I appreciate your genuine review. No hyperbole, no sugar coating. I always wait for your take on a game, especially if there’s so much buzz and hype. You have saved me a quite a few times (example: Wyrmspan). Having said this, I will still try to play the game and see if I like it. But thankfully, you have tempered this mindless frenzy. Now, I feel there’s no need for me to rush and make an impulsive purchase. This is why I wait for your reviews. Thanks Brad!
when something is overhyped or too much on the hotness, it always puts me off, but I have to swallow my pride and acknowledge that this game is actually pretty good, I just played it a couple of days ago and it totally blew me away! and that's coming from someone who doesn't like root
I think that is awesome actually! Like I said for those who like it the cost is well worth it buy it will have a niche. I had a lot of pros considering my final rating. Wish we had enjoyed it more.
I am very glad it is a hit and I think that is how it is going to be. With the randomness of the cards and dice and taking on other opponents people just need to understand what they like about their games vs getting drawn into the FOMO. Sorry to let you down but he one thing I said I would do on the channel is just give my honest opinion be it good or bad and see how it goes.
@@BadatBoardgamesyes but you get to choose which dice. And many games with cards are random to an extent. But like any trick taking, you can keep track to an extent what’s been played and know what’s left and it’s about being tactical with how you use the cards available to you. Etc. But any game can be explained away, at the end of the day, some people will enjoy it and some won’t. This is a game for me I enjoy playing but I have no interest in owning.
@KMReviews yes any game can be explained away but from my standpoint is what I am trying to give people who align with my tastes to help them spend money on things they might like. Glad you like it! I so wanted to. It will be hit and miss I think but that’s most board games 😂
I enjoy this game but I get it. Sometimes there's runaway points, not seeing card suits for multiple chapters, people stealing all your stuff, the person to your immediate left getting the initiative, etc. But I found the game and experience clicked for me once I treated the game more like poker in that I play the hand I'm dealt and play reactive (tactical) vs. traditional 4x games and try to be proactive (Strategic).
Yep very tactical and random with possible cards. I just think that is what people need to realize. I had a lot of pros but it came down to am I having fun in the end.
Your opinion is not isolated. The majority of opinions I have heard are saying the same thing .... "its ok ... kinda" I am excited to try it for sure, but still, this one is hype.
You are not alone! Root is my favorite game of all time and I love Ahoy and Pax Pamir, but Arcs just isn't fun. Too much take that and randomness for a game that lasts that long. The expansion campaign mode of the game adds a little more strategy and finesse, but still feels like a slog. My group wondered whether a draft of the action cards (pick one, pass the stack around) would fix a lot? That way you could at least somewhat draft into a strategy for the round.
@@BadatBoardgames I liked the abilities, but it just presented too much potential for sitting around not accomplishing much of anything. I really wish I liked it more. To me, most of Cole's games feel like they exist in a very bitty microturn design space where it feels more like an ecosystem you get to tweak slightly every turn than an actual game with real player agency.
@@BadatBoardgames I suspect I won't like coin games, but for some reason I like Root, still need to try the new factions and the Hirelings. Hoping they add a bit more of a catch up mechanic to the game.
Thx for the honest review, Brad! Haven’t played Arcs yet, but from everything I’ve seen this one looks like a pass for me. I was dissappointed by Root and sold it tbh, but John Company and Pax Pamir look promising - haven’t tried those yet.
thanks, Brad! Played once so far and .... meh. Not a fan of, like you said, needing to go after other people in order to secure a path to victory. I just don't want to be pushed into such tactics and strategy though am okay with a lot of games where toe to toe encounters are frequent.
Ya they can be. This did not seem hard to table just fyi but it will really depend on what games you like in comparison to this one. Also how much do you align with me on past reviews can be an indicator.
