for you this time. Gives me hope for my own second attempts at running at the brick wall! Thanks for the kind words
I've been wanting to dip my toes into solo RPGs recently, can't decide should I try Mork Borg, Starforged, Disciples of Bone and Shadow or Seekers Beyond the Shroud. But first I'm going to learn Pax Ren two-handed and Pax Emancipation. Oh, you're in for a treat with Robinson Crusoe! It can feel like the learning curve is steep at the beginning, but all rules in it make total thematic sense and the turns become smooth as butter pretty soon. Beautiful game, and there's still nothing quite like it. I bounced off of both Undaunted and Gloomhaven. Undaunted was just underwhelming for me. And Gloomhaven - I can't seem to like the burning cards mechanic at all, and overall it just wasn't enjoyable. I gave it a shot on Steam three times during a course of about a year and still nothing.
One thing you'll have to decide is how much rp you want in your rpg. solitary defilement for mork borg is pretty rp heavy, and is kind of loose for storytelling. Starforged is rp heavy but has a very tight framework for it. disciplines of bones and shadow I haven't played, but I've read and it's almost the exact same game as 4AD with the Four Against the Netherworld expansion (like, they came it out the same year and it's freaky how similar they are, so I just stuck with 4AD since I already know it). It should provide a tight game-ified experience much lighter on the actual rp which is more my speed. I don't know if I'm telling you anything new since you didn't actually ask my opinion! I'm prepared to possibly bounce off Gloomhaven again, even in its digital format. I think I'll like it, but if it's at my computer, I have to like it as much as I like doom and all its mods.
@@JAlanRykerGames Your opinion is always welcome, that's why I'm here in the first place! So thank you. Although stylistically and musically, Mork Borg is my type of jam, I feel like I don't have the vocabulary to properly engage with it. I've never been a fantasy reader, I'm more of a sci-fi/horror/Alan Moore/David Wallace/Kafka/random wikipedia article at 3am kinda guy, so I actually can't even imagine how I could play a fantasy TTRPG solo. And considering I've never played a TTRPG, I'm gravitating towards Starforged for a tighter framework. I like how its system gives your character a vow/purpose that can guide you through the game, it's basically a backbone for any coherent story presented as game mechanics. And I love how you can basically turn any situation into mechanics with filling bars and dice checks if you want. And the book is very evocative, like it's written specifically to light up your imagination with narrative possibilities, that's very smartly done. Although maybe that's how most TTRPG books are, I wouldn't know. Yeah, I think I might start with Starforged and maybe try out D100 Dungeon or Space for mechanical dungeon crawls for starts!
@@slimyweasel It sounds like Starforged will be a good fit for you. While I don't think mork borg is the easiest to solo because it doesn't provide a framework, the game is all vibes, the vibes are very irreverent. Outside of games, I'm not a fantasy guy, and mork borg doesn't ask you to take its fantasy seriously. It's quite absurd, and while it's dark, it's definitely darkly humorous (but in its own way that also to me feels sincere? It's hard to explain). They've expanded into some different genres, like cyberpunk with cy_borg. You might want to check out the free stuff at exlibrisrpg.com/ just because it's interesting, aesthetically and otherwise, not necessarily because it's going to be the rpg you solo
Interesting video as always. Feel like one you will reference yourself in the future when deciding what to play again... 😊 thanks for sharing also extra info that is insightful
I feel the same way about undaunted. I really wanted to understand how to play it because it really appeals to me. I preorder the newest version with the space theme hoping it will finally click.
Okay, thank you so much for confirming that there is something confusing about it! I've found that theme can make a surprising amount of difference in these things. My brain resists the way the fantasy theme ties to the mechanisms in hero realms but totally gets star realms
Spirit Island was the ultimate second chance game for me. I played the base game 2 or 3 times in 2022 and got my ass handed to me. I came back with Horizons in the summer of '23 and got destroyed a couple more times but after that it clicked and I played essentially nothing else for the next seven months. It's far and away my favorite game now. When the time comes I definitely recommend starting with Eyes Watch From the Trees and whatever you do, do NOT start with Sun Bright Whirlwind. 😉
I also passed on JoTL, Robinson Crusoe, and Spirit Island. There are just better solo adventure games out there, so I don't feel the need to go back to these. I rather play Too many Bones Undertow, Shadows of Brimstone FoF, and Kings of Ruin. Rather play somre of the DVG Leader games over Undaunted. Thanks for the content.
