This guy is capable of opening up and share deeply intimate aspects of his life, in order to explain a personal bias. You've got to appreciate this. I can't help feeling deep admiration and respect. This is an honest person. All the best Mr. Tom. You are the best.
Tom, this review is excellent. I love Brass: Birmingham, it's quickly become a favorite of mine, but you do an awesome job of explaining positives and negatives of B:B and why it didn't work for you, especially the way the game made you feel. I personally would prefer that every game review was like this -- don't waste time on a vague rules explanation -- instead spend more time explaining why the game works (or doesn't work) for you, like you did here!
I often skip through the rules section, so I would love more reviews like this. I felt like a I got a stronger sense of the feel of the game than a rules overview could.
Honestly a quick grasp of the rule will help you a lot in understanding if I am gonna like it or not... I mean, different things work differently for different people, that's why there are different offers
A truly valuable review. For those who find it strange or 'wrong' that Tom didn't enjoy the game, I would ask: what is he supposed to do? Pretend to like it because he recognizes it is a well-made game that many others will enjoy? He clearly has the experience and expertise to know what he likes and doesn't, and to identify why. I'd much rather have honesty and the careful explanation of his viewpoint so I can see where I'm likely to agree with him and so better judge if I'd enjoy a game.
@Gabor Kiss 1. Not sure it's fair to say that Tom is mixing the two; I think he's just experiencing the mechanic of corporate debt - which is both effective and thematic in Brass - making him feel uncomfortable because of his history with personal debt. He's not arguing debt is unsuitable or badly used in the game. Is this likely to be a problem for most of the rest of us? No. But I think it's still good that he mentions it, because it effected his enjoyment of the game. 2. I agree some more examples to compare/contrast would have been helpful. But I also know that some games with deep strategy and a steep learning curve I love, while others feel like work, and it can be difficult to explain why other than in very subjective or personal terms. 3. Absolutely. Come to think of it, it seems we're only disagreeing about whether Tom's review was negative or not. I would actually call it more positive than negative, but it's really another beast entirely from a 'classic' review - as much or more about him than about the game. And I like that. Maybe not all the time, but in a case where he sees that a popular, objectively 'good' game doesn't suit him, and he wants to walk us through why that is. That's why it felt valuable to me anyway.
personally, problem is Dice Tower currently doesn't have a prominent medium and heavy strategy reviewer. Most people will see this review and turn away from Brass and other strategy games.
@@w.b.anderson7350 I suppose my problem with the review is that it' s a bit like going into a butchers and moaning because they don't have any broccoli. Also, I suppose I'm in a business where negative customer reviews have a real impact and I really think this does come over as a negative review but for reasons that don't have anything objectively to do with the game itself.
That’s something that I’ve found repeatedly about Tom’s reviews. He frequently judges them based on things that have little to do with the game. He doesn’t really do deep analysis, and all to often reacts based on some personal visceral reaction.
Great review Tom. You conveyed what makes this hobby so great; that you can respect the design of a game whilst also understanding that it can suit a certain audience but not work for you. I love this honesty.
Hey Tom! I am a follower from Italy, who lives now in Belgium. I have watched plenty of reviews by the Dice Tower, and I have to admit my favourit of you 3 guys is Zee. That said, this review of yours is stunning even if I never played the game: very clear, extremely rational, and also intimate. Because of this last point, I send you a big hug. Thank you for your high quality videos, and for sharing your opinions with sincerity. I wish you all the best.
Randomly stumbled into this review and it's one of my favourites. This is a superb example of how to make a review useful regardless of whether the reviewer liked or disliked the game. Bravo!
My biggest take away from this review is - congratulations Tom on overcoming debt! It's a tough grind and always good to hear people who have survived it. Also, I prefer this review style over your normal style. The gameplay overviews are nice but this was sooooooo informative and did a great job expressing your opinion.
Brass (and I mean both Lancashire as Birmingham) is one of my favorite games. I might be a heavy Euro gamer, but I like an evening of good, simple dice chucking with Arcadia Quest as well. That being said, this game requires strategic insight and planning. If you don’t like that in your games, then Brass just isn’t for you. Plenty of other games to choose, catering to anyone’s taste. I was stunned that Tom decided to review this game. I knew it wouldn’t be for him. He was fair to the game though. And yes, you need to play it many times to master it, but the people that enjoy this kind of game get a huge mental pay out from mastering the game and seeing their strategies getting rewarded. I love this game, but I too can see that this feeling will not be universal among board gamers. Thank god we have such different tastes and interests, since it fuels the diversity in games and in the hobby.
