I was actually highly antecipating this because of the theme. I wish GMT (and wargame publishers in general) did more post-Ancients, pre-Age of Enlightment in-depth wargames in less seen theatres. Looking forward to the new Almoravids.
João Cotrim Absolutely agree. I never cared about Japanese history before Sekigahara came out, and now I love it. I'd love to learn more about medieval times through games like this one
I picked up Almoravid on the GMT P500 50 percent off winter sail and was so impressed I immediately bought Inferno. It reminds me of how giddy I got when I first got into COIN. Greatly looking forward to more games in this series.
I was waiting to see a review of this. Looks awesome! There's like a huge gap in medieval games... Let alone ones that engage mechanics that are thematic. Thankyou!
Great game, I think you guys might have missed that you can levy capabilities. So while you start with only 2, you can take a levy action to add capabilities and end up with 2 capabilities for each lord + some capabilities that may apply to your whole side. I really liked the view it gave into the considerations of medieval campaigning and the possibilities it opens up for other titles. Command deck mechanic is also excellent. But as you say I might like this this because I am in the category of person this game was 'designed for'.
We also only played the shortest opening scenario where levying more capabilities wasn't as powerful as some of the events etc. When the pandemic passes we'll be dropping right back into this one.
@@ThePlayersAid I highly reccomand checking the campaign or one of the longer scenarios when you get the chance. Keeping enough lords in the field becomes a real challenge. The whole game is full of 'oh cr*p I forgot to plan for that!' moments. I love it.
We'll do all of that when we do a full review and are more comfortable with the ins and outs. This was just some preliminary thoughts based on the intro and learning the game.
The bluffing reminds me of the Commissar rule for Memoir- when playing the Soviets, you have to issue next turn's orders at the end of your current turn, before you know what your opponent has done.
really torn on this one. agree that the cover is a bit off-putting, but the components and map look great. and the setting is very interesting. the idea of levying and conscripting troops and the overall focus on logistics and preparation for battle really intrigues me. the complexity seems medium-ish; maybe a step above Combat Commander? or two?
The cover should not dissuade you from getting it. For sure. IT's a step up at least from CC. Rules wise I feel like it's not that complex, but piecing it all together and becoming GOOD at the game is where it is really challenging.
The part of the cover that confuses me is the fact that the giant floating head in the clouds is actually reflected in the water. Is the giant floating head physically manifested in the sky? What?
Guys, this is described as 1-2 players and medium solo suitable on it’s game page, is that in the form of a flow chart or some design that makes it work? From what I can tell, it looks like a play both sides affair. Thanks for this vid.
I think it's not a Teutonic knight in the clouds, it's Nevsky himself! from the movie poster www.imdb.com/title/tt0029850/mediaviewer/rm3836594432 totally agree with Grant about the cover, it's much more interesting than more traditional art, I hope they stick to their guns and Almoravid has a psychedelic cover too
@@varovaro1967 Perhaps. As they said in the review, individually the rules are not too complicated but the cumulation becomes a bit of a challenge. The combat rules are not intuitive, so far. I have yet to find a clear video on how to conduct combat. Having said that, it sure looks like an interesting game with a some deviation from the norm.
I hate that box cover so much! I would not normally let a cover stop me buying a game, but this one might be the exception! I’m off to look at the Wing Leader: Supremacy box to recover. I thought you did a great initial thoughts, nice job!
I really enjoy your videos and your reviews, it's nice to hear two people who are passionate about Wargames. But I have to admit that, as a Frenchman, I'm always surprised by your lack of historical culture. In France, we have the prejudice that the United States doesn't teach much history. When I watch your videos, I'm sometimes reinforced in this idea.
The cover looks like they commissioned some kid from an elementary school to paint it. With so many great artists out there, why you would use something like this is inexcusable. Volko is either blind or has glaucoma.
