/pic5164812.jpg)
Game Info
Year
2021
Players
1-6
Age
10+
Playtime
120 min
Collection
Your Tier
Loading…
Mechanic profile
Percentile rank vs. all games
Vibe profile
How this game feels to play
Description
In Oath, one to six players guide the course of history in an ancient land. Players might take the role of agents bolstering the old order or scheme to bring the kingdom to ruin. The consequences of one game will ripple through those that follow, changing what resources and actions future players may have at their disposal and even altering the game's core victory condition.
If a player seizes control by courting anarchy and distrust, future players will have to contend with a land overrun by thieves and petty warlords. In a later game, a warlord might attempt to found a dynasty, creating a line of rulers that might last generations or be crushed by the rise of a terrible, arcane cult.
In Oath, there are no fancy production tricks, app-assisted mechanisms or production gimmicks. The game can be reset at any time and doesn't require the same play group from one game to the next. A player might use the fully-featured solo mode to play several generations during the week and then use that same copy of the game for Saturday game-night with friends. There are no scripted narratives or predetermined end points. The history embedded in each copy of Oath will grow to be as unique as the players who helped build it.
—description from the publisher
Featured Videos
Ask a Rules Question
All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 98
This page: 50
Sentiment:
pos 28 ·
mix 6 ·
neu 4 ·
neg 1
Showing 1–50 of 98
Video xTuGIa80-rM
Getting Games Discussion at 15:34 sentiment: positive
video_pk 91333 · mention_pk 244963
Click to watch at 15:34 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
very positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- historical/conflict-driven empire narratives
- ancient land; role of agents to bolster old order or ruin the kingdom
- perpetual history with changing victory conditions
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Dynamic victory conditions — Victory conditions shift based on previous games' outcomes.
- history-altering decisions — Decisions have lasting impact from game to game; no fixed campaign progression.
- solo mode — Fully-featured solo play option.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is a ravans burger release and they're a huge board game publisher
- it's a cooperative dice game
- Back to the Future as a movie franchise is all about time travel
- you are going to be building out network tiles all across this map
- hidden movement
- I think this is a wonderful looking cover
- this is an incredibly ambitious game
- the decisions that you make have a lasting impact on game to game
- history is embedded in each copy
- there are no scripted narratives or predetermined end points
- it's a work replacement style game but the workers are communal
- the unique meeple distribution system and innovative mechanism of mining the resources
- the card game looks like it has a lot of similar things to fresco the main game
- in the dice game version you are going to be rolling dice exactly three times
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 5e-B_UXGIuQ
All You Can Board Discussion at 3:34 sentiment: positive
video_pk 90416 · mention_pk 241600
Click to watch at 3:34 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- we are moving studios that is happening
- thank you so much for all the support
- we're hoping to attend conventions we want to start meeting some of you guys
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video FJOyECXifKI
Drive Thru Games Discussion at 4:05 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 90312 · mention_pk 241148
Click to watch at 4:05 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
none
Cons
- there's a big sort of fly i don't know if i'd call it a flaw or something that just misses with me
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- games are like a creation of a puzzle uh to solve
- games are setting up a language exercise in a lot of ways
- we're setting up a chill time together we're agreeing on a system to be happy to chill to be content
- there is something to be kind of said there to kind of step back and look at what is the difference between happiness and contentment
- the whole time i was playing it i'm like oh i'd rather just go fire up tabletop simulator and call billy and say hey let's uh you want to play another game of return to dark tower
- the mechanism of production and progress and you know making of stuff which is part of board games which is very very strange
- to me there is a certain amount of like ceremony and ritual and exercise involved when you sit down and play a game
- carving out those times of leisure so when you're happy and fed and safe and all that stuff you have those moments because otherwise what the hell is the point
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 3ckQB2RsM7o
Getting Games Interview at 6:12 sentiment: positive
video_pk 90334 · mention_pk 241222
Click to watch at 6:12 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- intriguing
Cons
- described as potentially confusing by media
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I've owned this table since 2006. I picked this up for 60 at a used furniture store.
- I call it the tank.
- I will honestly be emotional today I don't have this table anymore.
- Trans-Siberian Railroad is currently my favorite by a squeaker.
- Imperial Steam is supposedly a heavy logistics type train game.
- I would love to play oath.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 2V7b_Z8jFxo
kovray Discussion at 12:14 sentiment: positive
video_pk 90055 · mention_pk 240133
Click to watch at 12:14 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Group-driven world that evolves over repeated plays
- Chronicle/history mechanic adds a strong sense of continuity
- Accessible level of complexity with depth for longer campaigns
- Strong community and replayability through evolving narratives
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Power, governance, empire-building, and rebuilding a kingdom over time
- A political empire-building world where players shape a living kingdom across multiple sessions
- Group-driven, evolving world where history and chronicles are created by the players
Comparison games
- Root
- Catan
- Ticket to Ride
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- asymmetric roles — One player takes the role of a Chancellor while others act as Citizens or Exiles with different goals
- Asymmetric Teams — One player takes the role of a Chancellor while others act as Citizens or Exiles with different goals
- Campaign — The game carries over between sessions; outcomes and actions influence future play
- Campaign/history tracking — The game carries over between sessions; outcomes and actions influence future play
- Dynamic governance and strategic interaction — Strategic discussions and alliances impact the game's direction across sessions
- Narrative Choice — Players pursue missions and influence the kingdom's trajectory as the oath keeper or through exile actions
- Narrative/mission fulfillment — Players pursue missions and influence the kingdom's trajectory as the oath keeper or through exile actions
- World-building through group decisions — Group decisions actively shape the evolving world and its factions
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- self-care isn't always just bubble baths and face masks it's a variety taking the time to do what you have to do for you
- education that's not boring at all you get to learn some of these skills in a fun way
- the flow works better like this and it's just nice to see people to be able to pick up on a game that they might not have picked up
- community is something that we drive consistently here on our channel because we love everyone that we've been able to connect with
- chronicles of the empire
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video PvXv_sHSjm4
BoardGameTeacher Rules Teach at 0:04 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 90032 · mention_pk 240056
Click to watch at 0:04 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Maintaining or seizing control of a kingdom
- The game causes a ripple effect in subsequent games, and can be reset at any time.
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action Point Allowance — Mentioned as a core mechanic of the game.
- Area Control — Players place pawns and warbands on sites to mark control.
- area influence — Mentioned as a core mechanic of the game.
- Card Drafting — Mentioned as a core mechanic of the game.
- Card Play — Cards can be played to sites or as advisors.
- Combat — The campaign action allows for attacking sites, relics, banners, and pawns using dice and warbands.
- legacy — The game causes a ripple effect in subsequent games.
- Resource Management — Players manage supply for actions and use favor and secret tokens.
- Set Collection — Collecting favor tokens from banks is part of gameplay.
- Variable player powers — Different roles (chancellor, exile, citizen) and unique player boards and starting denizen cards suggest variable powers.
- Victory condition tracking — Victory conditions for exiles (usurper or complete vision) and chancellor/citizen (oath keeper and meet goals) are detailed.
- Worker Placement — Placing pawns and warbands on sites and advisors is a key part of the game.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- but keep in mind that each game will cause a ripple effect in the games that follow
- and can be reset at any time
- now that we know what the winning condition is let's take a look at the components set up and how gameplay works
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 6fkEp0ZoQ2M
All You Can Board Top 10 List at 1:30 sentiment: positive
video_pk 89918 · mention_pk 239552
Click to watch at 1:30 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Narrative-driven, with a persistent story across sessions
- Multiple paths to victory
- Journal integration that records outcomes
Cons
- High rules overhead and learning curve for new players
Thematic elements
- campaign/legacy storytelling with persistent consequences and a journal
Comparison games
- Root
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- backstabbing/politics — political intrigue and chancellor dynamics affecting the game
- Campaign/Legacy style — ongoing story consequences across plays; memory stored in a journal
- multi-path victory — multiple pathways to victory within a single game
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- there are tons of different paths to victory
- the narrative that you build is just so amazing with the right group of people
- it's an affordable game to buy with the cost and also i think it has just a really good chance of landing with people because of how addictive i find this game play
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video f7m28txe3zY
kovray Top 10 List at 12:55
video_pk 89951 · mention_pk 239765
Click to watch at 12:55 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- narrative/world-building
- mythic/alternate-history empire
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's such a brain burner surprisingly because it looks very friendly
- this game is cute but mean and i love it
- it's so beautiful so that's what sells me
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video gurLpvfhprY
All You Can Board Announcement at 29:23
video_pk 89686 · mention_pk 238575
Click to watch at 29:23 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the first ever aycb 24 hour charity live stream in support of mental health
- 100 of all proceeds are going to be going to a local mental health organization here in Winnipeg called the Sarah Riel
- every five dollars you donate will get you one entry into every single prize package
- we're going to be playing board games for 24 hours straight
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video LCdFAb4TpFg
Watch It Played News Roundup at 2:50 sentiment: positive
video_pk 89110 · mention_pk 236207
Click to watch at 2:50 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- ambitious Root World open-world concept
- two-hour play sessions suggested
- fame-to-influence progression offers thematic depth
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- fame and influence within Root World factions
- in the Root World universe, Vagabonds exploring a new frontier
- story-driven exploration with faction interactions
Comparison games
- Root
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- faction influence scoring — gaining influence with factions provides additional privileges
- Open world exploration — Vagabonds explore a frontier and gain Fame
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Evadale the board game about Sweet Little Critters just trying to get along until it isn't
- the theme paired with the art and the plain old whimsy
- the warm and cozy world full of cuddly cats Comes Alive as the quilts Bend under the weight of these felines roaming around
- you can pet them and you can shoo them away when they get in the way
- The Insider dun dun dun it makes sense
- almost Cooperative trick taking game where players try to complete as many missions as possible while The Insider gathers Intel and sabotages the team's work
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video NB9VEIcra0Y
Tim Chuon Discussion at 14:53 sentiment: negative
video_pk 89093 · mention_pk 236101
Click to watch at 14:53 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
- high production value
- ambitious design
Cons
- requires heavy commitment and player interaction
Thematic elements
- confrontation and negotiation
- political empire-building with legacy-like progression
- story-driven with evolving chapters
Comparison games
- Twilight Imperium
- Root
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- confrontational play — direct player-versus-player and aggressive strategies.