The conversation on Undaunted really switched from, "wow great solo" to "I wouldn't get it just for solo" in the time after I'd already bought so much of it. I def intend to get a leader.
Dungeon Alliance is one of my all time favorites! I do need to get hexplore it to the table, but according to my spreadsheet, it's likely to be awhile unless I get a wild hair
@JAlanRykerGames so when are you going to get time to write some more if your mind is filled with spreadsheets and math's. I want to say you inspired me to sell 1/3 of my games and I may/ will do it again. I was holding on to certain games but it was becoming a burden to carry rather than pleasure. I also picked up Skytear Monolith, I can't wait to play. You may be interested in 51st State and Fallen Land.
For Solo from your list: The Witcher: Old World - I now love this one, but get the Legendary Hunt for solo and coop play (forget fanmade one), this game is becoming one of my favourites now. Undaunted - I love the game but in solo for me it just doesnt click Gloomhaven - I dont care for it tbh Spirit Island - Ive still not tried it lol Crusoe - It was a good game but i felt i needed to relearn it everytime and i sold it Bloodborne TBG - I HATED it lol, i sold it only last week!
I personally loved the PC version of Gloomhaven; however, I still can't recommend it solo. What made the PC version great is that I could play it online with my brother, while each of us was on our cell phone. That transformed the game for me. By the way, if you are interested in trying it that way, I'm a math teach who's about to start my summer vacation, so I would have time to play with someone else. I would guess you'd want to try it on your own first. I personally just could not motivate myself to play it that way on the PC. I also, by the way, started by playing a number of solos of Jaws of the Lion, so that did help me when I then played the PC version with my brother. The story telling in the game (with great voice actors), along with discussing tactics, made this game a blast that way. 🙂
Oh, one last thing, my brother and I enjoyed it most by playing the "easy" mode with more life. It made all the difference for us. I should mentioned as well that I'm just offering to play if you wish to -- it's fine if you don't as well. 🙂 I enjoyed the video and related to a lot of what you said regarding Gloomhaven and other games as well.
My problem with the PC, and the reason I typically play the few digital board games I do on phone, is that then it competes with my PC games, including Doom and all it's mods. We'll see what happens. I didn't realize there's an easy mode, so I'll definitely be doing that! Thanks for the play offer. If I feel the same way you do about it I might hit you up, but I do usually play alone except for my son and mom. What you described with your brother sounds great
Thanks! For me, the only one that I will guaranteed buy again with the base game is the adventure pack. It adds 200 more of those sweet encounter/quest cards. If you want the monsters you're battling to feel more differentiated, then Monster Trail is a good one that I think a lot of people won't play the game without, though I was more into the adventures than the monster. I might get it, though it does add a bit of fiddliness.
It hurts to say this as, when it comes to tabletop games, I am a bit of a 'cardboard-supremacist' or 'Techno-phobe/Luddite' but Gloomhaven is just better SOLO as a computer game. I think that if I had a group that was committed to playing through co-op, I would probably be excited to playing through the campaign analogue using the physical game. However for SOLO, the amount of bookkeeping, table real estate, and setup/teardown is too much for me to play tue physical version Modifier deck misses still suck, and you can't cheat in the video game, but at least you can input some house rules amd have more difficulty options in the digital version.
I didn't know that it had some house rule possibilities. That's something more board game apps should include, because while that is a very nice bonus to physical gaming
Not linked to this theme of second chances but I have just got myself a second hand copy of Legacy of Dragonholt by FFG this week, is this something you have played? I really enjoyed Fighting Fantasy books by Ian Livingstone & Steve Jackson back in the 80's so I'm hoping this gives me the same vibe. I will probably play this with my wife, but believe this is really good solo.
