In Thunder & Lightning, players take on the role of Thor or Loki and fight their way through an army in an epic mythological showdown. Because Loki has already stolen Odin's Crown, the Allfather has entrusted his son Thor with his prized ring of power, Draupnir, to help him defeat the vile trickster. But who really has what it takes to gain control over both relics and therefore claim the throne of Asgard?
Thunder & Lightning, a reimplementation of Hera and Zeus, features the same gameplay as the earlier design, but with larger decks of cards with a different distribution of powers.
In the game, each player starts with nine cards in hand, then places three cards face down in their first row, with these rows butting against one another and each player having space for four rows in their playing area. If a player loses a card in a row, then any cards in the same column behind this card slide forward to fill the empty slot. On a turn, a player has as many action points as the number of columns they have in the playing area. They can use these action points to draw cards, play cards to the battlefield, play a mythological card for its power, or challenge an opponent's card.
To challenge, the player chooses a card in their first row that abuts an opponent's card, then reveals both of them. Most cards have a strength value (0-7), and the card with the lower strength value is discarded, with the opponent's other cards in the same column then sliding forward.
If a player cannot use all of their actions or has no actions (due to having no cards on the battlefield) or loses control of Odin's Crown/Ring, then they lose the game.
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- The Squirrelies are the type of award show that you would expect from RDTN.
- Get it? Gy. Not like game as in the smell, but gy as in playing board games. Get it?
- Man, brevity, I love it. You know, it speaks to me.
- Autobots roll out.
- So, the other guy gave me the award, not not Marty, you know, who's the guy, right?
- I wonder if they do automatic draft over there at Fantasy Flight from your checking account.
- And we really need to give that one another shot.
References (from this video)
- Mythology is well-utilized for card effects
- Great looking game
- Improved upon its predecessor, Heracles and Zeus
- Original version (Heracles and Zeus) had a cumbersome rules reference.
- Conflict between Loki and Thor
- Norse mythology
- Card-driven effects based on mythological figures
- Heracles and Zeus
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card game — Primarily a card game.
- Deduction — Players try to find a secret card the opponent has.
- Hand Management — Managing cards in hand is crucial.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- This is heavy metal as a board game.
- Almost no space of the board is more than two steps away from another space. So pressure is always on.
- push your luck worker placement in a co-op game. Bizarre, but it works really well.
- I think the mythological part is much stronger.
- a really solid auction game. One of the best auction games there is.
References (from this video)
- astonishing art
- interesting core ideas and combat concept
- endgame is not fun / runaway leader issue
- execution not satisfying after some plays
- mythology
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action economy tied to board deployment — number of actions per turn equals the number of columns deployed.
- card-driven combat in a multi-column battlefield — lines of battle with face-down cards; higher value wins when revealed; ties discard both; cards behind shift forward.
- Hidden information and bluffing — cards are played face-down and values are revealed, creating bluff and anticipation.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I am planning on recording a full playthrough of Scythe tomorrow
- I believe I'm going to be getting a review copy of the game so I hope to be able to try it pretty soon and I will be sure to let you guys know what I think about it
- I love seeing how different mechanics mesh together in new and interesting ways
- it's got some stuff that I really like in games has some stuff that I'm not usually crazy about
- it has astonishing art
- I ended up playing this twice ... nuclear war ... I lost both
References (from this video)
- puzzly
- deceptive
- speculative
- looks fantastic on the table
- one of the best head-to-head card games
- head-to-head deceit
- subterfuge
- battle between Loki and Thor
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Challenge System
- Deception
- Hand Management
- hand manipulation
- hidden units
- unit manipulation
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- there are a lot of great games and there are a lot of great games that play excellently at two players
- so simple and so elegant and so refined and yet so puzzly and ingenious
- one of the best tactical miniatures games out there without any miniatures whatsoever
- the thing is is that if you sell in bulk you get extra bonuses but if you sell early then you get the most valuable versions
- it gives you so much to consider and be cognizant of as you are drafting every single card but it is incredibly indelibly accessible