- Legacy Game — world state evolves as you play.
- legacy-style progression — world state evolves as you play.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is by far the most difficult thing that I've ever done on this channel
- I'm getting rid of half my collection
- convince me I should keep this
- Title Blades Heroes of the Reef... one of my favorite worlds
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video -_DsyATEPAU
Gaming with Edo & Jessica Top List at 8:59 sentiment: positive
video_pk 88598 · mention_pk 233952
Click to watch at 8:59 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Unique system
- Great for storytelling
- Persistent world where outcomes carry over
- Allows for chronicling history
Cons
- Can be polarizing (love it or hate it)
- Not as strategic when focusing on story
- May be challenging if playing solo without the Clockwork Prince option
Thematic elements
- Factions vying for power in a persistent world
- Legacy-style where outcomes carry over between plays, creating a continuous history
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Faction Management — Focusing in on the story aspect and seeing what all these factions are doing.
- legacy — Continues through from play to play in different sessions.
- Player-driven narrative — Stories you can tell with this are just really really cool.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- It's so fun to see the story of someone's life just go by.
- The Pursuit of Happiness I played this solo when it first arrived 10 times I got it to the table immediately I just started playing through adding in expansions this is about the story of an individual's life you go through life stages.
- it's a card based game tons and tons of cards.
- but just seeing that and telling the story of their life once you get to the end.
- It's really nice and I I don't find it depressing because I know that you're they're gonna get to old age and then that's it life is over but to look back and tell the story and to have experienced all that is just really fun.
- I will end with another storytelling thing that I have that I know is extremely hard to find and out of print but I will mention it here just because it is fantastic for storytelling and that is the story World Series.
- The cards all have these really really intricate illustrations on them.
- It actually has questions on the back that can help you with storytelling and kind of looking at what's in depicted in that image.
- Every card I shouldn't say every I think almost every single card in the entire set has another card's image sort of hidden in the background so it actually helps with bringing those together if you draw them at the same time.
- I love these for storytelling.
- Solo is fantastic for me because you know I love solo that's that's who I am.
- most of the games on these shelves fall into that because I like telling stories as I'm playing.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video McNJc1mg_o0
UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 1:06:31 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 88438 · mention_pk 233074
Click to watch at 1:06:31 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
- Has solo and 4-player modes.
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Tile Placement — Tile placement is a mechanic in the game.
- Worker Placement — The game uses worker placement.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I think Baldur's Gate three is okay and it's just okay
- There's just too much stuff to do and it's like and it's all over the place
- If you're not eating your your Reese's peanut butter got frozen you're insane
- The sun is gonna burn my house yes and the fire is gonna heat it
- People are like oh I don't want AI to create art I want AI to do things like my taxes I'm like well then so accountant's gonna be out of work but artists can'
- I think I got my uh Bazaar of ubar today
- you should play that it's a good game
- highly enjoyable
- the people wanted me to teach them uh troyos
- it's a heavier game
- go back uh world of midgard and back it again and again
- buying miniatures that you don't and then buy a bunches it's a plastic in a drawer
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video CZ2gdT5pxxQ
Shelfside Top 10 List at 8:17 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 88394 · mention_pk 232912
Click to watch at 8:17 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Rich negotiation and emergent storytelling
- Ambitious design
Cons
- Too many rules to comfortably wrap your head around
- Recommended for an RPG-like play instead
Thematic elements
- Negotiation and emergent narrative with heavy rule set
- RPG-like emergent storytelling
Comparison games
- D&D
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- High rule density — Numerous interlocking rules that are difficult to grasp.
- Negotiation — Players negotiate and shape the story through actions and outcomes.
- Negotiation and emergent narrative — Players negotiate and shape the story through actions and outcomes.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I just want to play games with my friends and have it be utterly Solitaire the game
- this game is absolute trading Mayhem
- it's a fever dream
- money is King with the bidding
- the birds are all kind of copies and derivatives of each other
- I think Vagabond is complete BS
- this is a heavy game with lots of rules
- Manchester Madness to be the best modern day Dungeon Crawler experience
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video vmm4OoqMZhE
UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 2:13:54 sentiment: positive
video_pk 87890 · mention_pk 230370
Click to watch at 2:13:54 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Vastly underrated
- Amazing
- Fascinating
Cons
- Dislikes games where someone kicks your sandcastle
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I never I still haven't gotten my shipment well so that's weird man
- the Catalyst games Peterson games like uh buyou like fell through and nobody knows exactly what happened it's just it's a big giant um C fuffle that
- the path to us for finally completing and delivering the gods War I is coming into view in the next few weeks we are going to have a major announcement on this thank you for your continued patience in t that we realize it's been a frustrating journey
- hyperspace is you know we'll get to it eventually
- I think I got my highest score ever on H Gaia project the other day 100 and something
- when people go silent like completely silent and they don't say anything for months it's because they have no interest zero interest zero interest of actually completing what they're doing
- I hate forgetting [ ] I hate it I hate you st lits you're getting old I know but I hate it
- you know they they say if you're afraid of homosexuals that means that deep down inside you're homosexual and that worries me because I'm afraid of dogs
- Growing up I never would have believed that one day i' need a computer just to masturbate
- he did that so he'd have something if you're one of those people that complains that their CVS receipts are too long oh man you're gonna [ ] hate books
- it's good it's a perfect movie
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video F1GY_MPpvzs
Box of Delights Analysis at 0:09 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 87633 · mention_pk 229384
Click to watch at 0:09 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
none
Cons
- Opaque and complex, leading to struggles for multiplayer players.
Thematic elements
- World of Oath
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is just a single module, all right. This is a small part of what makes up this expansion for the co-op for the solo.
- There's no artificial intelligence, it's not that complex all right, but here's an example Circ command we could build logic into an AI opponent that says right o Coper devotion needs the B of the darkest secret.
- It's not purely random, it's driven by the game state, but it is absolutely incidental. It's not AI to any stretch of the imagination, but it's still doing smart stuff.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video C4AdlTuEOQI
UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 2342:13:20 sentiment: positive
video_pk 87188 · mention_pk 227395
Click to watch at 2342:13:20 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- very complex and rewarding
- unique legacy elements
Cons
- steep learning curve
Thematic elements
- political intrigue
- fantasy
- legacy elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — involves controlling territories on the board
- Deck Building — mentions using cards and decks
- legacy — has legacy elements that change the game over time
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- how does this work rule book
- almost zero problems with tamashi even though it was pretty complicated
- it's a killer game like if you can find it
- Astonishingly mediocre, breaking the '90% of games get the job done' rule.
- Flavorless vanilla oatmeal
- Horrible game
- Confusing rules
- Clever system
- Accessible wargame
- Fun card-driven system
- Disappointing fulfillment
- It really needs a rewrite of the rule book
- I sort of like didn't love the conflict part
- if you get blocked off at the beginning of the game like one of the guys did he was miserable the entire game
- Product of its time
- Clunky
- Takes a really long time to play
- The game was so boring
- The fulfillment company is basically the size of the Box everybody saying the size of the Box of the game is basically the exact same size as the USPS um free box the free box it's packed to the edge of that box with no padding with no padding and crushed
- I was just like H how how was just this game is horrible
- We stopped playing and that unfortunately the name of that game was Temple of Horrors
- You should go to the flea market at B gcon baby
- Hot Stuff was the best
- I want to move to Montana and find a big American Wife
- Steel is nothing compared to the strength of the flesh that wields it
- I want to be remembered as the longest living human being of all time
- It's a dense war game
- Stop making prequels of things and making them totally stupid
- Mufasa and Scar aren't actually brothers
- They're not contrast paints they're regular
- I thought I was good but I'm not like a uber fan of Lord of the Rings
- Oh you know the whole thing about and I okay and this is actually kind of awful but it was so for the longest time it was like snuff lopus was like you know everybody thought it was Big Bird's imaginary friend
- When you're asked yeah you will you will say that you heard the torpedo impacted and I was never here just like me
- I have a grievance
- The end of that game was so tense and then it was so satisfying to win.
- Oath is a very complex game but it is so rewarding once you get into it.
- Root's asymmetrical gameplay is its strongest suit.
- Brass Birmingham is one of the most satisfying economic games out there.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video YYDMN20FRvE
Heavy Cardboard Discussion at 1:46:32 sentiment: positive
video_pk 86646 · mention_pk 224940
Click to watch at 1:46:32 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- expansion is coming
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Arcs
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- There's no way to be I I can't I can't even get people to tell me their schedule two weeks in advance so it's very much a week to week thing
- I hold it to a higher level than that and so on the downside it doesn't allow us to stream games as quickly as I would like sometimes
- if if if the expansion for oath were included in that I would I would put that above arcs okay wow okay
- universally okay
- don't I think it's great the way it is just get more maps which they're doing so honestly that's my answer
- a reprint of ground floor would be great so I can get a copy of it
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video NQso4ztp5l8
The Cardboard Herald Discussion at 3:15 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 86300 · mention_pk 222867
Click to watch at 3:15 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card abilities — The speaker will be involved again in the closing development and polishing, checking card abilities.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- people love content I mean it's just it's the most simple it's the most simple truth of it
- I can allow people are more willing for bad stuff to happen cuz we're both experiencing it we're together in this bad situation
- I think reality TV is very underrated in terms of how much interesting game stuff is happening there
- I've been working on the prototype for I don't know like a year
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video N8c8UxoT8Ig
UndeadVikingVideos Discussion at 21:21 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 86249 · mention_pk 222608
Click to watch at 21:21 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- intriguing system
- world evolves
- lots of content
Cons
- group got weary of it after two plays
- never got back to it
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- defines this as a hottie from a specific US state of course go for it Georgia Peach
- defines this as a hottie from a specific US state of course go for it
- The theory that the pyramids were like the exact distance from each other as the stars you would see in the Orion's Built.
