Thank you Edward and Martin and Martin for doing this playthrough. It was really interesting,charming and fun to watch ;). @Edward, next time we will meet, a drink for 10 Guldens is on me...
Love the elaborate post-chat! Best in the business. I haven't pulled the trigger on any of the latest Essen stuff yet, and while this one wasn't really on my radar up until around Christmas in favor of the Boonlakes of the world etc, now I'd say it's the first one in queue for a purchase. Really interesting and well thought-out game, if maybe a tad heavy (not for purposes of learning, but for getting it to the table often enough).
I often forget to like videos, but I always remember when Martin tells me to. Awesome play through, really enjoyed it. Seems like a really interesting puzzle with many solutions.
This was one of my top games from 2021, nice to see it on stream. As someone who can't really get in to Brass, the fact it wasn't shared resources was more a plus than negative. I'd say the greatest part, and what makes it hardest to learn, is how tight money is and you have to have enough planning to keep that economic engine chugging. You need that intro cash to fund a delivery to fund another delivery further down, to fund another delivery, etc. If the engine ever stalls out it is incredibly painful to get running again at $10 free actions. And the game is so tight, whether in cash, or actions, or factory spaces on the board, or delivery spaces, that you are always on that razor's edge of stalling out.
As I was watching this replay, I was literally thinking, "Man, the financial tightness of this game reminds me so much of Voyages of Marco Polo. HC should play that once on stream." And then Martin brings it up at the end, my man.
Just found this nice video - thanks for playing this great game and sharing. Edward was a lucky guy that that the Martins let him hire from the brown place. If Brass: Birmingham taught one thing then it is benefit from other guy's mistakes and punish them every single turn. 🙂 It would have been not that much critical but to hire Edward had to increase his influence (1st action) and then could hire (2nd action) = one action (of total 34) lost.
Is it just me or has it been a while since I’ve seen Edward have this much fun with a game and enjoy it even in defeat? I’ve played it 5 times now and I’ve seen different strategies win. Brass with its card play far exceeds this game, but even so, Imperial Steam is one of the best games to come out of 2021. Had great fun watching this. Thanks guys.
Good discussion. I don't want to buy new games this year but this was tempting. Martin just reminded me why I love Brass and how long it's been since I cracked it out. Same with Barrage! Money saved :)
Yes but... If you enjoyed them, wouldn't it make sense that you would enjoy this as well? Also, don't you want to support the creators so they will continue to make more things you and others will enjoy? If you think about it, buying it is basically an act of charity as you're supporting the arts.
@@RandomPerson-nd2ey I know I'll enjoy it but it doesn't mean I need to own it. As for supporting the arts, I'm not a wealthy enough benefactor to think in such idealisticly lofty ways lol. I spent a LOT on games last year and I want this year to be different. This year I want to celebrate and enjoy what I have and only pick-up if something is definitely going to be a better experience than what I have. If you have an huge supply of money and endless space in your house to store every single thing that catches your eye then power to you. I do not :)
@@Shoitaan saving money is never wrong. Trying to find a better experience than Brass and Barrage is even a good way to do it (saving money), but definitely not a good way of finding a new game :)
Hi, Great game folks 👍 About comparison with Brass and Barrage. Imperial Steam hasn't the coopetitive aspect, yes. But it's not a bad thing, it's just different. Coopetitive games are interesting but kingmaking is never far away. In addition to Barrage/Brass, Imperial Steam has that player-triggered endgame that really adds to the endgame tension and resulting tough choices. It also has this beautiful variability in the set-up (everything is modular) which means that no games will look alike, and that will force you to do it differently each time (not to mention the strong interaction which also forces us to do it differently).
Yes the fixed layout of the board and variable tiles that occupy the route nodes is identical to Marco Polo. After that I can see no similarity at all. Imperial Steam is incredibly uncompromising and can leave you in a deep hole if you run out of cash. Marco Polo always has options and the ability to gain resources and it is no where near as complex with a far more steamlined rule book.
Have played this a few times now. Factories seem crucial and if you miss out on these spaces you are forced to buy resources or you are in trouble. In my last game it worked out that in the second to last round I could only buy 2 resources/ action and in the last round it was better for me to gain $10 and then do nothing (that cost $$) for the last actions because otherwise I was worse off. This left a sour taste after a 200 minute game.
Best game last year. By far. And I dare to discuss about which one is better. This one or brass. But hé 😀. And barrage: it’s moren about luck also. (Different player powers are not always balanced there)
If you have a red-green colourblind person in your entourage, would you mind asking that person if they have difficulty distinguishing the orange rail lines against the green background? It would be helpful to some of us who would only buy the game if that were not a problem. Thanks for your very helpful videos.
I was expecting Edward to take a $260 cash payout by dropping the share value with his last worker to 130 and popping 2 investors as a free action. Is there something I am missing in the rules as I don't think that stock-manipulation space was used at all in this game?
You picked the wrong contract. Should have picked level 2 (2 Iron contract) contract and move the factories. You have filled 2 level 2 contracts. This was at the end of the game. Not sure if that would make a difference final score.
Thank you Edward and Martin and Martin for doing this playthrough. It was really interesting,charming and fun to watch ;). @Edward, next time we will meet, a drink for 10 Guldens is on me...
