Love Zee’s comment about “prickly games”. I feel like this concept holds true across multiple art forms and mediums. I feel like all of my favorite things tend to be divisive in one way or another, and it definitely holds true that smoother, crowd pleasing experiences tend to be things I like, but don’t necessarily love. I do think that when we all participate in this sort of mass criticism, as a group we tend to fail to collectively appreciate the charms of ambitious and unique, yet flawed works of art.
This is the problem with films rated high on rotten tomatoes (which only requires a majority of people to give it a thumbs up). Would you prefer to try a film/game that everyone thinks is 6/10 or one that 50% rate 1/10 and 50% rate 10/10?
I enjoy watching board game lists, even though I cannot understand how anyone can actually, accurately compose one; I've tried. A lot of which games I most want to play depends upon my mood at the time, and I can want to play a game I've rated #49 more than a game I rated #9 given the right circumstances. The best I can realistically do is to rate my games in tiers: A, B, C. The games I most want to play would be tier A, etc. -- but even then there can be tier B games I might want to play over a tier A game. I also don't include party games in my tier list as that's like comparing ice cream to steak. They are each consumed under completely different circumstances.
The short story Tom references about missing a key technology sounds like Harry Turtledove's The Road Not Taken, except the technology isn't teleportation but gravity control that allows FTL.
Re: Everdell, Its my #2 of all time and my favourite euro, I stopped playing once I got the big box as well, just the same as Mike! When I finally busted it out, it was absolutely great as I expected. There are 2 expansions I don't ever use, except the extra critter races, still happy to keep everything, the big box is stupidly big, but it is very, very nice.
Not sure if someone already mentiones it, the story Tom is referring to (31:30) is "The road not taken" (short story by Harry Turtledove, not poem by Frost). Its a good story, about the earth again invaded by alien, but this time...someone else ass get kicked :)
Love the game talk, love the banter, great as always. Is Jorge "Hurley" Garcia a board gamer? If so, having him as a guest would be cool (like Trey Parker a year or two ago).
He has been a guest before, here on the podcast (ep 459) talking about how he got into gaming: th-cam.com/video/M1-Rh1N8xjA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=_oEO16eB7AJ9V2tJ and here on a daily chat (day 112) with Tom: th-cam.com/video/0KJyj6uIKcc/w-d-xo.html
59:28 staying power - see previous comment - some of the staying power is BGA. Lots of folks during pandemic got into remote online board games. This one, sea salt, tapestry, etc all on BGA
Good fun as always! Here are mine: 60. ORLÉANS 59. THE TAVERNS OF TIEFENTHAL 58. BARRAGE (Speaking of dam games) 57. DOMINION (This is the lowest it’s ever been! Usually top 20 at least!) 56. BOONLAKE 55. PORT ROYAL 54. SAGANI (Biggest climber on my list, up 131 spots!) 53. THE QUACKS OF QUEDLINBURG 52. EARTH 51. CACAO Thanks for the list, folks!
@@joeferreti9442 you also can't just easily say "meh I'll play just the base game and maybe one expansion", you have to handle and unpack the entire coffin each time
My 60-51 60. Rallyman GT 59. Raising Robots 58. Wonderlands War 57. Risk 56. Adrenaline 55. Flip City 54. Nemesis 53. Barcelona 52. Pan Am 51. Mechs vs Minions
Stuffed Fables had the adventure book, one side has the story, the other has the map, that was 2018. Aftermath had the same in 2019. Jaws of the lion was only in 2020. So the maps in a book was not really new by then 😊
I have been watching these - and very interesting to me is how many of the peoples choice - like tapestry - are in BGA. Think when they announce the peoples choice should add if it is on BGA. I say BGA vs others because BGA has the rules built in and people can play a lot of different ways. Designers take note - to get higher up in these lists- make your game available to BGA. If you have a new game - making it available on BGA is going to help it be played a lot out of the gate and keep the buzz up. If it is a good game it will stick around.
yep - Kevin and Melissa Delp film in Studio D. D for Delp. Will and Sara film in Studio III since they have three boys and Will is technically William the 3rd.