- Georgia Peach is correct nicely done
- I remember going to that in the movie theater and laughing my ass off
- The handicam thing I had to like look at the floor of the theater to just like get through the movie
- that was so smart I was I was totally a kid like I was a teenager I was like oh it's totally real it's totally real guys
- okay everybody hated usual sock know I love the usual socks
- I'm not going to give this movie a thumbs up but I think that Adam Sandler can make a good movie
- Happy Gilmore 2 2025 it's in post production
- more uncut gems please
- that movie is good I like that that is good movie
- Christopher McDonald has shooting M Gavin was just the best he's like Happy Gilmore come on down
- Adam Sandler will be playing Happy Gilmore
- Bad Bunny will be playing Happy's caddy
- well grown-ups made a boatload of cash grown-ups was printing money
- people are tired of superhero movies
- The Fallout of trading Luca donic is just unreal
- I love I love the trade deadline
- I used to be so nervous when I'd call I'd like go sit in the closet so was super quiet I'd like prepare about exactly what I was to say was like I don't want to get burned by Jim Rome
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video mYYikGYjp10
Heavy Cardboard Top List at 13:39:00 sentiment: other
video_pk 86109 · mention_pk 222057
Click to watch at 13:39:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Enthusiastic
Pros
- Highly anticipated
- Engaging long-term play
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Political intrigue
- Evolving narrative
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- legacy — The mention of an 'evolving narrative' and the long gap between plays suggests a game that changes over time or has a persistent campaign.
- political maneuvering — The theme of political intrigue points to mechanics involving negotiation, influence, or power struggles.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Thank you for joining us today so today I'm going to do a top 10 but it's kind of an arbitrary list in that it's 10 air quotes
- big thanks to Michael D the Bondi Mark Hatton and is wezma I think cheers to all of you and thank you for the support during the patron Drive
- The long-awaited return of Oath.
- It's been eight months since we did Oath.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video vQoEiUFusTc
Heavy Cardboard Top List at 15:50
video_pk 86033 · mention_pk 221798
Click to watch at 15:50 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- now starting off number 10 is four it's lost in the middle it's not prime just two doubled hash unoriginal and and In some cultures unlucky you're lucky you make the list for
- eight number 10 couldn't be a dozen but also thinks it's Big Man on Campus on this list got to keep it humble looking at you 10
- seven pie 3.14 pie Jess and I went to this place called the Red Arrow Diner the other day and it had an entire display case full of pie and it was fabulous she got a death by chocolate cream pie it was it was everything that you thought it pie
- six is three and why three here in number six because in numerology people with a life path aligned with three have some significant strengths and weaknesses such as they're creative they have a strong imagination come up with ideas quickly they're communicative they're great at writing speaking artistic expression they're social they enjoy socializing have a large usually a large circle of friends tend to be optimistic they have an infectious enthusiasm that draws others to them they they excel in problem solving they think of new ways to solve problems quickly and creatively however there are some kind of drawbacks to those on the life path or the the life path aligned with the number number three and those weaknesses can include scattered energy they may they may have time trouble focusing and may make hasty decisions
- five I mean I feel like this is probably the biggest no-brainer of the entire list it's the golden ratio of 1.68 I mean symmetry duh the middle yall saw that coming right like you knew all right I I'm going to give you all the benefit of doubt that that's the case
- four arguably could be considered my favorite but only at number four and it's ul's number now I realize so for those that don't know it's uh 27182 also known as e now I realized that some people mispronounce it Oilers rule or law or number or whatever um this is heavy cardboard this is my channel so therefore nepotism is ul's number plus screw Edmonton if you know you know
- three going to be a bit of a surprise to a lot of y'all is seven cuz everybody is going to put seven higher I mean seriously it is the most common lucky number out there so everybody who is going to put this higher I ain't basic
- two number two is two it's the silver medal it's almost as good as as one it's second best always on the podium got to give props to number two
- finally number one 249 it just flows off the tongue 249 you see that and you're like wow that's not much money that's that's a good deal almost anything that you see for 249 is great so 249 and and if you double oh moment hold H if you double 249 that get you our absolute best number of all time number zero 498 say it with me 498 man that's a great number so there you have it my top 10 numbers 1- 10 hopefully yall enjoyed that
- now this is what happens when you get a little punch drunk uh so uh shout out to Kyle Ken and Greg after our our stream the other night we got to talking about this and thought we would have a lot of fun
- Railways of Los Atlas so that is looking forward to that it is a build your own customizable map which I thought was not going to be good I was flat out wrong
- This has been threatened to be on the channel for years and as a solid I'm finally breaking this out Rob has requested it and so Rob this one's for you uh hko and Stein is going to be on the show on Sunday
- a lot of people been asking for old school splatter we haven't done Antiquity in a very long time plus it is a phenomenal game so Antiquity is definitely on the docket
- stress btics Odyssey we're going to be replaying that again we've played a partial game of it once we've played the base game a number of times we stream that publicly and we're going to be doing a sponsored stream later on possibly as soon as two weeks from now but for the patrons on Sunday about 4:30 or so we're going to do probably another partial game of stress bs Odyssey
- small City deluxe edition a lot of s this one can't surprise the heck out of me a lot of people have been asking for this so you know what we're busting this bad boy out again tomorrow
- oath I mean how can we not bust out more oath right
- and uh Atlantic chase this is one my most anticipated war games that I desperately want to get played um so Atlantic Chase is definitely going to make it before the end of the patron stream so super super stoked for that
- we have gained 45 new patrons and we've only lost one that is ridiculously aming amazing I am so grateful for that
- speaking of so far in the patron drive so here we go what have we done I mean this and more right the the arcs campaign has continued uh uh we've had a game about oranges and lemons that has a killer action selection mechanism if you all haven't heard about it I would recommend go check out that stream I thought it was great I think it's a really good game I think you all would enjoy that
- James Ken and oath need I say more if you haven't watched our latest stream of oath and you enjoy watching board game content I think I can unequivocally say you should watch that
- The NeverEnding game of ofle come Ross that was that I I was entertained the ridiculous ending of Cribbage in our traditional card game stream we did cribbage Rook Spades and hearts I mean all you need is a deck of cards right
- all three of them not me but the other three solid really solid I was impressed
- it has been brought to my attention that some of y'all watched how oath ended and thought that doesn't look good rest assured that I we have been blessed with a very very good group that no one takes anything too seriously the games are just the games there is no uh serious hurt feelings there there can be grudges but they're friendly grudges like I still hate shy because of something he did an Intrigue like five years ago it's okay I still invite him back he and I are still friends mostly so I imagine James and kenel it'll continue but it'll be entertaining and it's mostly friendly they actually hugged it out afterwards so it's all good
- James from Dad's on a map is going to be joining me Thursday night we're going to enjoy a couple of adult beverages and and chew the fat about their tournament as well as just games that we've been playing and and stuff so that should be a good time
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Mf35DlpOqQE
Heavy Cardboard Top List at 1291:36:22 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85950 · mention_pk 221365
Click to watch at 1291:36:22 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Positive
Pros
- Unique gameplay experience
- Epic scope
- Evolving narrative
- Consequential decisions
Cons
- Can be complex
- Requires multiple plays to appreciate
Thematic elements
- Generational empire building and conflict
- Fantasy world
- Legacy-like
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — area control elements
- Deck Building — deck building elements
- legacy — legacy-like elements
- Worker Placement — worker placement
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I don't want to talk about Zul'kator.
- It's just it's it's uh it's almost painful to think about.
- Hadrian's Wall, man, I love this game.
- It feels incredibly satisfying when you start to see your little engines start to run.
- Tiletum, man, I love this game.
- The components are absolutely beautiful.
- Terraforming Mars is just an epic game.
- Wingspan is just a beautiful game.
- Everdell is incredibly charming.
- Lost Ruins of Arnak, I love this game.
- Ark Nova is a very deep game.
- Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile is a very unique game.
- Tiny Epic Galaxies is a really fun game.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video W_Ffzuk3ccA
Tabletop Minions Discussion at 25:12 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 85933 · mention_pk 221210
Click to watch at 25:12 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Warhammer 40,000
- War Cry
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- If you see something and you want it, get it right away.
- It's kind of like when Nova used to be in the old place when it was in several years back it was in Crystal City. Technically, there was like one restaurant within three blocks of the place and that was it.
- The benefit to this being in downtown Milwaukee is that it's in the convention district and there's a lot of restaurants and bars and all kinds of places around there. So uh it's going to be real nice.
- I think that the number of people obviously that go to conventions in comparison to the number of people who are in the hobby it's a very small percentage that go to conventions and I think there's a lot of folks that are just not that are either unable to due to distance or you know cost or social anxiety or just you know they just never have the the um the you know like they they got you know, several kids and two jobs or stuff like that. You just don't have the time to take off and go to a convention or whatever. So, I think that that happens a good deal.
- The reason they moved out of the old place was because they just literally had outgrown it. um when they moved to Shamberg I think adept to con was about 5,000 people maybe six and then over the years being in Shamberg like last year they hit 10,000 people so
- I have found that you get less of that overlap with speed paints. They they maybe don't I don't feel like they dry quite as quickly or something. I don't know what it is, but they don't seem I don't have a problem. They What do they call it? tide marks, coffee stains, something like that. And it's because you've taken a transparent color that dries so quickly that when you bring the other transparent color over and you have them kind of overlap a little bit, so there's not like a space in between where you, you know, on this thing, then you get double transparency, which means it gets darker. So you get this line where you stopped and then had to go and get more and then come back.
