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Game Info
Year
1987
Collection
Mechanic profile
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Vibe profile
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Description
This beautiful and functional board has room for two teams of large marbles. Players take turns pushing the marbles around the board, with the goal of pushing six of the opposing player's marbles off the board. The central idea is that a column of marbles has weight given by the number of marbles in line. Someone will need to push with a heavier group of marbles in order to push the column along that axis. However, with six possible directions, it's difficult to defend yourself perfectly. Also, it's possible to play the game with up to six players when supplemental marble sets are purchased.
A winner of the 1988 Concours International de Créateurs de Jeux de Société.
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 8
This page: 8
Sentiment:
pos 7 ·
mix 1 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–8 of 8
Video bMeLt-aSH14
People University Discussion at 27:24 sentiment: positive
video_pk 67357 · mention_pk 163450
Click to watch at 27:24 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- ubiquitous at meetups; highly accessible to new players
- tight mechanics; well-balanced between good and evil
- timeless; continues to be played widely
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- good versus evil; legend of King Arthur
- medieval-themed social deduction
- discussion-driven with voting and role reveals
Comparison games
- Secret Hitler
- Quest
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- hidden roles and quests with voting — classic social deduction mechanics with quest rounds and role-based influence
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's the perfect introduction to social deduction games
- it's not very heavy you can get a large group of people together
- Avalon is the archetype of a social deduction game
- Blood On the Clock Tower... the biggest social deduction game ever in history
- Avalon is the game that I keep coming back to no matter how many times I've played it
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 2rC_ENwoPaw
Meeple University Review at 2:29 sentiment: positive
video_pk 64940 · mention_pk 158543
Click to watch at 2:29 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Great interactive game
- Can get a little heated
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Loyal servants of Arthur vs. servants of Mordred
Comparison games
- The Resistance
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Hidden identity — Players are given a role (good or bad) and must hide their identity. They put teammates on a team to go on a mission. Players play either a success card or a fail card.
- social deduction — Players try to protect their hidden identities from other players. The goal is to achieve team objectives while hiding roles.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The game is for the humans to figure out who the werewolves are over the course of the game while the werewolves are killing off one of the humans each round of their life in the game.
- The humans win when all the werewolves are dead and the werewolves win when there's at least as many werewolves left alive as humans and then they overrun the village.
- It is interesting pulling games together and keeping it fun for the players.
- No game is ever the same, which always keeps people coming back.
- Finding the 'Goldilocks' balance of giving enough information to be trusted but not too much to be targeted.
- Less information can sometimes be a better defense than more.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video eGGFv6HXkec
Meeple University Rules Teach at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 64248 · mention_pk 157708
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Clear strategies for role-specific play
- Engaging analysis of each role
- Practical tips for avoiding being shot and guiding the good team
Cons
- Not for beginners; targeted to players with basic knowledge
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Resistance
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Assassination — An endgame assassination by the Assassin to determine Merlin's fate.
- failing/pressured missions — The goal for spies is to cause fails; the more fails on board, the more pressure on Merlin.
- hidden roles — Different players know or deduce information about roles, influencing decisions.
- Information asymmetry — Different players know or deduce information about roles, influencing decisions.
- mission voting — Players participate in missions and decide success or fail outcomes with cards.
- Team Selection — A process of selecting and approving/rejecting mission teams.
- Teams — A process of selecting and approving/rejecting mission teams.
- Voting — Players participate in missions and decide success or fail outcomes with cards.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Merlin is the hardest role to play in this game
- don't get shot
- Double Bluff
- the vanilla good guy is actually there's a lot of nuance to how you play it
- it's Priceless
- it's gold
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 17UaHyoLQMQ
Meeple University Rules Teach at 0:45 sentiment: positive
video_pk 64249 · mention_pk 157709
Click to watch at 0:45 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Offers structured tips for beginners, intermediates, and advanced players.
- Emphasizes logic and cautious trust-building at the table.
- Encourages fun and positive play as a priority.
- Provides multiple practical tips: mission selection, voting strategy, card play awareness, and narrative-building.
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- narrative-driven deduction
Comparison games
- The Resistance
- Werewolf
- The Crew
- Fake Artist Goes to New York
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Approval/Reject tokens — Tokens determine mission approval; five-vote sequence can end the game if the mission is rejected.
- Assassination/endgame twist — Endgame possibility where the Assassin tries to identify Merlin; house-rule discussions about assassination and its impact.
- hidden roles — Roles such as Merlin, Assassin, Percival, Morgana, Mordred, Lady of the Lake, Oberon influence information and deception at the table.
