The Big Board-Gaming Catch-All

Keithustus wrote:

I'm surprised. Jon's voice is probably the only thing that keeps me from watching JonGetsGames videos more often.

Explains rules well: yes.
Displays intricate and rapid knowledge of both the rules and strategy: yes.
Corrects himself live and in commentary: yes.
Plays fairly against himself in competitive games: yes.
Experiments with tactics and doesn't just play safe and predictably: yes.
Sometimes displays joy and excitement, or disappointment, when appropriate: yes
Something I don't like....sometimes explains things a bit more than is necessary, slowing the play: acceptable because it's an intro to people.

But to me, what keeps me away:

Sounds like a robot due to his metronome-like cadence and lack of dynamic range throughout most of the playthrough: sadly yes.

Contrast him to Rodney and Pep:

Pep is definitely a bit much and I don't know if I would want him at a playgroup of mine, but it's hard to deny that he plays well (maybe not this playthrough, though ) and provides immense entertainment value by really playing the games. Rodney is to me the ideal: a steady narrator who is neither immoble nor too wayward.

I find it depends on the game a bit... I like Rodney and Paul Rogan... also I know SU&SD isn't beloved here, but I find the reviews entertaining, if nothing else. (Sometimes with SU&SD I get a peek into something I'd never consider playing, for example.) I agree Rodney is fairly ideal for a how to play. A little less so on playthroughs, but to each his own. Anyway... for this particular game, there's so much to explain that I thought this was a pretty fair go of it; things are complicated enough that somebody throwing a bunch of curve-balls and emotions into it would probably have me screaming "JUST PLAY THE FREAKIN' GAME." (Although I will say I am not even sure I'd watch this guy play through anything else.) I was more commenting on the fact that what I guess I'd call a paid professional couldn't get through the game without 20 or so rule whoopsies.

bhchrist wrote:
dRailer wrote:

The guy has a great voice for this - he speaks quickly but clearly, allowing the action to proceed quickly. So well done on that. That said, I'm sort of amazed by how many times the text comes up on the screen for him to correct himself. Seems like a ton to keep track of(?)

Get used to it! It isn’t an unreasonable amount, but it took us 7 scenarios to fully iron out all the kinks. I expect it to creep up again when we retire and start new characters with different mechanics.

Planning on it. My 8 and 11 year olds are ridiculously good with remembering rules; so... we'll see how it goes.

I have ZERO interest in Basketball..but that looks pretty cool for those that do, well done!

* * *

I think at this point my essay for this semester (and more importantly my Dissertation/project for next year's Honours Degree) of my VisCom class is probably going to be focused on board games and how they can be used as teaching / therapy tools. I'm already putting together a bunch of academic books and journals into a bibliography but if anyone happens to know of any other resources that they think might be useful (or have maybe got examples of board games being used in that way in their local area, or something), do let me know!

* * * *

Thirdly, Mansions of Madness arrived! I'm...somewhat underwhelmed by the miniatures. I realise this is an older game now but still, they're kinda flimsy with a lot of excess plastic bits. At least one of them doesn't stick into it's stand properly. Plus they are all very thin and wiry and not particularly imposing (as far as the larger creatures like the Star Spawn go). Oh well. Maybe i'll make those a priority when i try painting again (a) to improve their look a bit and (b) as good practice models before I move on to things like Stuffed Fables.

The MoM 2nd ed minis are definitely not stunners, although I think they're fine. I believe ultimately you have to glue them to their bases, although I haven't yet. The whole package is very unwieldy without a storage solution.

That said, the gameplay is great! I love it, my wife loves it, our friends seem to love it. The app really allows for a unique gaming experience. They seem to have realized that a lot of the earlier scenarios are too darn long, and many of the newer ones can be played in more reasonable timeframes.

Yeah, I'm going to try and paint them first before gluing them down I think. Probably easier that way.

I played a little way into the first scenario to try it out and yeah, minis aside the game itself is pretty cool. And the app makes it really easy to play solo, which is excellent.

pyxistyx wrote:

My copy of Stuffed Fables arrived and it looks AMAZING. Especially the miniatures, which are freakin' awesome and I'm probably going to take a stab at painting them.

