Game Info
Year
2024
Players
1-4
Age
12+
Playtime
120 min
Collection
Ratings
Creator Score
Mechanic profile
Not enough video data yet
Vibe profile
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Description
After the big earthquake of 1755 that tore down Lisbon and most of Portugal's southern coast, it was necessary to rebuild an entire nation. The demand for window glass increased so much that William Stephens, a British businessman, saw the opportunity to expand his business in Portugal by investing in the glass industry.
In Stephens, players compete amongst one another in the role of master glassmakers working at the famous "Stephens" Factory to become the most prestigious figure in town...after Stephens, of course. Through clever and cunning planning, all players will develop their works, invest in new businesses, and promote the creation of jobs. Through a unique action-selection mechanism, on their turn players choose from a variety of options, either by activating the Stephens factory or by activating one of their personal investments.
The game ends when the Napoleonic forces arrive in town, at which time the player with the most prestige wins.
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 13
This page: 13
Sentiment:
pos 8 ·
mix 1 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 1
Showing 1–13 of 13
Video ydhkPyN63lM
Foster the Meeple Other at 28:01 sentiment: other
video_pk 86765 · mention_pk 225702
Click to watch at 28:01 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Anticipated
Pros
- From a trusted publisher (Capstone)
- Thematic connection to a liked game (Glass Road)
- Interesting historical theme
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Rebuilding a glass-making industry
- Spain/Portugal
- Historical
Comparison games
- Glass Road
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Resource Management — you are trying to rebuild this glass making um uh industry in this region
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- we love unmatched we're planning still planning on doing it's it's coming I promise all the tournaments are coming
- I am obsessed with space I'm obsessed with the scientific like creation of the universe and how that all happened
- it's a cozy board game celebrating the introverted book lover in all of us
- you're going through nine circles of hell trying to like bring back souls and that sort of thing and that theming has always been really cool to me I love this the concept of Hades and like that whole lore the river sticks all of that stuff
- I love any witchy theme I love potion themes
- it's Everell but for two players
- again talk about Publishers that nail it for me every time uh Capstone is one of them
- please if you see us stop us say hello unfortunately we don't have time to play games with everyone our schedules are usually very busy at these conventions but we will always have time to stop and say hello and to chat with you for a little bit
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ZopQWOXnAMk
Board Gaming Ramblings Analysis at 7:51 sentiment: positive
video_pk 86718 · mention_pk 225469
Click to watch at 7:51 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Something else, exceeded expectations
- Really liked the action selection mechanism
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection — Players choose actions by taking cubes, which are then used to fulfill contracts.
- Round end trigger — Players decide when the end of the round is triggered, influencing action choices.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Time is weird because it goes very quickly and also slowly at the same time.
- It was so fun. And it was so frustrating when you try you have a plan and you don't do the thing that you're trying to do, but it was very very fun.
- I'm basically decided that I was going to surprise you with relearning the rules and getting that back to the table so that you didn't have fun with it is kind of sad.
- My biggest surprise for real is Stevens. Uh because I like uh Roll & Costa, the designers. We played games from them before a lot of them that we really liked, but Stevens was like something else and I just keep getting uh what you call it? Like uh impressed by their skills of making games.
- I would rather play Via Nebula if I'm playing like a pick up and deliver like gateway game.
- It's a distilled campaign experience. Every like the the combat has been like 45 minutes. There's only like these called combat scenes because you're going to have only like three or four rounds. It's not like oh this combat might last three hours. It's made to be more bite sized.
- It's just like it is plain fun. It is one of those games where I just have fun while I play it. It gives me that feeling of I am having fun.
References (from this video)
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Video dUpNU-xvo1Y
kovray Haul Video at 19:01 sentiment: positive
video_pk 86656 · mention_pk 225024
Click to watch at 19:01 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection — Players choose from limited pathways.