In the Tapestry discussion: I think what Jamie Stegmaier, and Stonemaier games, does well is just put fun in games, maybe better than any other designer. They may not be perfectly balanced, but who cares if you are having fun.
yup their mission says to have memorable fun positive game experience 😊 unique blend of abstract thematic games so mechanics throw general expectations off: Tapestry is “weird civ”, Scythe’s not just an area control game. Let’s think outside of the box 📦 🤣 people complain about being ripped off by same old games but reluctant to try new ones- it’s not easy to design and produce a game 😊
I have to say, you guys (and the ladies on the channel), bring me joy. I laugh so much at your jokes, and thoroughly enjoy the comments you all have on games. You are to blame (along with my lack of control), for my collection being so large and ever growing. Thank you, thank you, thank you. ❤
Before getting too excited about that Earth cover... I was also quite excited about visiting this spot. Then I did the Street View on Google Maps. That waterfall is very tiny. In fact, I saw a picture once where a dozen different people all had tripods in the exact spot that creates the Earth angle. And then there were all the people without tripods, who I'm not sure even got pics. (Punch in 64.92700873706289, -23.30550962590694 and do the Street View near that pin.) It's still pretty, but is it 2 1/2 hours from Reykjavik pretty? I have a feeling the size of that waterfall will just annoy me after stuffing my gigantic body into a car for that long. Though the mountain - Kirkjufell - is still nice.
I was skeptical when they announced the Everdell big box. When I got it and it weighed 8 lbs when empty, I said "nope" and promptly fit everything gameplay related into the base box and 2 expansion boxes. Takes up 1/2 the shelf space too.
Everdell is so much better for me with the big box. New Leaf especially is just so good with the game. I like having it available to mix with the other expansions.
That QE sounds like a game that is easily ruined by one player. Like if one player always bids big that player is going to lose but he/she/tom is forcing is all the other players to bid higher in order to win at least one auction. Then everyone else needs to bid higher to beat that the one non-leader who won an auction. It sounds kinda like one person is saying "play the way I want or you won't really get to play at all". Maybe I'm misunderstanding the rules based on the twenty times Tom has talked about it
Regarding Nidavellir, I totally agree with Mike about people choosing their leaders. In terms of teaching, I’d go as far as to say that it’s got one of the worst teaches in my collection because of those leaders and I actively avoid it sometimes because I can’t be bothered with the teach.
Nothing wrong with Whistle Mountain's look. Its problem is the tough iconography, that makes you go to the manual several times during the game. It turn me off and made me sell my copy.
The disasters in mosaic aren’t that bad. I tried it. You know what order they are gonna happen and can see when they are about to happen. But definitely not something to use with new people.
Ok, so this one was because most of the games interested me. But, if I was to someone's ten, it would be Zee's ten. Last Aurora intrigues me. Zee wins again.
Considering they review hundreds of games more a year (especially new ones) in comparison with the average boardgamers, it makes sense that list would change yearly.
Once again great lists, Mike is indeed cult of the new, but I still love him lol. I'm also surprised Tapestry made any list at all. A month after release they needed to release a "civilization adjustment" sheet. Like did they even playtest this game? This is always my qualms with SM games, they get up-voted to infinity cause of production value, but the games are merely above average in most cases.
I have played this game a ton of times and just finally used the updated civs. The people that I play with never really had any issues with the balancing and just had fun. Do the updates make me like the game more? No. It is a fun game and I have fun with the journey whether or not playing the old civ powers or updated civ powers.
Improved the Tower....they made it blink lights and spit skulls out...while increasing the cost $50+. Could do the same with an app and a cardboard tower. Way overpriced.
Love Zee’s comment about “prickly games”. I feel like this concept holds true across multiple art forms and mediums. I feel like all of my favorite things tend to be divisive in one way or another, and it definitely holds true that smoother, crowd pleasing experiences tend to be things I like, but don’t necessarily love. I do think that when we all participate in this sort of mass criticism, as a group we tend to fail to collectively appreciate the charms of ambitious and unique, yet flawed works of art.
If you're not "offending" anybody, you're not saying anything.
👍 creativity keeps life interesting: sequels vs original risky ideas, I’m oddball 😅 who tries something fail and learn
This is the problem with films rated high on rotten tomatoes (which only requires a majority of people to give it a thumbs up). Would you prefer to try a film/game that everyone thinks is 6/10 or one that 50% rate 1/10 and 50% rate 10/10?
