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Talisman

Game ID: GID0314226
Collection Status
Description

The game board represents a fantasy land. Players chose a character from a list of semi-standard fantasy types: Barbarian, Wizard, Monk, etc. The objective of the game is to travel through the land encountering event cards and gathering strength along the way. Hopefully players will eventually become powerful enough to travel to the center of the board, endure the trials there and take the Crown of Command for the victory. There were also several expansions released for this game, which add new character choices and new places to travel.

Part of the Talisman series of games and expansions published by Games Workshop Ltd..

The first edition differs from the second only in the box cover art and the cards, which were printed in black and white (same artwork as the second edition, though). The first edition had no expansions.

Expanded by:

Talisman: Expansion Set
Talisman: The Adventure
The Talisman: Dungeon
Talisman: Timescape
Talisman: City
Talisman Dragons

Also by:

The Jewel in the Crown
Talisman (Second Edition): White Dwarf #115 Cards

Re-implemented by:

Talisman (Third Edition)
Talisman: Revised 4th Edition

Year Published
1983
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 8
This page: 8
Sentiment: pos 5 · mix 1 · neu 0 · neg 1
Mentions per page
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Showing 1–8 of 8
Video bySQy_ZIhJk Adam Porter - Board Gaming Vlog top_10_list sentiment: positive
video_pk 12719 · mention_pk 37089
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Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Great for casual play
  • Creates hilarious stories and narratives
  • Nostalgic value from childhood
  • Charming and whimsical
  • Good for relaxed gaming sessions
Cons
  • Not a strategy game
  • Dice rolling can be frustrating
  • Requires playing with people you like
  • Long play time can extend unexpectedly
  • Little agency in actual gameplay
Thematic elements
  • Fantasy
  • Adventure
  • Magic
  • Quest
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'm looking for games which really connect with me and i have an emotional sort of reaction to
  • you're going to find it much easier to get it to the table
  • the rule set was so simple
  • i'm very very impressed by the designer of this one
  • it takes everything that's good from puerto rico and does away with all the sort of extra stuff
  • essentially it's just one big toy box i absolutely love it
  • you're really doing what it says you're doing
  • this really was the the first of the sort of european style modern games that was introduced to me
  • there's not many games that give me that sense of i've set a trap
  • anything they create just is fantastic
  • it just feels right for that style of game
  • you don't have to think playing talisman
  • you've got to like the other people
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video fwWkr_Bnke4 3 Met Board Games top_10_list at 2:52 sentiment: positive
video_pk 9300 · mention_pk 27446
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Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Easy to play
  • Enjoyable and fun
  • Generates memorable stories
  • Good for casual gaming nights
Cons
  • Not strategically deep
  • Busy rather than complex
Thematic elements
  • Fantasy adventure
  • Exploration
  • Quest narrative
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
No quotes stored for this video.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video AC0OZsvhWXg Foster the Meepolo top_10_list at 20:35 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8303 · mention_pk 24409
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Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • A lot of fun
  • Jamie played it
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Push your luck
  • Ocean depths
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Push Your Luck
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • We love trick taking games
  • This game is so much freaking fun
  • I adore GMT games, they are becoming one of my favorite game publishers
  • If you remember Vast Crystal Caverns is in my top five games of all time
  • We bloody love it
  • We can't stop playing
  • It's a blimp game not a train game
  • That's just work
  • I don't think I want to play it
  • I'll get it eventually
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video miaTx2EupNw Adam Porter general_discussion at 2:08 sentiment: negative
video_pk 6239 · mention_pk 18482
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Overall sentiment (raw)
negative_to_mneutral
Pros
  • Narrative-driven exploration for its era
Cons
  • Overreliance on randomness can derail strategic play
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Adventure/encounter cards — Random encounters drive the story and outcomes.
  • Roll and move with exploration — Players move around a board with outcomes largely driven by dice and random encounters.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Dice are not the answer in a first-time design.
  • They are toxic. They destroy your first designs.
  • Meaningful interesting decisions… the decisions have to mean something.
  • Even if you have all sorts of other unique stuff going on in your game that roll for combat just overwhelms it.
  • Monopoly has a bit of both, chaotic, entertaining momentarily but ultimately frustrating.
  • Event decks can be devastating to your design if they wipe out progress or resources.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Fflv2nCikrs Adam Porter (Board Game Designer) analysis at 2:18 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4852 · mention_pk 14387
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Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Simple directional choice greatly increases player agency
  • Huge following despite heavy reliance on chance
  • Remains popular despite being almost 40 years old
  • Successfully adapted D&D experience to board game form
Cons
  • Heavy reliance on chance-based mechanisms
Thematic elements
  • Adventure, quest
  • Fantasy world
  • RPG-inspired
Comparison games
  • Monopoly
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Directional Choice — Critical decision between moving left or right around circular board
  • roll and move — Roll die and choose to move clockwise or anticlockwise around board
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Where once randomness ruled modern games prioritized player agency designers strived to incorporate meaningful decisions into their games and role and move became a dirty word among the modern tabletop community
  • I myself put out a video called dicer not the answer back in 2017 one of my most watched lamenting role and move
  • In 2022 i feel like maybe just maybe we've tipped too far in the other direction thrown the baby out with the bath water
  • This video is a quest for redemption
  • When done well roller move is one of the most intuitive exciting mechanisms out there
  • In a pure roll and move game the player rolls a die or spins a spinner and moves their playing piece according to the result