- Worker Placement — Implied by 'crunchy Euro' and context of Euro games.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This game is literally you draw a card it's kind of like twister with your hands it is it's not kind of like twister with your hands it's twisted with your hands and sticks yeah
- Combo is a good way to understand rankings of poker hands or of hands in general
- The Gang was a game that came out and there are some really memorable hands and I feel like that game just always makes me filled with joy
- it's important now that we're especially now that we're working in the hobby that we take some time to enjoy the hobby because we never want that fire to burn or the fire to continue to burn we don't want it to dim
- Do you want to see me and Tyler go head-to-head in yellow house do you want a how to playay video of Cascadia Jr do you want to see a tether competition
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video hDnwfRQHN70
Board Gaming Ramblings Analysis at 3:09
video_pk 86596 · mention_pk 224585
Click to watch at 3:09 · 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)
- Congratulations to all the nominees and spectacular and to you for watching this award video Woo we will see you in 2025 bye
- The spoiler alert he has designed set Tea Garden Galileo galile and the designer is obviously then toas holck a designer just like came out of nowhere got so much hype this year and I will say even though like we have ranked those games we like all three of those games like two of them better than the last one but this is a designer I am looking forward to see more games from
- We are going to be bringing you the nominations and the winner for the best card game of 2024 and the nominees are Star Wars unlimited cortis an misos and 5050
- Lone wolves yay and lone wolves was one of my favorite small box games of the year so I am so glad it made the list
- If you like a High degree of uh interaction that head-to-head kind of style game this is I think my all-time favorite two-player trick game
- Congratulations Agonia for winning best narrative campaign game for 2024 in these rambling Awards
- Harmonies congratulations to Harmony is one of the most played games from this last year with the People's Choice as well over at the dice Towers uh game of the year uh so this is one that is very impressive so kudos to harmonies the winner of this year's abstract Game of the Year
- Tranquility the ascent yes congratulations indeed we have played that game do you remember we were we were building the the the oh my goodness I love that game oh there we go I love that game it's a deserved win I'm sorry I don't hate co-op games anymore it's an amazing game it's beautiful on the table if you haven't played it check it out it won fair and square this is a great game
- The winner is flip seven
- To the winner is iron Forest congratulations
- Most Innovative game is War Stories Occupied France designed by David Neil and David Thompson art by Mara and published by Osprey games congratulations to all the nominees but of course congratulations to War Stories Occupied friends
- we have made a big list of awards that we are giving away to different games
- this is all of the awards we have made a big list of awards that we are giving away to different games
- we want to highlight these amazing games that gives our or all so much joy
- I focus on cozy games welcoming games family games card games um also solo games as well
- Winner for the category of the most Innovative game is War Stories Occupied France
- that was amazing I really enjoyed that I hope you did too
- please go check all those amazing people out because they make really good content
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 3QuuFzfwdEw
Meeple University Top 10 List at 21:39 sentiment: positive
video_pk 86285 · mention_pk 222818
Click to watch at 21:39 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Highly interactive and unique economic/production loop
- Engaging multi-layered planning with indirect competition
Cons
- Initial learning curve due to interdependent systems
Thematic elements
- industrial reconstruction and production
- aftermath of the Lisbon earthquake; rebuilding and windows
Comparison games
- L
- Energy Empire
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cube_based_action_space — Activate an action space by taking a cube; cubes power actions and are tied to factories and contracts.
- distribute_and_seed — Cubes placed by players seed future availability, shaping the next round’s options.
- interactive_contracts — Contracts scale with distributed cubes and factories; players must manage multi-space strategies.
- production_chain — Factories produce resources; players allocate and distribute cubes to enable actions and contracts.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's very unique I think the manala type
- very easy to pack up
- no Trump trick taking game
- it's layered so they get more and more powerful
- for a game that plays over 40 50 minutes
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video VbA_zzlaLAQ
Board Gaymes James Discussion at 0:58 sentiment: negative
video_pk 84492 · mention_pk 214700
Click to watch at 0:58 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
none
Cons
- runaway leader problem
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)
- Tureaki was awesome.
- I love Aleif. He's like my favorite Euro designer.
- Darwin's Journey. I actually love this game.
- It's definitely the best pandemic ever, and it is definitely extremely thematic.
- I hardly ever play old games.
- Boop, love it.
- it's not going to hit the table anymore.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video _kcLGU86viQ
Board Gaming Ramblings Other at 9:41 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 81092 · mention_pk 199498
Click to watch at 9:41 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Really fun.
