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The Prodigals Club box art

The Prodigals Club

Game ID: GID0343686
Game Info
Year
2015
Collection
Ratings
Creator Score
Mechanic profile
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Vibe profile
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Description

Welcome to The Prodigals Club! You and your fellows are proper Victorian gentlemen who have realized that the lower classes have more fun. Now you are in a friendly competition to see which of you can destroy his own social standing most thoroughly.

In The Prodigals Club, you compete in three separate competitions: trying to lose an election, trying to get rid of all your possessions, or trying to offend the most influential people in high society. You can play any two competitions in combination or play all three simultaneously. Each competition interacts with the other two. To win, you need to balance your strategy and play all the competitions well.

The Prodigals Club is thematically related to Vladimír Suchý's Last Will. You do not need Last Will to play as Prodigals stands alone; that said, the rulebook also explains how to combine the two games together should you desire to do so.

Description

Welcome to The Prodigals Club! You and your fellows are proper Victorian gentlemen who have realized that the lower classes have more fun. Now you are in a friendly competition to see which of you can destroy his own social standing most thoroughly.

In The Prodigals Club, you compete in three separate competitions: trying to lose an election, trying to get rid of all your possessions, or trying to offend the most influential people in high society. You can play any two competitions in combination or play all three simultaneously. Each competition interacts with the other two. To win, you need to balance your strategy and play all the competitions well.

The Prodigals Club is thematically related to Vladimír Suchý's Last Will. You do not need Last Will to play as Prodigals stands alone; that said, the rulebook also explains how to combine the two games together should you desire to do so.

