I like to think that THEME is what helps a game ever end up on my shelf, while GAMEPLAY helps it stay on the shelf for a long time. Great video Jeremy! I also am not as pulled in by Cthulhu themes. Doesn't mean I won't play them, but they just don't get me excited!
100% this! I have to be into the theme in order purchase a game. But I also have to enjoy playing it for it to stick around. That said I’m willing to try almost any game, but I’m less likely to invest in it personally if it’s not a theme I enjoy.
I’m really glad someone brought up this conversation, so thank you. I have felt conflicted about purchasing any of the more recent Garphill Games because of their biblical content, and have ultimately decided I just never will (former church member here who left after the wild hypocrisy of the religious political right in the US). However, in games like Undaunted, I don’t feel wretched if I happen to be the one playing the Germans or Axis nations. Somehow I’m able to separate that out, and realize that it’s simply the reality of history being played out in board game form. I even just recently picked up Soviet Dawn, a solo game where you are the Bolsheviks trying to establish themselves as the prevailing faction against advancing fronts from all sides (for those that don’t know, the Bolsheviks were horrible and definitely not the good guys). I think it’s just up to personal preference and moral choice. And I fall on the side that it’s not up to me to decide for anyone else what their platitude is towards playing a certain game because of the theme, and I would hope everyone affords me the same leeway. I think there could definitely be themes that are just absolutely poor taste and would avoid at all costs (such as any game where someone plays as the KKK, or games where using slavery as a form of resource is included), but I also think games like the recent Nightshift have a place at the table for someone interested in that. Just like with anything else, if you don’t like it and it doesn’t do actual harm to someone else, don’t partake, but don’t try to prevent others from doing so if they choose to.
Interesting topic. I might make a distinction between the word theme and setting. Because for me if the gameplay does not successfully evoke a theme or some kind of somewhat immersive narrative, I'm just usually not into it. Especially in a solo setting. I play solo games to experience a narrative and that narrative can be expressed through written story, but it's even better and ideally expressed through the gameplay. So I would consider myself almost entirely a theme gamer but there can be a game with a setting that I'm not usually into but where the gameplay expresses theme and narrative really well where I can get past that. Earthborne rangers (eco friendly setting) or Western Legends (western), or sovereign/Arcs (sci fi) don't have settings that I usually drive with but they all have very thematic gameplay and so I dig them. But I can't think of a game. At least that I would play solo. That doesn't Express theme well through gameplay. For example, that is just a puzzle with a skin that I would want to play no matter the setting
This is a very interesting take. I agree for the most part because solo gaming has to be thematic enough or the setting has to "put me in the world" somehow. Then I think roll and writes or puzzle books which I love. Solo gaming will always have interesting conversations to have because of OUR personal takes on the experience.
Thanks for the video, Jeremy! Like you, I appreciate mechanics over theme, but theme matters. Comparing Deliverance to Massive Darkness 2 says a LOT about Deliverance. I wish more content creators talked about this game. Your opinions here made me buy it. Keep up the great work!!
Every time I say that...its walking a line. MD2 is easily one of the best dungeon crawls period. Something about both these games makes me puts them against each other but they are different.
@@meeplefor a first game for Lowen Games, it’s an amazing achievement. Looks like it’s being fully supported and updated, along with the expansion. Looking forward to playing it.
As a lefty LGBT atheist on friendly terms with the church, I just blitzed through Deliverance and the theme was well done, not super preachy, the Bible verses on the prayer cards I think are a very nice touch.
Theme and thematic integration are important to me but I don't look for particular themes. They just really need to be well done. And the gameplay also has to be great but there are so many games being released that we can have both now. Theme isn't very important for filler games. Ganz Schonz Clever for example. I wouldn't want to play a themeless 90+ minute Euro though. Themes I am really unexcited about (in general) - Farming and medieval/renaissance Europe
Theme is pretty big for me. Especially since I feel that is the main difference in games coming out now than what is already available. There isn't too much new mechanically; especially from a solo perspective. But a unique and interesting theme or setting can definitely pull me towards a game that shares similar mechanisms to one I already own. Examples are Windmill Valley, Luthier, Galactic Cruise. My most thematic game that I really enjoy is probably Obsession. I tend to be drawn towards historical and scifi games the most. But, even as a heavy euro gamer, my all-time #1 games is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Change is Constant and City Fall. And it's definitely because of the theme. (It's also a really fun game, though) Themes that I tend to stay away from are sorcery and witchcraft and I find myself less and less interested in nature themed games after the recent influx of them to the industry. I also don't find war themed games appealing unless it's scifi based like TI4, Eclipse, or Voidfall. Great video and topic for discussion! I think a really good tangentially related topic is theme vs. setting. What does it take to make a game thematic vs it just having a certain setting? And are there some games where the setting is enough to make the game feel thematic, even though nothing mechanically really resonates thematically?