I have been tempted, but my taste in narrative games is kind of narrow, so I worry it won't land with me. I've heard it's great at what it does, though
Excellent topic for a video. I always have 5 or 6 (or more!) games waiting for me to 'crack'. A mix of boardgames, RPGs and wargames. Depending on my mental acuity at the time, my decision will be influenced on what I choose to go to battle with. Some mornings I wake up with a little extra cerebral fortitude than usual and look at a specific problematic rectangle, mouthing the words: "It's on motherfucker..." 😈⚔
I would rather be dipped head-first in a vat of acid than play Gloomhaven. I HATE that Modifer deck, like HATE. (Ok, I went overboard, but you get my gist).
@@JAlanRykerGames True. While house rules are great, I prefer to play the game the way the designer intended. I'm curious what folks thought during play testing?
@@MichaelGaskin My thought about the playtesting is that it was done in groups, and the fact that you aren't allowed to say what you're doing means you can't plan that far ahead, so then the extra bit of output luck didn't hit so hard. Other players must mess up your action way more often than the modifier at that point. Probably also meaning the bonus cards often really were a bonus, while when I play, I (and probably a lot of solo players) plan it all out with the numbers on the cards and usually don't need the bonus, so the positives are that positive while the negatives are very negative
and the fact that it's become it's entire own fork! and has people riffing on it now! I would have backed steel psalm but couldn't quite get with the price
I’d freaking love it if you did a solo Mork borg play through.
As you are a writer, I’d imagine your solo rpg sessions would be amazing
I'll definitely be getting forbidden psalm to the table and reviewed, though I don't usually put my actual playthroughs up... But maybe. Not a lot for people to correct me on there. I'm afraid you might be disappointed at my ability to riff live, though!
Do you play Mork Borg base game solo? If so, do you have any favorite adventures that are solo suitable, or do you make it all up as you go? Do you use Solitary Defilement?
And thanks so much for the kind words!
I think your description of Spirit Island feeling like you’re losing until you win is entirely accurate. Remember the win conditions will change as you play. And the digital edition plays great! Nice jump cut!
I personally love your "what's on my table" sections! At the end of the video is perfect. Solo gamers want to talk about their games as much as social gamers, but... solo, so... yeah, I resonate with your comments on this.
Thank you! Now that I know that one person is watching
I was rummaging through my sadism bag, went really deep and thoroughly through it, but couldn't find anything suitable for today's video. 🤷🏻♂️
So instead, here some words of encouragement. Don't give up on Undaunted.
If you could elaborate a bit on what doesn't click for you, I might be able to help you out. From my experience, some people I taught the game too struggled with separating the field units from the command units.
In Normandy you have field units like squad units (scout, rifleman, machine gunner) which come assigned, surprise, to squads (A, B, C) and the standalone field units (sniper, mortar). These units have token representation on the map and get "played" (move, attack, defend, scout, capture, die). They activate by playing matching cards. When they die on the board, you lose a card of their type.
The command units (platoon sergeant, platoon guide, squad leader[A, B, C] ) exist only as cards and act from off the board. They manage supply lines (from supply to discard pile) and reinforcements to your hand (adding cards from deck to hand), inspire (put a played card back to hand [mostly squad limited]) and give guidance to units on the board (extra movement) They can't die (cards are not lost).
Once you understand this, the rest should be cake.
Edit: In relation to Reinforcements, make sure you take the proper AI cards that no only matches the units but also the scenario number (shown at the very top of the cards). Otherwise nothing will make sense.
Edit 2: Since you have Reinforcements V1, there is a deviation of the color scheme on the backside of the cards. Just something to be noted.
That's a good summary. I do think that what you described is what throws me. I'm going to review this when I get undaunted to the table again. Thanks so much!
I played the entire Gloomhaven campaign with the physical copy, but once Gloomhaven Digital was created I sorta swore that I'd never take out my original copy again. Setup is way too long, I'm fine with losing scenarios a few times to like master them but having to do a 30-45 minute cleanup/resetup after each unlucky game. Outside of the game, I think its a phenomenal solo game.
that's a big endorsement coming from someone who played the whole campaign!
