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Game Info
Year
2015
Collection
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Description
In Forge War, players will take on the role of blacksmiths in a kingdom rife with marauding harpies, cursed dungeons and fire-breathing dragons. They are charged with gathering ore from the mines, purchasing weapon designs from the market and then using these resources to forge weapons for adventurers who will go on quests to fight back the ever-deepening darkness. If the adventurers are successful, they will return with more ore, money and other rewards with which players can invest back into their burgeoning weaponsmithing empire.
At its core, Forge War is a rewarding game of aggressive investment, which occurs through the acquisition of quests. Quest management becomes challenging for the player, however, because quests undertaken aren't completed immediately, but instead progress each turn and become more difficult. At specific time intervals, players will need to add more resources to their quests or face failure.
Gameplay cycles through three different phases in each round. The first phase consists of moving pieces around a hex grid to maximize resource production. The second phase is a market phase that features an action blocking mechanic to gain access to new weapon plans and other advantages. The final phase is the acquisition and management of quests, which are selected from a pool of available cards.
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 7
This page: 7
Sentiment:
pos 6 ·
mix 1 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–7 of 7
Video 2UwrlvcHT3E
Watch It Played Discussion at 8:08 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 92401 · mention_pk 248271
Click to watch at 8:08 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- wildly successful Kickstarter
- many people thought it was fantastic
Cons
- host initially judged Kickstarter games harshly
- host regrets not trying the prototype earlier
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Love Letter
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Love letter she loves love letter
- The first game doesn't mean anything don't worry about it you might mess up a couple of rules worse comes to worse next time you play the game you fix it
- I think the most complex game I've ever played is Empires and Arms
- but munchkin is a game that I've played where it's it's going on on like and on and on and it's because of the luck factor and it's also because of the beat up on the leader
- I think the most played app would be suer Wars I've played like over 300 games of that
- cheaters or jerks that's what we always say
- I don't underestimate the number of people who might be interested in attending don't underestimate the amount of work it's going to be
- I want to win too believe me like I want to win the game that that's fun but um I don't get wanting to win that much that to me seems dangerous or scary
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video H1ANbtWlofg
Brains On Games Discussion at 0:25 sentiment: positive
video_pk 90302 · mention_pk 241109
Click to watch at 0:25 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong thematic integration with lawn care and neighborly interaction
- Short playtime (about 20 minutes) makes it accessible
- Compact two-player design with meaningful choices
- Diverse card effects lead to multiple viable strategies
- Clear visual and tactile cues for stacking and scoring
Cons
- Some top-heavy stacking can crowd space on the board (oak/beanstock interactions)
- Take-that mechanics can be punishing and slow momentum if opponents counter frequently
- Limited one-on-one planning might feel repetitive after several plays
Thematic elements
- Lawn care, gardening, neighborly rivalry, and social interaction
- Residential lawn and neighborhood backyard scenario focused on lawn care and social competition
- Competitive tableau-building with take-that elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- barbecue_and_neighbor_sway — Grill and other social cards can sway neighbors for points, at a cost of coins.
- Card/Chit Market — A marketplace with five cards; players buy cards that improve their tableau; market replenishes after each purchase.
- End Game Bonuses — The game ends when the fifth neighbor is claimed (or removed) from the board, triggering final scoring.
- end_game_condition — The game ends when the fifth neighbor is claimed (or removed) from the board, triggering final scoring.
- marketplace_and_purchasing — A marketplace with five cards; players buy cards that improve their tableau; market replenishes after each purchase.
- Resource Management — Coins and the piggy bank track monetization; grass vs dirt, and the number of cards stacked affects points.
- resource_management_and_scoring — Coins and the piggy bank track monetization; grass vs dirt, and the number of cards stacked affects points.
- Stacking and Balancing — Plus signs on cards determine how many cards can be stacked and what bonuses are earned.
