This is the first I’ve seen of the game and it looks really interesting - already backed on the strength of Pamir and Root but this looks like a different beast again and one I very much look forward to trying out - thanks for taking the time to do these videos!
Great vid Drew! I'm all in. I'll still keep the first ed though. It's special. I'm really looking forward to Ricky Royal's solo sys for this. Pax Pamir's is great. Also a beautiful and historical fun game. Peace... Oh love the gold metal coins! The the metal coins are wonderful in Pax Pamir.
It would be nice to have more examples about the laws (masses demand franchise is difficult to play), and more examples of events in India (I struggle with the elephant 's march, don't know yet how to play with all its variants)
I appreciate the way the game portrays one of the most important institutions of the British Empire. It’s really interesting to see the personal interests that move the institutions, not only the abstract idea of what the “company” wants. The portrait of the empire as a way of life of its “citizens” is very interesting! On the other hand, I failed to see how the east India company effects over the Indian subcontinent are depicted. Is it through the event system or the cards? How do the players feel about “exploit” other countries and persons? I think the abstraction turns this face of the East Indian Company more “acceptable” for players that don’t know how the relations between empire and subjects works. I really wish they were less abstract, but I understand that’s a limitation of the scope of the game. Anyway, I enjoyed this game and backed it. I’m looking forward to the solo mode. Thanks!
The Company's rule over India is primarily depicted via the military system. The army can conquer regions of India, removing the local leaders and instituting their own governors instead. These governors tax the regions and can spend their tax income on placing buildings that alter India's economy - for example, they can place infrastructure that prevents orders from being closed, or plantations that set the value of an order to 5. The latter also allows them to make more money by exporting opium to China, but also increases the risk of rebellions in the region. As for the last point, in my experience it's difficult to come away from this game with a positive opinion of the EIC unless you're really not paying attention. The organization is depicted as brutal, vicious, incompetent, and corrupt, mostly because of how players are incentivized to destroy each other as well as all of India for the sake of personal profit.
I like abstraction in my games because they allow players to drive their own conclusions as to the ethics of the actions involved. I'll use Navegdor as an example. At some point in the game players realise that what they are going is obviously colonial exploitation and with the knowledge they can reflect that either they should not have done it, or that they did it because they wanted to win (which would be to say that they wanted success) or they did it because the system forced them into it. These conclusions are independent of a card saying "you are doing a bad thing" and are probably better for it.
Thanks for picking up John Company! Cole recorded an updated teaching video that we posted last fall. Here's a link: th-cam.com/video/0mFNEdfCSZo/w-d-xo.html
Seems a bit incongruent to be calling corporate directors and officers and estate owners “children,’” since they are adults in function and image. ‘Family members’ is clunky, ‘progeny’ is too scientific, and ‘heirs’ is perhaps unclear when spoken, but maybe there is yet a better word than ‘children’? Looking forward to the game!
If you go on Bgg you can clearly see a lot of discussion about the theme of this game. Cole knows what he is doing and in those discussions provides a lot of insights on his post-colonial studies. This game is not pro slavery, I assure you.
You are ridiculous. How you the conclusion that this game is "pro-slavery" is beyond me. Your words show how ignorant you are. If your analogy holds true than anyone who watches a violent movie is pro-murder. Or anyone who has ever heard of Nazi Gernany hates Jews.
@@derrickoakes4879 I `m sorry. I expressed the idea in a wrong way. The theme implies the subject of slavery. This company stole from a country and sold slaves. That is it`s story.Let me remember you that nazi parti is banned in most countries.
@@davidenania7386 I `m sorry. I expressed the idea in a wrong way. And I understand that the game intention has nothing to do with slavery. And let me emphasize that there is nothing personal with neither the designers nor the publishers. On the other hand, the theme implies the subject of slavery because this is the story of the company, which stole from a country and sold slaves. I am just pointing out that there is no any reason to celebrate the harmful actions this company (or any other) did. People died because of it, others lost their freedom and their families. How could you present their descendants a game that honor the responsible?
@@ludovico2069 I understand, but again I think this game as no intention in honoring the Company, but rather criticize it by showing what they did. If you go on Bgg you can see what the point of view in this game rapresent and I think Cole can answer better than me your concerns
I feel like this game is nothing like Snakes and Ladders...
This is the first I’ve seen of the game and it looks really interesting - already backed on the strength of Pamir and Root but this looks like a different beast again and one I very much look forward to trying out - thanks for taking the time to do these videos!