I had similar new board gaming experience with Scythe. Too much too soon. I need to try it again. I would love to be able to sort BGG ratings on complexity weighting. I find 2.5-3.0 fit great for me. On my table is Liberalia and about to replaced by just delivered Star Tycoon. Enjoy the videos. Take care
2.5-3 is a sweet spot for me, too. Enough to sink your teeth into without usually being a nightmare to learn
Me too on the Undaunted series! Really, really must play it. My Reinforcements box however is not the original larger one so I'm stuck with 3 boxes.
Glad to hear I'm not alone!
I didn't realize they'd shrunken it. Besides my requiring solo, consolidation was a big draw for me.
A lot of my second chance games shift to the computer. It is a cheaper way to retry them for me, I'll only consider them if they are on sale. Gloomhaven became a computer game for me. Spirit Island became a computer game for me. Root became a computer game for me. I think a big issue, like you were saying, is upkeep. When upkeep becomes longer than my turn I usually give up on it, and if I could see the potential, it goes digital. Also, I absolutely hate when I am halfway through a turn and realize I forgot to do an upkeep and have to decide how to mitigate that instead of play the game.
This is a good point. And you know, another benefit of the computer game is that it usually unlocks the complete game experience, which can make a big difference. I haven't played root, but I'm guessing digital provides a better multiplayer experience than the physical game AI
Commenting before watching. I'm very excited to watch this video! Everyone loves an underdog story!
The spirits in the Horizon box are also much more friendly to new players in my opinion. The core box had low-complexity spirits too, but some of them are more difficult to grasp for a new player or even underwhelming (I'm glaring at you, Vital Strength of the Earth and Shadows Flicker like Flame). They really aced it with Horizons. My only complaint is about the large carboard tokens that really crowd some spaces on the board and make it hard to "read" at a glance. I guess I can't complain too much about it since it's one of the major factors that allowed the price tag to be so low. I wish you plenty of success (and hopefully enjoyment) from your Spirit Island plays!
I couldn't agree more with you on your analysis about games you bought/tried too early in your solo gamer life. Robinson Crusoe and Mage Knight were two victims of that for me. However, I really felt like buying Mage Knight again, and I haven't regretted it one bit.
That's good to hear about Horizon. I might use some cubes instead of tokens. I do that a lot even when the tokens are working fine just because cubes or pawns are easier to grab.
I'm glad Mage Knight stuck for you this time. Gives me hope for my own second attempts at running at the brick wall! Thanks for the kind words
I've been wanting to dip my toes into solo RPGs recently, can't decide should I try Mork Borg, Starforged, Disciples of Bone and Shadow or Seekers Beyond the Shroud.
But first I'm going to learn Pax Ren two-handed and Pax Emancipation.
Oh, you're in for a treat with Robinson Crusoe! It can feel like the learning curve is steep at the beginning, but all rules in it make total thematic sense and the turns become smooth as butter pretty soon. Beautiful game, and there's still nothing quite like it.
I bounced off of both Undaunted and Gloomhaven. Undaunted was just underwhelming for me. And Gloomhaven - I can't seem to like the burning cards mechanic at all, and overall it just wasn't enjoyable. I gave it a shot on Steam three times during a course of about a year and still nothing.
One thing you'll have to decide is how much rp you want in your rpg. solitary defilement for mork borg is pretty rp heavy, and is kind of loose for storytelling. Starforged is rp heavy but has a very tight framework for it. disciplines of bones and shadow I haven't played, but I've read and it's almost the exact same game as 4AD with the Four Against the Netherworld expansion (like, they came it out the same year and it's freaky how similar they are, so I just stuck with 4AD since I already know it). It should provide a tight game-ified experience much lighter on the actual rp which is more my speed. I don't know if I'm telling you anything new since you didn't actually ask my opinion!
I'm prepared to possibly bounce off Gloomhaven again, even in its digital format. I think I'll like it, but if it's at my computer, I have to like it as much as I like doom and all its mods.
@@JAlanRykerGames Your opinion is always welcome, that's why I'm here in the first place! So thank you.
Although stylistically and musically, Mork Borg is my type of jam, I feel like I don't have the vocabulary to properly engage with it. I've never been a fantasy reader, I'm more of a sci-fi/horror/Alan Moore/David Wallace/Kafka/random wikipedia article at 3am kinda guy, so I actually can't even imagine how I could play a fantasy TTRPG solo.
