Absolutely love this game. The brutality is what sells it. The highs are higher, because the margin for error is so narrow, and the lows are lower, because everyone ends up feeling the pain before the game is over. I often struggle to find games that fit with different groups, but I've never had Spots fall flat before.
I highly enjoy this game. I've definitely had games that last too long or that feel like you can't get the numbers you need, but that is by far the minority of the games I've played. The length is very dependent on the combination of tiles. I wouldn't recommend picking randomly. There are some suggestions in the rulebook. If the (green) treat tile you're using is not very generous, it can be hard for players to roll what they need and that makes the 7 limit more brutal. The 7 limit is a big constraint in how you play, but I don't think it's bad design. The game might work with a limit of 8 pips. 7 whole dice seems insane because you would have no risk most turns and it's a push your luck game. The fun is in weighing up the chance of success with the different actions, choosing whether to bank now or later, taking actions so other players can't have them, stocking up on treats so you can go for a big mad roll later.
You do have risk with 7 dice as they mount up quickly. 7 pips can wipe you out in one turn, every turn as the tricks you need to mitigate this more often than not aren’t available.
@@BoardGameBollocks I've played this quite a lot on BGA, maybe too much, 460 games, and 266 won, if the game is a luckfest then I'd have much worse winrate. With 2 players it has a lot of strategy actually, the randomness of the diceroll is not as important as closing out your opponent from getting treats, and selecting the best tricks to use all the time. The original rules work well, no need to use houserules it at all.
I was hoping Spots would be a game about the 1977 Sex Pistols tour when they had to call themselves S.P.O.T.S. with gigs being cancelled left right and center, not to be confused with the '70's space trucker game, S.P.I.V.S. Unfortunately it wasn't either.
You have to roll all your dice which increases the risk of busting. What I’m not sure of is do you roll ALL dice or do you get to place dice then roll ALL of the rest?
@@BoardGameBollocks I was placing dice and then rerolling what was left but, after reading the rules again I don't think you can...hence my shock and change of opinion haha
I actually like this game for what it is, at least in the 5 plays I've had so far. Not the best game of all time, of course, but it's great for people new to gaming and just people who don't like heavy games with lots of rules. Some of your points are valid, however, so I may play with a few tweaks.
As we move towards shorter game nights with smaller games this was not bad game you just gotta know its filler and nothing more than that. Great video.
The colors of the trick cards have a meaning, the red ones, Roll Over (which lets you reroll the dice in your yard) and Howl are always in the game, and then you choose one of each color. I you play it like this, the 7 pip limit is not that brutal, and also games don't take too long. Roll over and Howl is essential to the game, if you don't have Roll Over, you cannot easily clear your yard, and with Howl you can call more dogs and your chances of hitting good dicerolls gets better.
Surprised to hear it is worth the time, your don't likes and the need of houseruling sends it to try it out but certainly not one to add to my collection. I might pick it up as a stocking filler for children
I disagree with you on the 7 spots limit being too brutal. There is a layer of strategy there. You can loss turns/time to get more cards. You know what will be the next card you are gonna get and you can try to pull in cards which will give you a wider range of dice designations. So you could roll 3 dice and no matter what will the dice would end up rolling, you will have a place for them not in your backyard, filling in your cards. And the more time you will loss to take more card you will have a better mitigation factor. That's a better-odds luck mitigation then the treats method, but takes more time so that's in and of itself a push-your-luck game with in a push-your-luck game. And I love the design of the cards BTW
If you can’t fill your cards then they go in your back yard. If the tricks that mitigate this are gone (and they usually are) and the numbers are high you bust unless you roll what you need. Getting what you’ve already done completely wiped out sucks.
Absolutely love this game. The brutality is what sells it. The highs are higher, because the margin for error is so narrow, and the lows are lower, because everyone ends up feeling the pain before the game is over. I often struggle to find games that fit with different groups, but I've never had Spots fall flat before.
Why would you want to play game that was universally painful?
Would love to hear you chuckle! Great review...thanks!
I highly enjoy this game.
I've definitely had games that last too long or that feel like you can't get the numbers you need, but that is by far the minority of the games I've played.
The length is very dependent on the combination of tiles. I wouldn't recommend picking randomly. There are some suggestions in the rulebook.
If the (green) treat tile you're using is not very generous, it can be hard for players to roll what they need and that makes the 7 limit more brutal.
The 7 limit is a big constraint in how you play, but I don't think it's bad design. The game might work with a limit of 8 pips. 7 whole dice seems insane because you would have no risk most turns and it's a push your luck game.
The fun is in weighing up the chance of success with the different actions, choosing whether to bank now or later, taking actions so other players can't have them, stocking up on treats so you can go for a big mad roll later.
