Summary: - Tier 1 - Mamas & Papas: asymmetrical resource start, great - Property: sell fields for cash. Especially if playing with 'structures' - Patronage: no - Advanced Visitors: great - Tier 2 - New Visitors: great - Extended Board: fav - Special Workers: Tom yes, Zee no - Structures (needs Extended Board): 2nd fav - Tier 3: no to all - Formaggio - Arboriculture - Mafia - Solitaire: Dismissed by Tom but internet vibe is good
Viticulture is a very, very good game. Tuscany is an absolutely essential expansion - it makes the game incredible. This game should be in every gamer's collection - it's that good. Plays very well with any number of players (except 6, 6 tends to drag), and is just fantastic. Thumbs WAY up.
TyrionXavier Well if there was a german version... Is it normal that the Extra Boards are darker then the normal Player board? I think thats a little let down
Awesome, glad I'm justified in adding this high to my wishlist. I have to ask though, how often Zee and Tom get to Wineries. Selling locally produced or on-site produced small finger food items is actually common. In fact I'm seeing Wineries have on-site restaurants too because the concept is keeping folks on-site and not having them leave. I think themematically the cheese and tomatoes fit well.
I would love to see a review of the newly announced "Viticulture Essential Edition". This version, which will be replacing Viticulture and Tuscany, combines the base game of Viticulture with a couple of the modules from Tuscany (Mamas and Papas, Properties and the Advanced Visitors). The biggest issue there seems to be with this is that it is missing the "Big Board" which you seemed to love so much (as did others). I would like to know your thoughts on this. I have a few people that are interested in purchasing Viticulture, but I'm not sure if I should lead them to purchase the actual Tuscany expansion, along with Viticulture, or the Essential Edition. Thank you.
+Kaitlyn Sims EE doesn't replace Tuscany. There will be an updated (abbreviated) version of Tuscany released later that works with EE. EE is EXCELLENT; I got it a few days ago and it's replaced The Manhattan Project and Lords of Waterdeep for me which is really saying something as both of those games are exceptional.
Such a great game!! My wife and I REALLY love Viticulture and as soon as we manage to get a couple of other games from our list, we are definitely picking up the Tuscany expansion. Great review!
Hi Dice Tower. Could you add an annotation to this video that clarifies that the metal DO NOT come with this retail version of the game? Many thanks :)
Could have mentioned that the coins where only included in the Kickstarter edition :( Was so disappointing when i got it in the mail and the coins wasn't there..
I don't like how Tom immediately dismisses any kind of solitaire variant. I'm sure more than a few viewers are interested in solo play. Hopefully Zee reviews the solo module soon.
Tom did you get the Collector's Edition in the wine crate? If so, thoughts on the packaging? I forget if there are any other extras in the Collector's Edition compared to just regular Tuscany/Viticultre (2nd edition)
Great review. Good call on the 'Legacy' claim which I agree is complete bunk and the tier three expansions which don't add much reward, but a lot of what's in the box is great.
We love viticulture. One of our favorites. We are getting Tuscany soon. We bought the metal coins separately and love them. But, I wish the coins were stackable. The raised design prevents this. I much prefer stacking to piling. Other than that, LOOOOOOVE THEM!
To be fair to the cheese and other Tier 3 expansions, they do add considerable complications to the game, but, in terms of the rules as designed, you only add them after playing about fifteen times already. By which point you can probably handle the complexity and appreciate the subtle extra strategies they offer.
I like playing viticulture at a friends house and want to get it for home. I don't know about any of the expansions and want to get the core game + any worthy expansions. what should I get?
I was pretty on the fence about Viticulture. It seemed like a game I'd enjoy somewhat, but nothing I'd be crazy about. This expansion makes it a must try, but also a likely buy for me.
Thomas Hubbell Though they were available as an add-on for the Treasure Chest (How I got mine), and you might be able to get from the Stonemaier website direct?
Just learned this game for the first time and I was so confused when people were missing seasons, and I realized it was the expansion. That legacy thing is definitely not necessary.
In our first games of the base game, wine strategy has not been very competitive. I think with cheese, selling wine might be viable option for trying to win the game.