Sorry if I missed it, but did you say how many play you've had of Arcs at the time of the review? I am wondering because you have the same cons as most people that played it only a few times, yet many enthusiast claim that once you've had a few experience, the game clicks and you get to see how you can maneuver around the randomness and ''swinginess'' of the game. Are these enthusiast full of it?
They are not full of it they hopefully are honest anout their opinions. I just don’t share that opinion. My recommendation to people watching my reviews is to look at my top 10-20 of all time list and see if your likes align with mine. It helps to gauge of you should listen to me or not. There are a lot of pros as I went through but also some cons. Played it multiple times but not 10. I think this will be hit and miss. I did not get blown out by the game or personally swing that bad and some may like it and others may not. In the end I just did not enjoy it sadly.
They are not full of it. The more you play the less the randomness matters and the more you realize how to use the many many mechanics the game offers to get around it. If you don't want to commit multiple plays then that's totally fine but the randomness seems to only be an issue with players who have only a few plays.
Oh look, it's another Cole Werhle game to avoid like the plague. It's like they're designed from the ground up to be as repellent as possible to me. Always interesting, never fun. Opinions eh?! Thanks for your thoughts though, as always!
I appreciate your genuine review. No hyperbole, no sugar coating. I always wait for your take on a game, especially if there’s so much buzz and hype. You have saved me a quite a few times (example: Wyrmspan). Having said this, I will still try to play the game and see if I like it. But thankfully, you have tempered this mindless frenzy. Now, I feel there’s no need for me to rush and make an impulsive purchase. This is why I wait for your reviews. Thanks Brad!
Glad it helps, it’s hard giving meh reviews. I hope you like it but ya you can wait a little 😁
Love to hear your thoughts, keep producing great reviews!
Thank you very much Charlie!
when something is overhyped or too much on the hotness, it always puts me off, but I have to swallow my pride and acknowledge that this game is actually pretty good, I just played it a couple of days ago and it totally blew me away! and that's coming from someone who doesn't like root
I think that is awesome actually! Like I said for those who like it the cost is well worth it buy it will have a niche. I had a lot of pros considering my final rating. Wish we had enjoyed it more.
Here it is the most anticipated review of the year!!!
Omg what a let down 6 ?? Of course it s fun, whole family loved it on my end - 10/10 for me
I am very glad it is a hit and I think that is how it is going to be. With the randomness of the cards and dice and taking on other opponents people just need to understand what they like about their games vs getting drawn into the FOMO. Sorry to let you down but he one thing I said I would do on the channel is just give my honest opinion be it good or bad and see how it goes.
@@BadatBoardgamesyes but you get to choose which dice. And many games with cards are random to an extent. But like any trick taking, you can keep track to an extent what’s been played and know what’s left and it’s about being tactical with how you use the cards available to you. Etc.
But any game can be explained away, at the end of the day, some people will enjoy it and some won’t. This is a game for me I enjoy playing but I have no interest in owning.
@KMReviews yes any game can be explained away but from my standpoint is what I am trying to give people who align with my tastes to help them spend money on things they might like. Glad you like it! I so wanted to. It will be hit and miss I think but that’s most board games 😂
@@BadatBoardgames I’ll admit I skimmed through a little bit but did you do the campaign portion?
@KMReviews no that was not at gencon that I saw. I ask for the all in and it was base game, leaders and miniatures.
As someone who liked and ejoyed the game greatly, I really appreciate reviews like this, not all games need to be for everyone.
Thanks for the support
I enjoy this game but I get it. Sometimes there's runaway points, not seeing card suits for multiple chapters, people stealing all your stuff, the person to your immediate left getting the initiative, etc. But I found the game and experience clicked for me once I treated the game more like poker in that I play the hand I'm dealt and play reactive (tactical) vs. traditional 4x games and try to be proactive (Strategic).
Yep very tactical and random with possible cards. I just think that is what people need
to realize. I had a lot of pros but it came down
to am I having fun in the end.