- Hidden roles and deduction — Roles such as Merlin, Assassin, Percival, Morgana, Mordred, Lady of the Lake, Oberon influence information and deception at the table.
- Lady of the Lake mechanics — The Lady of the Lake is passed between players and reveals allegiance to the holder; affects information flow and Merlin/Mordred dynamics.
- Leader tokens / leadership — Leader determines who goes on the next mission; discussion of leadership and its signaling effects.
- Mission outcomes (success/fail cards) — On a mission, players secretly play a success or fail card; knowing which card to play before picking up cards is emphasized.
- Mission selection — Choosing a team for a mission; being on the mission is beneficial for influencing it, with guidance to always put yourself on the mission.
- Narrative signaling — Players craft and interpret narratives to signal trust or deception about their roles.
- Voting — Players vote to approve or reject the selected mission; default approach and implications are discussed.
- Voting on missions (approve/reject) — Players vote to approve or reject the selected mission; default approach and implications are discussed.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Always put yourself on the mission
- Be slow to trust other players
- Never give up
- Use logic to your advantage
- The objective is not confined to the current Vote or the current mission that you're talking about but the entire game
- Merlin needs their own narrative around why they are not Merlin
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video g6T2TRO3I0w
Board Stepid Discussion at 2:05 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 39556 · mention_pk 119417
Click to watch at 2:05 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- strong production and thematic ambition
Cons
- reviews didn’t sell me initially; trust building needed
Thematic elements
- area control and faction interaction
- fantasy Arthurian-inspired realm
- mythic-feudal conflict with distinct factions
Comparison games
- Rising Sun
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — players vie for territories on a shared map
- area-control — players vie for territories on a shared map
- Faction Asymmetry — factions have different powers and victory conditions
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's going to be the hit of the Q4 next year
- absolute topnotch game we are super excited to play that again
- production quality is phenomenal
- one versus one asymmetric
- it's a fan service game if you like Mass Effect
- we're going to pre-order it because it's a great price point
- Dirty Harry
- World Order my goodness that sounds amazing
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video iABOc19lAf0
BigPasti Discussion at 9:34 sentiment: positive
video_pk 11926 · mention_pk 115359
Click to watch at 9:34 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- tense, memorable nights
- clean rule set and strong group dynamics
Cons
- can be punishing for newcomers if not guided
Thematic elements
- hidden alignment and cooperative deception
- Arthurian legend in a social deduction setting
- tense, accusatory, and political at the table
Comparison games
- Blood on the Clock Tower
- Quest
- So Clover
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- discussion and voting — players discuss and vote on who to suspect or support each round
- hidden roles — players have secret allegiances; some are evil among the good
- Voting — players discuss and vote on who to suspect or support each round
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- What's the best entry-level board game? Wrong question. There is no best entry-level board game. There's only the chart.
- This is the chart chart.
- Don't optimize too hard. We aren't playing scythe right now.
- This is the gateway to an entire genre.
- For entry-level gamers, you want to have that fun to admin ratio heavily tilted towards fun.
- If someone has real enthusiasm for a game, just play it.
- Trust on your group, trust on your instinct.
- It's the gateway game that opened the floodgates to the modern industry.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video fBWDfXE9xsU
Adam in Wales - Board Game Design Top List at 7:24 sentiment: positive
video_pk 988 · mention_pk 2774
Click to watch at 7:24 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- classic abstract feel with tactile pieces
Cons
- some find the strategy non-intuitive at first
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Gobbler
- H Hive
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- pushing/knocking discs — aim to push six discs off the board or position pieces for advantage
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- these games have no theme
- it's a toolbox for you as a game designer which of these mechanisms do you want to employ in your own abstract strategy game
- product design is everything
- the single most impactful feature of connect 4 was that little hatch beneath the frame
- abstract strategy games are some of the most interactive games in existence
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video KNh5hc1kdvs
BigPasti Analysis at 5:21 sentiment: positive
video_pk 959 · mention_pk 113020
Click to watch at 5:21 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Accessible entry point into the genre
- Strong variants and replayability
Cons
- Some rules complexity; scripts can vary in quality
Thematic elements
- logic-based social deduction
- Arthurian fantasy
- puzzle-like roles
Comparison games
- The Resistance
- Secret Hitler
- Feed the Kraken
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- hidden roles — Loyal servants of Arthur vs. traitors.
- Merlin/Morgana variants — Special roles with unique information and powers.
- No moderator — All players participate; no external moderator is required.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The Resistance and Avalon retain all that paranoia of werewolf, but everyone gets to play the whole game without the need of a moderator or any player elimination.
- Blood on the Clock Tower is a gigantic step forward in this genre.
- It's the board game equivalent of Carcination.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–8 of 8