- The benefit I think what happens is almost every single convention gets to a point where it can no longer be in a convention center and hotel combo. It gets to the point where they need a convention center and then hotels around the convention center. It's the way Gen Con does it. It's the way that, you know, Adepticon's doing it now.
- It's like you're colorizing an old black and white movie or something like that. Um, but it does make things quicker and simpler and it still looks pretty good in most situations.
- Am I doing it right? I mean, I don't know. It's up to you.
- Would love if GW re-releases Mheim, but I fear this will also cause most people to overlook unofficial fan-made Mheim content, but who knows, maybe GW will open to unofficial content.
- Horus Heresy is basically a civil war story. So, it's all about we're not even paying attention to the aliens right now.
- It's because they were spending 50% of the time working on stuff for Warhammer Fantasy, but it was only 18% of sales and they were like, 'Well, this isn't going the right direction.'
- It's been a long time since GW's made a Kill Team box where I liked everything in the box.
- I find that I have the best um luck with OSL when I'm using my airbrush.
- The difference is is if you are like, 'Well, I would rather do something a little bit different and tweak things differently that way.'
- Overall, Army Painter Speed Paint wins for me, but there's um always a couple of the contrast paints I love, like the Blood Terror Red. It's just a gorgeous deep burgundy.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video I74K9QFv5-s
Heavy Cardboard Analysis at 25:28 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85914 · mention_pk 221064
Click to watch at 25:28 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
- Not for everyone
Thematic elements
- emergent narrative
Comparison games
- Twilight Imperium fourth edition
- Age of Innovation
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's Dominoes Ah
- based on reviewing the Wikipedia for dominoes um that doesn't that seem that year seems wrong. That seems way late.
- but anything that is like a Domino's game we would recognize doesn't occur until the very end of the 18th or beginning of the 19th century.
- and tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m., we're finishing up with Antiquity, which is pictured behind Ken's head over there.
- Of our 402 games, only 13 are published before 1990.
- So you got Spirit Island, you got Lizboa, you got Quest for Elorado, and 22 other games that are on one person's list.
- 2019, PAX Premiere, Crystal Palace, and 24 other games.
- 2015, Gallerist, Trickarion, Food Chain Magnate, 16 other games.
- Brass, Birmingham, Obsession, Root.
- John Company, sure. Weather Machine, Carnegi, 19 other games from 2022.
- Age of steam. Age of steam, right? Yeah. Yeah. Obviously, right. Yeah.
- Like trying to narrow it down is a hard thing when you when you have maybe the newer you are, the less hard that is.
- there's going to be another one tomorrow where we go through tutorial number four of Atlantic Chase.
- I might have a latest greatest version of Crossrox. I'm so excited about this game after hearing you guys talk about it.
- Every game that you guys play, you're playing. It's oath.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video I74K9QFv5-s
Heavy Cardboard Analysis at 1:52:05
video_pk 85914 · mention_pk 221133
Click to watch at 1:52:05 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's Dominoes Ah
- based on reviewing the Wikipedia for dominoes um that doesn't that seem that year seems wrong. That seems way late.
- but anything that is like a Domino's game we would recognize doesn't occur until the very end of the 18th or beginning of the 19th century.
- and tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m., we're finishing up with Antiquity, which is pictured behind Ken's head over there.
- Of our 402 games, only 13 are published before 1990.
- So you got Spirit Island, you got Lizboa, you got Quest for Elorado, and 22 other games that are on one person's list.
- 2019, PAX Premiere, Crystal Palace, and 24 other games.
- 2015, Gallerist, Trickarion, Food Chain Magnate, 16 other games.
- Brass, Birmingham, Obsession, Root.
- John Company, sure. Weather Machine, Carnegi, 19 other games from 2022.
- Age of steam. Age of steam, right? Yeah. Yeah. Obviously, right. Yeah.
- Like trying to narrow it down is a hard thing when you when you have maybe the newer you are, the less hard that is.
- there's going to be another one tomorrow where we go through tutorial number four of Atlantic Chase.
- I might have a latest greatest version of Crossrox. I'm so excited about this game after hearing you guys talk about it.
- Every game that you guys play, you're playing. It's oath.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 4ZqU6EPCehE
TheGameBoyGeek - Hi Quality Hi Energy Board Game Reviews Analysis at 0:40 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85401 · mention_pk 218731
Click to watch at 0:40 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Holds a special place in the host's heart due to childhood memories
- Fast-paced and good for family game nights
- Its core mechanism is widely used and recognized in other games
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Dice Re-rolling — Players can re-roll dice to try and achieve better combinations.
- Dice Rolling — Core mechanic involving rolling dice to achieve combinations.
- Set Collection — Players aim to collect specific sets of dice for scoring.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Yatsi, I first want to say that this was one of my most played games as a kid.
- It's such ingrained into board games. It's one of the most important games ever because of that.
- Essentially, it's called dice roll and locking. And there's actually 452 credited games that actually have selected this mechanism as being in their game.
- So it takes like this simple yachti mechanism and adds sort of an abstract game to it.
- This is a fantastic game that again uses the yatsi mechanism, uses a lot of the combos that yatsi does, but add has manipulations and ongoing ability, special abilities, all these different things for a very big peak moment ending.
- Essentially, I mean, it is Yatsi in a very different way where you're doing it to activate abilities, to combo things together to defeat your opponents.
- So, there's lots of heavier games out there that use this Yatsi mechanism as well, which is awesome because it came out as such a just little light little party game for families.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video brqxZlDMJho
kovray Top 5 List at 21:22 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85366 · mention_pk 218565
Click to watch at 21:22 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Fluid simultaneous play with depth and variability due to expeditions
- Engaging table presence and design
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- sea life and expeditions
- underwater exploration and sea life cataloging
- campaign-like expeditions with varying species
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- bag passing and drafting expeditions — Players pass bags and draw tiles, then place them according to expedition goals.
- pairing ship/submersible with tiles — Manage two linked assets (ship and submersible) to navigate and collect tokens.
- Set Collection — Collect sea-life tiles via expeditions and place them for points.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Let's make it happen.
- Time goes by too quickly.
- What did you play in May? What was your favorite?
- It's simultaneous, but it also has some meat to it
- Come sail away. Come sail away. Come sail away.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ZlP256_qEjs
Meeple University Discussion at 8:30 sentiment: positive
video_pk 84934 · mention_pk 216700
Click to watch at 8:30 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- More fun than expected
- Plays quickly
- Good scoring mechanics
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- set collection
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Majority — Players create majorities of items for scoring.
- roll and move — Players roll a magnetic cube around picking up items.
- Set Collection — Players collect items to create sets.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Pola... it's like one of the most beautiful games I've seen.
- Paperia... it can actually end up being a bit of a aggressive little game when the right scoring things are in certain places
- 2001: A Space Odyssey... Phil Harding's design it tends to be like simple like things don't need to be complicated and we love it in this one. It's just perfect complexity.
- The working title is called gumball machine... this one is more kind of like a family game.
- It's a really simple family level trick taking game.
- Flip Sevens for everyone.
- We played the bubble tea game. It was very fun.
- It's not a new game. Let us know if you have played this, if you enjoy it, what you think of pass.
- They're great uh convention fillers.
- The second one is the killer whale who actually worked with human in the past for killing other whales.
- The third one is the pool that is made from natural. So that's kind of like in area from the sea and they made a pool. So it's like a natural pool from the sea water.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 032XgiNdnI4
The Brothers Murph Discussion at 587:41:55 sentiment: positive
video_pk 84808 · mention_pk 216175
Click to watch at 587:41:55 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Positive
Pros
- Evolving game
- Builds own world
- Deep strategy
- Political intrigue
Cons
- Can be complex
Thematic elements
- Political Intrigue, Exploration, Conquest
- Fantasy World
- Legacy/Campaign
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — You're going to be able to control areas on the board, uh, and then, you know, um, build up your uh your kingdom.
- legacy — It's a legacy game, which means that the game evolves and changes as you play it.
- Political intrigue — There's a lot of political intrigue and backstabbing.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- My problem is is I can't find games when I have my eyes to use.
- This is terrifying.
- You're heading towards the camera.
- So, this is the last shelf, right?
- Nick is going to cook me so bad, dude.
- I have not forgiven all the people in the comments who said Combon's cover is not Hoy.
- This all our laser games are together.
- I need an adult.
- This is toaten su.
- Oh, you got one war.
- Suck it, Nick.
- I'm going to go You have Lrona in your hand.
- Great big heavy Euro game.
- I need to get some lighter stuff because I grabbed Not to Wat and Su and this and Thunder Road.
- Oh god, Jesus. You're right there.
- In theory, I should know what's around.
- I have taken it for myself. Thank you very much.
- Wowee. Hope we got workers comp.
- Gosh, I don't know. I'm starting to really worry.
- I have feasts for Odin and I have Tat and Su
- I love this game. I'm going to grab Abyss.
- All right, Mike, it's time for your fifth pick.
- I need a small thing. I need like a card game.
- I really want Ark Nova. And Arcan Nova is here.
- I am taking Ark Nova.
- Don't laugh at me, Jimmy.
- This is not Arc Nova.
- What the hell is this? It's so big and square.
- I've got this, man. This is in a tin.
- Detective Club.
- I have Arc Nova. Clearly, I got a bunch of heavy. I need I need to start going lighter.
- Oh god. Oh god. What was that?
- Oh, there's so many small games in here.
- This is a Murf draft first where both players have drafted the same game.
- Wow.
- I don't know why I'm helping. I most just want to flex my knowledge, dude.
- This is Suburbia Collector's Edition. Get wrecked.
- I love this game. Don't play it enough.
- And frankly, big boxes make games harder to play.
- I want to grab Vida Culture, which is up there, but I feel like I don't have a very good balanced collection
- Marvel United, baby.
