Well... kind of yes, kind of no? The core game has double sided tiles and you typically have 2 of them. So you have 4 tile faces each with 6 edges: more decision making potential than a single tile with 4 edges. This decision agency increases further when you add in the play again and steal options and the tactic of cutting in on rival areas bonus points by completing rival's areas. As ProZD accurately said the placement rules where all edges need to match is a touch more complex than Carcassonne, but because the tiles are double sided, when redrawing tiles from the visible sides on the 2 tile stacks, you should select tiles that help you close areas as fast as possible to lock in their points, or deny tiles to rivals who need that shape. So even in tile replenishment there is player agency that reinforces the core game's hex based area scoring. Once you add the 2 additional scoring layers there are 4 interacting and overlapping scoring layers (area completions, bonus point thievery, Mountain & Coral chain scoring and Caravan & Ship base and end game majority scoring) which give you many more options to maximise your points, roughly doubling them per game. Each tile then has multiple attributes to score from which adds a lot of decision making nuance and more reasons to replenish your hand with particular tiles that suit you current goals. It also makes it harder to block ALL a rivals scoring opportunities with a play because they can now score in 4 different ways. These scoring methods open new strategies too eg with Mountain & Coral chain scoring you can react to rivals trying to mess with your area completion by building chains of mountains or coral in them, and eventually force them to block increasingly lucrative chains of 5 or 6 or 7 points per tile placement. With Caravan & Ship scoring you can try to 'seal off' trade routes you are currently winning, to effectively lock in their end game points during the game. So you reach a highly interlaced and interactive tempo of constantly having to manage multiple of you and your rivals scoring opportunities. So the rules are no more complex than Carcassonne, but the interactive decision depth and breadth arguably is. We agree with ProZD regarding experienced gamers playing with more scoring layers. When playing with any players with broad game experience they should totally be able to handle at least Mountain & Coral scoring being added to the game. And we usually demo it that way at conventions. The base game mode is intended for newer gamers, but also allows more experienced players to teach a simpler version of the game to newer gamers eg non-gamer partners, kids, extended family etc So its very intentionally designed as a game you can help level up new gamers with by adding scoring layers for extra complexity... when those players are ready for it. So, in testing during development we found the base game of Land vs Sea was generally considered slightly less complex that Carcassonne with farmer scoring for first time players. And more complex than Carcassonne with all the scoring layers activated. And that is all by design.
I played this game 4 vs 1 with some little old ladies who weren't very into board games and they had a blast. They weren't very tactical so I played one side and they worked together on the other side and it was a lot of fun for them just to "fill out the jigsaw" for four pieces and then I'd place my one piece. They won but I had fun and isn't that the same as winning?
Great review, ill have to pick it up next time I see it in my LGS. I was on the fence when I saw it and didnt read the box closer, but this looks really fun!
I have this game in my collection as it's one of the few games I can get my Dad to play. It's simple to teach, and can go pretty quickly so long as neither player has AP. 😅
I don't normally watch your board game review videos, sorry! I don't have anybody to play them with so finding games that look fun but I can't play is kinda sad. But I may get this one as a gift. I appreciate your reviews.
@@CheeseDud Oh wow, I'll have to look for it. Dorf is incredibly fun, but occasionally incredibly frustrating too when the tiles you need don't show up
I just found out that you were the VA for Mikey in Neon White, and I’m impressed with your performance because I didn’t recognize you. I think it’s great when a character stays as a character, and not a character with the voice of somebody. 👍 Also interesting game, I might pick it up.
Team aqua and magma are fighting again
Nah kyogre and Groudon woke up again, rayquaza won't be happy
The way I see it, Kyogre is surrounded. What's under the ocean? That's right, more earth.
So basically a sinpler version of Carcassonne
Well... kind of yes, kind of no? The core game has double sided tiles and you typically have 2 of them. So you have 4 tile faces each with 6 edges: more decision making potential than a single tile with 4 edges. This decision agency increases further when you add in the play again and steal options and the tactic of cutting in on rival areas bonus points by completing rival's areas. As ProZD accurately said the placement rules where all edges need to match is a touch more complex than Carcassonne, but because the tiles are double sided, when redrawing tiles from the visible sides on the 2 tile stacks, you should select tiles that help you close areas as fast as possible to lock in their points, or deny tiles to rivals who need that shape. So even in tile replenishment there is player agency that reinforces the core game's hex based area scoring.