Thank you for the video and thank you for making me think about this a bit! It turns out that I need both but the balance can change. I need a baseline of great gameplay, but a really solid theme will increase my score and enjoyment significantly. Conversely, a theme that I am just not into can be a killer for me regardless of the gameplay. I typically don’t like sci-fi theme, which is incredibly weird because sci-fi is my favorite genre of literature and film. I also typically don’t like war themes. (I am reluctantly flirting with the idea of playing This War of Mine.) I’m a sucker for beautiful nature, themes done well (Parks) and I’m also a sucker for cozy games (Everdell, mycelia) I wouldn’t have chosen an underwater theme necessarily but Endeavor: Deep Sea looks pretty amazing. (But maybe I’m just imagining it’s The Life Aquatic board game :) I can’t wait to hear the rest of your picks from Essen. Particularly your solo round up and co-op with solo mode!
Thanks for commenting. You're like me, it really depends on the experience. Sometimes a very thematic game is a miss and a card game with no thematic play doesn't bother me. Interesting to hear people's thoughts.
Love Deliverance and Endeavour Deep Sea although find some goals are really tough to complete solo, also find Zombiecide games very meh solo. Im surprised how so many people throw so much money at cmon for the same game slightly tweaked over and over.
Don’t care for games with Cthulu in it. Otherwise I don’t care much. Especially for euros, where theme is 98% setting and then trying to tie one commonly used mechanic to the theme using a rule to twist the mechanic
I honestly agree for the vast majority of euros. It's totally ok too in most cases cause I understand that designers and sometimes publishers may have a hard time matching up a theme that's exciting enough to come to market. My highly thematic experience can be total snoozfest. This is why I brought this topic.
Theme definitely makes a difference for me, both in terms of enticement/engagement versus discomfort/boredom. I’ll never play a game about Warergate or the Vietnam War or slavery or real things of that nature. Yet we often played an old game called Vinci in which you choose among various traits for the civilization you’re creating - one of those traits was slavery which made everyone uncomfortable - it was interesting to see that no one ever chose it even though it became more and more valuable each time it was passed over. A current game I’m interested in trying is Galileo Galilei, but the background of the Inquisition in the game may be too off putting for me to enjoy it. The Inquisition was real, not fantasy. Give me anthropomorphic animals and light fantasy and games about knowledge seeking and such. As an Arab-American I’ll happily try any game in the Garphill South Tigris series - it’s so rare that my people are ever depicted in a positive light in any media. My fingers are crossed that I will actually like the games, but either way, I’m grateful to the designers for creating them. I enjoy positivity in general and try to be careful about what I invite into the living room of my mind.
During our live stream the designer of Galileo Galilei did so much research to tie in some of the theme to specific characters that I believe he took it seriously. I think you're dead on with specific theme and I always feel like there are some exceptions to this chat. Thanks for watching.
New here! When I first got into the hobby I watched a play through of Mombasa and I was honestly shocked by the theme. I thought - I could never play this game despite seeing some interesting mechanics. I was so relieved to it was rethemed as a space game bc even though I’m not a space person, I could stomach through it for the sake of a mechanically solid game. Another hard no was a game about the trans-Atlantic slave trade😱😱😱 hard no. In general, colonizer themed games are a hard pass. I bought Maricaibo being ignorant of that history and I honestly haven’t played it since I learned that information.
Play Maracaibo with the expansion which is about resisting the colonizers and has a person on the cover who challenged the designer to make it happen. That's the reason I own Maracaibo again.
For solo, I quite like games that have themes that don't appeal to my game group but that I am intrigued by. I definitely have games that are mechanics over theme, but they are hard to get off the shelf if the theme doesn't appeal to anyone else. Which area control games do you love? We recently started playing (and are really enjoying) Crown of Ash. I've got El Grande and Tyrants of the Underdark sat on my shelf unplayed - because nobody is pulled in by the theme...