- This is a great co-op game. Also kind of on the lighter side. I really, really enjoy this one. I I freaking love this game.
- That might have been a bit of a cheat because I knew it was on the top of the shelf, which severely narrows down.
- Jimmy, what do we even own?
- Throw out some games that you like.
- I feel like inventors and scholars is over there.
- No, this is not what I thought.
- Well, you've got wavefares right now. Quote unquote wavefares.
- I thought at first it was going to be feast roden because you thought you didn't get it, but boy howdy did I not get it either.
- This is Star Wars Rebellion, everybody. Thank you very much.
- It's that big. Wow. Okay then.
- Pick number eight for Nick.
- How does he keep hitting it?
- Real talk though.
- I feel like a lot of like square and rectangular euros.
- I was just about to say this is Arino. It is not.
- Oh, that's thicker than I thought it'd be.
- Once again, right up on the microphone. We're sorry.
- This is distilled.
- I got me some isats and I'm excited to have a good polyomino game.
- I want Grand Austria Hotel.
- We have too many big games, guys.
- From the bottom, a square and a rectangle feel very similar.
- Dude, right.
- I feel legitimately I mean,
- Is the top dented?
- Is the top supposed to be dented?
- All righty. Okay, I got two more. Yeah, I got two more games. I got to go I got to start going lighter. I've been doing too much big stuff.
- You're always concerned about that.
- A well-rounded collection.
- So, here's the thing with these drafts, y'all.
- Mike picks his favorite games. I try to pick an actually good collection.
- No one's asking you to do that.
- The prompt for these is to collect a wellrounded collection. Mike just picks his favorite games. So get out in the comments comments. Let us know.
- I win. I win these because I actually choose.
- It's not about making a It's about making the best list.
- The best list is the best list for most people. Not for you.
- I'm the one making the list.
- No. Silly.
- I'm picking foof girkin. This is a great trick tank game. It's called five cucumbers.
- I feel the green how it's green. I think this is firkin.
- All right. So, since Nick's out here sassing me.
- All right. This is your final pick. Do what you want.
- I'm going to go back to our drawers.
- I'm looking for the Kinfire Delve games.
- I feel like I stopped the Oh, wait. Hold on.
- Whatever this was, I'm not choosing it.
- Oh, wait. Even better.
- This is a long thin rectangle? This might be uh the Fellowship of the Ring trick taking game.
- Pick Pick. Pick what you think your heart says.
- This one's in shrink. This is a fat boy.
- I thought I had Lord of the Rings. My last picture.
- Oh, you know what? Hold on. This has a unique box.
- This has this little pink thing. I think this is Volano. Volamino. Volimo.
- Am I stepping on a game?
- This is I think Volano. And so it's got that little
- that's my 10th pick. And on the light one day, I'm wellrounded as heck. Good god. Now I really don't know where I am, man.
- Oh god. Sorry. I hit me in the face.
- I
- Yes, it is. Uh, it is a tough game to get into. Uh, and I love that.
- I do love the dice placement for this. It's a really cool game, you know, this is where you're gonna go draft dice and then send them to the cathedral.
- It was like, you know, like, really tough to get into. So, you know, like, I do love that and that's what we're all about.
- You have your own story, your own world that you're building.
- There's a ton of strategy, a ton of different things you can do in this game.
- It's a legacy game, which means that the game evolves and changes as you play it.
- There's a lot of political intrigue and backstabbing.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video phfKCkmJs3A
Man vs Meeple Analysis at 22:05 sentiment: positive
video_pk 84731 · mention_pk 215755
Click to watch at 22:05 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Fast, quick, and easy to play.
- Great art.
- Fun for families.
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Flip Seven
- Codenames
- The Shipwreck Arcana
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Legacy-like — This game is not Flip Seven, but it's that fast, quick, easy to do, great art.
- team play — we played team games because they wanted to play it.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I don't want to make elevators going up and going down.
- It is basically mascot racing like the you go to the baseball game, they got the you know the big wiener guy.
- If you need something just super fun for a party, it I'll be buying it for sure. It's it's it the production value is amazing. So much fun. I highly highly recommend this game.
- So it almost feels
- I had as much fun playing it as I did teaching it.
- It almost feels like programming it.
- They call it an auto battler uh after sort of the video games that are auto battlers but tag team.
- It had the vibes of flip seven, but not the mechanics. You're rolling dice and there's all these different denominations of money
- The rub is that if you haven't banked your money... you bust and you lose all your unbanked money.
- So, it definitely I missed this. This is that's interesting.
- and it was definitely if you like playing flip 7, you'll like this sort of game. There's a lot of these gambly, you know, have a night with hot streak, flip seven and rolly when it comes out. Uh it was just a blast.
- And that I think speaks to why the trend not only at Gen Con, but the trend in the hobby is going towards more of those types of it's it's at least definitely the trend in my personal taste.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 3IhxxOdyHhM
The Cardboard Herald Interview at 8:37:23 sentiment: positive
video_pk 84559 · mention_pk 214967
Click to watch at 8:37:23 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Epic scope
- Evolving narrative
- Player-driven story
- Political intrigue
Cons
- Can be complex to grasp initially
- Requires a consistent group
Thematic elements
- political maneuvering
- fantasy kingdom
- legacy
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Players compete for control of different regions on the board.
- legacy — The game changes permanently over multiple plays based on player decisions.
- Negotiation — Players can negotiate deals and alliances.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The art is beautiful and makes you want to just keep playing to see more.
- It feels epic, like you're part of a grand unfolding story.
- It's a challenging game that requires a lot of deduction and thinking.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video D_saC0PznHo
DaniCha Unboxing at 0:03 sentiment: positive
video_pk 84367 · mention_pk 214353
Click to watch at 0:03 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Pocket-sized and portable
- Clever player board design
- Adorable art
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Otters and their gifts
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Play — Players have to play all their cards to win, with the number of times varying by player count.
- solo mode — The rulebook has a section for solo rules and a video can be scanned to watch it.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is a pocket-sized card game by Dylan Coyle and art by Leilaman.
- So, this is just one of those like, you know, pocket size games that you could carry around and play.
- Very cleverly designed.
- Very cute. Let's look at that adorable otter face.
- If you're not already subscribed, please consider subscribing and then you won't miss out on my solo playthrough of Otter.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Z7jJCDfn-_8
The Brothers Murph Discussion at 7:57
video_pk 84305 · mention_pk 214158
Click to watch at 7:57 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
- components are difficult to identify within the box
- might have a large rat component that is unpleasant to step on
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I will cry if it gets me points.
- The judge's rule is final.
- Bring me the most off-putting box cover.
- Bring me the coolest component.
- Bring me the game with the best player colors.
- Bring me the thing I would least like to step on.
- Bring me the game I'd most like to play right now.
- Bring me the thing with the best sound.
- Bring me the game with the most boring theme.
- Bring me the best game I can fit in my pocket.
- Bring me the card that would make the best tattoo.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video kV3t_oH6Ea4
Heavy Cardboard Discussion at 41:20 sentiment: positive
video_pk 83797 · mention_pk 211950
Click to watch at 41:20 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Positive
Pros
- Generally leans towards Oath more than Arcs
- Enjoyable outside of the campaign's third chapter
Cons
- Campaign game (Arcs) is not the favorite way to play
- Campaign's third chapter can feel too much like Calvinball
- Rules get in the way too much in the campaign due to many different iterations
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Arcs
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- So, we're going super cash today.
- We are going to see.
- So, you get that back this way.
- All right. So, uh, Robert came up with a cool little trick.
- So, mine is slowly ticking down to below 20 seconds and it should be similar for you all if you want.
- So, my delay for what I'm looking at here is about 15 seconds.
- So, we're not going to do anything like no top down cameras.
- And before I did, I wanted to kind of clean up the table this way when I come back.
- So, we've been running tests for the last couple hours, me and the patrons, but I was like, 'Hey, why don't I just go live?'
- Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.
- So many pixels.
- So, T-Ball says, 'I've always found it difficult to tell the difference between 2K and 4K.'
- It's about 2K difference.
- And it is it is a massive undertaking to be able to stream at 4K, especially with six cameras.
- So, here's my question for y'all watching.
- So, thanks for being my little lab rats.
- But also in the end it benefits y'all.
- Okay. All right.
- So, I will certainly send Jess uh everyone's best.
- T-ball says, 'The recent stream of Aegis Steam looked fantastic.'
- So, I thought so, but however, uh there uh I had a viewer point out the fact that even if I'm able to stream at 2K or 4K, which obviously I can, not everybody can receive it in that.
- So, therefore, they still I I'm still going to make use of the PTZ cams.
- So, Diffy brings up a really good point.
- Also, the the difference between 4K and 2K is much smaller.
- Diminishing returns, right?
- So, if you drop down from 4K to 2K, you notice a difference, but it's pretty minimal.
- Where you're really going to notice the difference, and again, I didn't turn on the overhead cuz that's not what today is about.
- So, the biggest difference in my testing is going from 720 to 1080.
- That is the most significant difference.
- That jump up.
- Then the jump up from 1080 to to 2K is noticeable but not dramatic.
- And same from 2K to 4K.
- Noticeable but not absolutely dramatic.
- So, on my end, just to kind of since this is kind of a test slash, you know, kind of how the sausage is made to some degree for the public.
- So, I've worked hard to get it that way.
- But my point is if on your end you're able to see how many drop frames and how stable your connection is.
- So for instance, I am broadcasting on the main new super high-end computer that we built here for the studio.
- What I am watching it on is on the old PC which there's a reason it got replaced.
- So, Just again trying to give context.
- Plus you all get to play around and look at some of the numbers that we've been messing not messing with but um using to troubleshoot.
- So, Salt Pestian said, 'I think it's awesome you can stream in 4K, but I also hope this doesn't mean you're always going to be zoomed out.'
- It doesn't.
- Still going to use the PTZs.