Our local group doesn't play boardgames over and over again. So hearing about how unforgiving this system is and how you can probably lose the game early with one fatal mistake, I will pass on buying it. I want something more newbie friendly.
guys -- not a safe distance virus-wise, ya know ;) Good review, but like the comment below I find this game a bit garish in its motif. If the system is 'delicate,' is it going off the rails easily or is this just due to lack of familiarity with the game? note, delicate = easily broken or damaged; fragile. This is not a good feature in wargames, really....maybe a better word is 'fine-grained,' for example.
This was the last game before quarantine! We actually shot this about three weeks ago, haha. As with regards to delicacy, it's very much a lack of familiarity. A season vet will kill a newbie every single time. There's just a lot to consider with even the smallest moves and their consequences.
Maybe a good analogy is chess(?). A newbie at chess can quickly and easily blunder away an important piece and end up in a losing position. I haven't played Nevsky yet so I can't say for sure, but chess was what I thought of when they were talking about Nevsky being "delicate".
![NISAMANEE - TADA (ท้าดา) [ OFFICIAL MV ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/hcQHEPMmJpU/mqdefault.jpg)
I was actually highly antecipating this because of the theme. I wish GMT (and wargame publishers in general) did more post-Ancients, pre-Age of Enlightment in-depth wargames in less seen theatres. Looking forward to the new Almoravids.
João Cotrim Absolutely agree. I never cared about Japanese history before Sekigahara came out, and now I love it. I'd love to learn more about medieval times through games like this one
I love your reviews! Really really useful and you have made me buy many games including this one. Thank you for what you do!
I picked up Almoravid on the GMT P500 50 percent off winter sail and was so impressed I immediately bought Inferno. It reminds me of how giddy I got when I first got into COIN. Greatly looking forward to more games in this series.
I was waiting to see a review of this. Looks awesome! There's like a huge gap in medieval games... Let alone ones that engage mechanics that are thematic. Thankyou!
got this for Christmas, hope you do a full review and playthrough
Love this conversation review format. Keep it up lads!
“The cover looks like I dropped a lot of acid, listened to prog rock and went larping” … classic!
Great game, I think you guys might have missed that you can levy capabilities. So while you start with only 2, you can take a levy action to add capabilities and end up with 2 capabilities for each lord + some capabilities that may apply to your whole side.
I really liked the view it gave into the considerations of medieval campaigning and the possibilities it opens up for other titles. Command deck mechanic is also excellent.
But as you say I might like this this because I am in the category of person this game was 'designed for'.
We also only played the shortest opening scenario where levying more capabilities wasn't as powerful as some of the events etc. When the pandemic passes we'll be dropping right back into this one.
@@ThePlayersAid I highly reccomand checking the campaign or one of the longer scenarios when you get the chance.
Keeping enough lords in the field becomes a real challenge. The whole game is full of 'oh cr*p I forgot to plan for that!' moments. I love it.
Very Interesting: Thank you for the presentation. You convinced me again .... Ordered the game from a Canadian distributor.
Great overview of what you thought of the game. Always good to mix it up now and then. Looks interesting to me. Excellent video.
Great review! It would have been great to have a closeup of the board and cards too.
We'll do all of that when we do a full review and are more comfortable with the ins and outs. This was just some preliminary thoughts based on the intro and learning the game.
The bluffing reminds me of the Commissar rule for Memoir- when playing the Soviets, you have to issue next turn's orders at the end of your current turn, before you know what your opponent has done.
This video is great. It was informative, entertaining, and to the point.
Actually I pretty like the cover ... except the Knight who looks like a madman just escaping from psychiatric hospital.
You *can* get more capabilities. It is a muster phase action.
really torn on this one. agree that the cover is a bit off-putting, but the components and map look great. and the setting is very interesting. the idea of levying and conscripting troops and the overall focus on logistics and preparation for battle really intrigues me. the complexity seems medium-ish; maybe a step above Combat Commander? or two?
The cover should not dissuade you from getting it. For sure. IT's a step up at least from CC. Rules wise I feel like it's not that complex, but piecing it all together and becoming GOOD at the game is where it is really challenging.
Looking forward to more commentary on this one after you guys go at it some more.
Actually I like the cover and art overall xD but you describe it perfectly!