Love the elaborate post-chat! Best in the business. I haven't pulled the trigger on any of the latest Essen stuff yet, and while this one wasn't really on my radar up until around Christmas in favor of the Boonlakes of the world etc, now I'd say it's the first one in queue for a purchase. Really interesting and well thought-out game, if maybe a tad heavy (not for purposes of learning, but for getting it to the table often enough).
I often forget to like videos, but I always remember when Martin tells me to. Awesome play through, really enjoyed it. Seems like a really interesting puzzle with many solutions.
This was one of my top games from 2021, nice to see it on stream. As someone who can't really get in to Brass, the fact it wasn't shared resources was more a plus than negative. I'd say the greatest part, and what makes it hardest to learn, is how tight money is and you have to have enough planning to keep that economic engine chugging. You need that intro cash to fund a delivery to fund another delivery further down, to fund another delivery, etc. If the engine ever stalls out it is incredibly painful to get running again at $10 free actions. And the game is so tight, whether in cash, or actions, or factory spaces on the board, or delivery spaces, that you are always on that razor's edge of stalling out.
Really good post game discussion. Another great playthrough, one of my favourite board game channels!
As I was watching this replay, I was literally thinking, "Man, the financial tightness of this game reminds me so much of Voyages of Marco Polo. HC should play that once on stream."
And then Martin brings it up at the end, my man.
Great discussion. The discussion also made me want to get Barrage and Brass on the table again.
Gotta love your videos, as simple as that. Full of content full of knowledge and neatly served with some wits and humour. What to expect more??
Great game and discussion.
Just found this nice video - thanks for playing this great game and sharing.
Edward was a lucky guy that that the Martins let him hire from the brown place. If Brass: Birmingham taught one thing then it is benefit from other guy's mistakes and punish them every single turn. 🙂 It would have been not that much critical but to hire Edward had to increase his influence (1st action) and then could hire (2nd action) = one action (of total 34) lost.
Is it just me or has it been a while since I’ve seen Edward have this much fun with a game and enjoy it even in defeat? I’ve played it 5 times now and I’ve seen different strategies win. Brass with its card play far exceeds this game, but even so, Imperial Steam is one of the best games to come out of 2021.
Had great fun watching this. Thanks guys.
Good discussion. I don't want to buy new games this year but this was tempting. Martin just reminded me why I love Brass and how long it's been since I cracked it out. Same with Barrage! Money saved :)
Yes but... If you enjoyed them, wouldn't it make sense that you would enjoy this as well? Also, don't you want to support the creators so they will continue to make more things you and others will enjoy?
If you think about it, buying it is basically an act of charity as you're supporting the arts.
@@RandomPerson-nd2ey I know I'll enjoy it but it doesn't mean I need to own it. As for supporting the arts, I'm not a wealthy enough benefactor to think in such idealisticly lofty ways lol. I spent a LOT on games last year and I want this year to be different. This year I want to celebrate and enjoy what I have and only pick-up if something is definitely going to be a better experience than what I have.
If you have an huge supply of money and endless space in your house to store every single thing that catches your eye then power to you. I do not :)
@@Shoitaan saving money is never wrong. Trying to find a better experience than Brass and Barrage is even a good way to do it (saving money), but definitely not a good way of finding a new game :)
Hi,
Great game folks 👍
About comparison with Brass and Barrage. Imperial Steam hasn't the coopetitive aspect, yes. But it's not a bad thing, it's just different. Coopetitive games are interesting but kingmaking is never far away.
In addition to Barrage/Brass, Imperial Steam has that player-triggered endgame that really adds to the endgame tension and resulting tough choices. It also has this beautiful variability in the set-up (everything is modular) which means that no games will look alike, and that will force you to do it differently each time (not to mention the strong interaction which also forces us to do it differently).
Yes the fixed layout of the board and variable tiles that occupy the route nodes is identical to Marco Polo. After that I can see no similarity at all. Imperial Steam is incredibly uncompromising and can leave you in a deep hole if you run out of cash. Marco Polo always has options and the ability to gain resources and it is no where near as complex with a far more steamlined rule book.
Have played this a few times now. Factories seem crucial and if you miss out on these spaces you are forced to buy resources or you are in trouble. In my last game it worked out that in the second to last round I could only buy 2 resources/ action and in the last round it was better for me to gain $10 and then do nothing (that cost $$) for the last actions because otherwise I was worse off. This left a sour taste after a 200 minute game.
Best game last year. By far. And I dare to discuss about which one is better. This one or brass. But hé 😀. And barrage: it’s moren about luck also. (Different player powers are not always balanced there)
Edward - you should definitely try Marco Polo at some point.
If you have a red-green colourblind person in your entourage, would you mind asking that person if they have difficulty distinguishing the orange rail lines against the green background? It would be helpful to some of us who would only buy the game if that were not a problem. Thanks for your very helpful videos.
Unfortunately, we don't have any in our group that are. I'd suggest either asking The Herd, in general, on Slack, or over on BGG.
@@Heavycardboard Ok. Thanksfor the speedy reply.
I was expecting Edward to take a $260 cash payout by dropping the share value with his last worker to 130 and popping 2 investors as a free action. Is there something I am missing in the rules as I don't think that stock-manipulation space was used at all in this game?
You picked the wrong contract. Should have picked level 2 (2 Iron contract) contract and move the factories. You have filled 2 level 2 contracts. This was at the end of the game. Not sure if that would make a difference final score.
😴 Promo`SM.
This game looks pretty "coal"! Sorry, I´ll see myself out...