And considering I've never played a TTRPG, I'm gravitating towards Starforged for a tighter framework. I like how its system gives your character a vow/purpose that can guide you through the game, it's basically a backbone for any coherent story presented as game mechanics. And I love how you can basically turn any situation into mechanics with filling bars and dice checks if you want. And the book is very evocative, like it's written specifically to light up your imagination with narrative possibilities, that's very smartly done. Although maybe that's how most TTRPG books are, I wouldn't know.
Yeah, I think I might start with Starforged and maybe try out D100 Dungeon or Space for mechanical dungeon crawls for starts!
@@slimyweasel It sounds like Starforged will be a good fit for you.
While I don't think mork borg is the easiest to solo because it doesn't provide a framework, the game is all vibes, the vibes are very irreverent. Outside of games, I'm not a fantasy guy, and mork borg doesn't ask you to take its fantasy seriously. It's quite absurd, and while it's dark, it's definitely darkly humorous (but in its own way that also to me feels sincere? It's hard to explain). They've expanded into some different genres, like cyberpunk with cy_borg. You might want to check out the free stuff at exlibrisrpg.com/ just because it's interesting, aesthetically and otherwise, not necessarily because it's going to be the rpg you solo
It’s a common house rule in Gloomhaven to swap the x2 and null modifiers with +2 and -2, and I believe that option exists in the digital version.
That does sound like it would help
Interesting video as always. Feel like one you will reference yourself in the future when deciding what to play again... 😊 thanks for sharing also extra info that is insightful
I feel the same way about undaunted. I really wanted to understand how to play it because it really appeals to me. I preorder the newest version with the space theme hoping it will finally click.
Okay, thank you so much for confirming that there is something confusing about it!
I've found that theme can make a surprising amount of difference in these things. My brain resists the way the fantasy theme ties to the mechanisms in hero realms but totally gets star realms
Spirit Island was the ultimate second chance game for me. I played the base game 2 or 3 times in 2022 and got my ass handed to me. I came back with Horizons in the summer of '23 and got destroyed a couple more times but after that it clicked and I played essentially nothing else for the next seven months. It's far and away my favorite game now. When the time comes I definitely recommend starting with Eyes Watch From the Trees and whatever you do, do NOT start with Sun Bright Whirlwind. 😉
I love to hear this! Okay, I'm taking note of that starting spirit. Trust me, I'm not trying to get beat up again
I also passed on JoTL, Robinson Crusoe, and Spirit Island. There are just better solo adventure games out there, so I don't feel the need to go back to these. I rather play Too many Bones Undertow, Shadows of Brimstone FoF, and Kings of Ruin. Rather play somre of the DVG Leader games over Undaunted. Thanks for the content.
The conversation on Undaunted really switched from, "wow great solo" to "I wouldn't get it just for solo" in the time after I'd already bought so much of it. I def intend to get a leader.
Dungeon Alliance, brother, you won't be sorry. Also include Hexplore it.
Dungeon Alliance is one of my all time favorites! I do need to get hexplore it to the table, but according to my spreadsheet, it's likely to be awhile unless I get a wild hair
@JAlanRykerGames so when are you going to get time to write some more if your mind is filled with spreadsheets and math's. I want to say you inspired me to sell 1/3 of my games and I may/ will do it again. I was holding on to certain games but it was becoming a burden to carry rather than pleasure. I also picked up Skytear Monolith, I can't wait to play. You may be interested in 51st State and Fallen Land.
For Solo from your list:
The Witcher: Old World - I now love this one, but get the Legendary Hunt for solo and coop play (forget fanmade one), this game is becoming one of my favourites now.
Undaunted - I love the game but in solo for me it just doesnt click
Gloomhaven - I dont care for it tbh
Spirit Island - Ive still not tried it lol
Crusoe - It was a good game but i felt i needed to relearn it everytime and i sold it
Bloodborne TBG - I HATED it lol, i sold it only last week!
