Non board game related comment, sorry: Hi all, we are massive Taylor Swift fans, and were due to see her perform two nights in Vienna, which was cancelled due to a planned terrorist attack. There are only a few dates left on the tour in North America and second hand tickets cost thousands of dollars. If you, or anyone you know ends up having to sell their tickets, please consider directing them our way as it would mean the world to us. Happy to pay over face value! Sorry for the interruption to your board game content!
Hi Everyone! Hope the video helps! Please, please consider subscribing if it was helpful, it really makes a difference. Currently 80% of the views we get per month are from people who are not subscribed, so if only a small percent subscribe it still makes a big difference to us. Remember, we don't have a patreon or ask for any support except for a subscribe to provide this content!
You all are my go-to channel for reviews of all sorts, but especially for these interesting, intricate, and heavy games. You're expertise is invaluable and you do such a great job sharing thoughts and giving helpful overviews of the games. I imagine it is sooo much work behind the scenes, and just wanted to say that I appreciate the work you do for the hobby! (and who doesn't love the doggos!)
Awesome review as usual guys! Being that this game is somewhat just about out of print, I rue the day there were copies sitting on the shelf at my FLGS waiting for me to pick up, only to have me procrastinate with the worry I couldn't convince my game group to give it a try. Well, I found a copy on an online retailer, so hopefully I will be getting it soon! Can't wait to give it a try!
@@craigandrews7544 I won’t lie, it’s a lot of maintenance, and you need the rulebook from the Crown player as you go through the steps (even the designer says it’s not meant to be memorised). But remember, this is a game that’s all about negotiation and the fact that the automa handles that is nothing short of miraculous. The designer of the solo mode does a playthrough on his TH-cam channel (Box of Delights) that convinced me to pull the trigger on getting the game.
I've played it once at 2 and it was actually enjoyable. It has specific player set up for 2 and 3. If you don't have 4 you drop The State and if you don't have 3 you drop the middle class. The 2p game is working class v capitalist class. I played working class which is the most straightforward. Of course 4p is the intended set up.
It's brilliant indeed. I've played solo and at 4 players, and it was such a rich experience either way. Its history, the critique of ourselves this engendered, Cole's underlying thesis expressed as a fun game... I was pretty stunned actually. Thank you for taking this on and sharing your impressions. Oh, and regarding that endgame situation you described, a quartet of old, privileged power brokers refusing to retire? Seems pretty realistic to me. 😄
One of the most underrrated board games channels! your presentation made me buy pax pamir 2ed and oath. I will definitely check this game too! Keep up the good work! Subscribed!
One of the best works of Cole Wehrle. I've picked it up once it was available in my region and it was a blast. Although it can sometimes take much more time then expected to negotiate the vacancies and positions for the players, if there are any open. Are you planning to review the next game from Wehrle - Arcs? And specifically it's campaign - Blighted Reach? I wonder, it it is have the same negotiation core as the John Company does
The answer is yes to both. Funnily enough, I literally just did final checks on our review of the base game. In short, there is no negotiation in the base game rules wise. The Blighted Reach does have "summits" which are times when all players can negotiate. However it's probably the element of all of Arcs which has fallen the most flat for us. I'm sure many will disagree, but for us we find it real hard to find anything worth trading or negotiating over. Essentially that is because the game is almost always zero sum, so it would have to be very specific circumstances to consider doing anything of benefit for your opponent.
We played it at two twice - the first time was we basically ignored the "AI" just to use it as a practice game. The second time with the AI and it was hard work. I think the AI is very good, but it can do so much that to us it felt like you need a quite good understanding of the game as a whole to really get the most out of it. It would be rough to go from knowing nothing to only playing solo.
We've heard about it, and I would say we are reasonably interested but I don't think we can buy it in our region and even if we could it is pretty steep in price!
We've played the second scenario a few times but only once were they voted in. It was interesting, but it's also something for quite experienced JC players. I think what you'll find is that many players will find JC complex enough without the firms, so then won't actively try to make it more complicated and play around with the firms.
@@BoardOfItReviews yeah that makes sense I have only played 1710 so far as I keep playing with new players. Do you think 1758 fixes some of the balancing issues. not getting any positions early when playing with 5 ? or not being able to control retirement
I have a $20 for anyone who can find me a review of this apparently awesome game that doesn't include white people mewling about how terrible colonialism was.
I get second hand embarrassment seeing that. There is a reason recent games are choosing Saturday morning cartoon themes instead of history. No one wants to be the target of the culture warrior online mobs.
Non board game related comment, sorry: Hi all, we are massive Taylor Swift fans, and were due to see her perform two nights in Vienna, which was cancelled due to a planned terrorist attack. There are only a few dates left on the tour in North America and second hand tickets cost thousands of dollars. If you, or anyone you know ends up having to sell their tickets, please consider directing them our way as it would mean the world to us. Happy to pay over face value! Sorry for the interruption to your board game content!
Hi Everyone! Hope the video helps! Please, please consider subscribing if it was helpful, it really makes a difference. Currently 80% of the views we get per month are from people who are not subscribed, so if only a small percent subscribe it still makes a big difference to us. Remember, we don't have a patreon or ask for any support except for a subscribe to provide this content!
You all are my go-to channel for reviews of all sorts, but especially for these interesting, intricate, and heavy games. You're expertise is invaluable and you do such a great job sharing thoughts and giving helpful overviews of the games. I imagine it is sooo much work behind the scenes, and just wanted to say that I appreciate the work you do for the hobby! (and who doesn't love the doggos!)