Once you add the 2 additional scoring layers there are 4 interacting and overlapping scoring layers (area completions, bonus point thievery, Mountain & Coral chain scoring and Caravan & Ship base and end game majority scoring) which give you many more options to maximise your points, roughly doubling them per game. Each tile then has multiple attributes to score from which adds a lot of decision making nuance and more reasons to replenish your hand with particular tiles that suit you current goals. It also makes it harder to block ALL a rivals scoring opportunities with a play because they can now score in 4 different ways.
These scoring methods open new strategies too eg with Mountain & Coral chain scoring you can react to rivals trying to mess with your area completion by building chains of mountains or coral in them, and eventually force them to block increasingly lucrative chains of 5 or 6 or 7 points per tile placement. With Caravan & Ship scoring you can try to 'seal off' trade routes you are currently winning, to effectively lock in their end game points during the game. So you reach a highly interlaced and interactive tempo of constantly having to manage multiple of you and your rivals scoring opportunities. So the rules are no more complex than Carcassonne, but the interactive decision depth and breadth arguably is.
We agree with ProZD regarding experienced gamers playing with more scoring layers. When playing with any players with broad game experience they should totally be able to handle at least Mountain & Coral scoring being added to the game. And we usually demo it that way at conventions. The base game mode is intended for newer gamers, but also allows more experienced players to teach a simpler version of the game to newer gamers eg non-gamer partners, kids, extended family etc So its very intentionally designed as a game you can help level up new gamers with by adding scoring layers for extra complexity... when those players are ready for it.
So, in testing during development we found the base game of Land vs Sea was generally considered slightly less complex that Carcassonne with farmer scoring for first time players. And more complex than Carcassonne with all the scoring layers activated. And that is all by design.
I played this game 4 vs 1 with some little old ladies who weren't very into board games and they had a blast. They weren't very tactical so I played one side and they worked together on the other side and it was a lot of fun for them just to "fill out the jigsaw" for four pieces and then I'd place my one piece.
They won but I had fun and isn't that the same as winning?
well they had fun AND won, so they won more than you 😎
I love this story!
Thanks so much for this great review. Glad you enjoyed Land vs Sea and its optional scoring layers designed for more experienced gamers!
Might be a fun way to rng a DnD map.
Love this game! Soooo easy to teach and the 3 player mode is really well made.
Glad you love the asymmetric 3 player mode. Some people love it most because its so unusual, political, and tightly balanced.
Great review, ill have to pick it up next time I see it in my LGS. I was on the fence when I saw it and didnt read the box closer, but this looks really fun!
I couldn't care less about board games, but I like seeing people who are really into a hobby
It's a pleasant game. We play the basic rules as a light game to have a conversation over at the bar or cafe.
I have this game in my collection as it's one of the few games I can get my Dad to play. It's simple to teach, and can go pretty quickly so long as neither player has AP. 😅
Looks really fun for two players, thank you for the video!
A little like Carcassone combined with Paradisio. I like the hidden information aspect.
I don't normally watch your board game review videos, sorry! I don't have anybody to play them with so finding games that look fun but I can't play is kinda sad. But I may get this one as a gift. I appreciate your reviews.
Looks chill and simple. Thanks!
It looks interesting. Sort of a Dorfromantik but offline.
You may be interested to hear that there is an actual Dorfromantik board game that won 2023 game of the year
@@CheeseDud Oh wow, I'll have to look for it. Dorf is incredibly fun, but occasionally incredibly frustrating too when the tiles you need don't show up
Thanks for the review, cheers
I just found out that you were the VA for Mikey in Neon White, and I’m impressed with your performance because I didn’t recognize you. I think it’s great when a character stays as a character, and not a character with the voice of somebody. 👍
Also interesting game, I might pick it up.
Game looks Cool
so how do you choose what games to review? ever think of reviewing (or at least, trying to review) "The Campaign for North Africa"?
Very neat!
7.8 - Too much water
Dang I was watching anime and it just turned to this video for some reason
I would love to see what you think of the Necromolds game.
Very Nice 🖤🖤
nice video!
nice is it like carcassonne?
What's the song?
It's some variation or loop of "4AM Radio" by Aden Bonet. Can't find anything like this online without the voice over.
Boardgame review, time to view
Dorfromantik the board game
my wife told me to blind react this
I’m first
neither of us were first
cant beat the bots
Land VS Sea a.k.a. government VS crypto techbros.
Huh?