I personally loved the PC version of Gloomhaven; however, I still can't recommend it solo. What made the PC version great is that I could play it online with my brother, while each of us was on our cell phone. That transformed the game for me. By the way, if you are interested in trying it that way, I'm a math teach who's about to start my summer vacation, so I would have time to play with someone else. I would guess you'd want to try it on your own first. I personally just could not motivate myself to play it that way on the PC. I also, by the way, started by playing a number of solos of Jaws of the Lion, so that did help me when I then played the PC version with my brother. The story telling in the game (with great voice actors), along with discussing tactics, made this game a blast that way. 🙂
Oh, one last thing, my brother and I enjoyed it most by playing the "easy" mode with more life. It made all the difference for us. I should mentioned as well that I'm just offering to play if you wish to -- it's fine if you don't as well. 🙂 I enjoyed the video and related to a lot of what you said regarding Gloomhaven and other games as well.
My problem with the PC, and the reason I typically play the few digital board games I do on phone, is that then it competes with my PC games, including Doom and all it's mods. We'll see what happens. I didn't realize there's an easy mode, so I'll definitely be doing that! Thanks for the play offer. If I feel the same way you do about it I might hit you up, but I do usually play alone except for my son and mom. What you described with your brother sounds great
Nice list😊! Do you think the witcher old world has an expansion that is a must buy? Or is the base game fine as is?
Thanks! For me, the only one that I will guaranteed buy again with the base game is the adventure pack. It adds 200 more of those sweet encounter/quest cards. If you want the monsters you're battling to feel more differentiated, then Monster Trail is a good one that I think a lot of people won't play the game without, though I was more into the adventures than the monster. I might get it, though it does add a bit of fiddliness.
@@JAlanRykerGames cool, good to know. thanx for the reply!
It hurts to say this as, when it comes to tabletop games, I am a bit of a 'cardboard-supremacist' or 'Techno-phobe/Luddite' but Gloomhaven is just better SOLO as a computer game.
I think that if I had a group that was committed to playing through co-op, I would probably be excited to playing through the campaign analogue using the physical game.
However for SOLO, the amount of bookkeeping, table real estate, and setup/teardown is too much for me to play tue physical version
Modifier deck misses still suck, and you can't cheat in the video game, but at least you can input some house rules amd have more difficulty options in the digital version.
I didn't know that it had some house rule possibilities. That's something more board game apps should include, because while that is a very nice bonus to physical gaming
Not linked to this theme of second chances but I have just got myself a second hand copy of Legacy of Dragonholt by FFG this week, is this something you have played? I really enjoyed Fighting Fantasy books by Ian Livingstone & Steve Jackson back in the 80's so I'm hoping this gives me the same vibe. I will probably play this with my wife, but believe this is really good solo.
I have been tempted, but my taste in narrative games is kind of narrow, so I worry it won't land with me. I've heard it's great at what it does, though
Excellent topic for a video.
I always have 5 or 6 (or more!) games waiting for me to 'crack'. A mix of boardgames, RPGs and wargames. Depending on my mental acuity at the time, my decision will be influenced on what I choose to go to battle with. Some mornings I wake up with a little extra cerebral fortitude than usual and look at a specific problematic rectangle, mouthing the words: "It's on motherfucker..." 😈⚔
hahaha I love it! I tackle so many problems out of spite and indignation...
I would rather be dipped head-first in a vat of acid than play Gloomhaven. I HATE that Modifer deck, like HATE. (Ok, I went overboard, but you get my gist).
hahaha honestly, it's one of my least favorite things I've encountered in games. I do wish I'd thought to try without it before trashing stuff
@@JAlanRykerGames True. While house rules are great, I prefer to play the game the way the designer intended. I'm curious what folks thought during play testing?
@@MichaelGaskin My thought about the playtesting is that it was done in groups, and the fact that you aren't allowed to say what you're doing means you can't plan that far ahead, so then the extra bit of output luck didn't hit so hard. Other players must mess up your action way more often than the modifier at that point. Probably also meaning the bonus cards often really were a bonus, while when I play, I (and probably a lot of solo players) plan it all out with the numbers on the cards and usually don't need the bonus, so the positives are that positive while the negatives are very negative
Love forbidden psalm. 👍👍
and the fact that it's become it's entire own fork! and has people riffing on it now! I would have backed steel psalm but couldn't quite get with the price