Thanks for all the kind words! Makes it worthwhile.
Awesome review as usual guys! Being that this game is somewhat just about out of print, I rue the day there were copies sitting on the shelf at my FLGS waiting for me to pick up, only to have me procrastinate with the worry I couldn't convince my game group to give it a try. Well, I found a copy on an online retailer, so hopefully I will be getting it soon! Can't wait to give it a try!
Hope you get it to the table! Thanks for the kind words!
Love your content guys. My go to channel for board game reviews!
Thank you so much! ☺️
The best game of 2022 IMO, and Ricky Royal’s bot player (The Crown) is a work of art.
If we'd played it in 2022, probably would have agreed!
How difficult is the solo mode?
@@craigandrews7544 I won’t lie, it’s a lot of maintenance, and you need the rulebook from the Crown player as you go through the steps (even the designer says it’s not meant to be memorised). But remember, this is a game that’s all about negotiation and the fact that the automa handles that is nothing short of miraculous. The designer of the solo mode does a playthrough on his TH-cam channel (Box of Delights) that convinced me to pull the trigger on getting the game.
So glad you reviewed it - was able to pick up recently and as you say it’s finest board game experience. People just love the components
Glad you enjoyed it!
I have it, not got to play it yet. Lovely review, you've made me even more excited about playing it.
Hope you get to play soon!
It's on the 'big games to play' pile with Hegemony, speaking of which will you be reviewing that at any point ?
@@bearhustler It sounds like it would be right up our street, but I'm not sure how it is with two players. That would be the big decider if we get it.
I've played it once at 2 and it was actually enjoyable. It has specific player set up for 2 and 3. If you don't have 4 you drop The State and if you don't have 3 you drop the middle class. The 2p game is working class v capitalist class. I played working class which is the most straightforward. Of course 4p is the intended set up.
It's brilliant indeed. I've played solo and at 4 players, and it was such a rich experience either way. Its history, the critique of ourselves this engendered, Cole's underlying thesis expressed as a fun game... I was pretty stunned actually. Thank you for taking this on and sharing your impressions. Oh, and regarding that endgame situation you described, a quartet of old, privileged power brokers refusing to retire? Seems pretty realistic to me. 😄
Tbf, when you describe it like that, it does make a lot of sense ahaha.
One of the most underrrated board games channels! your presentation made me buy pax pamir 2ed and oath. I will definitely check this game too! Keep up the good work! Subscribed!
Thank you so much, always amazing to hear! Glad to hear you're finding games you enjoy.
Great Timing of the video. Finished the rule book an hour ago (after the game was on my shelf for half a year as well). Now find a date & victims 🤪
Best of luck! The first step.
One of the best works of Cole Wehrle. I've picked it up once it was available in my region and it was a blast. Although it can sometimes take much more time then expected to negotiate the vacancies and positions for the players, if there are any open.
Are you planning to review the next game from Wehrle - Arcs? And specifically it's campaign - Blighted Reach? I wonder, it it is have the same negotiation core as the John Company does
The answer is yes to both. Funnily enough, I literally just did final checks on our review of the base game. In short, there is no negotiation in the base game rules wise. The Blighted Reach does have "summits" which are times when all players can negotiate. However it's probably the element of all of Arcs which has fallen the most flat for us. I'm sure many will disagree, but for us we find it real hard to find anything worth trading or negotiating over. Essentially that is because the game is almost always zero sum, so it would have to be very specific circumstances to consider doing anything of benefit for your opponent.
Love your reviews….and your dogs 😄 Wondering if you had tried this at 1 or 2 players and how it had played…thanks
We played it at two twice - the first time was we basically ignored the "AI" just to use it as a practice game. The second time with the AI and it was hard work. I think the AI is very good, but it can do so much that to us it felt like you need a quite good understanding of the game as a whole to really get the most out of it. It would be rough to go from knowing nothing to only playing solo.
great review! Wondering if you two have taken a look at Dune: War for Arrakis made by the war of the ring folks? could be up your alley
We've heard about it, and I would say we are reasonably interested but I don't think we can buy it in our region and even if we could it is pretty steep in price!
@@BoardOfItReviews I feel that as a Canadian!
Have you played with firms yet ? what are your thoughts on them ?
We've played the second scenario a few times but only once were they voted in. It was interesting, but it's also something for quite experienced JC players. I think what you'll find is that many players will find JC complex enough without the firms, so then won't actively try to make it more complicated and play around with the firms.
@@BoardOfItReviews yeah that makes sense I have only played 1710 so far as I keep playing with new players. Do you think 1758 fixes some of the balancing issues. not getting any positions early when playing with 5 ? or not being able to control retirement
Great game! Have you tried the private companies yet? Goes some way to solving the 'no retirement' situation
I think despite doing the second scenario a handful of times, they were only voted in once. I think next time we will start with them.
I have a $20 for anyone who can find me a review of this apparently awesome game that doesn't include white people mewling about how terrible colonialism was.
Shouldn't you be in Guyana, Jim?
@@BoardOfItReviews Just wasn't thirsty that day.
I get second hand embarrassment seeing that. There is a reason recent games are choosing Saturday morning cartoon themes instead of history. No one wants to be the target of the culture warrior online mobs.