- stacking_and_bonuses — Plus signs on cards determine how many cards can be stacked and what bonuses are earned.
- start_of_turn_abilities — Any start-of-turn abilities may be played in any order before taking other actions.
- Tableau Building — Players stack and arrange cards to form a personal yard tableau, with bonuses for stacked cards.
- tableau_building — Players stack and arrange cards to form a personal yard tableau, with bonuses for stacked cards.
- take_that_cards — Pest-like cards can be played to affect the opponent's yard, sending cards back to the garage.
- trash_and_yard_management — Rake and other cards let you trash cards from your yard or the store; pests and moles can regress progress.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a super thematic game
- easy to understand and relate to
- it's coming to kickstarter very soon
- you can invite people over for a barbecue
- you've got a grill in your yard that all makes sense
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 7fVr1T2O8So
Brains On Games Review at 0:23 sentiment: positive
video_pk 89358 · mention_pk 237137
Click to watch at 0:23 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong thematic appeal with a playful Halloween motif
- Clever Home/Away mechanic adds depth and tension
- Accessible two-player design with quick play time (~20 mins)
Cons
- Two-player only
- Take-that elements can be frustrating for some players
- Market replenishment can introduce additional luck/risk dynamics
Thematic elements
- Halloween-themed turf warfare with decorations, trick-or-treaters, and Halloween-adjacent characters.
- Suburban neighborhood with yards and neighborly competition.
- Light, thematic, family-friendly
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Deck Building — Drafting cards into your deck from the market and then playing them into a yard tableau.
- deck-building — Drafting cards into your deck from the market and then playing them into a yard tableau.
- home-away mechanic — You are either at home (defend and build) or away (sabotage and market actions); interruptions depend on where you are.
- market risk and drafting — Drafting from the market and replenishing it can open you to counterplays and risk from pests.
- Risk Management — Drafting from the market and replenishing it can open you to counterplays and risk from pests.
- Tableau Building — Playing cards into a yard tableau to earn points based on layout and synergy.
- tableau-building — Playing cards into a yard tableau to earn points based on layout and synergy.
- Take That — Pests and sabotaging cards can disrupt an opponent's plans by acting on their yard.
- take-that — Pests and sabotaging cards can disrupt an opponent's plans by acting on their yard.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Trick-or-treaters come to your door you give them candy or they play a trick on you
- the candy is really important because there are some new cards in the deck
- they kept that clever Home and Away mechanism
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video UspzO7QewOU
Rahdo Runs Through Top List at 1:43:19 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85764 · mention_pk 220501
Click to watch at 1:43:19 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Interesting theme and mechanics
Cons
- Uncertainty about current print status
Thematic elements
- crafting
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- crafting — Players are forging items, weapons, and armor.
- Memory — Has a memory element.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is absolutely my number one for games you could play forever because I have played many games of this this game.
- This is basically Scrabble meets Dominion.
- It is brutal, it is harrowing, it beats you up, and it requires near-perfect precision play.
- It is maybe the greatest board game of all time.
- the puzzle here never gets old.
- Wonderland's War is so good.
- Forge War is the game Isaac Childres put out before Gloomhaven.
- Billy says it's a crafting game. That makes sense as you are forging Are you forging wars or are you forging swords or are you forging dwarves? Are you dwarves who forge the swords in a war? Maybe maybe all of them. Maybe all of it. Oh, cool. That sounds cool. I'll have to keep Is it still in print, Billy? Do you know? I don't know if if it's still in print or not.
- Unfortunately, Richard, the masses have spoken and it is Everdell that is better than Wondrous Creatures in a 58% of the vote win.
