Thanks for a great review. I have been sitting on the fence with this one and your video has me much more interested. Another reviewer told about their rangers doing something that did nothing. Several turns later that event painted them into a very bad corner. I thought "wow just like stuff that happens to me in Arkham Horror". This was followed by "the designers used to work at FFG doing card games"! BINGO! I'm a solo player trying to decide between Obsession, Dune Uprising or now Earthborn Rangers. I'm glad I now have so many good game to chose from.
This was so helpful! I thought it would more of a relaxing story-focused game, so this was a great warning. My main gaming partner and I bounced off The 7th Continent very hard, so seems like this is probably not ideal for us either. (By the way, Daybreak is very strongly in that collaborative discussion kind of coop game you said isn't your jam, but it is an absolutely brilliant game. Recommend you try it solo when you get the chance.)
Hey! Maggie here. I find Sleeping Gods & Distant Skies to have more investment in the narrative. Both the depth of story and writing quality I think are higher in both Sleeping Gods games. In Earthborne Rangers what feels most punishing/tense is the clearing through the terrain obstacles and predators with very limited energy and having to be very creative with your card use, to then get a relatively short bit of narrative. Whereas with Sleeping Gods/DS I feel the gameplay itself is less punishing units gameplay and you spend longer engaging with unique narrative sections or more involved combat scenes. I prefer that balance better which is why I put Distant Skies higher than Earthborne Rangers in my top 10 games of 2023. Hope that helps 😊
I absolutely adore this game. I like the deckbuilding aspects and the theme a lot. However, sometimes the cards just come up in a way, that you have to flip back and forth through the story guide that it sometimes feels like it is getting in the way too much. Yes, I can use the digital guide, but I got the game in german language and sadly, the digital guide is not available in other language than english. Also I get the environmental aspects and mindfulness of the production... but the cards themselves feel so thin and cheap so that you probably have to sleeve them, which feels kind of against the overall theme. So I would have appreciated more sturdy cards and overall better production quality. All in all, I'd still say, this game is a good 9 out of 10 game for me. Thanks for your review!
the corrections are so minor as to be inconsequential, especially if you use the digital campaign guide where everything is fixed already rather than the physical one. but even with the physical guide, there's only a couple dozen lines that are tweaked here and there. just use a sharpie and put a dot by them so you know when you get to them in regular play, to check the updated errata at thelivingvalley.earthbornegames.com/docs/category/errata/ :)
Just FYI, the second printing is basically just to have more copies to sell at retail. The story of them getting everything printed for the crowdfunding is quite a saga (they've talked a lot about it on their podcast, which I can recommend independently), a lot of which revolved around all of their ambitious sustainability goals. Long story short, they are selling out of their extra (beyond just backers') copies, and the second printing is mainly just to get more product out there!
As other mentioned, you should not be concerned at all. Eearthborne Games (the company) is a very small company and the chose to the campaign and crowd funding route. Basically, it means they will _always_ launch campaigns for the next wave of products. The company was founded by a Fantasy Flight veteran and the core team are experienced designers and art director. I hope these succinct explanation will reassure you. Your comment may lead other people to think EBG isn't a good company: which is not true at all.
@@Jammy88 d'oh! i keep getting these two games mixed up! :) here's the correct link for a late pledge! gamefound.com/en/projects/earthborne-games/earthborne-rangers-reprint
I wish I had your opinion and enthusiasm about that game. I really thought this would be the perfect game for me. Maybe I'll keep trying one day (I've tried twice so far, 7 days for the longest). I mostly feel it's too easy and things don't really matter. You can just keep going from one place to another, there's no reason to do anything. Sometimes I met someone to help, but it was already the end of the day, so I couldn't help. There's a flood. Cool. I don't care. The world is a bit too cliché (still well done - I'd like to watch an animation film about that world). Building the character at the beginning was fun, but most cards don't matter much, not as in Arkham Horror. Sure, you can be "passionate", but what does it mean, really ? Nothing. It's not a hard game. It's not a relaxing game. It's not a game (for me). I wish I bought an Arkham Horror campaign instead.
I am dissapointed it wasn't Amy's jam, but glad she gave it a shot. Also really pumped that you liked the game! I thought you would dig it because of the theming, which I love.
Thanks Maggie ! Your review has helped explain the guide and and you are always so enthusiastic.
Thank you for the video! We've been loving it. Agree with all your points.
Thanks for a great review. I have been sitting on the fence with this one and your video has me much more interested. Another reviewer told about their rangers doing something that did nothing. Several turns later that event painted them into a very bad corner. I thought "wow just like stuff that happens to me in Arkham Horror". This was followed by "the designers used to work at FFG doing card games"! BINGO! I'm a solo player trying to decide between Obsession, Dune Uprising or now Earthborn Rangers. I'm glad I now have so many good game to chose from.
Thanks for the review Maggie. I was hoping for more narrative for the work so thanks for the heads up.