@@griffglowen5555 Probably one that significantly less than 50% of viewers think is the worst movie they've ever seen.
Bloody Inn needs to be reprinted. It's impossible to find.
Please someone who keeps track of these things please mark down 1:31:54 for next year’s bloopers. Tom is hitting the new year on 🔥 with this one!
I wouldn't call "Sea Salt & Paper" satisfying. I found it rather addictive. You just want to play it again and again and again.
Bloody Inn needs a DT character cards promotion. 😊
Yay! Been waiting to hear our shout out (Stuart and Keri in NZ). Glad to have backed the Dice Tower and looking to do the same in 2024!!
1:08:26 mike says he won’t keep us in suspense…. Yet still proceeds to take 17 seconds before saying the name of the game 😂
I enjoy watching board game lists, even though I cannot understand how anyone can actually, accurately compose one; I've tried. A lot of which games I most want to play depends upon my mood at the time, and I can want to play a game I've rated #49 more than a game I rated #9 given the right circumstances.
The best I can realistically do is to rate my games in tiers: A, B, C. The games I most want to play would be tier A, etc. -- but even then there can be tier B games I might want to play over a tier A game. I also don't include party games in my tier list as that's like comparing ice cream to steak. They are each consumed under completely different circumstances.
Pub Meeple has a ranking system. Check it out!
The short story Tom references about missing a key technology sounds like Harry Turtledove's The Road Not Taken, except the technology isn't teleportation but gravity control that allows FTL.
I think you’re right. But in my search I did find some interesting short stories about instant teleportation. I need to give the Jaunt a read.
I would really like to know the name of the short story Tom mentioned, if anyone knows. Google has failed me!
Clank catacombs with the adventuring party is amazing.
Re: Everdell, Its my #2 of all time and my favourite euro, I stopped playing once I got the big box as well, just the same as Mike! When I finally busted it out, it was absolutely great as I expected. There are 2 expansions I don't ever use, except the extra critter races, still happy to keep everything, the big box is stupidly big, but it is very, very nice.
Not sure if someone already mentiones it, the story Tom is referring to (31:30) is "The road not taken" (short story by Harry Turtledove, not poem by Frost). Its a good story, about the earth again invaded by alien, but this time...someone else ass get kicked :)
I remember reading that a long time ago, was a wild story
Omg I made the rapid anti-pixelite joke just before Mike did! Love the Kramer/Seinfeld reference!
Love the game talk, love the banter, great as always.
Is Jorge "Hurley" Garcia a board gamer? If so, having him as a guest would be cool (like Trey Parker a year or two ago).
Yeah this cameo was out of nowhere!
I wonder what his numbers 4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and 42 are
He has been a guest before, here on the podcast (ep 459) talking about how he got into gaming:
th-cam.com/video/M1-Rh1N8xjA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=_oEO16eB7AJ9V2tJ
and here on a daily chat (day 112) with Tom:
th-cam.com/video/0KJyj6uIKcc/w-d-xo.html
@@linusottosson5425 Ok! Cool, I've listend to the podcast but only sporadically. Thanks!
@@linusottosson5425wow thank you for digging up these links that's awesome!
59:28 staying power - see previous comment - some of the staying power is BGA. Lots of folks during pandemic got into remote online board games. This one, sea salt, tapestry, etc all on BGA
Good fun as always! Here are mine:
60. ORLÉANS
59. THE TAVERNS OF TIEFENTHAL
58. BARRAGE (Speaking of dam games)
57. DOMINION (This is the lowest it’s ever been! Usually top 20 at least!)
56. BOONLAKE
55. PORT ROYAL
54. SAGANI (Biggest climber on my list, up 131 spots!)
53. THE QUACKS OF QUEDLINBURG
52. EARTH
51. CACAO
Thanks for the list, folks!
I LOVE mosaic and I feel that its theme is waaaaaaaaay weaker than tapestry's. both are fantastic games I keep playing over and over
Mike D is 60! This changes everything.
It's insane how often Everdell Big Box kills the game for people
The problem is it's so big and expensive it crushes you physically and financially.
@@joeferreti9442 you also can't just easily say "meh I'll play just the base game and maybe one expansion", you have to handle and unpack the entire coffin each time
I really hope they do an hour long rock opera as an intro tune next year.
