As always, I appreciate your thoughtful reviews. Interesting fact...when I started my business a few years ago (Professor's Lab), I thought about naming it The Discriminating Gamer (which I am), and a "review of the literature" revealed you! Thank you for all that you do.
Tried this the other day on tabletop simulator. I had a blast! I was surprised at how well the theme came through. I was afraid it would just devolve to pushing cubes, and I think that could be a real danger, but if you make a point to read the cards, then it's a real treat to poke fun at your friends for the awful things they are doing to the world, and then later justify the terrible things you need to do to get ahead. My friends weren't as enamored as I was (they felt it was a bit too drawn out and random), but I think they'll be willing to play again.
Am very interested in the topic as I wrote a First Class Dissertation showing that the Versailles Treaty was an enfeebling disaster for the Allies and an enabling triumph for Germany. So if Cody gets chance would that thesis (which I still firmly believe) spoil my enjoyment of the game or is the usual received history left out of the design.
Great review of a fantastic game! Just wanted to add that military bids added to unsettled issues are not worth 2 influence - the way it's been explained is that military used is like dollars, and influence used is like cents (military are the main bid, influence are the tie breaker)
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer No problem, glad to see this game getting some reviews. And didn't know you had a Congress of Vienna game coming, looking forward to that one!
Another very well-thought out and informative review! The one thing that intrigues me in this game is the Happiness track!...it's definitely the first I've heard of it!!! I'm not really confident about my negotiation skills, so this game might be a good way to practice that!!! So awesome that they used actual people and events for this...is this actually a scenario simulation? And can you actually change the outcome of actual events in the game? This is a question I have with most of these historical games; is the tantalizing possibility that you could have an outcome quite different from how these scenarios actually played out. Thanks for showing us another great game, Cody! P.S., loved that bit at the end!!!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. The game is abstracted to a degree - the powers weren’t ‘playing’ against each other so to speak, but the outcomes will definitely vary from historical fact.
I'm making a T-shirt that says "I agree with Cody." This is in the 2020 running, but it still falls behind Imperial Struggle for me. You should definitely try This War Without An Enemy, which is also in my 2020 top 3.
~ hey Cody, not a peep in your review about the errata or the seven cards with printing errors.. I'm guessing that didn't put a crimp in your deep affection for this neat little game? By the way, I didn't think there could ever be a game that surpassed Mr. Herman's "Pericles: The Peloponnesian Wars" for me, but this game most surely has.. Thanks for another outstanding review! 😃😉
the crusader kings board game is based off the video game the company who made the video game paradox also has a game called eu4 which is being made into a board game it is on kickstarter if you wanna check it out
The Paradox Europa Universalis series computer games are actually based off of a board game called... Europa Universalis (AWE). Hearts of Iron is based off of World in Flames (ADG).
No dialogue on the comparison between Churchill and Versailles? How do you rank the two? Surprised how strongly you feel about this game. Must be something completely different than mechanics of Churchill.
I actually liked Churchill quite a bit. This is a very different game than Churchill on virtually every level. Importantly, Churchill was not really a negotiation game. I really like player interaction with this one, and that is why it trumps Churchill, IMHO.
There is an upcoming game in the Great Statesmen series about the Congress of Vienna following the defeat of Napoleon, perhaps that is more comparable to Churchill. This is mechanically different to that series.
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Ah, yes. I was merely looking at the date you published the video. But yeah, it was a 2019 game. You're probably saying to yourself, "Whew!"
🙂 I think at 5:55 it is impossible for a Cube to go on an Event in the Waiting Room (the blue Cube sitting on Samuel Gompers violates the rules). The only way a Cube ever can go on an Event, is when the Active Player Settles an Issue as the Political Action, and consequently performs the Conference Event, and consequently picks one of the two events in the Waiting Room to go On the Table and only THEN can the Active Player place a Cube on THAT particular moving Event (and, of course, only if the Event is marked as accepting a Cube). Then, the next time some player Settles an Issue that player who placed that Cube performs the Conference Event. The Political Action of Placing Cubes only allows the Active Player to influence Issues, not Events. A careful reading of Steps 2 and 3 on Pages 8 and 9 of the Rules seems to confirm this.
you live and you learn i guess, while you can tell this would be a pretty fun game unless you have a long established group of friends into what you are into you are going to have a heck of a time ever getting this thing to the table and for 120 CAN that's throwing money out the window. This game was an unwise purchase for someone new into these types of games. Oh well, off to the pawn shop with this one I guess to try and recover some money. I think solitaire games are the way to go from now on with me.