I am actually most intrigued by the tier 3 stuff(Mafia, Formaggio, and Arboriculture). I feel that it adds such an Italian theme to the game. I am a little bit sceptical about the new board. I'm afraid that the first player would have way too much power being able to place first in all 4 seasons.
Yeah but the first player is determined by bidding and is offset by bonuses for waking up later, so what this does is basically make the wake up time even more competitive. Yeah Tier 3 might add more to the Italian theme, but theme adds to a game, it doesn't usually make the game. Honestly the only thing in Tier 3 that adds a specific Italian theme is the mafia. The cheese making and fruits could easily be transposed onto a French or Spanish themed wine-making game.
Papa Jay (at 5:17) gives you the grande meeple and either $7 or $5 and the yoke. Papa Steven (at 5:17) gives you the grande meeple and either $7 or $6 and the yoke. Wait, Steven is strictly superior to Jay? And these are randomly distrbibuted to players at the start of the game? :( I remember when Tuscany went on Kickstarter, I really did not like how it was billed as "Legacy" when it was just a bunch of expansion modules. It felt like Stonemaier was trying to get on the Legacy hype train and it actually made me think less of them as designers (only for a little while). All that said, the expansion does look AMAZING, and these reviews make me want to check it out again. Viticulture never grabbed me in theme and I didn't see anything that really set it apart from other WP games in my mind, but man, the praise is so high here and it's obviously deserved.
Alexandre Lake It seems you can download rules/cards in other languages here: stonemaiergames.com/rules/ I'm not sure if printed versions in the other languages exits (for the writing on the boards etc) but I know Stonemaier do try to cover a good range of European languages.
Arbie8327 That's the major caveat for me too. As a non-drinker, I have no problem with it, but just seems kinda weird.On the other hand, I don't kill people either and yet I own Werewolf, Memoir 44, etc
Eric Folsom Perhaps ironically, I find the farming theme much more appealing in spite of being a fan of the wines. Maybe I find it repulsive because wine making has turned into such a tourist-wank industry, and I do dislike tourists. I'd probably dislike a game themed with large scale factory farming also. If it was honest old timey small scale wine making? Yeah, sure, sign me up. That sounds good. Like if you managed a medieval monastery and had the monks making artisan wine and beer and stuff, that'd be excellent. Pretty sure there's a game or ten like that already.
Interesting you love the new board so much, I felt it absolutely ruined the flow of the game and as a result bounced off it very hard, that whole mini map being especially useless. Personally I’d buy the essentials edition and then Tuscany is entirely skippable.
Totally agree with you guys about the extra cheese expansion. Doesn't fit the game, seems like very stupid game design. The game is already full of choices to make.
Summary:
- Tier 1
- Mamas & Papas: asymmetrical resource start, great
- Property: sell fields for cash. Especially if playing with 'structures'
- Patronage: no
- Advanced Visitors: great
- Tier 2
- New Visitors: great
- Extended Board: fav
- Special Workers: Tom yes, Zee no
- Structures (needs Extended Board): 2nd fav
- Tier 3: no to all
- Formaggio
- Arboriculture
- Mafia
- Solitaire: Dismissed by Tom but internet vibe is good
I think automata is pretty sweet. I play it all of the time.
About to get viticulture essential. Automa looks pretty good.
Congrats, Jamey! I don't know if I've seen a more thorough glowing review for an expansion out of The Dice Tower before.
Viticulture is a very, very good game. Tuscany is an absolutely essential expansion - it makes the game incredible. This game should be in every gamer's collection - it's that good. Plays very well with any number of players (except 6, 6 tends to drag), and is just fantastic. Thumbs WAY up.
TyrionXavier Well if there was a german version...
Is it normal that the Extra Boards are darker then the normal Player board? I think thats a little let down
Awesome, glad I'm justified in adding this high to my wishlist.
I have to ask though, how often Zee and Tom get to Wineries. Selling locally produced or on-site produced small finger food items is actually common. In fact I'm seeing Wineries have on-site restaurants too because the concept is keeping folks on-site and not having them leave. I think themematically the cheese and tomatoes fit well.
Viticulture is by far my favorite worker placement games our group plays. Just like the theme and open end play of it so much.
I glad you guys didn't spoil the those structures that were secreted into the box.