If the mechanisms are fun and the game works it will play. If that game has a theme I don’t care about I may not play it as much. If the game has a theme I enjoy I may play it more often. But a boring game with that same fun theme on it will fade over time. Mechanisms have to bee there, theme is a nice addition but not essential.
Theme helps me to make sense of the rules, so if what you're doing doesn't make much sense thematically, I may bounce off the game. I will try almost any game once, but I will only purchase a game if the theme speaks to me. I tend to stay away from historical war themes because actual people died. The exceptions have been This War of Mine, and Halls of Hegra because of the respectful way it was handled (more of an educational focus than glorification of war itself). Add a fantasy theme to it, and I'm much more willing to play because it become a theoretical strategy game. Semantics.😅
The way history is handled helps, but some history just ain't good no matter how much fun is weaved in there. It's like respectfully I respect it and I also respectfully pass.
Marquis’ theme makes playing it special, and I guess a different theme could be applied to the gameplay but I doubt it would feel as connected. In contrast, Castles of Burgundy is one of my favorite games and its theme is meaningless to me. So it really depends on the game for me how much theme comes into play. Regarding Endeavor Deep Sea, I’m anxiously awaiting my KS Deluxe copy to arrive, but I expect the melding of its theme and mechanisms to land it in my Top20 or higher. The action selection and crew choices seem to blend almost flawlessly. If this updated Endeavor edition remained pirate themed, I would still be interested in playing it but significantly less so compared to the eco theme.
Theme matters a ton when it comes to purchasing. I simply will never buy a Christian themed board game. Like you not wanting to play the original endeavor (I'm with you there as well). Also, tycoon type games are just not interesting. Our world has plenty of problems, I do not want to play a character in a game that I see as actively making our world worse. Oh, I also don't want to be a colonizer in a game, ever. Fantasy, sci-fi, ecology, saving the world are all open, but these can be done poorly as well. One reason trick taking games have been rising in common for me is because there is no theme and it is solely about the play. Also, usually easy to teach and have fun with less dedicated gamers. A game that I/we (speaking for my partner), shouldn't like base on theme is Furnace. The theme is only there really in the art. We don't do anything thematic in the game. The art is amazing and because I don't feel connected to the theme it gets a pass. It took me a while to play it though because I really did not know if we could see past being oil barrens/tycoons. You were the first person I ever heard say "game play over everything". And I want to be that open I just can't. If I'm spending money, that money is saying something. If I spend in on a theme I don't like it is giving a vote for more of that ina way. So, it certainly makes a big difference in my buying.
Interesting point on Furnace. The expansion and the other edition I believe have a diverse set of characters who also were around in the time period. Not for diversity sake but actual research.
Also game play over every is as general as it gets. I have my dealbreakers too...but I'm searching for a great gameplay experience period. Art on cards and shiny bits don't move me as much.
A deadly comment..I'm divided Kinfire delve does something slightly better than 20 strong in these ways...less set up and straight to the point gameplay wise and backed up with a smooth gameplay system. While 20 strong feels more random and punishing, I slightly prefer the situations Kinfire Delve puts you in. Then I'm thinking SOMETIMES Kinfire feels samey, while 20 strong is highly thematic by design and very much breaks from it's core while using the same core. If it comes down to price for you I get it. I have to talk out of both sides of my mouth on these two.
I appreciate mechanics over theme but do enjoy when they have a nice blend (Explorers & Raiders o/t North Sea or Architects W. Kingdom) but can't stand when the solo modes are brutally hard to beat are too fiddly (Tiny Epic Pirates is too fiddly for me and I keep hearing T.E. Dino's has a cruel solo bot). As well, I can't stand asymmetric games and tend to only buy them when I have figured out a way to negate the choosing of factions such as in Apiary. Now each person rolls a D20 for roll ranking. Then a D10 three times, each roll of the D10 is your counted choice through the stack. Take your three factions, keep one - toss two back in the stack.
I totally agree on AI turns taking too long. I can tolerate it for some euros but tiny epic games are starting to get a little too....long and not as good in my opinion.