Mosaic´s expansion is pretty good. New wonders and ships add some new tweaks to the military.
I reluctantly backed the new Through the Desert because I want those new expansion modes! Otherwise I'd have gladly kept my older copy.
My 60-51
60. Rallyman GT
59. Raising Robots
58. Wonderlands War
57. Risk
56. Adrenaline
55. Flip City
54. Nemesis
53. Barcelona
52. Pan Am
51. Mechs vs Minions
Stuffed Fables had the adventure book, one side has the story, the other has the map, that was 2018. Aftermath had the same in 2019. Jaws of the lion was only in 2020. So the maps in a book was not really new by then 😊
Mosaic play throughs caught my eye🎉 wow the box size though 😅
lol I have a sphinx edition for sale if u or anyone needs one
Mike's "Anti-pixalite" reference got me, that was HILARIOUS. #YadaYadaYada
Life of the Amazonia is criminally under-rated.
Excited for Unreliable Wizard. Backed in September of 2023. Patiently waiting for copy, hopefully in March or April.
I have been watching these - and very interesting to me is how many of the peoples choice - like tapestry - are in BGA.
Think when they announce the peoples choice should add if it is on BGA. I say BGA vs others because BGA has the rules built in and people can play a lot of different ways.
Designers take note - to get higher up in these lists- make your game available to BGA. If you have a new game - making it available on BGA is going to help it be played a lot out of the gate and keep the buzz up. If it is a good game it will stick around.
yep - Kevin and Melissa Delp film in Studio D. D for Delp. Will and Sara film in Studio III since they have three boys and Will is technically William the 3rd.
In the Tapestry discussion: I think what Jamie Stegmaier, and Stonemaier games, does well is just put fun in games, maybe better than any other designer. They may not be perfectly balanced, but who cares if you are having fun.
yup their mission says to have memorable fun positive game experience 😊 unique blend of abstract thematic games so mechanics throw general expectations off: Tapestry is “weird civ”, Scythe’s not just an area control game. Let’s think outside of the box 📦 🤣 people complain about being ripped off by same old games but reluctant to try new ones- it’s not easy to design and produce a game 😊
I lost all respect for Stonemaier when they brought out Red Rising and got super political. I game to get away from that.
Modern Art is definitely going to stay around! A classic.
bloody inn expansion is hilarious 🤣 I got mine from Zatu games UK
I have to say, you guys (and the ladies on the channel), bring me joy. I laugh so much at your jokes, and thoroughly enjoy the comments you all have on games. You are to blame (along with my lack of control), for my collection being so large and ever growing. Thank you, thank you, thank you. ❤
my parents don't seem to get Sea Salt and paper...I think we just need a few more plays for it to click
Before getting too excited about that Earth cover... I was also quite excited about visiting this spot. Then I did the Street View on Google Maps. That waterfall is very tiny. In fact, I saw a picture once where a dozen different people all had tripods in the exact spot that creates the Earth angle. And then there were all the people without tripods, who I'm not sure even got pics. (Punch in 64.92700873706289, -23.30550962590694 and do the Street View near that pin.) It's still pretty, but is it 2 1/2 hours from Reykjavik pretty? I have a feeling the size of that waterfall will just annoy me after stuffing my gigantic body into a car for that long. Though the mountain - Kirkjufell - is still nice.
Issac with that Gloom money and horrible mic lol
I wish they would make a remake of Horrorified with Jason, Chucky, Leatherface, Michael and Freddy. That would be awesome!!
Modern Art still works beautifully, epecially as a gateway game. I still prefer RA, butr both have a space in my collection.
To be fair i havnt played either, but Tom says modern art is too free form and open but like QE. How does that make sense?
Good point, let me ponder that, actually.
The book was from Near and Far I think before gloomhaven
I was skeptical when they announced the Everdell big box. When I got it and it weighed 8 lbs when empty, I said "nope" and promptly fit everything gameplay related into the base box and 2 expansion boxes. Takes up 1/2 the shelf space too.
Everdell is so much better for me with the big box. New Leaf especially is just so good with the game. I like having it available to mix with the other expansions.
I keep kicking myself for not backing Amazonia... Hopefully it comes to retail soon!