- I got them for a reason.
- Don't worry about that.
- So, rest assured the like nothing negative.
- The goal of this is only to continue to evolve and and get better and everything you're used to is going to continue.
- It's just a matter of upping the quality.
- So, the PTZs and all that stuff, uh, those are going to be in use.
- Uh, we currently have two.
- I am working I'm using one of them on most streams.
- I will eventually integrate the second one as well.
- It's a process and it it it requires more up here for me.
- So, I'm I'm gradually working my way up to that.
- But don't worry the the zooming in and the PTZs and all that stuff that is still going to live.
- So, rest assured on that.
- So, Bob says, 'Even at 4K, assuming I'm actually getting 4K, I couldn't read that, but it's close.'
- So, all right.
- But that's the difference.
- That's really what it's going to come into where where things are going to come into play a little bit more.
- This would be a little bit easier.
- Like you can pretty easily read those numbers I reckon at 4K, right?
- So, so yeah, that's that's all we're working on is because we focus on medium and heavy strategy games here at Heavy Cardboard, upping the quality is going to allow y'all that are capable of being able to receive the 4K is you're just going to be able to see and read things better and it's just going to make for that much better of a presentation.
- So it that that's all it is.
- It's just prettier and easier and and more user friendly in that regard.
- That's all.
- That's all it is really.
- Well, the reason 1080 is going to be crisper than it was in the in the old studio is um
- A lot of money went into these cameras.
- That's why the cameras have been upgraded.
- Cameras and lenses.
- So, that's how this looks, right?
- So, um, Diffy says, 'The only problem is going back to the old streams.'
- I get it and we're aware of that.
- And so, what that means is we're going to revisit games.
- I mean, I don't know, three, four streams a week.
- Do the math.
- As always, we're going to mix and match old with new.
- Like Friday, we're doing Sweet Lands.
- That I I would categorize that in the new category.
- Uh, last night we did Power Grid.
- That'd be in the old category.
- So, yeah, I think y'all can rest assured that it's going to be a a a really good mix.
- I I feel very comfortable with where we're at in general on the streams with the mixing of old and new.
- So, it seems that nobody is having here.
- Let let's just pause the the the chat for a moment here.
- And for anybody that's having any kind of issues, like chime in, speak up, let me know what they are.
- But it seems as of now everything's going pretty all right for y'all.
- That's awesome.
- Obviously, I didn't turn on any of the lights behind me other than the uh Ow, don't do that.
- The Edison bulbs.
- I think those fill that space pretty well.
- Don't mind the box over here on the edge of the table here.
- But well, that that's encouraging.
- I like that.
- The lighter says everything looks and sounds perfect.
- The sound is so good.
- So good.
- I appreciate that. Thank you.
- Um, the everything has been a it's been it's been a lot, but so it's good to hear that the work's paying off.
- I'm glad to hear that.
- Max says, 'I'm pretty ecstatic for you, Edward. Really deserve this. Best board game content creator, hands down.'
- I appreciate it.
- Now, now if we can just get the numbers bigger, that'd be awesome.
- That'd be cool.
- But I think that'll come in time.
- Uh, the quality, I think, is is there.
- So, I think we'll get there.
- I appreciate that though, Zack.
- Did I say Zack?
- Really Max?
- My bad.
- Thank you, Rob. I appreciate that.
- By the way, Rob is in work with new merch uh for for Heavy Cardboard.
- So, that that is going to be coming.
- Uh, hopefully by the end of the year we'll have something for y'all.
- Um, and that'll be a constantly evolving process of what's available and that.
- So, the salt pest say other than having to swap a new stream link at the start of every stream everything looks great.
- Well, that's what today's troubleshooting uh behind the scenes was.
- And I think we finally eliminated or found the culprits.
- There are potentially six six gotcha points in the process of setting up and starting streams that can cause issues.
- And I think I've caught all of them.
- Knock on wood.
- I think so.
- It's now a much more involved process to stream honestly.
- But once the stream is actually going, uh, today was kind of a a test to see, hey, is this going to work?
- Um, and and so yeah, so far so good.
- All right, John. Maybe maybe it's a New England thing.
- So the glory to Rome board, it exists over there.
- It's too big for the shelves.
- So the previous shelf didn't had a didn't have a lid lid or other shelves on top of it.
- So uh Greg is aware of this.
- He is the creator of the Glory to Rome board.
- And so he he has the dimensions and it will it will make an appearance when it's ready.
- Okay.
- That's crazy.
- Okay, that's a little disturbing.
- Ian says 4K has so many pixels I can zoom in on my phone and read the monitor and the reflection in your glasses.
- I might have to start wearing different glasses.
- Chip says, 'Part of me wants to say 'relax, it's good enough.'
- Then I watch other streamers with the shadows, the bad sound, the player boards that are always offscreen.
- I realize I've been spoiled.'
- I You know what? I will not disparage any other content creator, period. The end.
- Um, you know what? It's a lot of work doing this.
- And I I am happy for other people to be in the the content creation space.
- You know what? It's a lot of work.
- I get it.
- So if if somebody wants to put in the effort, regardless of who that may be,
- Hey NB, I I've seen your messages.
- Now that now that I'm getting the the the studio squared away, uh, I'll be reaching out to Rachel.
- So, thank you.
- Um, I'm hoping and I I'm not trying to put you on the spot, but I'm going Whenever somebody says, 'I don't mean to.'
- Yeah, they do.
- That's exactly what they're about to do.
- They're about to do the thing they say they don't mean to do.
- So, I'm not going to lie to you, NB.
- I'm going to totally put you on the spot.
- Uh, here at the table, we have we have we have six chairs and off camera at the end of the table.
- I'm just saying there's a there's a chair with your name on it.
- If you want to come up and when we stream, I would love to have you in the studio for that.
- Just throwing that out there.
- By the way, uh, non-breaking space, NB, um, designer of Cross Bronx Expressway and a number of other upcoming games.
- Isn't it nice to have a real challenge to make you feel real satisfaction?
- Didn't need to be that big a challenge, though, Chip.
- I'm just saying.
- I will take care of that salt.
- Thank you.
- Martin says, 'The Glory to Rome board suffering from exhaustion due to all the glory to Romes Edward uttered during setting up the new studio.'
- So the patrons saw a lot of the uh a lot of the behind the scenes on a near not exact but near daily basis.
- The amount of this that this process has had has been enormous.
- At some point it'll be funny.
- It's not there yet.
- Little fresh.
- NB says let's do it in December.
- You name it, dude.
- It's on.
- Awesome.
- I'm here for it.
- Yeah.
- Oh, Max, it's your chair when NB is not here.
- Oh, this feels good.
- All right.
- So, while we're while we're chitchatting, I'm actually going to do the thing that I was going to do here, which is try and clean this up.
- But feel free chat chat away.
- Uh, I am excited at that prospect.
- MB, I would love to have you here in studio.
- That'd be awesome.
- So yeah, just cleaning up Power Grid from last night.
- By the way, how many of y'all have watched last night's stream of Power Grid?
- I thought that was that was pretty epic.
- The the turnaround and the just the the the way the game played out and everything.
- Pretty awesome.
- I was very pleased at how that turned out.
- Let's put it that way.
- Uh, Ian says, 'We focus on the studio side, but are you feeling settled into your new home?'
- No.
- The priority has been to get this space ready.
- And it's still not finished.
- There's a lot of stuff that you guys will never see, like tying up some of the cables that are up through here and a little bit of just refinement.
- But there's still a fair bit up and around and with the background and all that that I want to finish.
- But the focus has been getting this space ready.
- And now that this space is ready, I'm going to be able to do things in the rest of the of the studio here that will make it way more way more comfortable.
- Um, it's just not there yet.
- But that's okay.
- The priority is here.
- And doing I mean this week we're only streaming twice tonight not with or today notwithstanding cuz this is kind of a really informal thing but last night's Power Grid and Friday's Sweet Lands like this weekend I don't really have a whole lot going on.
- Now if we have a game day during the day on Saturday cool but if we don't the entire weekend is going to be spent trying to organize this place a little bit and it's going to take more than a weekend.
- But yeah, that'll that'll certainly help get settled, get me settled.
- And the other thing, if you're not a patron, you don't really know about this, but up there is a whole second studio we're setting up.
- And by we, I mean me, and I guess Lincoln watches me set it up.
- But that is going to be where we do these things.
- There's not going to be a lot of that down here because this is cool.
- Don't get me wrong.
- I it's comfortable.
- I'm in a comfortable chair.
- I think the background's all right and the camera is great, but I want to be a little bit more intimate whenever we do Ask the Elephants or top 10s or whatever stuff.
- So, I'm going to be doing all that in the other studio.
- I still got to come up with a good name for the the talking studio.
- But that is basically whenever I don't need the overheads and everything.
- I'm going to do stuff up there with it.
- But as it is right now, that's still a work in progress, but it's there.
- The background's there.
- The chair is there.
- The the monitor.
- Um, I still got to go buy a new laptop to be able to do it, but we're not far from being able to do that.
- So, uh, definitely I'm thinking by the by the new year we should be doing the second be able to have the second studio.
- And once that's done, um, that tells me this whole place is just about settled.
- So, by the end of the year should be golden.
- I appreciate you asking.
- The end that was really nice.
- Yeah. Oh, Max, it's your chair when NB is not here.
- All right. So, while we're while we're chitchatting, I'm actually going to do the thing that I was going to do here, which is try and clean this up.
- Yeah. Oh, Max, it's your chair when
- I generally think that I tend to lean more towards Oath than Arcs as far as at least with arcs in the campaign game. That's not my favorite way to play the game because I think it's a little too Calvin ball as Kyle says for the third chapter and it's just the rules get in the way too much.
- But even then, Oath isn't my favorite go-to. But I like them both quite a bit.
- But I think I lean a little bit more towards Oath than Arcs.