Completely agree, I think this is a more clever game than it looks
You do have risk with 7 dice as they mount up quickly. 7 pips can wipe you out in one turn, every turn as the tricks you need to mitigate this more often than not aren’t available.
@@BoardGameBollocks I've played this quite a lot on BGA, maybe too much, 460 games, and 266 won, if the game is a luckfest then I'd have much worse winrate. With 2 players it has a lot of strategy actually, the randomness of the diceroll is not as important as closing out your opponent from getting treats, and selecting the best tricks to use all the time. The original rules work well, no need to use houserules it at all.
@weekendtoon 50% win rate would suggest it’s a luck fest.
@@BoardGameBollocks haha, actually, yeah, you might be right. And it just shows I have too much spare time.
I was hoping Spots would be a game about the 1977 Sex Pistols tour when they had to call themselves S.P.O.T.S. with gigs being cancelled left right and center, not to be confused with the '70's space trucker game, S.P.I.V.S.
Unfortunately it wasn't either.
Dodged a bullet
The review is spot on 😅
Boom boom 😂
I love this game. Some of the tricks you can do are strategic and nullify your risks of busting. It's a great lil game.
Some tricks don’t though
@@BoardGameBollocks I just played it again right now and discovered I was using the treats incorrectly. I laughed out loud....you ain't wrong 🤣
You have to roll all your dice which increases the risk of busting. What I’m not sure of is do you roll ALL dice or do you get to place dice then roll ALL of the rest?
@@BoardGameBollocks I was placing dice and then rerolling what was left but, after reading the rules again I don't think you can...hence my shock and change of opinion haha
Great review as always!!
I actually like this game for what it is, at least in the 5 plays I've had so far. Not the best game of all time, of course, but it's great for people new to gaming and just people who don't like heavy games with lots of rules. Some of your points are valid, however, so I may play with a few tweaks.
Excellent review as always. I can assure you that you are the dog`s bollocks round here.
As we move towards shorter game nights with smaller games this was not bad game you just gotta know its filler and nothing more than that. Great video.
Love your house rules and explanation for them. What would you call your version if you made an expansion? "The big dog deck"
Dogs with two decks most prob
Seen loads of people getting a proper wide-on about this one.... It even appeared in my fucking LinkedIn feed.! Looks a laugh to me.
This game looks a lot more clever than it actually plays. Played it once then banished it into my attic. "Shits" is a better name.
The colors of the trick cards have a meaning, the red ones, Roll Over (which lets you reroll the dice in your yard) and Howl are always in the game, and then you choose one of each color. I you play it like this, the 7 pip limit is not that brutal, and also games don't take too long. Roll over and Howl is essential to the game, if you don't have Roll Over, you cannot easily clear your yard, and with Howl you can call more dogs and your chances of hitting good dicerolls gets better.
That’s a variant mate
@@BoardGameBollocks sure, but I had the feeling based on your review that you play also with completely random tricks, which can make the game harder.
@weekendtoon I said you choose from 21 tricks
@@BoardGameBollocks okay, I might have misunderstood
Surprised to hear it is worth the time, your don't likes and the need of houseruling sends it to try it out but certainly not one to add to my collection. I might pick it up as a stocking filler for children
What is your process to get a review for our games?
Send me an email
Ruff Rules. Hehehehe.
I’m envious of your math skills. Straight off the dome.
Yea cos you need a phd in maths to play a kids card game ✊🏻💦
@@BoardGameBollocks I’ve never worked so hard to basically flip a coin. The bunghole card IS cute tho. 6/10
Though not fully agree, my experience has been a bit different, really enjoyed the review and found the point you brought up very interesting.
What is this kindergarten shite? What next, reviews of Fuzzyfelt? Mwhahha. [Good review though, as always]
Looks like house rules might be the trick. I wonder if they thought Yahtzee but with random things to go for.
I disagree with you on the 7 spots limit being too brutal. There is a layer of strategy there. You can loss turns/time to get more cards. You know what will be the next card you are gonna get and you can try to pull in cards which will give you a wider range of dice designations. So you could roll 3 dice and no matter what will the dice would end up rolling, you will have a place for them not in your backyard, filling in your cards. And the more time you will loss to take more card you will have a better mitigation factor. That's a better-odds luck mitigation then the treats method, but takes more time so that's in and of itself a push-your-luck game with in a push-your-luck game.
And I love the design of the cards BTW
If you can’t fill your cards then they go in your back yard. If the tricks that mitigate this are gone (and they usually are) and the numbers are high you bust unless you roll what you need. Getting what you’ve already done completely wiped out sucks.