These look ideal for painting for people like me that aren't great at painting.

And I like the idea of the game. I think my wife would keep more interest in this than she did in Mice and Mystics.

-BEP

bepnewt wrote:

These look ideal for painting for people like me that aren't great at painting.
-BEP

Yeah, they're really chunky with clean designs, so they should work really well.

I'm still terrified I'll ruin them though, which is why I'm going to get some practice in with the Mansions of Madness ones first!

I'm not all that happy with the MoM2e solution on minis. Also the cards keep sliding out of the little bases. I think the next game I will just use the little monster cards. The artwork is good on them, and sometimes leaving a bit to the imagination can be more terrifying anyway.

I have to say that I feel like I tamed that storage conundrum with that weird inside out trick for the insert. Look back a couple pages. Since that pic was taken I added a small plano plastic lidded tray to one of the two pockets that forms with the inside out insert and now that thing is ready to go at a moment's notice.

I'm starting the Gloomhaven manual... reading it cover to cover. I don't want to start without that foundation. The videos are ok but I feel like I'm missing so much knowledge about it still.

I got the other half of my topper for my Duchess gaming table, and at last it is fully operational. Just in time, too, we got a kitten and this will lock her fuzzy butt away from the playsurface where delicious tokens and carefully placed minis are there to be Godzilla'd. I praise this Kickstarter despite the setbacks. It was a wild ride but my family loves the table.

While we're on the topic of follow-ups... I did indeed receive my replacement tile from Fowers games. They know how to take care of a customer.

pyxistyx wrote:

Yeah, I'm going to try and paint them first before gluing them down I think. Probably easier that way.

I played a little way into the first scenario to try it out and yeah, minis aside the game itself is pretty cool. And the app makes it really easy to play solo, which is excellent.

Just getting started painting MoM myself, just primed the core set's humanoid enemies yesterday. I'm eager to glue them into their bases once painted too, they're a constant headache to assemble and keep from falling apart.

This is going to be the second game I've ever painted (the first was XCOM), so we'll see how this goes.

dRailer wrote:

I got the other half of my topper for my Duchess gaming table, and at last it is fully operational. Just in time, too, we got a kitten and this will lock her fuzzy butt away from the playsurface where delicious tokens and carefully placed minis are there to be Godzilla'd. I praise this Kickstarter despite the setbacks. It was a wild ride but my family loves the table.

Argh so jealous. I was a late backer and should be getting my table in 2-3 weeks. It's been a long time to have well over $1k locked up waiting for a product, but I hope it's worth it. I'm counting the days because it's the only thing I'm waiting on to start a youtube tabletop series I'm planning - I've already gotten cameras, taught myself multicamera editing, and recruited players. Just need a decent looking table.

dRailer wrote:

I'm not all that happy with the MoM2e solution on minis. Also the cards keep sliding out of the little bases. I think the next game I will just use the little monster cards. The artwork is good on them, and sometimes leaving a bit to the imagination can be more terrifying anyway.

That's....actually a really good idea. I might do the same, to be honest. At least until I paint/fix/glue them all together properly.

In fact, on thinking about it, the whole "card in the base" thing feels really clunky and redundant - since presumably all the statistics you need are handled within the App. So you really just need something to represent the monster on the board anyway.

pyxistyx wrote:
dRailer wrote:

I'm not all that happy with the MoM2e solution on minis. Also the cards keep sliding out of the little bases. I think the next game I will just use the little monster cards. The artwork is good on them, and sometimes leaving a bit to the imagination can be more terrifying anyway.

That's....actually a really good idea. I might do the same, to be honest.

In fact, on thinking about it, the whole "card in the base" thing feels really clunky and redundant - since presumably all the statistics you need are handled within the App. So you really just need something to represent the monster on the board anyway.

The app doesn't handle any of those stats, you do need to refer to them on the token. They're all used pretty seldomly though; only in situations like when you need to decide which of several monsters to do a horror test against, or when a monster is trying to break down a barricade.

Ah, ok. I'm using the tokens right now anyway.

Finished the first scenario. Yeah. I like it a lot.