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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 17
This page: 17
Sentiment: pos 11 · mix 1 · neu 2 · neg 1
Mentions per page
Showing 1–17 of 17
Video 8EZOrjkmTAM Banter and Boards Top List at 19:06 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 151898 · mention_pk 426039
Banter and Boards - The Prodigals Club video thumbnail
Click to watch at 19:06 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
  • Overall funny theme.
  • Different mini-games (modules).
  • Fairly straightforward rules.
  • Quick how-to-play video.
  • Action phase was the favorite part.
  • Synergizing cards can feel great.
  • Host enjoyed it.
  • Host ended up winning.
Cons
  • Host struggled with set collection in more complex games.
  • Host found it difficult to grasp fully.
  • Worker placement is not the main mechanic.
  • Host doesn't think it's something they are used to playing.
Thematic elements
  • Victorian gentlemen trying to destroy their social standing.
  • Victorian era
Comparison games
  • The Last Will
  • Wayfarers of the South Tigris
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Card Play — the action phase where you're playing cards, triggering certain effects
  • Set Collection — there's also some other things like set collection, stuff like that.
  • Worker Placement — it's like a worker placement game.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • My taste in board games are still evolving and I still consider myself pretty new to the hobby.
  • This has to be a good idea.
  • So, we'll see how it goes.
  • It's not that I'm not interested in playing it. It's in that weird spot where I'm interested, but I'm not that interested to learn it and teach it.
  • I think there's a lot to explore here, but for myself, I'm giving this a solid A.
  • I felt a little bit intimidated to play. I I don't know why, but when I see a lot of board games that have like a lot of icons, I just feel much more intimidated.
  • This has been a game I've scheduled out two months in advance. It's this one and Twilight Imperium, which that in its own self is another beast in its own, and I'm very nervous about that game, but more on that later.
  • It's going to be a very long night if not everyone read the rules or watched the how to plays.
  • This game does not really hold your hand or give you any form of catch-up mechanism to get back in the game once you're out.
  • I do appreciate that Hegemony gives you the opportunity to have a bit of a closed economy and you're essentially creating the rules as you go within the policies that you make throughout the rounds, which I think is really cool.
  • Brass: Lancashire, excellent game.
  • However, Brass: Lancashire I I don't know. I think I might like this more.
  • My totally not premature ranking for Brass: Lancashire is S tier.
  • Cosmic Encounter is a game unlike anything he's ever played before.
  • I could see this game going sour very quickly, but who knows, maybe we'll have a really good time with this one.
  • With Cosmic Encounters, I can definitely tell the game is interesting because of the alien abilities that you have. If it weren't for those abilities, I I kind of personally think the game's a bit stale.
  • For my totally not premature ranking for this one, I'm giving this one a C. I think it's okay. I think it's fine.
  • This is easily an S tier. This has worker placement elements that I really enjoy, but keeps it fun and interactive, too, but not to a point where it's so much where I can't work on my own puzzle.
  • So, the day is finally upon us.
  • Um, but I just feel like this is the game that once I play it, I am officially a board gamer.
  • And what a game this was.
  • To my surprise, she picked this up very quickly and she enjoyed this game quite a bit.
  • The game itself is not as hard as I thought it would be.
  • I was very surprised Melissa gave this one an S tier. Totally did not expect that.
  • And so the more I've chewed on this and have thought about it, I'm giving this one a B. And I'm giving this one actually a B minus.
  • If you're someone who loves high player interaction and you want to just wheel and deal and just really play the table, I think you're going to have an amazing time with this game.
  • This actually took about close to 4 months to do.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video S0ARMPGQLcM Getting Games Top 20 List at 6:40 sentiment: positive
video_pk 92251 · mention_pk 247820
Getting Games - The Prodigals Club video thumbnail
Click to watch at 6:40 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • solid Euro with great thematic content and mini-games
  • engaging social interaction and humor
Cons
  • complexity and scope might be challenging for some players
  • requires multiple modules to be set up
Thematic elements
  • losing gracefully across multiple social tracks
Comparison games
  • Last Will
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Acting — Ridiculous actions and interactions (Aunt Beatrice, drunken carriage driver) drive the experience.
  • dramatic humor and conversation-based actions — Ridiculous actions and interactions (Aunt Beatrice, drunken carriage driver) drive the experience.
  • multi-track scoring and social interaction — The game uses a variety of social interactions and blocks with mini-games for the modules.
  • three-module loss strategy — Players attempt to perform badly across election, reputation, and money modules to minimize scoring.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • this game is stunning it's just absolutely gorgeous
  • I really enjoyed playing this game
  • the awesome action mechanic was not enough to sway me away from the relatively dull gameplay of majority in general
  • there is a humongous problem with this game
  • the mechanics were cool I want to explore this one quite a bit more