- So, um, historically games are streamed on heavy cardboard one of three ways. Edward wants to stream it, that's one. One of the loco group wants to stream it too. or paid sponsored uh streams by the publishers. That's three. Now, patrons also get a say in this as well.
- And that is 1817.
- So they they legitimately just straight up said, "Hey, can I go ahead and pay to get a a game streamed and the idea like had been floated in my head previously to allow something like that like non-publishers to be able to, hey, I really want this older game or this other game that you haven't streamed or to reream or whatever and to make it a priority."
- Have I played Twilight Imperium? We have. We have not done it on the channel though.
- Could we stream Twilight Imperium? It's not a priority at this moment, but yes, that is something that we could possibly do.
- So, hey, 4K is doable, y'all. Uh, I didn't hear, outside of the delay, I didn't hear any issues from y'all as far as any negative results with a higher bit rate, which is really, really exciting.
- We're going to be playing Sweetlands. I'm looking forward to that.
- My goal is to get it as good as anything else that you're going to hear, whether it's in the board game content space or outside of it.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video hWrJwcN55hQ
Stonemaier Games Discussion at 23:04
video_pk 83614 · mention_pk 211083
Click to watch at 23:04 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- My neurodivergent brain loves efficiency puzzles and building my strategy to to time a slingshot to build up to really big turns later in the game.
- I think that it has to be a game where the tags are used as a discount and not just as a requirement or if it is a requirement that there's an alternate cost to pay for that requirement.
- We usually plan around three years in advance. So we are already working on the games that we will release in 2028.
- The top pick here was watching, reading, or listening to a review.
- Nearly 50% of people say they're willing to wait between six and 18 months to get a game.
- 33% of people said they want to buy more games from their local game hobby or bookstores.
- Vidiculture is practically a must-own game for any gamer.
- I was really excited to bring something new to the hobby for the first time in a while.
- Maybe some people are willing to wait longer because their gaming shelves are already full.
- The most successful friendly game stores have large gaming areas that are free or low-cost.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video A1qxjRDYkEo
Tabletop Tolson Event Coverage at 9:23
video_pk 83593 · mention_pk 210902
Click to watch at 9:23 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Mustache is a game where you are every round playing on a different team trying to earn the most tricks.
- The game ends at exactly the right amount of time
- It was a true delight.
- So, I am pre-ordering. I am on the tempo train. and I really really was impressed.
- I was like, how did this little Martin Wallace gem slip by?
- Um, but it's a really good challenging game.
- Puzzle hunt is um just the the best. It's a treat.
- Puzzle Hunt, 10 out of 10.
- Puzzle Hunt is by far the best part of BGG for me, the most memorable part, and the most fun.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video A7ta7cNfcMQ
Grant Lyon Discussion at 12:22 sentiment: positive
video_pk 83261 · mention_pk 209452
Click to watch at 12:22 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Chaotic, fun interaction
- Accessible for non-gamers
Cons
- Requires reading of many card texts
Thematic elements
- screw-over opponents with light take-that and push-your-luck mechanics
- playful, take-that card game featuring otters
- humorous and approachable
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Push Your Luck — decide whether to discard bad cards or press your luck for bigger rewards
- push-your-luck — decide whether to discard bad cards or press your luck for bigger rewards
- read-heavy card abilities — cards describe actions and effects in detail
- Take That — steal or sabotage opponents using card effects
- Take-that interaction — steal or sabotage opponents using card effects
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is my best board games coming to retail video.
- Retail to me means anything that's sort of easily and immediately available.
- Grim Coven is a miniature boss battler game.
- Daydream is a very cozy roll and write game.
- If you like area control stuff, then check out Fallout Power Play.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video RBxgAec_loQ
Zilla Blitz Discussion at 40:44 sentiment: positive
video_pk 83006 · mention_pk 208646
Click to watch at 40:44 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Cole Worley is the illustrator.
- The game is great.
- Had a great time playing it.
Cons
- Came within one card of winning, but others stopped him.
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Arcs
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The X Encounter guys, you know, they had a big old statue. you know, burning it, you know, and Herman sucks and [clears throat] they hated it so bad and said, "This is the worst thing in wargaming ever."
- The people they hated it. They hated it. And they told me, but by the way, these are war gamers. They all told me they hated it [laughter] to my face.
- It's a labor of love, but a lot of lot of time spent.
- If you've never been to a historical board game conference before come. I mean it it it transforms the hobby and this type of conference because it's small and people are friendly and people are going to reach out and ga the work you do at SD Hiscon to make it a welcoming experience for everybody and the accessibility to get into games at tables and the way people can sign up for games beforehand the way you can schedule things the questions you can ask I I can't tell you you know how much that changes the hobby to be able to do that I went to the SD Hiscon in San Diego ago my first conference ever three years ago and it abs it just completely changes because you make friends that you're then going to play games with on in other places and then you know people at the online convention it it just exponentially makes the hobby better and there is no better conference I would say here and then circle DC is another one of my favorites but same type of experience look if you can't get to the SD His in in Minnesota or San Diego you know that's another one to look at but try to lean into one of these things because it will completely change your board gaming experience.
- And I I might be making this up, but I I think it's true that if I'm un the the only confirmed month without ever having any snowfall in Minnesota is July. So, I think we're safe.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video YW3t02hdX4k
Neon Gorilla Analysis at 0:56 sentiment: positive
video_pk 81970 · mention_pk 205303
Click to watch at 0:56 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Lords of the Sierra Madre
- Pamir
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the Pax system itself is a descendant of this earlier system from the '90s called the Lords system.
- And it was an effort to take these big 10-hour strategy games and collapse them into these little card games.
- the first game in that series, Pax Porfiriana
- uh it was amazing cuz I I I when I first played it, I couldn't believe what I was looking at.
- can't believe that there's a card game version of this crazy long board game and that it works.
- put an entry into that kind of informal series with Pamir.
- Pamir felt like it started with a somewhat blank page.
- When I went to do Oath, I remember thinking to myself like, I wonder if there's another way to riff off the Lords system but that isn't a Pax game.
- that isn't a Pax game. And so that that game is like a cousin of Pamir as opposed to like a sibling.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video SQWgr7CKVHY
The Cardboard Herald Interview at 12:22 sentiment: positive
video_pk 82003 · mention_pk 205494
Click to watch at 12:22 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Flexible world-building allows multiple thematic directions
- Expansion-ready design and modular thinking
- Engaged community interaction around evolution of the system
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to the depth and abstraction
- Expanded content can necessitate substantial revisiting of core rules
Thematic elements
- Array
- Political allegory within a malleable, player-driven history
- Design emphasizes emergent world-building created by players through decisions
Comparison games
- Root
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Asymmetric Roles / Factions — Players occupy distinct roles with different powers and paths to victory
- Memory — Earlier design choices were revisited to enable future expansions and scalability
- Memory-forward Design / Expansion-ready Architecture — Earlier design choices were revisited to enable future expansions and scalability
- Player-generated World / No Fixed Backstory — The game intentionally has no fixed backstory; players generate the world through play
- Relic Economy / Variable Costs — Relics cost varying amounts of supply, influencing timing and strategy
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- "Oath does not have any written backstory. There is no world in Oath and it's because the game is designed for the players to generate that world."
- "This is a six, seven, eight-year project. This is going to be a very large undertaking if we were to do it well."
- "The expressiveness of a design is the key; two things are crucial: intention and how content can be introduced without diluting the core experience."
- "What we did is we treated the game as a big DOT release, this is Oath 1.1. It's Oath Revised."
- "Root was this lesson that if you have a game that is successful, that engages an audience, and you're part of that dialogue whether or not you want to be there."
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video gCS4TuokEqM
Neon Gorilla Interview at 19:16
video_pk 81990 · mention_pk 205424
Click to watch at 19:16 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Friendships are more important than games anyways.
- Board games should be relationally and kind of enjoyment focused.
- This is intoxicating in a really good way.
- If I could build this into something that just has a really good rhythm in my life, maybe a little bit of financial support, that would be the dream.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video grZZwObQ3Jc
The Board Game Garden Discussion at 9:17 sentiment: positive
video_pk 81577 · mention_pk 203333
Click to watch at 9:17 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- We are gamers, so we probably will just start playing games.
- Oh my god. This is going to be negative for us.
- I didn't know what was IN THERE.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video lS0DedxtOLw
Neon Gorilla Discussion at 1:52:03 sentiment: positive
video_pk 81355 · mention_pk 201551
Click to watch at 1:52:03 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Positive
Pros
- Considered a cool game.
- The expansion reportedly makes the game better and less fiddly.
- Has great generative storytelling.
- Considered one of the host's favorite games of all time.
Cons
- Might require slogging through to learn without the expansion.
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- We're the best channel on YouTube. You should work with us.
- I don't have a good filter. I just, you know, you get excited, right?
- It's it's a representation of you. That's true.
- So for me, the why is 100% just spending time with my friends.
- It's it's a labor of love and it's just because we love board games and we love each other.
- I want the soul to still be there. I still want it to be at its heart friends just having fun and playing games.
- It's it's literally the thing that I put the most effort into ever, and it gave me the least amount of return.
- The incentives on this are so backwards and drive me absolutely. No, for sure.
- you know, like you said, you'll you'll put a lot of effort into a video and then it won't get a lot of views.
- If I had like one piece of advice, there's a lot of channels that could improve their audio.
- We never see you just naturally, right? which is hilarious because Ivy Studios is probably the most concerned with production across their videos, their playthroughs, their their actual games.
- Not being afraid to be told no because like that's the worst that's gonna happen is they're gonna say no.
- I want them to look up is there a Grove how to play on it. That's my that's my goal.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Kw9MD3qHA6s
Board Game Critique Analysis at 0:58 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 81166 · mention_pk 200183
Click to watch at 0:58 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Singular design.
- Inventive.
Cons
- Terrible rulebook execution.