  • In talisman you roll the die and then you choose to move clockwise or anticlockwise around the board that one deviation from the purest role of move games the decision to go left or right immediately put talisman head and shoulders above most board games on the market at the time
  • Hero quest showcases the strength of the roller move mechanism its elegant simplicity and the excitement of a successful role outrunning an ogre
  • It can be really frustrating to lose a long game which you were totally invested in purely because you rolled badly
  • Spooky stairs is a great example of a game where the roll and move mechanism itself isn't tampered with but the basic race mechanism is turned on its head by incorporating a chaotic memory mechanism
  • This game beautifully highlights the intuitive nature of roll and move as a mechanism
  • More than any other on this list this game demonstrates how such a simple mechanism can create agonizing decisions and a hugely interactive variable board game experience I can't recommend this one enough
  • Roll and move games don't have to be devoid of meaningful choices
  • Formula d has a great roll and move mechanism which i haven't seen replicated in any other game
  • Push your luck and roll and move complement each other nicely
  • Among hobby gamers roll a move is widely considered something of an untouchable mechanism in 2022 and that's a shame
  • Roll and move isn't a cursed mechanism
  • Like every mechanism roller move has strengths and weaknesses
  • It can be used effectively to create an exciting intuitive system or it can be used ineffectively to create a wildly random experience which feels primitive and unfair
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video T8g4NhT9Iio Unknown Channel game_review at 0:00 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 2038 · mention_pk 5829
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Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
  • Faithful adaptation of the classic board game across cards, art, and components
  • Deep character progression with growth in life, strength, craft, and spells
  • Engaging exploration with persistent cards that create ongoing tension
  • Digital availability on Steam and Switch with online play support
  • Post-release content options and DLC for replayability
Cons
  • Lack of a built-in comprehensive tutorial; relies on tooltips that require playing to learn
  • UI can be non-intuitive; learning to access hand and other players' details takes time
  • Rules lookup requires an internet connection; offline access is limited
  • Older port (2014 Switch port) may lack modern features; cross-platform online play can be inconsistent
  • Long play sessions; online games require coordination and time
Thematic elements
  • Quest to become ruler by defeating foes, gathering artifacts, and casting the Crown spell
  • A high fantasy realm with Outer, Middle, and Inner regions culminating at the Crown of Command; the Valley of Fire gates entry to the inner region.
  • episodic quest progression through adventure cards and events; player-to-player competition for the crown
Comparison games
  • Hero Quest
  • Civilization
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Adventure cards and events — Locations draw adventure cards with monsters, items, and events; some remain on board
  • Character Attributes — Life, Gold, Strength, Craft determine combat outcomes and progression
  • Dice-based movement — Player rolls dice to move around a region-based board with regions and locations
  • Hand and board management — Managing cards in hand and on board, with elements persisting for others to encounter
  • Region progression — Outer -> Middle -> Inner region toward the Crown of Command; entry to inner requires talisman
  • Resource management and leveling — Experience points redeemable for items or life; acquiring gold and items
  • Spellcasting — Spells can be cast when at the Crown of Command; affects opponents
  • Talisman gating — Only characters with a talisman can enter the Valley of Fire to reach the Crown
  • Two combat systems — Physical combat and Psychic (magic) combat
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • I think it's worth having on my shelf
  • the UI is pretty straightforward when it comes to taking your turn, but it can be tricky to learn
  • I would much rather have the rules embedded in the game itself
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video AWGJxG8Asd4 Quackaloop top_10_list at 3:30 sentiment: positive
video_pk 1891 · mention_pk 5434
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Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Nostalgic appeal and classic fantasy feel
  • Open-ended exploration and variety of paths
Cons
  • Die-driven movement can feel random
  • Long play times and downtime between turns
Thematic elements
  • Heroic fantasy adventure with character progression
  • Fantasy realm spanning a kingdom with quest-style progression
  • Sandbox/rogue-like questing with episodic objectives
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Character progression — Acquire items, allies, and abilities to improve power
  • Competitive, adventuring play — Players compete to complete quests and improve their hero
  • Movement by dice — Move around a modular board using die results
  • Quest/World events — Draw quest/event cards that drive the narrative
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • my number ten game is one of my oldest one of my deepest loves talisman
  • the board develops as you play—it's a novel instead of a book
  • the mythos deck heavy in the hp lovecraft theme
  • the drafting in this is the funnest part
  • it's a beautiful game, it's lovely, gorgeous
  • you really create your own clank based on your memories
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 8bXlgthmuMw Unknown Channel top_10_list at 9:58 sentiment: other
video_pk 846 · mention_pk 2420
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Overall sentiment (raw)
nostalgic
Pros
  • second/early editions with rich expansions
  • iconic fantasy experience
Cons
  • extremely long play time
  • dated design and rules
Thematic elements
  • quest/adventure across a board
  • fantasy realm with rings and crowns
  • nostalgic, expansive
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • crown of command — reach the center and use the crown to win
  • Encounter cards — resolve events and discoveries as you progress
  • roll-and-move — move around a board by dice and resolve encounters
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Railway Rivals is not going to win any prizes for its aesthetic beauty.
  • it's an ugly pig of a game
  • This is a really bizarre game.
  • you don't know what you were drawing. It's going to be a completely random affair.
  • insta death.
  • the game would change every time you played it.
  • Dark Future could have been a fantastic game had it been released a couple of years earlier.
  • I still enjoy playing it today.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
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