  • I am terrible at Buy Low Sell High games for some reason
  • I think it's a really solid sticky game probably the thinkiest of the tiny epic game so far
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video j6ANvz9Teo8 Getting Games Discussion at 40:17 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 91995 · mention_pk 246940
Getting Games - The Prodigals Club video thumbnail
Click to watch at 40:17 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
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)
  • I read rules once and then I read the rules again to catch all the mistakes I made.
  • I breathe rules constantly like I probably get 5 to 10 emails a week of people asking me to cover their games on YouTube.
  • Corkle is a brilliant two-player game and it's really really good in the iOS adaptation.
  • I’m my own boss now … the success of this drive is going to help dictate how many conventions I go to.
  • I design a game called Mutation, a dice rolling and stacking game.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video j6ANvz9Teo8 Getting Games Discussion at 1:05:30 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 91995 · mention_pk 246962
Getting Games - The Prodigals Club video thumbnail
Click to watch at 1:05:30 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
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)
  • I read rules once and then I read the rules again to catch all the mistakes I made.
  • I breathe rules constantly like I probably get 5 to 10 emails a week of people asking me to cover their games on YouTube.
  • Corkle is a brilliant two-player game and it's really really good in the iOS adaptation.
  • I’m my own boss now … the success of this drive is going to help dictate how many conventions I go to.
  • I design a game called Mutation, a dice rolling and stacking game.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video MIBr6cD01Ck Getting Games Discussion at 19:10 sentiment: positive
video_pk 90499 · mention_pk 251144
Getting Games - The Prodigals Club video thumbnail
Click to watch at 19:10 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
  • Underwater Cities
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Engine Building — engine-building elements are described
  • multigame mashup — described as three different games mashed together
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • beyond the sun is such a good game
  • i am loving that game
  • i would definitely not mind having a copy of kingdom
  • it's a wonderful world expansion ... corruption and ascension
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video _nGo4U4ogvQ Nights Around a Table Discussion at 69:11:28 sentiment: positive
video_pk 89404 · mention_pk 251020
Nights Around a Table - The Prodigals Club video thumbnail
Click to watch at 69:11:28 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Received as a gift
  • Designed by Vlad Sukhi
  • Can be played standalone or combined with another game
Cons
  • Box was damaged ('corner gouge')
  • The speaker feels the need to replace the damaged copy.
Thematic elements
Comparison games
  • Last Will
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • legacy — Described as an 'adjacent thing' for 'Last Will', suggesting a connection or expansion.
  • Modular — The game can be played on its own or combined with 'Last Will'.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • welcome everybody. welcome to all six of you good to see you
  • omelet is going to be moderating for us for this very special this very special stream
  • i don't know so if i missed something please let me know and chat if people subscribe or if things happen i'm not going to get notified
  • we have the very best people
  • i don't wanna miss any of these i don't wanna miss any and you might see my jammies don't don't be shocked don't be shocked to learn that i don't wear pants on stream or uh practically ever in my entire life
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video e51VvPX6fSk kovray Convention Recap at 1:25 sentiment: positive
video_pk 87613 · mention_pk 229283
kovray - The Prodigals Club video thumbnail
Click to watch at 1:25 · 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)
  • it's a tradition and Jeff from borging Geek puts these on and he's fantastic
  • The Vibes were just good it was it was a good time
  • we were on the same wavelength
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video pVUlyvcvDhI Foster the Meeple Top List at 23:18 sentiment: other
video_pk 86590 · mention_pk 224542
Foster the Meeple - The Prodigals Club video thumbnail
Click to watch at 23:18 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Adore it
Pros
  • Hilarious theme
  • Very good
  • Addictive
  • Love it
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Becoming the worst person possible
  • Social standing
Comparison games
  • Last Will
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • action selection — doing that through action selection
  • Set Collection — you have you know a hand of cards that might be like your estate and you actually want to decrease that
  • Track management — score the highest track of those four regions
  • Worker Placement — worker placement type situation
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • these are the top 10 new to us games of 2024
  • I freaking loved this game
  • it's so weird so weird and so fun
  • this game is so tense and stressful
  • it's very enjoyable
  • it is just a logic deduction puzzle that's all it is but it is really really fun
  • I adore it every time we play it it's so good so good
  • I really enjoy this game
  • it's so fun it is again the most beautifully produced game I've ever seen
  • it is the most fun I think aboard game can possibly be
  • I love I think this game is just the best I I love it so much
