From the Game's Introduction:
The Age of Gears lasted long into the nineteenth century. And then the darkness came. One day, the skies darkened into night and the morning did not dawn. Darkness covered the world. Within days most higher life forms were dead or dying. Mankind had a small supply of food but in a world without refrigeration, soon mankind was dying. After a few months, the only living creatures on Earth were the clockmen. Confusion nearly did them in, there was no one left to serve. Up until then most clockmen were stationary, grandfatherly figures who taught young people in living rooms, or student from the front of university classroom. The construction factories researched better and better self-ambulating designs.
Just as suddenly as it started, the darkness ended 122 years later. During that time, the clockmen transformed themselves into the image of their former makers. Mobile clockmen wore clothes and bustled about the cities in harsh whisper of whirring gears and clanking latches. To differentiate themselves from their forefathers, the mobile clockmen started referring to themselves as watchmen. This is their story.
- Fantastic
- Wonderful deconstruction
- Hard to grasp as a kid
- Deconstruction of the medium
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I went back and read it all. I I I went back and after I took a break and you know whatever like pet you wouldn't went and sat with one of my dogs for a little while I went well you're a big fan if I'm not mistaken right yeah I am I mean and then I found out that he basically stole all of Sandman or like the he was inspired by another author allegedly never and never well allegedly yeah and then um never gave them any credit whatever um which what is stanman I don't even really know what it is
- It is a game that I have played several times and I think it is a really good game. It is a game that really captures the essence of city state politics and diplomacy.
- The game is really about trying to forge alliances with other players and then betraying them when it is convenient for you to do so.
- It is a very tense game, especially when you are playing with a group of people who are willing to engage in the diplomatic and political aspects of the game.
- I think that Helenica is a great game for people who enjoy strategic depth and player interaction.