- Super solid game.
Cons
- Not fun enough to be a keeper.
- Was on the edge after review.
- Didn't love it.
- Kind of done with it after playing.
- Too many games.
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 good one. Next up is another good one called Formosa Tea.
- It's a flip and cube placing game.
- This is the one that I wanted us to get.
- This is the way that doesn't spill.
- It is a longer game. I would have liked to play it but there is too many games so we're not playing it.
- He played it when it arrived. We never did.
- it's supposed to be fun, but there are so many fun games.
- this made it into the top 10 from last year.
- I love the worker placement like bidding that you bid with work.
- But I like so much about it. I just don't like how long it is.
- So even though I love and adore it, I don't think I will play it again.
- my number one game from last year was galactic cruise. Galaxy Cruise.
- And those are 20 more games leaving the shelf for different reasons.
- And if you have too many games, take a hard look on yourself and see if there's something that you don't really need to have there because I promise you it feels good.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video z7_sQ4mRFW4
Discussion at 0:44
video_pk 70415 · mention_pk 167380
Click to watch at 0:44 · 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)
- We hadn't played board games together all summer, so the fellas and i booked a place out in cottage country for a Boys Board Game Weekend
- Each boy was allowed to bring one small, one medium, and one large game for consideration.
- It was a really great weekend - we had a lot of fun playing board games into the wee hours, and i'd definitely do it again next year.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video pxbLB5k4PzU
Board Gaming Ramblings Review at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 36696 · mention_pk 226081
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Classic Euro feel with simple yet deep systems
- Multiple viable paths to victory and varied approaches per game
- Low rules overhead and easy to teach (around 10 minutes)
- Engaging timing decisions and strong interaction through activation mechanics
- Good game length (roughly 90 minutes for 3 players) with satisfying pacing
- Clever systems and meaningful decisions that feel rewarding
Cons
- Limited variability across plays; strategies feel similar across sessions
- Color accessibility issues for color-blind players; symbols and color shades can be hard to distinguish
- Some colors on cards and disc tokens look similar, which can slow down play for some players
- Possible dominance on a row can reduce choices for others and affect balance in a given session
Thematic elements
- Economic development and contracts in a stylized industrial setting
- Glass-blowing and local economies in an abstract Euro-game frame
- Mechanics-driven with light thematic emphasis; theme downplayed in favor of puzzle and systems
Comparison games
- L
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card activation and leeching — Activating a card can trigger other cards’ effects, potentially benefiting or hindering the active player depending on color symbols and card placement.
- Compound Scoring — Players score along baseline points and various end-game bonuses tied to contracts, cards fulfilled, and track advancements.
- Cube drafting / spatial choice — On a turn you select a cube from a location, which determines the action you activate (contract, invest in local businesses, or activate all players’ professions) depending on where you took it from.
- End-game condition via scoring track movement — The game ends after a reset phase when a scoring track crosses a threshold, prompting one final round and a final reset.
- End-of-round reset and refresh — When certain rows are exhausted, a reset phase replenishes spaces and triggers reactivation of local businesses and dunes/woodland resources.
- Final scoring via multiple scoring tracks — Players score along baseline points and various end-game bonuses tied to contracts, cards fulfilled, and track advancements.
- Local business exploitation and resource management — Resources (cubes, contracts, accessories) are gained and invested into local businesses, with bonuses and penalties affecting final scoring.
- Profession placement and track advancement — You place a profession on the board and unlock discs that advance on tracks, granting diverse bonuses and sometimes extending your reach on favored movement tracks.
- Resource Management — Resources (cubes, contracts, accessories) are gained and invested into local businesses, with bonuses and penalties affecting final scoring.
- Score-and-Reset — When certain rows are exhausted, a reset phase replenishes spaces and triggers reactivation of local businesses and dunes/woodland resources.
- Track Advancement — You place a profession on the board and unlock discs that advance on tracks, granting diverse bonuses and sometimes extending your reach on favored movement tracks.
- Worker Placement — Placing professions unlocks abilities and can activate actions for all players in a row, creating interaction and blocking opportunities.