How does Kinfire Delve compare to a card driven battler like Astro Knights. I got my eye on Delve for a while now, but own Astro Knights and Astro Knights Eternity somehow it doesn't hit the table very often and I feel like I suck at it. And it just doesn't bring as much joy as a dungeon crawl. I also think characters are not all that different. Boss variety is nice but after I beat a boss once I feel little incentive to try it again with a different character. Not sure if I would enjoy Delve.
I like both, but I THINK you may enjoy kinfire more......Astro knights is going to come up on this channel and solo chat soon for a discussion about replacing a title with a title.
I don't like Japanese/Chinese feudal period games (like I know I would enjoy Loyang, but I can't bring myself to even try it). But I love Legacy of Yu. I don't like mondaine themes (i.e. "without magic/para normal"). But I LOVE Sky Team. I think fishing is the most boring thing in the world... But I'm kinda itching to try Conservas :)
@@meeple I actually just got a copy a few days ago (Alongside Food Chain Island, Rove, and Ugly Gryphon Inn). I think a bigger issue for me other than theme is art. Fishing Lessons just looks amazing. On the other hand, while I would probably enjoy everything Too Many Bones has to offer - I just can't get past that art style :/ The same goes the other way, unfortunately. I was super pumped to play Starship Captains because the art is so so up my alley - but the game play was lookwarm. Sigh.
Hey folks...forgot to hit the 4k button..I 'm sorry!
Theme will catch my eye, but it's gameplay that keeps me.
I approve this statement. Thanks for watching!
I like to think that THEME is what helps a game ever end up on my shelf, while GAMEPLAY helps it stay on the shelf for a long time. Great video Jeremy! I also am not as pulled in by Cthulhu themes. Doesn't mean I won't play them, but they just don't get me excited!
There are ALWAYS games that break the rules we have. Thanks for commenting.
100% this! I have to be into the theme in order purchase a game. But I also have to enjoy playing it for it to stick around. That said I’m willing to try almost any game, but I’m less likely to invest in it personally if it’s not a theme I enjoy.
I’m really glad someone brought up this conversation, so thank you. I have felt conflicted about purchasing any of the more recent Garphill Games because of their biblical content, and have ultimately decided I just never will (former church member here who left after the wild hypocrisy of the religious political right in the US). However, in games like Undaunted, I don’t feel wretched if I happen to be the one playing the Germans or Axis nations. Somehow I’m able to separate that out, and realize that it’s simply the reality of history being played out in board game form. I even just recently picked up Soviet Dawn, a solo game where you are the Bolsheviks trying to establish themselves as the prevailing faction against advancing fronts from all sides (for those that don’t know, the Bolsheviks were horrible and definitely not the good guys).
I think it’s just up to personal preference and moral choice. And I fall on the side that it’s not up to me to decide for anyone else what their platitude is towards playing a certain game because of the theme, and I would hope everyone affords me the same leeway.
I think there could definitely be themes that are just absolutely poor taste and would avoid at all costs (such as any game where someone plays as the KKK, or games where using slavery as a form of resource is included), but I also think games like the recent Nightshift have a place at the table for someone interested in that. Just like with anything else, if you don’t like it and it doesn’t do actual harm to someone else, don’t partake, but don’t try to prevent others from doing so if they choose to.
I think you get exactly how I feel. There will always be hard stops and games that bend rules for YOU.
Interesting topic. I might make a distinction between the word theme and setting. Because for me if the gameplay does not successfully evoke a theme or some kind of somewhat immersive narrative, I'm just usually not into it. Especially in a solo setting. I play solo games to experience a narrative and that narrative can be expressed through written story, but it's even better and ideally expressed through the gameplay. So I would consider myself almost entirely a theme gamer but there can be a game with a setting that I'm not usually into but where the gameplay expresses theme and narrative really well where I can get past that. Earthborne rangers (eco friendly setting) or Western Legends (western), or sovereign/Arcs (sci fi) don't have settings that I usually drive with but they all have very thematic gameplay and so I dig them. But I can't think of a game. At least that I would play solo. That doesn't Express theme well through gameplay. For example, that is just a puzzle with a skin that I would want to play no matter the setting
This is a very interesting take. I agree for the most part because solo gaming has to be thematic enough or the setting has to "put me in the world" somehow. Then I think roll and writes or puzzle books which I love. Solo gaming will always have interesting conversations to have because of OUR personal takes on the experience.
