Robotrick

Video J5Kw8JDxCPk The Dice Tower Discussion at 7:23 sentiment: mixed

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Overall sentiment (raw)

mixed

Pros

Not a bad game

Cons

Didn't feel comfortable recommending
A little bit too far on the chaotic scale
Not a whole lot of agency
Some production issues

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Trick-Taking — It's a trick-taking game.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

And then Wild Blooms, a game in which you have these flowers that you're collecting. A nice a nice game. Uh you collect a flower, and it activates everybody else. Interesting ideas in it, seven out of 10.
Uh Morty Morty, which is nominated for the Spiel des Jahres. And at this point, you know if it's won or not. I don't know if it's won or not. But at the we didn't like it at all. I gave it a five out of 10.
And then King of Tokyo Godzilla, what a great breath of fresh air, great themeing, really cool. I like King of Tokyo anyway. This is the best version since I played, a nine out of 10.
Hey folks, thanks for watching another one of our videos. If you like our videos, if you like our channel, if you would love to game with us at one of our conventions, check out Dice Tower Cruise, Dice Tower East, and Dice Tower West.
False Logic Puzzles by Norman D. Willis. I haven't read a good book in a while, and I'm afraid that trend is going to continue here.

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Video Ox7GryFN9Zk Getting Games Discussion at 17:03 sentiment: positive

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Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Highly enjoyable; interesting robot card interaction

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)

it's a competitive two-player version of dwarf romantic
I'm actually super excited about this one
it just looks like absolutely my kind of game

References (from this video)

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Video 0Zsl0JiC4fo Getting Games Games Radar Vlog at 32:25 sentiment: positive

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Overall sentiment (raw)

Positive

Pros

Features a clever pun in its name.
Interesting mechanic where the winner scores a card, and the owner of that card gets a benefit.
Potentially allows for strategic plays even when not winning a trick.

Cons

Designer's only other listed design on BGG.

Thematic elements

Whale-themed trick-taking

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Drafting — The winner of a trick chooses a card that has been played and scores it.
Trick-Taking — The core mechanic is trick-taking, with narwhals as a potential trump suit.
Variable player powers — The player whose card was chosen by the winner receives a special bonus effect for one of the next rounds.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Tiny Epic Game of Thrones it's a 2024 game it says assume the role of a mighty House of the Seven Kingdoms
players utilize an Innovative limited action dice mechanism M to strategically choose cards such as plot whisper event March and sail with the options to follow other players actions
players will yield an immense amount of Power with their respective houses through a versatile hand of multi-use cards that allow players to plot against the influential houses of Westeros orchestrate grandio events and partake in exhilarating battles
Worms span I'm being factious this is like one of the most talked about games over the last few weeks this is a reimplementation of wingspan all about dragons
Build a cavernous Sanctuary for Dragons of all shapes and sizes
your player board starts out small they're caves and at the beginning of the game your cave is Tiny I think there's only room for one Dragon but as you play through the game you can dig out your cave allowing you to put more dragons in there
Wormspan looks cool I like dragons I think they're cool I think the artwork looks neat
I'm intrigued like wingspan is one of the more popular games to come out in the last seven years and here is a follow-up game with a new theme and some new mechanics I want to see how this one goes

References (from this video)

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Video 8u3vPAC8AA8 Board Gaming Ramblings Analysis at 15:01 sentiment: positive

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Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Really cool game
Interesting to decide when to win a trick
Excited to make a top 10 trick-taking games list

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Cooperative (partially) — The robot player's hand is visible, influencing decisions.
Hand Management — Deciding when to win tricks with high cards versus avoiding them to minimize negative points.
Trick-Taking — A trick-taking game played with three players and a robot as the fourth player.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

it's a very tight economical puzzle where you are placing your production on the board trying to place it where it's both cheap and makes sense and you can build like in your network
my number two is going to be clans of calonia because it's a fantastic game
my number one is going to be another prototype it's going to be sweetlands
the artwork is amazing the gameplay is so brain burning and cool
it looks so good it looks like a finished game

References (from this video)

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Video zGndoEdcT0M Getting Games Top 13 List at 25:52 sentiment: positive

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Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

innovative robot mechanic adds puzzle-like tension
teaches quickly and scales with play style