This was so helpful! I thought it would more of a relaxing story-focused game, so this was a great warning. My main gaming partner and I bounced off The 7th Continent very hard, so seems like this is probably not ideal for us either.
(By the way, Daybreak is very strongly in that collaborative discussion kind of coop game you said isn't your jam, but it is an absolutely brilliant game. Recommend you try it solo when you get the chance.)
Great Job Maggie. Loved the review.
thanks for the video :)
how would you compare it to sleeping gods or distant skies if you can. is sleeping gods less crunchy and more relaxed?
Hey! Maggie here. I find Sleeping Gods & Distant Skies to have more investment in the narrative. Both the depth of story and writing quality I think are higher in both Sleeping Gods games. In Earthborne Rangers what feels most punishing/tense is the clearing through the terrain obstacles and predators with very limited energy and having to be very creative with your card use, to then get a relatively short bit of narrative. Whereas with Sleeping Gods/DS I feel the gameplay itself is less punishing units gameplay and you spend longer engaging with unique narrative sections or more involved combat scenes. I prefer that balance better which is why I put Distant Skies higher than Earthborne Rangers in my top 10 games of 2023. Hope that helps 😊
Two local game stores here in Canada, not only didn’t have this game but also, had never heard of this game. It baffles me. I want this game.
Seems like kickstarter is the only way unfortunately
I absolutely adore this game. I like the deckbuilding aspects and the theme a lot. However, sometimes the cards just come up in a way, that you have to flip back and forth through the story guide that it sometimes feels like it is getting in the way too much. Yes, I can use the digital guide, but I got the game in german language and sadly, the digital guide is not available in other language than english.
Also I get the environmental aspects and mindfulness of the production... but the cards themselves feel so thin and cheap so that you probably have to sleeve them, which feels kind of against the overall theme. So I would have appreciated more sturdy cards and overall better production quality.
All in all, I'd still say, this game is a good 9 out of 10 game for me. Thanks for your review!
Less love her, where can I get the game?
i think you have to go directly to the publisher: earthbornegames.com/
Thanks will they ship world wide?
@@mabos555 Yes :)
Or take part in the current Game Found Campaign and get the second printing and other stuff@@mabos555
2nd printing coming out so soon with corrections is concerning. I'm in a wait and see state for this one.
the corrections are so minor as to be inconsequential, especially if you use the digital campaign guide where everything is fixed already rather than the physical one.
but even with the physical guide, there's only a couple dozen lines that are tweaked here and there. just use a sharpie and put a dot by them so you know when you get to them in regular play, to check the updated errata at thelivingvalley.earthbornegames.com/docs/category/errata/ :)
Just FYI, the second printing is basically just to have more copies to sell at retail. The story of them getting everything printed for the crowdfunding is quite a saga (they've talked a lot about it on their podcast, which I can recommend independently), a lot of which revolved around all of their ambitious sustainability goals.
Long story short, they are selling out of their extra (beyond just backers') copies, and the second printing is mainly just to get more product out there!
As other mentioned, you should not be concerned at all. Eearthborne Games (the company) is a very small company and the chose to the campaign and crowd funding route. Basically, it means they will _always_ launch campaigns for the next wave of products.
The company was founded by a Fantasy Flight veteran and the core team are experienced designers and art director.
I hope these succinct explanation will reassure you. Your comment may lead other people to think EBG isn't a good company: which is not true at all.
Sounds like a good game. BTW, you can't buy it, except on the secondary market.
check www.kickstarter.com/projects/mccaskellgames/mythwind-reprint-new-content :)
I appreciate the link, but like I said... :)@@rahdo
You can currently get in on the gamefound kickstarter, but won’t get a copy till at least December.
Oops wrong game! @@rahdo
@@Jammy88 d'oh! i keep getting these two games mixed up! :) here's the correct link for a late pledge! gamefound.com/en/projects/earthborne-games/earthborne-rangers-reprint
I wish I had your opinion and enthusiasm about that game. I really thought this would be the perfect game for me. Maybe I'll keep trying one day (I've tried twice so far, 7 days for the longest).
I mostly feel it's too easy and things don't really matter. You can just keep going from one place to another, there's no reason to do anything. Sometimes I met someone to help, but it was already the end of the day, so I couldn't help. There's a flood. Cool. I don't care. The world is a bit too cliché (still well done - I'd like to watch an animation film about that world). Building the character at the beginning was fun, but most cards don't matter much, not as in Arkham Horror. Sure, you can be "passionate", but what does it mean, really ? Nothing.
It's not a hard game. It's not a relaxing game. It's not a game (for me).
I wish I bought an Arkham Horror campaign instead.
I am dissapointed it wasn't Amy's jam, but glad she gave it a shot. Also really pumped that you liked the game! I thought you would dig it because of the theming, which I love.
What was the final pricetag on this nonsense? $200? 400?
according to boardgameprices.com, around $100
Thanks for the warning. Not for me.