I'm slightly worried there isn't going to be enough content there without buying the expansions / DLC content but at least some of the in-game stuff seems randomised each game, and I switched on the 1st Edition expansions even though I don't have the board pieces and that seems to throw the additional player characters and 1st edition monsters into the mix too, which should help add a bit of variety at least (and worked great while just using the monster cards instead of mini's).

If I recall correctly, Descent 2nd Edition has a "custom scenario" editor right? I don't suppose there's anything similar for that with MoM? I suspect no, otherwise it would probably be in the App, but just figured I'd double check!

*aha, never mind. answered my own question. There's no official app, but there is apparently a fan made scenario creator which can be tied into the Steam version of the official App...i think?

In addition to the small details changing, most scenarios have multiple completely different layouts. If you play the first scenario again the ritual might be in the back yard instead of the basement for example (and the entire house would be different tiles along the way as well). Some things stay the same though... there's always a fridge, and opening it and seeing what's inside it this time is always my favorite moment.

In general I wouldn't really play the same scenario multiple times with the exact same group of players. But the combination of the variability provided by the app and the fun of playing with different/new people and seeing how they approach it, has been plenty to keep me playing the same scenarios 5+ times each. The shorter ones, anyway. It's a lot harder to justify choosing the longer scenarios when sitting down to play, I find the app's time estimates undershoot reality and a "120-180 minute" scenario really takes at least four hours.

true! the first scenario took me about 2 and a half hours to get through (though granted I was also figuring out the rules at the time).

bepnewt wrote:
pyxistyx wrote:

My copy of Stuffed Fables arrived and it looks AMAZING. Especially the miniatures, which are freakin' awesome and I'm probably going to take a stab at painting them.

These look ideal for painting for people like me that aren't great at painting.

And I like the idea of the game. I think my wife would keep more interest in this than she did in Mice and Mystics.

-BEP

I got mine earlier this week as well. My kids are itching to give it a try. I told them that we need to wait for the weekend.

I had the same thought about painting the minis. I think I lack the confidence to do it though.

I'd be very interested in a comparison of Stuffed Fables to Mice & Mystics, which we own.

I fully painted my copy of Star Wars Rebellion and got it to the table last night. Had a great game as the Rebels with Luke completing his Jedi training with Yoda just before the Death Star destroyed Dagobah and Vader dying on Naboo to be buried next to Padme.

The Rebel Base was on Dantooine but by the time the Empire realised it they didn't have enough turns to get a sizable enough force into the area.

Showing off the hardest figures to paint. For size comparison that coin is slightly larger than a nickel.

IMAGE(https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/27332064_10155889848570491_8168733704584419090_n.jpg?oh=059be1bb0a24053fbfcecb0c7049cbed&oe=5B16B8A1)

I bought some spray primer and brushes while I was passing Hobbycraft earlier...

IMAGE(https://media.giphy.com/media/rl0FOxdz7CcxO/giphy.gif)

(well, at the weekend at least)

Prozac wrote:

The Rebel Base was on Dantooine but by the time the Empire realised it they didn't have enough turns to get a sizable enough force into the area.

They shouldn't have bothered, Dantooine is too remote to make an effective demonstration.

RawkGWJ wrote:

I got mine earlier this week as well. My kids are itching to give it a try. I told them that we need to wait for the weekend.

I had the same thought about painting the minis. I think I lack the confidence to do it though.

YOU CAN DO IT! It's super easy to do a good job (and crazy hard to do an amazing job). Just practice a few times on some cheap toys, other minis, etc.

I watched a few videos online and then dived in. Within a couple weeks you'll be 20x better than your first mini.

Gravey wrote:
Prozac wrote:

The Rebel Base was on Dantooine but by the time the Empire realised it they didn't have enough turns to get a sizable enough force into the area.

They shouldn't have bothered, Dantooine is too remote to make an effective demonstration.

there-is-no-gif-of-me-nodding-at-you-in-a-way-that-indicates-approval-for-the-rest-of-your-days.gif

Mayfair closes and sells holdings to Asmodee. Crazy that you can have that kind of award-winning catalogue and still not make it.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...