Cons

three-player only limit
availability may vary post-Essen

Thematic elements

trick-taking with robotic participant

Comparison games

Robot Trick
Rick

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

score accumulation and negation — First three tricks are positive; subsequent tricks contribute negative points.
three-player trick-taking with a robot — Robot's behavior is visible and influenced by leads; no bidding, scoring toggled by initial tricks then negative cards.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

the rules are super simple
it's a mean game
a dynamic economy where everything that you do will ripple out and have positive or negative effects on everybody else
it's a 60-minute game
I wrote the rule book
this is an incredible design and it deserves a reprint

References (from this video)

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Video C2Wv9d3HxNQ Board Gaming Ramblings Discussion at 6:37

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Pros

none

Cons

none

Thematic elements

Robots

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 biggest let down is the rules for uh Transgalactica.
I think it's fun that a game can be the biggest disappointment and number one in the same month.
It's an old school Euro. Like it's high interaction, very low on the rules overhead, but a lot of interesting choices.
I still am unbeaten in Shipyard, which I think I I just have to stop playing it now because at some time I will not I will not win.

References (from this video)

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Video Q6T-rAit8Ts Board Gaming Ramblings Top List at 18:21 sentiment: positive

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Overall sentiment (raw)

Positive

Pros

Superb game
Takes dummy player concept to a new level
Engaging gameplay with robot

Cons

Can be harsh
Players can get negative points

Thematic elements

Playing a trick-taking game with a robot opponent

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Dummy Player — There was also a four player but that's the robot or the dummy depending on how well they play. And they're going to have different rule cards every round. So you know which card they're going to play. Their hand is going to be face up.
Trick-Taking — Robot Trick is a three-player only trick taking game where you are playing a trick taking game.
Variable rules — They're going to have different rule cards every round.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

The Crew Mission Deep Sea. the crew uh and the crew search plan 9 was one of the first like it was the first co-op trick you're taking ever played I think and deep sea is better because the goals you get are v more varied
It takes like a dummy player to a whole new level.
So, the reason The Crew is not on my list is because they kind of share this spot. So, you can say I've made a top 11 and the crew is you're my number two and this is my number one. But they're they are different.
It's a fantastic game. You follow the Lord of the Rings story and there's going to be two more boxes.
James is the one who is editing all our videos. So thank you so much for that. doing a fantastic job. H these videos wouldn't be as good without James. So, please leave a comment saying hi to James and thanks for the the work.

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Video g8RWJJol16w The Dice Tower Top List at 44:46 sentiment: positive

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Overall sentiment (raw)

Positive

Pros

Awesome because it functions as a four-player game with a robot.
Surprisingly tricky to play against the dummy player.
It becomes a very fun puzzle.
Really good and tight.
Specifically made for three people to play against that one robot.

Cons

Hate dummy players.

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

bidding — Implied by trying to win the right tricks.
Dummy Player — Functionally playing a four-player trick-taker, but one of them is is a robot.
Trick-Taking — An obscure trick-taking game.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

with three, there's that more player interaction, and there's more stuff happening from turn to turn.
But this one is just tailor-made for three people, I think.
So, I I like the combat in this game quite a bit.
I really dislike this at four. I think it's too long.
I In fact, I will not teach this to four players even. That's I'm so snobby about that.

References (from this video)

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Video VD1QuxyrPyU Review at 0:26 sentiment: mixed

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Overall sentiment (raw)

mixed

Pros

Gives a feeling of agency

Cons

Difficult to account for variables
Hard to predict trick outcomes
Card values can change unpredictably

Thematic elements

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Trick-Taking — The game is identified as a trick-taking game, and its mechanics are analyzed in relation to typical trick-taking game experiences.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

While it does give you this feeling of agency, this is also what I would consider to be a very chaotic trick-taking game, right?
There's so many things that you can't really account for.

References (from this video)

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Video uWcDVr32A2s Review at 0:18 sentiment: mixed

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Overall sentiment (raw)

mixed

Pros

Interesting ideas with bonus actions that give players more agency.
Dynamic playstyle allows for various actions and changing conditions.
Score pad is a nice touch.
Card quality is fine.

Cons

The art doesn't do much for the reviewer.
Black and gray colors are too close, making differentiation difficult.
Too chaotic for the reviewer's taste, leading to a lack of control.
Too much to administer for the reviewer's taste.

