So, i have a lot of thoughts about the purpose and point of historic games. I think i will do a follow up video as Britannia has asked a lot of questions of me about what I want to see in a historic game. Based on my comments in the video about scripting. What are you thoughts on the role of historic games?
Historic games can be a fun learning tool and act as a good introduction to a certain era or conflict but I like them to be able to re-create history and have any kind of outcome then merely just re-telling it with little change to the historic outcome. If the historical time period is broad I don't mind alternate set ups or conditions to represent different time periods or starting points. If it's a little more narrow having cards or events strike at different times can be an interesting way of weaving history into the game but not making it feel so scripted.
I find there is still a lot of variation in strategy with Britannia despite the scoring pushing you in certain directions as you mentioned. Therefore I find it historically accurate but flexible enough to be interesting on multiple repeat plays, and I’ve played this game over 10 times and it is my #3 game of all time as of 2024.
Looking forward to your in depth thoughts on this one. I like my historical games, but I prefer the games that give you the option of staying true to history or go into an alternate path. That’s probably why I like Labyrinth The War On Terror, so many different ways it can play out, even though your deck is full with cards referring real life events.
This was one of the first "proper" games I bought in the mid-eighties. I loved it but did think the player controlling the Romans at the start of the game had loads of fun, but after their demise with the exception of the Romano-Brits didn't have that much to do other than loosing territory. The new version looks a lot better than my chit bonanza version!
I've not played Brittania but I can tell you that 878 Vikings has a more simple set of rules, movement on the board is determined by card play and combat is resolved with custom dice. When invasions happen in 878 Vikings a card is drawn showing which Viking leader is invading and specifying on which coast that leader will land. This gives the game a bit of historic flavour with the early invasions appearing from the North Sea and then later on from a wider range of choices. Since a North Sea invasion could be anywhere from Scotland down to Kent it offers up plenty of strategic choice and prevents the game from feeling scripted.
Think this is now the 3rd edition of the game. Avalon Hill were the first I think, then Fantasy Flight Games, and now this one. Not sure I am a fan of the mini figures, there is a charm to the old cardboard counters from the previous editions. The Famtasy flight version did have some 2 player versions in the back of the book based on various invasion periods. How does this new edition differ to the previous editions?
Britannia is a beer & pretzels kind of historic game. It covers about 1000 years so it has to be heavily scripted to be stable - if it were freer it could go completely off the rails. As it is the Norman and Norwegian invasions make little sense given how personal they were. Ideally a historic game would illustrate why things happened they way they did. They should allow them to develop differently with things that didn't happen happening and things that happened not happening. The COIN games like Pendragon do this quite well though Pendragon is too random for me given its length and complexity. Britannia too really, except it it far lighter. Purple's success is based on how many 6s the enemies of Rome roll. It also only really works well with 4 players.
I thought Britannia was pretty poor at explaining the whys. It did the whens, but not the whys very well. I have no idea who the Jutes really were or why the love Kent.
@@3MBG That Bede has a lot to answer for. I agree about Britannia. If you know the history it does a good job of repainting the country in accordance with it. However the causal structure is all "because faction specific VP" without any insight into strategic or political considerations. Europa Universalis does a good job of recreating the politics over a long - 300 year - period but that is proper long.
3 Minute Board Games The Jutes along with the Angles came from the Jutland Peninsula in Western Denmark. So it was a logical move to make the short trip across the North Sea to the East Coast of Britain.
Ideally Karim, the game would let me know that somehow. If it was a teaching tool. Britannia strikes me as something for people who already know the history in many ways.
3 Minute Board Games Yeah, I think the game takes for granted that the players know the history of what they are playing. So maybe the target audience was intended to be history buffs. But the relatively light nature of the game could contradict that. It does seem strange to not have any serious background history for what the game is meant to represent present with the game.
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So, i have a lot of thoughts about the purpose and point of historic games. I think i will do a follow up video as Britannia has asked a lot of questions of me about what I want to see in a historic game. Based on my comments in the video about scripting. What are you thoughts on the role of historic games?
Historic games can be a fun learning tool and act as a good introduction to a certain era or conflict but I like them to be able to re-create history and have any kind of outcome then merely just re-telling it with little change to the historic outcome.
If the historical time period is broad I don't mind alternate set ups or conditions to represent different time periods or starting points.
If it's a little more narrow having cards or events strike at different times can be an interesting way of weaving history into the game but not making it feel so scripted.