  • everything as Jamie puts just flows properly and makes sense
  • it is incredible
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video pVUlyvcvDhI Foster the Meeple Top List at 30:40 sentiment: other
video_pk 86590 · mention_pk 224546
Foster the Meeple - The Prodigals Club video thumbnail
Click to watch at 30:40 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Love it
Pros
  • Hilarious theme
  • Best game
  • No notes
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Becoming the worst person possible
  • Social standing
Comparison games
  • Last Will
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • action selection — doing that through action selection
  • Set Collection — you have you know a hand of cards that might be like your estate and you actually want to decrease that
  • Track management — score the highest track of those four regions
  • Worker Placement — worker placement type situation
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • these are the top 10 new to us games of 2024
  • I freaking loved this game
  • it's so weird so weird and so fun
  • this game is so tense and stressful
  • it's very enjoyable
  • it is just a logic deduction puzzle that's all it is but it is really really fun
  • I adore it every time we play it it's so good so good
  • I really enjoy this game
  • it's so fun it is again the most beautifully produced game I've ever seen
  • it is the most fun I think aboard game can possibly be
  • I love I think this game is just the best I I love it so much
  • everything as Jamie puts just flows properly and makes sense
  • it is incredible
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video BnRPjFsjALw Foster the Meeple Discussion at 12:21 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85587 · mention_pk 219691
Foster the Meeple - The Prodigals Club video thumbnail
Click to watch at 12:21 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Very fun themed thematic game
  • Fantastic and so good
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Being the worst human possible (losing money, making people hate you, losing votes)
Comparison games
  • The Last Will
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Auction — Buying items (houses, horses) and selling them for less.
  • economy — Players try to lose all their money.
  • Set Collection — Trying to achieve goals related to being the worst.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Survival of the fittest, baby. It is what it is.
  • you need to win. you need to defeat everybody else and it is not a nice game
  • Root is a very mean game because it does have kingmaking which is very mean and also very competitive
  • It's so freaking cute.
  • because what's more whimsical than a cafe where cappy bars are serving you?
  • I think Get Bit is not loved enough.
  • Phenomenal game. Phenomenal solo trick taking. Amazing.
  • It is meant to be a mindful activity for solo players.
  • you can play it so many times in a row, you will never get sick of it.
  • It's a great game for me time.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 3N0n8AbXTWQ The Dice Tower Analysis at 3:04 sentiment: positive
video_pk 80324 · mention_pk 195307
The Dice Tower - The Prodigals Club video thumbnail
Click to watch at 3:04 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Better than Last Will
  • Adds more complexity
Cons
  • Don't combine with Last Will
Thematic elements
Comparison games
  • Last Will
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Worker Placement — I don't like the mechanisms of how you get stuff. I think Prodigals Club is better, but then it adds a little bit more complexity.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • I had to increase this rating to a 10. I play this all the time. Love this game, it's fantastic.
  • This is a remake of an older game. Um Miss Miss Miss Miss I forget the Missenium or whatever it's called. Um from Reiner Knizia and the cows are being abducted. It's weird and unusual and I There's some things I liked about it, but I can't really recommend it because I think it's too odd.
  • My kids liked it more though, but 6.5.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video qJbghMXaE-Y Top List at 14:35 sentiment: positive
video_pk 73222 · mention_pk 174964
The Prodigals Club video thumbnail
Click to watch at 14:35 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Amazing
  • It is our only sui game that we've played so far
  • A blast
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Being a 'POS' and acting rambunctious
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Worker Placement — a worker placement game where you are just trying to be the biggest POS that you can.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Faege is like I think Faege is a perfect game I love it so much
  • the board is a circle and the circle spins okay spin Spence and whichever section whichever quarter is in front of you is the area that you are playing in for your turn
  • every one of those quarters is kind of like its own little mini-game
  • I I love this game I we played it on BGA without even learning it and I was like I don't know what's going on all I know is I'm having a great time doing it
  • brass Birmingham is a it's amazing
  • brass Birmingham is a economic strategy game
  • I just absolutely love it
  • I love the aesthetic of this game I I think it is so so so good
  • I just wish wish wish I could play it more
  • we're GNA do processed cheese slices
  • Jeff and I are on a healthy life challenge it's been half a day I already cheated
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ZH3q13eGLtw Allies or Enemies Top 100 List at 15:15 sentiment: positive
video_pk 66396 · mention_pk 161635
Allies or Enemies - The Prodigals Club video thumbnail
Click to watch at 15:15 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Unique theme and tone