- Worker placement with shared activations — Placing professions unlocks abilities and can activate actions for all players in a row, creating interaction and blocking opportunities.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Stevens feels like a very classic Euro game
- low rules overhead
- not a lot of variability
- there's multiple paths to Victory
- I think this is a seven
- I am really hoping to play it again
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 9f-aWsP9-vM
The Dice Tower Top List at 1:53 sentiment: positive
video_pk 9061 · mention_pk 121658
Click to watch at 1:53 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- engaging engine-building via furnace activation and card interactions
- the tension of end-game triggering via Napoleonic forces adds narrative drive
- varied setup allows different approaches each game
Cons
- rules interpretation can be dense due to multiple interacting systems
Thematic elements
- glassmaking, prestige, and a Napoleonic-era countdown
- Portugal in the 18th century
- common action selection with card and workshop interplay
Comparison games
- Lacrania
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card drafting / card-driven actions — cards are played to influence future activations and workshop availability
- common action selection — turns revolve around selecting actions from a shared pool or furnace-driven actions
- engine-building through color-specific furnaces — activating furnaces triggers card effects and unlocks new pathways
- workshops and color-coded components — cards align to workshops that determine action strength and scoring opportunities
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Players take on the role of farm managers who want to deliver the goods to the market stalls, local towns, and hopefully to the ports of Palma.
- the same basic mechanisms as Lacrania, just kind of turned up to 11 essentially.
- with the dice drafting mechanism, you're going to be drafting a die and taking out the inner and outer action.
- One of the key other points I really enjoy about this one is the help your neighbor.
- This is the engine building that I find so enjoyable.
- You're working towards gaining the most prestige before the arrival of the Napoleonic forces.
- The main mechanism in this one is kind of a common action selection.
- There will be more workshops opening up along the way as where players can play their cards.
- This is another Euro game that has some very intricate working cogs.
- Trade with a noble action, cascades into more options depending on which noble you trade with.
- Everything is tied together in interlocking cogs.
- I love planning everything out and cursing the other players when they foil my perfectly laid plans.
- It's a game of chains. I want to take this task because I think I can achieve it.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video SFr4R2yikbU
Before You Play Top List at 12:14 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4846 · mention_pk 123235
Click to watch at 12:14 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Crunchy decision-making
- Euro feel with medium weight
Cons
- Potentially longer playtime for heavy players
Thematic elements
- Reconstructing a city after an earthquake
- Portugal; historical glass industry backdrop
- historical-industrial
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Dice Placement — dice-driven actions and resource generation
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- two-player only trick-taking game
- the Trump is constantly changing
- chapter one is drafting cards that's chapter one
- 60 to 120 minute playtime
- not a deduction game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video NKXxTzf0hTA
Rahdo Runs Through Top List at 49:54 sentiment: positive
video_pk 2318 · mention_pk 102306
Click to watch at 49:54 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Communal engine building concept
- Super elegant design
- Shared engines benefit multiple players
- Old-school elegance in design
Cons
- Very long game with no fixed end
- Players can get stuck in building loop
- Requires player discipline to push race conditions
Thematic elements
- factory
- worker placement
- engine building
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- life is too short to worry about games that don't work very well
- all of these games are really really cool in various ways
- Rich and deep and complex
- phenomenal
- no surprise that Designer artist Ryan Locket
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video NRm6ap48-6E
The Dice Tower Top List at 1:32 sentiment: positive
video_pk 921 · mention_pk 120850
Click to watch at 1:32 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- clever action-strengthening mechanism
- unique theme insight into glassmaking
Cons
- looks somewhat old-fashioned
Thematic elements
- craft/artisan production
- glassmaking workshop
- clever and thematic
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card tuck — cards can be tucked to strengthen actions for the player
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- harmonies, which is a little spatial puzzle game.
- There is Reef Project, which is about saving the ocean and dropping little reef balls to rebuild that reef and protect it.
- This is a heavy diver game and you have a rondelle that you're moving around taking actions but also building up those spots on the rondelle to make them stronger for you and everybody else.
- I love Pirates of America. Such a good engine builder. I like the pirate theme. I think it's cute and fun.
References (from this video)
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Transcript Navigation
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