The part of the cover that confuses me is the fact that the giant floating head in the clouds is actually reflected in the water. Is the giant floating head physically manifested in the sky? What?
He must be the city's patron warrior-god.
this game is amazingly good fun
Though not my taste ... Bravo for diversity in gaming to bring different topics to the table. I'm sure it will find its niche group.
Guys, this is described as 1-2 players and medium solo suitable on it’s game page, is that in the form of a flow chart or some design that makes it work? From what I can tell, it looks like a play both sides affair. Thanks for this vid.
There's a few solo tid bits in the rules, but really it's just a play both sides affair.
War Room has secret planned moves similar to the idea of the Command Cards in Nevsky. You guys need to try War Room.
I think it's not a Teutonic knight in the clouds, it's Nevsky himself! from the movie poster www.imdb.com/title/tt0029850/mediaviewer/rm3836594432 totally agree with Grant about the cover, it's much more interesting than more traditional art, I hope they stick to their guns and Almoravid has a psychedelic cover too
Neat reference. Like the posters.
I'm quite sure the head in the sky belongs to the statue of Nevsky, btw :3
And the church is way too Orthodox to be Teutonic.
Angola has command cards like this, ie tou stack the order in which you play before you know what the other 3!! players are doing (MMP?)
Great video! Is this game similar to Hannibal and Hamilcar by Phalanx Games?
I would say it is very, very different. It uses point to point movement, but that's about the only similarity.
@@ThePlayersAid Thanks for the reply and for producing such great content.
Is this at Grants house? That box cover looks garish.
This is Grant's house, yes.
I love the cover, but the giant ghost head is admittedly a little off-putting.
Complexity?
Mechanically It's not mega complex, but making everything work well together is complex, if that makes sense.
5 hours and just got to Storm, Turn 1....took a pause to watch some How To videos
Moffett Field wow.... i should sell it without opening it.... it seems a bit too much...
@@varovaro1967 Perhaps. As they said in the review, individually the rules are not too complicated but the cumulation becomes a bit of a challenge. The combat rules are not intuitive, so far. I have yet to find a clear video on how to conduct combat. Having said that, it sure looks like an interesting game with a some deviation from the norm.
Very interesting; would this be playable solo ?
By playing both sides. No dedicated solo mode.
I hate that box cover so much! I would not normally let a cover stop me buying a game, but this one might be the exception! I’m off to look at the Wing Leader: Supremacy box to recover. I thought you did a great initial thoughts, nice job!
I really enjoy your videos and your reviews, it's nice to hear two people who are passionate about Wargames.
But I have to admit that, as a Frenchman, I'm always surprised by your lack of historical culture. In France, we have the prejudice that the United States doesn't teach much history. When I watch your videos, I'm sometimes reinforced in this idea.
The cover looks like they commissioned some kid from an elementary school to paint it. With so many great artists out there, why you would use something like this is inexcusable. Volko is either blind or has glaucoma.
Our local group doesn't play boardgames over and over again. So hearing about how unforgiving this system is and how you can probably lose the game early with one fatal mistake, I will pass on buying it. I want something more newbie friendly.
Yeah, this is not that.
guys -- not a safe distance virus-wise, ya know ;) Good review, but like the comment below I find this game a bit garish in its motif. If the system is 'delicate,' is it going off the rails easily or is this just due to lack of familiarity with the game? note, delicate = easily broken or damaged; fragile. This is not a good feature in wargames, really....maybe a better word is 'fine-grained,' for example.
This was the last game before quarantine! We actually shot this about three weeks ago, haha. As with regards to delicacy, it's very much a lack of familiarity. A season vet will kill a newbie every single time. There's just a lot to consider with even the smallest moves and their consequences.
Maybe a good analogy is chess(?). A newbie at chess can quickly and easily blunder away an important piece and end up in a losing position. I haven't played Nevsky yet so I can't say for sure, but chess was what I thought of when they were talking about Nevsky being "delicate".
the cover is garbage. lets be fair :D
Alexander, are you wearing your wifes sweater again?