- Rulebook tried to hide complexity.
- Rulebook obscured needed information.
Thematic elements
- Asymmetric sandbox of political intrigue and shifting allegiances and emergent storytelling.
- Each game writes the history that shapes the next one.
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Asymmetric gameplay — Described as an asymmetric sandbox.
- emergent storytelling — Part of the theme is emergent storytelling.
- Political intrigue — Part of the theme is political intrigue.
- Shifting allegiances — Part of the theme is shifting allegiances.
- Win conditions — The game has many distinct win conditions, some available from the start, some unlocking mid-game, some that may never appear.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Great games shipped with terrible rulebooks.
- The problem isn't the design, it's the documentation.
- When the gate is broken, it doesn't matter how amazing the garden behind it is.
- The rulebook is supposed to be the gate that lets you into the experience.
- This isn't getting better. We're not talking about ancient games... we're talking about high production releases from the last few years that arrived with rulebooks that simply do not work.
- That's not a learning curve, that is a wall.
- The rulebook tried as hard as it could to hide all the weird stuff.
- The cruelty of it is the context. This is a re-release.
- A reprint is supposed to be your second bite at the apple, your chance to sand down every rough edge.
- The BGG threads at launch were just flooded with rules questions, and people were asking whether later retail copies shipped with a corrected version, which is the most damning signal a rulebook can possibly send.
- The publisher rewrites the rulebook and releases the new version as a paid product.
- The irony is doing some heavy lifting there. That's almost too perfect.
- Players blame themselves first.
- And that is the real damage of a bad rulebook. It makes people feel stupid.
- There is a difference between density and dysfunction.
- A good rulebook scaffolds complexity. It layers information in the order a player needs it.
- The structure is so dense and so poorly sequenced that you consistently have to read it multiple times across multiple sessions before anything coheres.
- Community-built rule summaries became the standard learning tool, more reliable and more frequently consulted than the rulebook the game shipped with.
- More than a decade after release, the standard recommendation for new players is still to skip the rule book and watch a video tutorial first, which is a clear signal that the official documentation never became trustworthy enough to stand on its own.
- That's not an FAQ, that is a corrective supplement to a deficient primary document.
- That's what bad rule books generate, this cottage industry of third-party fixes that should never have been necessary.
- At some point, a pattern is a policy.
- The rule book was written for people who already know how to play.
- A game asking players to invest significantly in both time and money should not require that players outsource explanation to volunteer fans online.
- Simplicity is no protection.
- Writing a clear rule book is a separate skill from designing a clear game.
- When you've spent that much money and waited that long, opening the box to find a document that cannot explain how to play feels like a betrayal of the implicit contract between publisher and backer.
- Complexity is not an excuse for poor structure.
- Game designers are not naturally positioned to ask that question because they already know everything. They need editors who do not.
- Professional technical writers exist. Rule book editors exist as a dedicated specialty within the hobby now.
- Until publishers treat rule book production as a non-negotiable line item rather than an afterthought squeezed into the final weeks of production, we will keep having this conversation, and players will keep arriving at what should have been a great first session armed with a document that sets them up to fail.
- Every single game we've talked about today is worth playing.
- The rulebook failures we've documented are a reason to seek out community tutorials and third-party summaries and how to play videos before your first session. They are not a reason to avoid the games entirely.
- The rulebook is supposed to be the gate that lets you into the experience. And when the gate is broken, it doesn't matter how amazing the garden behind it is.
- The Conan rule books were universally panned, and that experience cost Monolith both bad press and the additional expense of rewriting and posting replacement rule books to backers.
- That's the line that should be tattooed on every studio's wall. A game designer understands their game completely and intuitively, which is exactly why they are poorly positioned to write the document that explains it to someone with zero context.
- Until publishers treat rule book production as a non-negotiable line item rather than an afterthought squeezed into the final weeks of production, we will keep having this conversation...
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video HTGiav6wl00
The Broken Meeple Analysis at 57:54 sentiment: other
video_pk 81114 · mention_pk 199862
Click to watch at 57:54 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Curious
Pros
- Innovative title
- Cute theme
- Otters featured
Cons
- Looks kiddish and very light
- Features a specific type of otter the speaker likes less.
Thematic elements
- Otters
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card shedding — Players race to play all their cards.
- racing — It is described as a racing game.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I want to know what they're doing for the seven to 10 players though. If they're literally just giving you more chips and cards so you Yeah, if if all it is is just they're giving you more chips and saying, 'Now you can play it with 10.' That's rubbish. That's BS, okay? Because the game just fundamentally wouldn't work.
- The thing that has me worried though is this 120 to 180 minutes. Is this a game that warrants two to three hours though?
- The game is basically just area control cubes. That to me doesn't scream out crazy fun.
- Deep Regrets is one of the worst games I've ever played, so screw that for a game of toy soldiers.
- I think we've hit that peak of board gaming and now it's mostly a kind of downhill slope for gaming because we've now seen everything that can be kind of done. We're now recycling ideas.
- Board games are getting to a point where we are seeing the same stuff all the time and it just means that it's hard to get excited for another convention.
- UK Games Expo is mostly just recycling stuff that we've already reviewed at a few months ago in which case I don't need to look at it again.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video k3IN67A2_NU
Allies or Enemies Preview at 6:45 sentiment: positive
video_pk 81089 · mention_pk 199481
Click to watch at 6:45 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- And so I'm really interested in Horrified Ravenloft and I think it's four new monsters and it's still like in a D&D theme and I really like the last D&D Horrified.
- So that was a whirlwind tour of a whole bunch of games we're interested in checking out.
- And there are so many more games that there are so many games at UKGE. We can't possibly know about all of them so please do let us know about the ones you think we missed the ones you think other folks would be interested in.
- So, we will have Shakespeare the card game on sale.
- So, this is a really exciting UKGE for us. So, please do come by.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video J1mzm_Q2vMA
Board Game Critique Analysis at 15:03 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 81016 · mention_pk 199104
Click to watch at 15:03 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Genuinely good game
- The production is excellent.
- The area control mechanics are tight and well executed.
Cons
- It's not a Root killer. It's not even close to being a Root killer.
- The comparison was never accurate, but it was enormously useful for generating hype.
Thematic elements
- asymmetric area control
Comparison games
- Root
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Factions steer strategic approach within a shared framework.
- asymmetry — Factions play like a fundamentally different game.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The noise is not organic. It's built.
- The information environment around a game's launch is structurally compromised in ways most hobbyists have absolutely no idea about.
- The hotness does not measure quality. It does not measure how many people are enjoying a game. It measures activity, page views and forum thread activity.
- Previews are universally positive in tone because the entire purpose of a preview from the publisher's perspective is to generate excitement.
- A preview is an advertisement that does not always announce itself as one.
- The structural pressure that creates on the honesty of reviews.
- The incentive to be positive is not always conscious. It rarely manifests as someone deciding to lie. It shows up in softer ways.
- Publishers are not stupid. When they choose which creators to send games to, they tend to gravitate toward people who covered their previous games positively.
- Crowdfunding campaigns are not just fundraising tools, they're psychological environments specifically designed to manufacture urgency and suppress rational decision-making.
- It's behavioral economics weaponized against your wallet, and it works on us, too.
- The FTC has actually noticed all of this, by the way.
- There are documented cases of publishers going after creators who gave their game a negative review, including approaching the creator's sponsors to pressure them into removing content.
- The board game content space has been slow to comply. Disclosure practices vary wildly.
- The review copy is a permanent gift. Yeah, this one is wild when you actually think about it.
- The game did not fail. The hype around it failed the game.
- The hype machine is not going away. The economic incentives that drive it are too strong.
- Once you can see the machinery behind the curtain, the magic stops working.
- The publishers who rely most heavily on these tactics are not creating the hobbies best games. They're creating the hobbies most marketed games.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video JAmU0ZhEyWw
Beyond Solitaire Review at 1:00:20 sentiment: positive
video_pk 80948 · mention_pk 198781
Click to watch at 1:00:20 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Played a lot recently.
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- So, um, you know, it it is all a fiction, but I you know, I I do I have spent time engaging with other RPGs for this you know, for this purpose and for a lot of other older things from the period.
- The front cover of the adventure book implores the the reader or the player or or or whatever you'd call it to um Hang on, I have it here. I do to figure out the truth of this queer mystery and I used the word queer, you know, in two ways, one of which is is a very strange kind of thing going on within the fiction. And the other, of course, is you know, as a queer person who grew up in the '80s and '90s and had to try to figure herself out not entirely successfully during that time.
- Because for the most part writing in board games especially is quite bad. Like the the quality of of of the flavor of the literary writing is quite abysmal almost across the board. Here's the thing. I'm good at it. I know I'm good at it. I know I'm probably a better writer than most people working in board games and I'm fine with that.
- And then on top of all that, there's all these annotations of the person who owned it. And so, you also have to piece together like parts of the life of the author of the module and the person who owned that and the way that this book then interacts with these other personal effects.
- And so, each of those things led into another thing. And while I was doing that video, um, and a big part of that story involves his time at Parker Brothers uh during a time when Parker Brothers was expanding to also do video games and children's books and records. And and then they ended up, you know, destroying their company doing that and that's how they were sold to Hasbro eventually.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video xulqJmNdNSM
Chairman of the Board Unboxing at 11:13 sentiment: other
video_pk 80809 · mention_pk 198097
Click to watch at 11:13 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Hopeful
Pros
- Cute artwork
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Tile Placement — Extending these otters and placing little stones.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Praetor was going for really cheap. This is like an old-school Euro that again, I never got a chance to play. Kind of from my era of of Euro gaming.
- This was one that has always evaded me, but I remember Rado raving about it many, many years ago.
- Wispwood, which is one of those kind of puzzly um, you know, pattern building style games with different things going on.
- And um, to be honest, I've got so many games here to play and to talk about that um, I'm going to be tied up for quite some time.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.