Thanks for the video, Jeremy! Like you, I appreciate mechanics over theme, but theme matters. Comparing Deliverance to Massive Darkness 2 says a LOT about Deliverance. I wish more content creators talked about this game. Your opinions here made me buy it. Keep up the great work!!
Every time I say that...its walking a line. MD2 is easily one of the best dungeon crawls period. Something about both these games makes me puts them against each other but they are different.
@@meeplefor a first game for Lowen Games, it’s an amazing achievement. Looks like it’s being fully supported and updated, along with the expansion. Looking forward to playing it.
As a lefty LGBT atheist on friendly terms with the church, I just blitzed through Deliverance and the theme was well done, not super preachy, the Bible verses on the prayer cards I think are a very nice touch.
I agree which is why it pops up in conversation when I think about theme. The game is too good
The theme for me needs to catch my eye, otherwise, it is just a puzzle.
I figure most people would say this but I wanted to hear all perspectives.
Also, great video. Really appreciated the delivery and planning that went into how this was put together.
A lot of work and play goes into them and it reminds me that it's worth it every time when I see comments like yours. Thank you
Theme and thematic integration are important to me but I don't look for particular themes. They just really need to be well done. And the gameplay also has to be great but there are so many games being released that we can have both now.
Theme isn't very important for filler games. Ganz Schonz Clever for example. I wouldn't want to play a themeless 90+ minute Euro though.
Themes I am really unexcited about (in general) - Farming and medieval/renaissance Europe
Interesting. Try this game Conservas...
Theme is pretty big for me. Especially since I feel that is the main difference in games coming out now than what is already available. There isn't too much new mechanically; especially from a solo perspective. But a unique and interesting theme or setting can definitely pull me towards a game that shares similar mechanisms to one I already own. Examples are Windmill Valley, Luthier, Galactic Cruise.
My most thematic game that I really enjoy is probably Obsession. I tend to be drawn towards historical and scifi games the most. But, even as a heavy euro gamer, my all-time #1 games is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Change is Constant and City Fall. And it's definitely because of the theme. (It's also a really fun game, though)
Themes that I tend to stay away from are sorcery and witchcraft and I find myself less and less interested in nature themed games after the recent influx of them to the industry. I also don't find war themed games appealing unless it's scifi based like TI4, Eclipse, or Voidfall.
Great video and topic for discussion! I think a really good tangentially related topic is theme vs. setting. What does it take to make a game thematic vs it just having a certain setting? And are there some games where the setting is enough to make the game feel thematic, even though nothing mechanically really resonates thematically?
thinking.....
Deliverance is amazing
Damn straight it is!
Thank you for the video and thank you for making me think about this a bit!
It turns out that I need both but the balance can change. I need a baseline of great gameplay, but a really solid theme will increase my score and enjoyment significantly. Conversely, a theme that I am just not into can be a killer for me regardless of the gameplay.
I typically don’t like sci-fi theme, which is incredibly weird because sci-fi is my favorite genre of literature and film.
I also typically don’t like war themes. (I am reluctantly flirting with the idea of playing This War of Mine.)
I’m a sucker for beautiful nature, themes done well (Parks) and I’m also a sucker for cozy games (Everdell, mycelia)
I wouldn’t have chosen an underwater theme necessarily but Endeavor: Deep Sea looks pretty amazing. (But maybe I’m just imagining it’s The Life Aquatic board game :)
I can’t wait to hear the rest of your picks from Essen. Particularly your solo round up and co-op with solo mode!
Thanks for commenting. You're like me, it really depends on the experience. Sometimes a very thematic game is a miss and a card game with no thematic play doesn't bother me. Interesting to hear people's thoughts.
Love Deliverance and Endeavour Deep Sea although find some goals are really tough to complete solo, also find Zombiecide games very meh solo. Im surprised how so many people throw so much money at cmon for the same game slightly tweaked over and over.
The solo in Endeavor is super tough, but it feels like I wanna get guuuud. That's why it has its hooks in me.
Great video! Theme is extremely important to me!
Totally understand thanks for watching.
Don’t care for games with Cthulu in it. Otherwise I don’t care much. Especially for euros, where theme is 98% setting and then trying to tie one commonly used mechanic to the theme using a rule to twist the mechanic
I honestly agree for the vast majority of euros. It's totally ok too in most cases cause I understand that designers and sometimes publishers may have a hard time matching up a theme that's exciting enough to come to market. My highly thematic experience can be total snoozfest. This is why I brought this topic.