Fedaykin98 wrote:

I'd be very interested in a comparison of Stuffed Fables to Mice & Mystics, which we own.

I have both! They are pretty similar, but they swap out straight up dice rolling combat mechanic for a draw colored dice, then roll your best options sort of thing.

We've not played Stuffed Fables much yet, but I can already tell that the game mechanics in Stuffed Fables are a bit more interesting (and forgiving). One of the problems with M&M is that it's pretty random. Dice rolls can continually mess with you and there's not much you can do about it. My kids got frustrated at times, and I had to layer in some "house rules" to prevent them from rage quitting. SF is a little more like Yahtzee in that, while you're still rolling dice you can pick and choose your best options based on your draw. Feels like you have more control on the outcome. Probably makes the game a fair bit easier as well.

I'd say there's a bit more variety than M&M. The base game of M&M suffered from a lot of repetition in terms of scenarios and enemies. Something that was fixed in the Downward Tales expansion. SF feels like they took all the lessons learned from DT and applied it here. There is also an element of random story beats (implemented sorta like Dead of Winter) which has been fun. Still not a ton of different enemy types, but there is usually a difference between the same type of enemy. One will be a "leader" for instance, and have slightly different abilities.

I think SF is aimed as a slightly younger crowd than M&M. I have two girls, and they really identify with the theme of stuffed animals defending their little girl.

First attempt!*

*in about 25 years *cough*

('excuse the slightly blurry photo)

Minh Thi Phan, "The Secretary" from Arkham Horror games!

IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/img_4438.jpg)

Normally I see she's painted with a grey-blue dress but i wanted to try to keep things bright, and the yellow/blue combination matches her character portrait in AH: The Card Game, so I thought it fit quite well.

IMAGE(https://arkhamdb.com/bundles/cards/03002.png)

And the wooden floorboards worked a LOT better than I thought they were going to.

Nice work!

I originally thought you moved the model to a new wooden base to get the floorboards.

pyxistyx wrote:

my essay for this semester (and more importantly my Dissertation/project for next year's Honours Degree) of my VisCom class is probably going to be focused on board games and how they can be used as teaching / therapy tools. I'm already putting together a bunch of academic books and journals into a bibliography but if anyone happens to know of any other resources that they think might be useful (or have maybe got examples of board games being used in that way in their local area, or something), do let me know!

There are many article about Volko Ruhnke's COIN games being used by strategic-level military leaders, diplomats, and foreign-policy practitioners. Here's a typical one: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/...

Fedaykin98 wrote:

I'd be very interested in a comparison of Stuffed Fables to Mice & Mystics, which we own.

If you believe me from my having watched them both played and perusing the cards and missions and rules of each, and not having played it, then great. My assessment is that Stuffed Fables is Mice and Mystics with training wheels. They both say 7+, sure, but there is too much complexity for probably most 7 year olds, at least to play well. Stuffed Fables seems better tailored for the 5-10 age range than Mice. Not only that, the fable theme and the way it is designed to stimulate conversation about fable-like morals and situations is better for younger kids. It's also cuter.

Mermaidpirate wrote:

Mayfair closes and sells holdings to Asmodee. Crazy that you can have that kind of award-winning catalogue and still not make it.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...

Lately all they've had going for them was the Catan license, and there's enough other options out there for !Hasbro that they no longer had a monopoly (pun not intended) on that particular market segment.

I can't imagine Rio Grande isn't too far behind. I don't know how much money they're still making off Dominion but I feel like they've been in need of a new hotness for a few years now.

Speaking of COIN, we are 2 out of 3 sessions into our game of GMT's Pendragon. As I keep saying, I'm not a COIN guy, and complex rulebooks make my head explode, but we are all really liking this game. I'm a real fan of this period of history, too. Maybe we can play Britannia after this.

IMAGE(https://photos.smugmug.com/FCASL/i-k4qnqSh/0/eba3a68a/M/IMG_3783-M.jpg)

...and then there were two! Wendy Adams was much harder - a lot more fiddly bits to paint, especially at this teeny scale! I think I more or less got away with it though.

IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/img_4442.jpg)