Great vid Drew! I'm all in. I'll still keep the first ed though. It's special. I'm really looking forward to Ricky Royal's solo sys for this. Pax Pamir's is great. Also a beautiful and historical fun game. Peace... Oh love the gold metal coins! The the metal coins are wonderful in Pax Pamir.
This looks amazing!
It would be nice to have more examples about the laws (masses demand franchise is difficult to play), and more examples of events in India (I struggle with the elephant 's march, don't know yet how to play with all its variants)
This game looks dope, but complicated to me. Definitely will need to review many videos. Thanks!
So when are these replacement videos coming out?
I appreciate the way the game portrays one of the most important institutions of the British Empire. It’s really interesting to see the personal interests that move the institutions, not only the abstract idea of what the “company” wants. The portrait of the empire as a way of life of its “citizens” is very interesting!
On the other hand, I failed to see how the east India company effects over the Indian subcontinent are depicted. Is it through the event system or the cards?
How do the players feel about “exploit” other countries and persons? I think the abstraction turns this face of the East Indian Company more “acceptable” for players that don’t know how the relations between empire and subjects works.
I really wish they were less abstract, but I understand that’s a limitation of the scope of the game.
Anyway, I enjoyed this game and backed it. I’m looking forward to the solo mode.
Thanks!
The Company's rule over India is primarily depicted via the military system. The army can conquer regions of India, removing the local leaders and instituting their own governors instead. These governors tax the regions and can spend their tax income on placing buildings that alter India's economy - for example, they can place infrastructure that prevents orders from being closed, or plantations that set the value of an order to 5. The latter also allows them to make more money by exporting opium to China, but also increases the risk of rebellions in the region.
As for the last point, in my experience it's difficult to come away from this game with a positive opinion of the EIC unless you're really not paying attention. The organization is depicted as brutal, vicious, incompetent, and corrupt, mostly because of how players are incentivized to destroy each other as well as all of India for the sake of personal profit.
I like abstraction in my games because they allow players to drive their own conclusions as to the ethics of the actions involved. I'll use Navegdor as an example. At some point in the game players realise that what they are going is obviously colonial exploitation and with the knowledge they can reflect that either they should not have done it, or that they did it because they wanted to win (which would be to say that they wanted success) or they did it because the system forced them into it.
These conclusions are independent of a card saying "you are doing a bad thing" and are probably better for it.
Thanks for asking the question. I backed and have respect for Cole’s designs but also had the same concerns.
@1:10 still not replaced with a new video :(
Hi there, just acquired the game. Are these videos going to be updated with the final design of the game?
Thanks!
Thanks for picking up John Company! Cole recorded an updated teaching video that we posted last fall. Here's a link: th-cam.com/video/0mFNEdfCSZo/w-d-xo.html
Could you upload in 1080p for the next set of videos? The board is hard to parse when you're zoomed out
Seems a bit incongruent to be calling corporate directors and officers and estate owners “children,’” since they are adults in function and image. ‘Family members’ is clunky, ‘progeny’ is too scientific, and ‘heirs’ is perhaps unclear when spoken, but maybe there is yet a better word than ‘children’? Looking forward to the game!
Your Kin or Descendants?
Offspring?
Spawn.
Seed
Thanks for your work on the review. Regarding the game. I can`t believe this colonialist and pro slavery games are still being designed....
If you go on Bgg you can clearly see a lot of discussion about the theme of this game. Cole knows what he is doing and in those discussions provides a lot of insights on his post-colonial studies. This game is not pro slavery, I assure you.
You are ridiculous. How you the conclusion that this game is "pro-slavery" is beyond me. Your words show how ignorant you are. If your analogy holds true than anyone who watches a violent movie is pro-murder. Or anyone who has ever heard of Nazi Gernany hates Jews.
@@derrickoakes4879 I `m sorry. I expressed the idea in a wrong way. The theme implies the subject of slavery. This company stole from a country and sold slaves. That is it`s story.Let me remember you that nazi parti is banned in most countries.
@@davidenania7386 I `m sorry. I expressed the idea in a wrong way. And I understand that the game intention has nothing to do with slavery. And let me emphasize that there is nothing personal with neither the designers nor the publishers. On the other hand, the theme implies the subject of slavery because this is the story of the company, which stole from a country and sold slaves. I am just pointing out that there is no any reason to celebrate the harmful actions this company (or any other) did. People died because of it, others lost their freedom and their families. How could you present their descendants a game that honor the responsible?
@@ludovico2069 I understand, but again I think this game as no intention in honoring the Company, but rather criticize it by showing what they did. If you go on Bgg you can see what the point of view in this game rapresent and I think Cole can answer better than me your concerns