That QE sounds like a game that is easily ruined by one player. Like if one player always bids big that player is going to lose but he/she/tom is forcing is all the other players to bid higher in order to win at least one auction. Then everyone else needs to bid higher to beat that the one non-leader who won an auction.
It sounds kinda like one person is saying "play the way I want or you won't really get to play at all". Maybe I'm misunderstanding the rules based on the twenty times Tom has talked about it
Curious what the other western game that Tom mentioned recently playing? Was it Bantam West?
59:05 People’s Choice # 55
Last Aurora, love it! Great pick, Z!
Fallout Shelter _really_ needs an expansion.
Top tier Percy Jackson reference at 1:31:58 😄
Im sorry to say but its probably just coincidence😅
Love everyone’s lists but definitely agree with mikes the most so far
bloody inn: morbid humour 🌟🤣 wish it’s more available/ reprint.
Regarding Nidavellir, I totally agree with Mike about people choosing their leaders. In terms of teaching, I’d go as far as to say that it’s got one of the worst teaches in my collection because of those leaders and I actively avoid it sometimes because I can’t be bothered with the teach.
Seriously, when Aquatica will be reprinted ? Anyone know ? I'm waiting this forever :(
I know! Good games waiting to be reprinted/ picked up by a publisher… meanwhile Queen games keep releasing old games with new names 🤣
Nothing wrong with Whistle Mountain's look. Its problem is the tough iconography, that makes you go to the manual several times during the game. It turn me off and made me sell my copy.
Tom: #51 get on your dam spaces!
The best way to play Race for the Galaxy is to play Roll for the Galaxy 😂
If playing solo, would it be better to get Gloomhaven or Jaws of the Lion? Thanks
Woohoo, I heard my shoutout 😊
The disasters in mosaic aren’t that bad. I tried it. You know what order they are gonna happen and can see when they are about to happen. But definitely not something to use with new people.
Life of the Amazonia looks and feels like ECOS.
Love Return to Dark Tower!
#57-Luza love!
Ok, so this one was because most of the games interested me. But, if I was to someone's ten, it would be Zee's ten. Last Aurora intrigues me. Zee wins again.
Tom is PixelPhobic!!!
Mike got a little angry at #53 there!
Nah. It’s all in good fun.
Has anyone said it yet? Trey Parker will be #1 intro
Ten-Twenty one now? Hmmm.
grand austria hotel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yes!
Feel for Mike here - glad Zee is there to arbitrate! 😅
QE sounds like the worst game to me lol... especially the way they talk about it on the Dice Tower.
Tom don’t let Mike and Zee yank your chain. Not only is Earth nothing like Ark Nova it is far inferior to it.
It’s click-bait to say game A is game B killer”-games are unique experiences for different gamers.
Yeah I was a bit like "whaaat?"
life Amazonia 🌟
Tom is so anti-pixels. Evetime there is a pixel game or the topic comes up he immediately shoots it down no matter what.
If you make a top 100 games of all time list that changes every year, it's more of a favorite 100 games at the moment list
That’s the unspoken implication. Tom is upfront about the “of all time” being a bit satirical.
Considering they review hundreds of games more a year (especially new ones) in comparison with the average boardgamers, it makes sense that list would change yearly.
humans can’t perceive “all time” horizon anyway 😅
Once again great lists, Mike is indeed cult of the new, but I still love him lol. I'm also surprised Tapestry made any list at all. A month after release they needed to release a "civilization adjustment" sheet. Like did they even playtest this game? This is always my qualms with SM games, they get up-voted to infinity cause of production value, but the games are merely above average in most cases.
I have played this game a ton of times and just finally used the updated civs. The people that I play with never really had any issues with the balancing and just had fun. Do the updates make me like the game more? No. It is a fun game and I have fun with the journey whether or not playing the old civ powers or updated civ powers.
Mike has many old games on his lists too. Even modern art. Tom said it “aged out” lol
Tzaar>Yinsh
Improved the Tower....they made it blink lights and spit skulls out...while increasing the cost $50+. Could do the same with an app and a cardboard tower. Way overpriced.
Alright…. Between Zee and Mike so far, there are a lot of unknown and ugly games 😅
I love it when weird hat dude complains about the graphic design of board games.