- If I had a top 12 people list of who I would want to play games with forever, Ruel would be my numbers 1 to 11. The 12th spot is still open, so I am taking applications, but you better get in quick because Ruel's very charming and he's very handsome, too. And I like not looking at the board game, but looking into his beautiful, beautiful eyes.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video tkng6v_0ubQ
Board Gaming Ramblings Other at 17:50 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85501 · mention_pk 219259
Click to watch at 17:50 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Considered very good by the host
- Player recognized it as a game where 'Hey, That's My Fish!' is played within it
Cons
- Player initially had no clue and guessed incorrectly
- Player received zero points for guessing
Thematic elements
- Adventurous guild tasked with gathering resources, slaying monsters, and earning riches and prestige.
- Wild lands
Comparison games
- Tainted Grail
- Hey, That's My Fish!
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- crafting — Getting weapon designs to forge implements of victory.
- economic management — A competitive game of economic management.
- player interaction — A complex game full of player interaction.
- questing — Undertaking quests set forth by the king to slay monsters.
- Resource gathering — Navigating a kingdom's mine to gather metals and precious gems.
- spatial reasoning — A competitive game of spatial reasoning.
- variable game length — Can be played in about an hour or a longer three-stage game.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- hello young adventurers you have found the treasure hidden in the jungle
- this is the most important and most fun thing to watch so guessing the last number
- the designer root and John company
- the second word starts with the same twool letter as the first word
- Venice the city of bridges and and gondales
- the overcrowded Metropolis spread across the Earth Humanity has realized it's time to establish a new home on the ocean floor
- hey that's my fish
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video nssy8DfVbgU
Board Gaming Ramblings Top List at 22:34 sentiment: positive
video_pk 83695 · mention_pk 211454
Click to watch at 22:34 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Big heavy strategic game
- Awesome
- Very very game
- One of the most game game
- Happy to play
Cons
- Hard to get
- Will likely never get a reprint
- Short game is boring
- Full game takes forever
Thematic elements
- Building an army of Rodo
Comparison games
- Gloomhaven
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection — Players can perform one action per round after placing workers.
- contract fulfillment — Completing contracts with specific timing requirements.
- Resource Management — Gathering necessary resources to fulfill contracts.
- Worker Placement — Players place workers to mine resources and take actions.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- So, the fewer things you're saying you're going to do this turn, the earlier you will be in the turn order and that it seems so crucial.
- But it is one of those where it's it's as you said like it's it's pretty simple. It's a lightish game but with a lot of great decisions and a lot of fun.
- So it's a very I would say um tactical game. We're trying to see opportunities like oh now you opened up that opportunity. I should probably capitalize on that but that was not my plan to stop there.
- It has frustrating moments.
- And the mayor is always there. If you're a first player, you're going to get that mayor plunk down your city and he's not going to move. He's just going to be looking at your buildings and standing in the way of your building plans because all the other people decide where the mayor goes.
- I recommend if you are into heavy games. If you're not into heavy games, go away. I mean, stay away from the game.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video LWZfsQmRgDg
Board Gaming Ramblings Discussion at 7:58 sentiment: positive
video_pk 37572 · mention_pk 112854
Click to watch at 7:58 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- deep, heavy, and strategic
- engaging for experienced gamers
Cons
- steep learning curve
- long playtime can be daunting
Thematic elements
- meaty tactical conflict with quests
- fantasy world of forging and warfare
- puzzle-like strategic planning
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- grid/resource management — manage a grid-like map to gather resources
- quest-based progression — fulfill weapon/quest requirements to advance stages
- Resource Management — manage a grid-like map to gather resources
- Track Advancement — fulfill weapon/quest requirements to advance stages
- Worker Placement — one worker per turn, limiting actions and driving planning
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I don't like this game I think there are way better gateways out there
- it's a classic to keep this game in the collection
- we play this so much when it came out
- I strongly recommend it I really enjoyed my time with this
- it's a really cool game because it's me and explaining you know hidden movement
- this is a really city-building game and its really a somatic
- this is a really cool gateway game
- it's best with more people
- the factions change the game completely
- this is a heavy game I think this was in my top 10 heavy games
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–7 of 7