I find there is still a lot of variation in strategy with Britannia despite the scoring pushing you in certain directions as you mentioned. Therefore I find it historically accurate but flexible enough to be interesting on multiple repeat plays, and I’ve played this game over 10 times and it is my #3 game of all time as of 2024.
Looking forward to your in depth thoughts on this one.
I like my historical games, but I prefer the games that give you the option of staying true to history or go into an alternate path. That’s probably why I like Labyrinth The War On Terror, so many different ways it can play out, even though your deck is full with cards referring real life events.
One of my favourite games.
Oh boy! I've never been THIS early!
So early, i'm still posting it to twitter etc 13 minutes later.
This was one of the first "proper" games I bought in the mid-eighties. I loved it but did think the player controlling the Romans at the start of the game had loads of fun, but after their demise with the exception of the Romano-Brits didn't have that much to do other than loosing territory. The new version looks a lot better than my chit bonanza version!
Yeah, the Roman player has 3 turns of greatness, and 13 of mediocrity. Its kinda weird.
Looks a lot like 878 Vikings. Questions for anyone who’s played both, are they similar? Preferences?
My question too
I've not played Brittania but I can tell you that 878 Vikings has a more simple set of rules, movement on the board is determined by card play and combat is resolved with custom dice. When invasions happen in 878 Vikings a card is drawn showing which Viking leader is invading and specifying on which coast that leader will land. This gives the game a bit of historic flavour with the early invasions appearing from the North Sea and then later on from a wider range of choices. Since a North Sea invasion could be anywhere from Scotland down to Kent it offers up plenty of strategic choice and prevents the game from feeling scripted.
I have played both. Think of Britannia as Age of Steam and 878 Vikings would be Ticket to Ride. Both are satisfying in their own ways.
Think this is now the 3rd edition of the game. Avalon Hill were the first I think, then Fantasy Flight Games, and now this one.
Not sure I am a fan of the mini figures, there is a charm to the old cardboard counters from the previous editions.
The Famtasy flight version did have some 2 player versions in the back of the book based on various invasion periods.
How does this new edition differ to the previous editions?
No idea sorry, check on board game geek, there will likely be a thread about it
Britannia is a beer & pretzels kind of historic game. It covers about 1000 years so it has to be heavily scripted to be stable - if it were freer it could go completely off the rails. As it is the Norman and Norwegian invasions make little sense given how personal they were.
Ideally a historic game would illustrate why things happened they way they did. They should allow them to develop differently with things that didn't happen happening and things that happened not happening. The COIN games like Pendragon do this quite well though Pendragon is too random for me given its length and complexity.
Britannia too really, except it it far lighter. Purple's success is based on how many 6s the enemies of Rome roll. It also only really works well with 4 players.
I thought Britannia was pretty poor at explaining the whys. It did the whens, but not the whys very well. I have no idea who the Jutes really were or why the love Kent.
@@3MBG That Bede has a lot to answer for. I agree about Britannia. If you know the history it does a good job of repainting the country in accordance with it. However the causal structure is all "because faction specific VP" without any insight into strategic or political considerations.
Europa Universalis does a good job of recreating the politics over a long - 300 year - period but that is proper long.
3 Minute Board Games The Jutes along with the Angles came from the Jutland Peninsula in Western Denmark. So it was a logical move to make the short trip across the North Sea to the East Coast of Britain.
Ideally Karim, the game would let me know that somehow. If it was a teaching tool. Britannia strikes me as something for people who already know the history in many ways.
3 Minute Board Games Yeah, I think the game takes for granted that the players know the history of what they are playing. So maybe the target audience was intended to be history buffs. But the relatively light nature of the game could contradict that. It does seem strange to not have any serious background history for what the game is meant to represent present with the game.
Avalon Hill version is still the best!
Oh yeah. I only played the 4 player version and not duel. So there is no mention of the duel version of the game which is also included in the box.
Sounds like a game that might be fun to play once
Is there an app pra digital version of this game? It looks like a game that would benefit from a digital version, like Through the Ages.
Don't believe so
There is a Vassal Engine module for Britannia.
Great
Nice review. Best historical boardgame - twilight Struggle. Agree?
Definitely one of my top for sure. Probably number 1, but i do also love Paths of Glory.
Raiders of scythia next would be nice 😉
What do you mean?
@@3MBG sory, you made it already :)
Oh, hahaha, yes. Some months ago :)
History of the World offers a similar experience in a much better package.
Thought he said 16 errors haha