Well, what to say other than this one's a bit of a let down. Reasonably ok game for what it is, but just not quite sharp enough for me. Which, considering I really like Phil Walker-Harding's other titles, was surprising.
Played this at the Boardgame BBQ day in Sydney and whilst we had a decent time it wasn't a game I'd look to play again for the reasons you mention. There are just more compelling games in the same weight. The theme is also a little tired for me.
Gizmos is still available as an engine builder. Space Cowboys also puts out Splendor, which is barely an engine builder but a decent intro to engine building. SpellBook is its own thing. I hold it is closer to Backgammon than an engine builder because how it involves shaping odds, like both Taverns of Tief and Kingdom Builder do.. Comparisons also to Res Arcana are iffy. It is also NOT a gateway or foundational game the way Splendor or numerous other Phil games are. I consider SpellBook a Slot Machine Builder.
my biggest gripe with the game is the familiar board win condition--its just not balanced! the player who ignored everything else and did the default store action every turn won a good chunk of the games i played.
Res Arcana made me mad playing it. It is legit the only game ive played where i have been confident to call whether i would win the game based on my opening hand.
@@3MBG res arcana and some other games are greatly improved by a drafting variant after players have a good understand on it. I mean, reverse drafting is great (where you give to other players what you drafted)
Yeah, nah. The artist has been doing board game art for over 15 years and these pics have none of the signature traits of AI art. The perspectives and lighting in them all seem consistent and deliberate for starters.
pretty cool looking artwork ... and I love magic spells so its a buy for me
but isnt magic considered heresy? why did you punish magnus otherwise
@@sebastianraducu7850 cause he ate the last of the pizza rolls
Also, anything that big and red cant be healthy
Really like this one
Well, what to say other than this one's a bit of a let down. Reasonably ok game for what it is, but just not quite sharp enough for me. Which, considering I really like Phil Walker-Harding's other titles, was surprising.
Played this at the Boardgame BBQ day in Sydney and whilst we had a decent time it wasn't a game I'd look to play again for the reasons you mention. There are just more compelling games in the same weight. The theme is also a little tired for me.
Gizmos is still available as an engine builder. Space Cowboys also puts out Splendor, which is barely an engine builder but a decent intro to engine building. SpellBook is its own thing. I hold it is closer to Backgammon than an engine builder because how it involves shaping odds, like both Taverns of
Tief and Kingdom Builder do.. Comparisons also to Res Arcana are iffy. It is also NOT a gateway or foundational game the way Splendor or numerous other Phil games are.
I consider SpellBook a Slot Machine Builder.
For me, the solo mode gives it the edge over Century and Splendor
As in it has one? Gizmos doesn't either.
my biggest gripe with the game is the familiar board win condition--its just not balanced! the player who ignored everything else and did the default store action every turn won a good chunk of the games i played.
Does look pretty, drawn more to Century Golem
reminds me of res arcana
A little, but without res arcanas "oh, i got the best combo in my opening hand, i win" issue
@@3MBG thats... very good to hear!
Res Arcana made me mad playing it. It is legit the only game ive played where i have been confident to call whether i would win the game based on my opening hand.
@@3MBG res arcana and some other games are greatly improved by a drafting variant after players have a good understand on it. I mean, reverse drafting is great (where you give to other players what you drafted)
Thematically it might, but not gameplay wise. Res is more Race for the spells.
Boost!
Quacks is more complex but it’s also way simpler than splendor
As in more strategic
I mean quacks is less strategic
I got ya
looks like AI art
Yeah, nah. The artist has been doing board game art for over 15 years and these pics have none of the signature traits of AI art. The perspectives and lighting in them all seem consistent and deliberate for starters.
Can we please stop the thing of baselessly claiming everything is "AI art"?