Theme definitely makes a difference for me, both in terms of enticement/engagement versus discomfort/boredom. I’ll never play a game about Warergate or the Vietnam War or slavery or real things of that nature. Yet we often played an old game called Vinci in which you choose among various traits for the civilization you’re creating - one of those traits was slavery which made everyone uncomfortable - it was interesting to see that no one ever chose it even though it became more and more valuable each time it was passed over.
A current game I’m interested in trying is Galileo Galilei, but the background of the Inquisition in the game may be too off putting for me to enjoy it. The Inquisition was real, not fantasy. Give me anthropomorphic animals and light fantasy and games about knowledge seeking and such. As an Arab-American I’ll happily try any game in the Garphill South Tigris series - it’s so rare that my people are ever depicted in a positive light in any media. My fingers are crossed that I will actually like the games, but either way, I’m grateful to the designers for creating them. I enjoy positivity in general and try to be careful about what I invite into the living room of my mind.
During our live stream the designer of Galileo Galilei did so much research to tie in some of the theme to specific characters that I believe he took it seriously. I think you're dead on with specific theme and I always feel like there are some exceptions to this chat. Thanks for watching.
New here! When I first got into the hobby I watched a play through of Mombasa and I was honestly shocked by the theme. I thought - I could never play this game despite seeing some interesting mechanics. I was so relieved to it was rethemed as a space game bc even though I’m not a space person, I could stomach through it for the sake of a mechanically solid game.
Another hard no was a game about the trans-Atlantic slave trade😱😱😱 hard no. In general, colonizer themed games are a hard pass. I bought Maricaibo being ignorant of that history and I honestly haven’t played it since I learned that information.
Play Maracaibo with the expansion which is about resisting the colonizers and has a person on the cover who challenged the designer to make it happen. That's the reason I own Maracaibo again.
@@meeple thanks for that suggestion! I definitely will pick it up
For solo, I quite like games that have themes that don't appeal to my game group but that I am intrigued by. I definitely have games that are mechanics over theme, but they are hard to get off the shelf if the theme doesn't appeal to anyone else.
Which area control games do you love? We recently started playing (and are really enjoying) Crown of Ash. I've got El Grande and Tyrants of the Underdark sat on my shelf unplayed - because nobody is pulled in by the theme...
area control games...Ankh (not solo), the upcoming Wroth by chip theory, Ruination (not solo..maybe), that's about it.
@meeple have quite fancied Ankh for a while! I don't much about the others, but I'll take a look :)
If the mechanisms are fun and the game works it will play. If that game has a theme I don’t care about I may not play it as much. If the game has a theme I enjoy I may play it more often. But a boring game with that same fun theme on it will fade over time. Mechanisms have to bee there, theme is a nice addition but not essential.
Theme helps me to make sense of the rules, so if what you're doing doesn't make much sense thematically, I may bounce off the game. I will try almost any game once, but I will only purchase a game if the theme speaks to me.
I tend to stay away from historical war themes because actual people died. The exceptions have been This War of Mine, and Halls of Hegra because of the respectful way it was handled (more of an educational focus than glorification of war itself). Add a fantasy theme to it, and I'm much more willing to play because it become a theoretical strategy game. Semantics.😅
The way history is handled helps, but some history just ain't good no matter how much fun is weaved in there. It's like respectfully I respect it and I also respectfully pass.
Fate forge, is the app browser-based? If so, using MS Edge may allow you to use its 'read aloud' feature🤔
YOU JUST BLEW MY MIIIIIIIIIND!
😂 it's pretty cool, different voices and sounds nearly real
Marquis’ theme makes playing it special, and I guess a different theme could be applied to the gameplay but I doubt it would feel as connected. In contrast, Castles of Burgundy is one of my favorite games and its theme is meaningless to me. So it really depends on the game for me how much theme comes into play. Regarding Endeavor Deep Sea, I’m anxiously awaiting my KS Deluxe copy to arrive, but I expect the melding of its theme and mechanisms to land it in my Top20 or higher. The action selection and crew choices seem to blend almost flawlessly. If this updated Endeavor edition remained pirate themed, I would still be interested in playing it but significantly less so compared to the eco theme.
Get ready for my review for Endeavor this week or next week!