Your opinion is not isolated. The majority of opinions I have heard are saying the same thing .... "its ok ... kinda"
I am excited to try it for sure, but still, this one is hype.
Ya it will be very contrasting like or not I feel as more people get their hands on it. Thank You for taking the time to watch and comment?
You are not alone! Root is my favorite game of all time and I love Ahoy and Pax Pamir, but Arcs just isn't fun. Too much take that and randomness for a game that lasts that long. The expansion campaign mode of the game adds a little more strategy and finesse, but still feels like a slog. My group wondered whether a draft of the action cards (pick one, pass the stack around) would fix a lot? That way you could at least somewhat draft into a strategy for the round.
I like the drafting idea a lot!
I have much preferred this to Oath, felt a lot more locked out and for much longer periods in Oath than this, but I'm not sure I'll keep Arcs.
Oath is a different beast and I think that’s what surprised me about it.
@@BadatBoardgames I liked the abilities, but it just presented too much potential for sitting around not accomplishing much of anything. I really wish I liked it more.
To me, most of Cole's games feel like they exist in a very bitty microturn design space where it feels more like an ecosystem you get to tweak slightly every turn than an actual game with real player agency.
Yes that is a good way to explain them. It does make me want to play a coin game though lol
@@BadatBoardgames I suspect I won't like coin games, but for some reason I like Root, still need to try the new factions and the Hirelings. Hoping they add a bit more of a catch up mechanic to the game.
Thx for the honest review, Brad! Haven’t played Arcs yet, but from everything I’ve seen this one looks like a pass for me.
I was dissappointed by Root and sold it tbh, but John Company and Pax Pamir look promising - haven’t tried those yet.
Ya I have a friend with those and I am looking forward to getting them to the table as well.
thanks, Brad! Played once so far and .... meh. Not a fan of, like you said, needing to go after other people in order to secure a path to victory. I just don't want to be pushed into such tactics and strategy though am okay with a lot of games where toe to toe encounters are frequent.
Ya it is like a king of the hill game so I think that was what has me on the negative side of it.
Didn’t back this and don’t think I’ll get a copy. Leder games are great but are hard to table.
Ya they can be. This did not seem hard to table just fyi but it will really depend on what games you like in comparison to this one. Also how much do you align with me on past reviews can be an indicator.
I’ll go out on a limb and say this: There are only two types of gamers. Those who love Arcs or those who love Ezra & Nehemiah :D
lol. I am the later for sure 😃😂
Sorry if I missed it, but did you say how many play you've had of Arcs at the time of the review? I am wondering because you have the same cons as most people that played it only a few times, yet many enthusiast claim that once you've had a few experience, the game clicks and you get to see how you can maneuver around the randomness and ''swinginess'' of the game. Are these enthusiast full of it?
No
They are not full of it they hopefully are honest anout their opinions. I just don’t share that opinion. My recommendation to people watching my reviews is to look at my top 10-20 of all time list and see if your likes align with mine. It helps to gauge of you should listen to me or not. There are a lot of pros as I went through but also some cons. Played it multiple times but not 10. I think this will be hit and miss. I did not get blown out by the game or personally swing that bad and some may like it and others may not. In the end I just did not enjoy it sadly.
They are not full of it. The more you play the less the randomness matters and the more you realize how to use the many many mechanics the game offers to get around it.
If you don't want to commit multiple plays then that's totally fine but the randomness seems to only be an issue with players who have only a few plays.
The bgg rating right now seems so skewed. If this wasn't a Leder game, I think the game would be a lower rating and more split on it.
I think it will land around 7 but that is if the people who don’t like it rate it.
Oh look, it's another Cole Werhle game to avoid like the plague. It's like they're designed from the ground up to be as repellent as possible to me. Always interesting, never fun. Opinions eh?!
Thanks for your thoughts though, as always!
Hehe board game repellent I love that 😂
I’d rather try last light over this game. Thanks for the review.
Ya I want to find someone with that game to try.