Thematic elements

Whales

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Action Following — Players can perform a bonus action before playing a card on their turn, such as changing the trump suit or gaining points.
bonus actions — Players can perform a bonus action before playing a card on their turn, such as changing the trump suit or gaining points.
Set Collection — Players collect 'pearls' (points) and also score points for cards left in hand at the end of rounds.
Trick-Taking — The core mechanic where players play cards to win rounds (tricks).
trump — The trump suit can change, even in the middle of a trick, affecting which cards win.
Variable trump winner — The rule for what card wins a trick (highest or lowest) can be changed, and the trump suit itself can be changed.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

This is also what I would consider to be a very chaotic trick-taking game, right?
For me personally, uh, it's it's fine. I don't dislike it, but it's not one that I feel comfortable giving a universal recommend to because it is really kind of heavy on that chaotic side.
That's why I'm coming in at a six.

References (from this video)

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Video w9xXzs21ctM Review at 0:19 sentiment: positive

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Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

Captures theme and story well
Co-op aspect works well
A lot of fun once rules are understood
Game speeds along
Good luck factor adds to the story
Visually great

Cons

Suffers from alpha gamer syndrome
Can add analysis paralysis
Rulebook could have been written a lot better
Slightly fiddly with components

Thematic elements

Defending the SDF-1 against Zentraedi invasion, based on the Robotech anime.
defend the SDF-1
Storyline broken down into episodes with various objectives.

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Action Points — Crew members provide action points to perform actions.
cooperative play — Players work together as a team to survive the invasion.
Dice Rolling — Used for overheating checks and determining mech orders.
Resource Management — Players manage ability tokens (Billy's) and can trade knowledge for resources.
scenario-based play — Scenarios are broken down into episodes with various objectives to complete.
tower defense — The game is a tower defense game where players defend the SDF-1.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

The co-op tower defense aspect of the game works well but like most co-op it does suffer from alpha gamer syndrome and that I suspect can add some analysis paralysis.
There's a lot going on to this game and the rulebook could have been written a lot better.
Robotech is a tower defense game that has a learning curve partly due to the rulebook that could have been written better but will immerse you in a theme and story as you fiddle around with the components.
Robotech scores a seven out of ten

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Video T8UxuEly3mg Heavy Cardboard Review at 2:57 sentiment: mixed

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Overall sentiment (raw)

mixed

Pros

Unique and interesting mechanics.
Clever design.
Exciting gameplay.
Thematic cryptid theme.

Cons

The font is terrible.
Difficult to track cards and gameplay.
Can be confusing.
The card stock is sticky and tacky.

Thematic elements

Cryptids

Comparison games

none

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

Card Cycling — Cards that are discarded by winning tricks are recycled back into the player's hand, creating a dynamic and difficult-to-track game state.
Hand Management — Players discard cards from their hand based on the trick they win. The lowest pit value determines the number of cards to discard, creating a new hand.
Trick-Taking — A must-follow trick-taking game with no trump suit. Every off-suit played acts as a trump, with the highest off-suit winning the trick. The goal is to survive by not being the last player with cards.

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

Actually designed this game out of spite of trick taking games.
if two players play the same number, they knock each other out, which is so fun and chaotic and I love it so much.
Bidcoin. One of my favorite trick-taking games of recent.
The goal of the game, it's one hand is to survive.
It is the weirdest. It's a standard trick taking game in a sense that for the f until people start recycling their hands because then you can't track what cards have left the game coupled with who has won what cards.
The overwhelming majority of tricktaking games are mid or bad.

References (from this video)

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Video 3Sa3vs7jgoo The Brothers Murph Top List at 5:36 sentiment: positive

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Overall sentiment (raw)

positive

Pros

deterministic AI creates predictable puzzles to solve
interesting three-player trick-taking dynamic with a robot

Cons

not truly 4-player (robot occupant required)
availability limited (not widely available outside Japan)

Thematic elements

three human players competing against a deterministic four-player AI robot
trick-taking card game with a robotic AI element

Comparison games

traditional trick-taking games

Mechanics (from transcript analysis)

AI sequencing — robot hand is face-up and follows a deterministic pattern based on position
Programming — robot hand is face-up and follows a deterministic pattern based on position
three-player only with robot filler — you always end up in a four-player setup nominally, since one seat is a robot
Trick-Taking — traditional trick-taking with a robot opponent influencing play

Video topics + discussion points

No key topics recorded for this video.

Quotes (from this video)

We’re obsessed with board games.
I freaking love Unstoppable.
This game is great because there’s also it's a very open game where when a threat is out there, you can know what's on the other side of that.
You can see from the other side like what is on the other side.
Terra Mystica is getting a giant crazy big box version.

References (from this video)

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If you like your trick taking games with a little bit of chaos, boy howdy, is this the game for you!

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