  • Flexible scoring through multiple sections
Cons
  • Humor/morality theme may not appeal to all players
Thematic elements
  • Competition to lose money and social standing
  • Gilded-age social satire about wealth and decline
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Compound Scoring — Players try to minimize their score by losing assets and status
  • lose-to-score mechanic — Players try to minimize their score by losing assets and status
  • multi-path engine — Three sections with different play styles and combinations
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • it's the heaviest of the Shem Phillips SJ McDonald games
  • it's a puzzle you're exchanging stuff for stuff
  • the coolest part is one of my favorite mechanics
  • you pick an action everyone else could do that action but try to time it so they definitely can't
  • one of my absolute favorite themes
  • the back of the card read are so clever
  • there are a ton of them and they are basically like Escape rooms in a box
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video TvyV-MJzzqM Board Gaming Ramblings Discussion at 9:17 sentiment: positive
video_pk 42293 · mention_pk 242204
Board Gaming Ramblings - The Prodigals Club video thumbnail
Click to watch at 9:17 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • fun to play, surprising depth for a compact title
  • enjoyed the play-through and the mechanics
Cons
  • not explicitly pushing for a long-term commitment
Thematic elements
Comparison games
  • Lost Ruin
  • Orléans
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • cardplay with combo potential — Players discover synergies through a compact card-driven system.
  • Cooperative Actions — Players discover synergies through a compact card-driven system.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • it's so tight like if you play this with five players it would be probably horrible so three or four players is the best
  • this week we played 22 games and three of those were not for the talents we played and then 19 games for this challenge
  • i'm having fun so far
  • this is basically the same designer so it has a lot of the same element
  • the weirdest thing that has ever happened in a board game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video sDRgwT6zL94 Getting Games Discussion at 7:49 sentiment: negative
video_pk 5282 · mention_pk 80919
Getting Games - The Prodigals Club video thumbnail
Click to watch at 7:49 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
  • Underwater Cities
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • I've really liked it my many plays of this game over the years.
  • it's probably better to move it on.
  • I don't think I'd be sad to never play Kalimala again.
  • This has been on my mind for a couple of months now honestly.
  • we are planning on doing something ... playing games with my friends that also turns into play-throughs that people can enjoy.
  • there's a lot of kinks that we're trying to work through.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video XjMVQkB6JRY BoardGameGeek Top List at 20:20 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4983 · mention_pk 14825
BoardGameGeek - The Prodigals Club video thumbnail
Click to watch at 20:20 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • light, whimsical overlay on a heavy strategic core
  • unique three-module scoring that emphasizes balance and compromise
  • thematic and witty theme with social satire
Cons
  • heavy strategic depth may challenge new players
  • managing multiple modules can be fiddly without tidy play aids
Thematic elements
  • wealth, social maneuvering, and public perception
  • British high society with decay and political drama
  • satirical yet elegant
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • card play / event cards — cards depict social actions that impact money, votes, and prestige
  • Compound Scoring — three embedded score tracks (money, votes, friends) with determining the final score by the worst score across modules
  • erp-style worker placement — errand boys and staff go to events and social settings to acquire resources
  • multi-module scoring — three embedded score tracks (money, votes, friends) with determining the final score by the worst score across modules
  • Worker Placement — errand boys and staff go to events and social settings to acquire resources
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • time is an illusion
  • it's a very linear game where you are going through the seasons
  • everything you're doing makes sense in that world
  • I think it's really, really cool
  • I love distilled. It's got a lot of good sneaky theme in there
  • this linearness really lends itself to the thematic tie-ins
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video sfynkh_guXM Foster the Meeple Top List at 3:09 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4798 · mention_pk 113696
Foster the Meeple - The Prodigals Club video thumbnail
Click to watch at 3:09 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Unique clever theme
  • Interesting triangular board design
  • Fun gameplay
  • Expansion available (The Last Will)
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • being a terrible person
  • moral degradation
  • social transgression
Comparison games
  • The Last Will
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Star Wars in a box
  • We are talking about objectively the best games in the whole wide world
  • The limit does not exist
  • As mean as a game as you can play
  • I love not knowing what's going to happen
  • It's perfect
  • Root is my type of game
  • Most played game of all time
  • This is phenomenal
  • If you're in a horror movie is not everything dependent on luck
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
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