I would love to see a review of the newly announced "Viticulture Essential Edition". This version, which will be replacing Viticulture and Tuscany, combines the base game of Viticulture with a couple of the modules from Tuscany (Mamas and Papas, Properties and the Advanced Visitors). The biggest issue there seems to be with this is that it is missing the "Big Board" which you seemed to love so much (as did others). I would like to know your thoughts on this. I have a few people that are interested in purchasing Viticulture, but I'm not sure if I should lead them to purchase the actual Tuscany expansion, along with Viticulture, or the Essential Edition. Thank you.
+Kaitlyn Sims EE doesn't replace Tuscany. There will be an updated (abbreviated) version of Tuscany released later that works with EE. EE is EXCELLENT; I got it a few days ago and it's replaced The Manhattan Project and Lords of Waterdeep for me which is really saying something as both of those games are exceptional.
Such a great game!! My wife and I REALLY love Viticulture and as soon as we manage to get a couple of other games from our list, we are definitely picking up the Tuscany expansion. Great review!
Hi Dice Tower. Could you add an annotation to this video that clarifies that the metal DO NOT come with this retail version of the game? Many thanks :)
Could have mentioned that the coins where only included in the Kickstarter edition :( Was so disappointing when i got it in the mail and the coins wasn't there..
And the call liras "dollars" - doesn't looks like they qualified to make reviews with such ignorance of details
Wow! Well done Tom, for squeezing the review into 30 minutes. (I couldn't do it) I would love to play this against you =D
I don't like how Tom immediately dismisses any kind of solitaire variant. I'm sure more than a few viewers are interested in solo play. Hopefully Zee reviews the solo module soon.
I'd totally buy a game about driving a car to a rocket ship
Great review......was wondering what to put in vs take out-
Makes my first play with this a much easier decision
Tom did you get the Collector's Edition in the wine crate? If so, thoughts on the packaging? I forget if there are any other extras in the Collector's Edition compared to just regular Tuscany/Viticultre (2nd edition)
Great review. Good call on the 'Legacy' claim which I agree is complete bunk and the tier three expansions which don't add much reward, but a lot of what's in the box is great.
We love viticulture. One of our favorites. We are getting Tuscany soon. We bought the metal coins separately and love them. But, I wish the coins were stackable. The raised design prevents this. I much prefer stacking to piling. Other than that, LOOOOOOVE THEM!
This is my favorite Worker Placement game ever. And on my top 10 favorite games ever.
To be fair to the cheese and other Tier 3 expansions, they do add considerable complications to the game, but, in terms of the rules as designed, you only add them after playing about fifteen times already. By which point you can probably handle the complexity and appreciate the subtle extra strategies they offer.
Tom, Zee, is it possible to play this version of Tuscany with the new Viticulture Essential Edition?
I like playing viticulture at a friends house and want to get it for home.
I don't know about any of the expansions and want to get the core game + any worthy expansions. what should I get?
I love this review. And, we also can't go back to the base game after playing Tuscany.
Thanks! I just ordered the base game and this it from Cool Stuff Inc! CSI should be very happy with Tom and Zee, I am closer to the CSI 9th level !
I was pretty on the fence about Viticulture. It seemed like a game I'd enjoy somewhat, but nothing I'd be crazy about. This expansion makes it a must try, but also a likely buy for me.
Love this review. Great job guys, and great game!
Just an fyi, only the prima edition comes with the coin if I am not mistaken.
Thomas Hubbell that and the collectors edition which includes the prima edition.
Well, the collector's edition comes with Tuscany Prima if that is what you mean.
Thomas Hubbell it is what I said.
Wow, I must be tired, you did say that :) sorry to repeat
Thomas Hubbell Though they were available as an add-on for the Treasure Chest (How I got mine), and you might be able to get from the Stonemaier website direct?
Just learned this game for the first time and I was so confused when people were missing seasons, and I realized it was the expansion. That legacy thing is definitely not necessary.
In our first games of the base game, wine strategy has not been very competitive. I think with cheese, selling wine might be viable option for trying to win the game.
I hope Zee takes on Automa and reviews this game's solo variant.
Dying to get Viticulture and this expansion now...
I think the only time I'd ever use Arboriculture or Fromagio is if I set up a game using the old board.
my heart aches when that hammer come knocking down on the metal coins....