Sorry it didn't work out for you. I didn't find it too difficult to learn and play, but I've been playing games like this for a while. Best of luck to you.
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Learning it was difficult but doable, it was finding anyone to play it that was the issue, people just aren't interested, most don't even know what the treaty of versailles is anymore. You have to wonder what the sales are on this game, very niche game, and therein lies the problem for the gamer unless as I mentioned you have already established a group of friends you play board games with.
Picked up this game based on your recommendation. I'm excited to get it to the table.
@@blueseqperl Great Game. I think you’ll enjoy it.
As always, I appreciate your thoughtful reviews. Interesting fact...when I started my business a few years ago (Professor's Lab), I thought about naming it The Discriminating Gamer (which I am), and a "review of the literature" revealed you! Thank you for all that you do.
Thank you. I appreciate it.
The only problem I have with your Channel is I often find my collection growing after I watch your videos..... ;p
First world problems...
I can’t help but see the starship enterprise on that one card (9:47). Cool looking game. Thanks for the rundown!
It’s a globe, representing imperialism. Thanks.
Oh. So that’s the statement Gene Roddenberry was making! :P
@@Drewkas0 Ha!
Tried this the other day on tabletop simulator. I had a blast! I was surprised at how well the theme came through. I was afraid it would just devolve to pushing cubes, and I think that could be a real danger, but if you make a point to read the cards, then it's a real treat to poke fun at your friends for the awful things they are doing to the world, and then later justify the terrible things you need to do to get ahead. My friends weren't as enamored as I was (they felt it was a bit too drawn out and random), but I think they'll be willing to play again.
Indeed. I really enjoyed this game.
Another great video. This game looks awesome.
Thank you, sir. It is.
Am very interested in the topic as I wrote a First Class Dissertation showing that the Versailles Treaty was an enfeebling disaster for the Allies and an enabling triumph for Germany. So if Cody gets chance would that thesis (which I still firmly believe) spoil my enjoyment of the game or is the usual received history left out of the design.
Honestly, I don’t think it would weigh too heavily on your enjoyment of the game. I agree with your argument, and I had a ball with this game.
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Great stuff thanks Cody for the reply and the vid 👍
Great review of a fantastic game! Just wanted to add that military bids added to unsettled issues are not worth 2 influence - the way it's been explained is that military used is like dollars, and influence used is like cents (military are the main bid, influence are the tie breaker)
Quite right, thank you for the clarification.
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer No problem, glad to see this game getting some reviews. And didn't know you had a Congress of Vienna game coming, looking forward to that one!
@@bobcattom5997 Thank you, sir!
Another very well-thought out and informative review! The one thing that intrigues me in this game is the Happiness track!...it's definitely the first I've heard of it!!! I'm not really confident about my negotiation skills, so this game might be a good way to practice that!!! So awesome that they used actual people and events for this...is this actually a scenario simulation? And can you actually change the outcome of actual events in the game? This is a question I have with most of these historical games; is the tantalizing possibility that you could have an outcome quite different from how these scenarios actually played out. Thanks for showing us another great game, Cody! P.S., loved that bit at the end!!!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. The game is abstracted to a degree - the powers weren’t ‘playing’ against each other so to speak, but the outcomes will definitely vary from historical fact.
Great video, thank you! I'm looking for a more accessible Churchill for my group.
I think this one would fit that bill.
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer I've just done a 'solo' on TTS and ordered a copy.
I am still puzzled by Churchill (maybe its my deteriorating brain), this one seems more accessible, I have it waiting to play.
Fantastic. I think you will enjoy it.
I'm making a T-shirt that says "I agree with Cody." This is in the 2020 running, but it still falls behind Imperial Struggle for me. You should definitely try This War Without An Enemy, which is also in my 2020 top 3.