@@meeple That’s excellent news. Hoping to hear a little more on the co-op mode vs solo, which you touched on in this video.
🙂👍
Theme matters a ton when it comes to purchasing. I simply will never buy a Christian themed board game. Like you not wanting to play the original endeavor (I'm with you there as well). Also, tycoon type games are just not interesting. Our world has plenty of problems, I do not want to play a character in a game that I see as actively making our world worse. Oh, I also don't want to be a colonizer in a game, ever.
Fantasy, sci-fi, ecology, saving the world are all open, but these can be done poorly as well.
One reason trick taking games have been rising in common for me is because there is no theme and it is solely about the play. Also, usually easy to teach and have fun with less dedicated gamers.
A game that I/we (speaking for my partner), shouldn't like base on theme is Furnace. The theme is only there really in the art. We don't do anything thematic in the game. The art is amazing and because I don't feel connected to the theme it gets a pass. It took me a while to play it though because I really did not know if we could see past being oil barrens/tycoons.
You were the first person I ever heard say "game play over everything". And I want to be that open I just can't. If I'm spending money, that money is saying something. If I spend in on a theme I don't like it is giving a vote for more of that ina way. So, it certainly makes a big difference in my buying.
Interesting point on Furnace. The expansion and the other edition I believe have a diverse set of characters who also were around in the time period. Not for diversity sake but actual research.
Also game play over every is as general as it gets. I have my dealbreakers too...but I'm searching for a great gameplay experience period. Art on cards and shiny bits don't move me as much.
Can you compare "Kinfire Delve" with "20 Strong" ?
A deadly comment..I'm divided
Kinfire delve does something slightly better than 20 strong in these ways...less set up and straight to the point gameplay wise and backed up with a smooth gameplay system. While 20 strong feels more random and punishing, I slightly prefer the situations Kinfire Delve puts you in. Then I'm thinking SOMETIMES Kinfire feels samey, while 20 strong is highly thematic by design and very much breaks from it's core while using the same core. If it comes down to price for you I get it. I have to talk out of both sides of my mouth on these two.
I appreciate mechanics over theme but do enjoy when they have a nice blend (Explorers & Raiders o/t North Sea or Architects W. Kingdom) but can't stand when the solo modes are brutally hard to beat are too fiddly (Tiny Epic Pirates is too fiddly for me and I keep hearing T.E. Dino's has a cruel solo bot). As well, I can't stand asymmetric games and tend to only buy them when I have figured out a way to negate the choosing of factions such as in Apiary. Now each person rolls a D20 for roll ranking. Then a D10 three times, each roll of the D10 is your counted choice through the stack. Take your three factions, keep one - toss two back in the stack.
I totally agree on AI turns taking too long. I can tolerate it for some euros but tiny epic games are starting to get a little too....long and not as good in my opinion.
How does Kinfire Delve compare to a card driven battler like Astro Knights. I got my eye on Delve for a while now, but own Astro Knights and Astro Knights Eternity somehow it doesn't hit the table very often and I feel like I suck at it. And it just doesn't bring as much joy as a dungeon crawl. I also think characters are not all that different. Boss variety is nice but after I beat a boss once I feel little incentive to try it again with a different character.
Not sure if I would enjoy Delve.
I like both, but I THINK you may enjoy kinfire more......Astro knights is going to come up on this channel and solo chat soon for a discussion about replacing a title with a title.
@@meeple Haha. Would that be both before mentioned titles?
I don't like Japanese/Chinese feudal period games (like I know I would enjoy Loyang, but I can't bring myself to even try it). But I love Legacy of Yu. I don't like mondaine themes (i.e. "without magic/para normal"). But I LOVE Sky Team. I think fishing is the most boring thing in the world... But I'm kinda itching to try Conservas :)
Hey give the fishing game from Button Shy a shot
@@meeple I actually just got a copy a few days ago (Alongside Food Chain Island, Rove, and Ugly Gryphon Inn). I think a bigger issue for me other than theme is art. Fishing Lessons just looks amazing. On the other hand, while I would probably enjoy everything Too Many Bones has to offer - I just can't get past that art style :/
The same goes the other way, unfortunately. I was super pumped to play Starship Captains because the art is so so up my alley - but the game play was lookwarm. Sigh.
Only if it’s cats
Cats always get a look from me and I don't when like them