I am actually most intrigued by the tier 3 stuff(Mafia, Formaggio, and Arboriculture). I feel that it adds such an Italian theme to the game. I am a little bit sceptical about the new board. I'm afraid that the first player would have way too much power being able to place first in all 4 seasons.
Yeah but the first player is determined by bidding and is offset by bonuses for waking up later, so what this does is basically make the wake up time even more competitive.
Yeah Tier 3 might add more to the Italian theme, but theme adds to a game, it doesn't usually make the game.
Honestly the only thing in Tier 3 that adds a specific Italian theme is the mafia. The cheese making and fruits could easily be transposed onto a French or Spanish themed wine-making game.
Papa Jay (at 5:17) gives you the grande meeple and either $7 or $5 and the yoke. Papa Steven (at 5:17) gives you the grande meeple and either $7 or $6 and the yoke. Wait, Steven is strictly superior to Jay? And these are randomly distrbibuted to players at the start of the game? :(
I remember when Tuscany went on Kickstarter, I really did not like how it was billed as "Legacy" when it was just a bunch of expansion modules. It felt like Stonemaier was trying to get on the Legacy hype train and it actually made me think less of them as designers (only for a little while).
All that said, the expansion does look AMAZING, and these reviews make me want to check it out again. Viticulture never grabbed me in theme and I didn't see anything that really set it apart from other WP games in my mind, but man, the praise is so high here and it's obviously deserved.
I... did jot expect that O_O
What did Sam think of the game? :)
Vasel's ear should do more reviews
25:18 And now I enter... the Cheese Tasting Phase
I just bought this expansion just to find out that the metal coins only came in a "prima" edition. Bummer
Why do you need the original game?
METAL COINS DON'T COME WITH EXPANSION (Jamey Stegmaier specifically asked Tom to mention this, but he didn't)
15:05 You can only move your stars after placing all 6.
This game need to be printed in more language.
Alexandre Lake It seems you can download rules/cards in other languages here: stonemaiergames.com/rules/
I'm not sure if printed versions in the other languages exits (for the writing on the boards etc) but I know Stonemaier do try to cover a good range of European languages.
My copy has English on one side and German on the other side.
Sounds like a solid design, but I couldn't care less about the wine-making theme.
Arbie8327 That's the major caveat for me too. As a non-drinker, I have no problem with it, but just seems kinda weird.On the other hand, I don't kill people either and yet I own Werewolf, Memoir 44, etc
Eric Folsom
Perhaps ironically, I find the farming theme much more appealing in spite of being a fan of the wines. Maybe I find it repulsive because wine making has turned into such a tourist-wank industry, and I do dislike tourists. I'd probably dislike a game themed with large scale factory farming also.
If it was honest old timey small scale wine making? Yeah, sure, sign me up. That sounds good. Like if you managed a medieval monastery and had the monks making artisan wine and beer and stuff, that'd be excellent. Pretty sure there's a game or ten like that already.
Arbie8327
I don't care the wine making theme either, but the theme works in this game so well that it is a blast to play.
I thought the game "Drive" was a game about driving to the rocket...
Wait - dice management?!
It is not going into your collection Tom? *pout*
Charles Hooks Sorry I didn't mention that. YES!
The Dice Tower In the Viticulture 2nd Ed review you said it was going into your collection, so it seemed obvious that this was too.
HisOmniscience Did not watch that review since I already had the game.
Cool story
But I want to make cheese! :(
Interesting you love the new board so much, I felt it absolutely ruined the flow of the game and as a result bounced off it very hard, that whole mini map being especially useless. Personally I’d buy the essentials edition and then Tuscany is entirely skippable.
Biggest expansion ever
So this is a stand alone game as well?
David Fish No, this is an expansion for Viticulture, and is not playable without it.
It seems like it comes with just about everything to play. I guess if they included a few more things it would be stand alone.
David Fish Having not played the game, it's not coming with resources or player tokens, or the purple / yellow cards.
Totally agree with you guys about the extra cheese expansion. Doesn't fit the game, seems like very stupid game design. The game is already full of choices to make.
Actually cheese and wine almost always go together at wine tastings and whatnot. It's the other side of the board that doesn't make sense.
Vinhos is so much more interesting than Viticulture, even with this expansion.