Thank you, I will look into that. I really enjoyed Imperial Struggle, but I like this quite a bit more. I'm a sucker for negotiation in games!
~ hey Cody, not a peep in your review about the errata or the seven cards with printing errors.. I'm guessing that didn't put a crimp in your deep affection for this neat little game? By the way, I didn't think there could ever be a game that surpassed Mr. Herman's "Pericles: The Peloponnesian Wars" for me, but this game most surely has.. Thanks for another outstanding review! 😃😉
Some of the errors did come up, and they were annoying. But they couldn’t dampen my enthusiasm for the game.
For playing solo do you have a preference between this and Churchill? Love both themes and history
I love both games, but I have not played either one solo.
the crusader kings board game is based off the video game the company who made the video game paradox also has a game called eu4 which is being made into a board game it is on kickstarter if you wanna check it out
I enjoyed the Crusader Kings very much.
The Paradox Europa Universalis series computer games are actually based off of a board game called... Europa Universalis (AWE). Hearts of Iron is based off of World in Flames (ADG).
Great video, thank you! How does this play solo?
I haven't tried it solo. Maybe down the road I will.
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer thanks for the quick response!
No dialogue on the comparison between Churchill and Versailles? How do you rank the two?
Surprised how strongly you feel about this game. Must be something completely different than mechanics of Churchill.
I actually liked Churchill quite a bit. This is a very different game than Churchill on virtually every level. Importantly, Churchill was not really a negotiation game. I really like player interaction with this one, and that is why it trumps Churchill, IMHO.
There is an upcoming game in the Great Statesmen series about the Congress of Vienna following the defeat of Napoleon, perhaps that is more comparable to Churchill. This is mechanically different to that series.
Its then card driven & worker placement (sort of)? This or Imperial Struggle in your opinion?
Area influence, more like. I like IS, but I like V1919 quite a bit more.
you talking about liking negotiation games, have you tried Sidereal confluence? I think you'd like that.
I’ve heard that’s good but I haven’t played it.
A top contender for game of the year, huh? Will it best 'War Room' for that honor, for you?
War Room was technically a 2019 release, so they are not in competition.
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Ah, yes. I was merely looking at the date you published the video. But yeah, it was a 2019 game. You're probably saying to yourself, "Whew!"
@@bgm-1961 Ha! Indeed!
🙂 I think at 5:55 it is impossible for a Cube to go on an Event in the Waiting Room (the blue Cube sitting on Samuel Gompers violates the rules). The only way a Cube ever can go on an Event, is when the Active Player Settles an Issue as the Political Action, and consequently performs the Conference Event, and consequently picks one of the two events in the Waiting Room to go On the Table and only THEN can the Active Player place a Cube on THAT particular moving Event (and, of course, only if the Event is marked as accepting a Cube). Then, the next time some player Settles an Issue that player who placed that Cube performs the Conference Event. The Political Action of Placing Cubes only allows the Active Player to influence Issues, not Events. A careful reading of Steps 2 and 3 on Pages 8 and 9 of the Rules seems to confirm this.
Very good. Danke.
But do you like it?
Well... I guess I should't be so ambiguous in my reviews...
Ok The Discriminating Gamer is reviewing another from GMT games... Where's my wallet?
Ha! Happy to... help?
you live and you learn i guess, while you can tell this would be a pretty fun game unless you have a long established group of friends into what you are into you are going to have a heck of a time ever getting this thing to the table and for 120 CAN that's throwing money out the window. This game was an unwise purchase for someone new into these types of games. Oh well, off to the pawn shop with this one I guess to try and recover some money. I think solitaire games are the way to go from now on with me.
Sorry it didn't work out for you. I didn't find it too difficult to learn and play, but I've been playing games like this for a while. Best of luck to you.
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Learning it was difficult but doable, it was finding anyone to play it that was the issue, people just aren't interested, most don't even know what the treaty of versailles is anymore. You have to wonder what the sales are on this game, very niche game, and therein lies the problem for the gamer unless as I mentioned you have already established a group of friends you play board games with.