The first couple of times I played Brass I felt kind of like Tom did in this review. It was hard, it wasn't intuitive, and it felt like work. However, some in my group really like the game and I was always at least willing to play it. Now after a dozen or so plays, it has become one of my top ten games. I completely understand why some people don't like it (there are those in my group that like almost all the same games I do that refuse to play Brass) but all I can say is while there are not many games that I will ever tell people to "suffer through" the first couple of games, Brass is one of the select few on that list. But hey, Tom, thanks for giving a review of a top rated game that you don't like, you keeping it honest is one of the reasons I watch your reviews.
I've been watching the Dice Tower for about 8 years now. Sometimes for the walkthrough, often for the opinion. But this is now my favorite. Great analysis, personal and really helpful for fans and people interested in the game.
Can’t fault a reviewer speaking from the heart! The way you expressed your opinion should not generate any negative comments, only respect and understanding. Well done!
I love Tom, this was such a great review. He is always very upfront with the expectations of his reviews. He adds a bit of a personal touch to it as well, which is great because it reminds you that he does game reviews, not a sales pitch. Thanks Tom!
I found, not long ago, your channel... and I started to appreciate and respect your game board opinion. Today, I respect more yet your human side!!! Great video, AS ALWAYS!!! I’m still trying to buy this game in Spanish, although, like you, I think it will be a bit mental heavy! Thank you for your review!
"Here's some options, but you better find the right one or you're going to lose." - Tom sums up why I also didn't like B:B after my first play. I didn't have a great teacher, so I got thrown into a 4-player game and absolutely bombed in the canal era.
Tom, this is a beautiful review, and the perfect way to do a review of a game that you don't necessarily like, but understand the value of. I wish that there were more reviews like this, where instead of mocking a game for it's assumed shortcomings, reviewers explain why it just isn't something they personally enjoy. Even though I own this game, I have only managed to play it a couple times. I did enjoy myself, but that's because I do like those mental puzzlers that challenge you to find the best options available to you. I totally understand the feeling of being constrained by the options though instead of being able to swerve your strategy to try something else mid game. Anyways, just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this review.
This is the most useful board game review I've watched since getting into board games. I've wanted this game since it came out because of all the positive buzz but from this review I feel like the game crosses over into a depth of strategy that I know I am not very good at.
@Gabor Kiss Well, do you like every game on the BGG top 20? I did't think so. He even said that the game is good, just not for him. Remember, this is a personal review.
Neue Ära oof, edgy much? The only people I found who don’t enjoy B:B are those who just haven’t grasped the rules yet. It’s really not that bad at all. It’s not even a medium-heavy game.
@@jonlocke7112 So what you're saying is that everyone will like this game, given that they play it enough times? That's just wrong. I've not played this game yet so I don't have an opinion myself though.
@@nebelung1 "I've not played this game yet so I don't have an opinion myself though" Then why are you even commenting? It sounds like B:B might be a little too complex for you to play.
I love the tightness of the game, I find the 2 moves per turn to be really intense, and I love that spending a little too much money one round which puts you at a different turn order can ruin your plans.
Joe Chang I can see that this game would reward you for a significant investment in time and really learning the game. I hope you get to play many times and have a ton of enjoyment from it. Good luck my friend.
Great and honest video as usual Tom. I played it yesterday and loved it. It has good chances to become one of my favorite games. A thing that I noticed and wondered about, and I'm not trying to critique you here: In our group we recently played Barrage and Brass. I loved both and if I remember correctly you enjoyed Barrage as well. However I think that Barrage is way more punishing and stresses me out more than Brass Birmingham. In Brass I have the feeling that there's good moves, maybe not the most optimal one but still something to work with. In Barrage I was often stuck because of a tiny miscalculation.
This is an awesome game. Listening to toms critiques about it made me question why I love it and i realize i love it for its puzzly nature! I can understand the comments made here in the review but as i said, it makes me realize why i like Birmingham. More reviews like this pls Dice Tower crew!!!
The degree of satisfaction when you build your industry engine and those cubes of iron and coal get immediately sucked up and tiles begin flipping....utterly delicious. This is hard game to master, to be sure, but it’s gives you such a high when it clicks. A must own for any strategy game lover. A MUST OWN
Just wanted to say that I really like this style of review from you. The game play summary is nice, but I love the deep dive on likes and dislikes. Great review!
Tom is entitled to his opinion and personal preference, no doubt. The points he expresses against the game are surprising though. In Gloomhaven (a 10 for me as well as Tom s #1) you bring an axe into battle, swing it once and it’s done. Is it any more thematic than iron “flying”? No. Brass has a clear and convincing reason for why iron and coal behave the way they do. Le Havre (not a personal fan, but Tom loves it) is a dry soulless euro. Brass is neither dry nor soulless. It perfectly captures the essence of opportunistic capitalism and industry building. I play it every chance I get.
Games don’t have souls. They’re inanimate objects. Unless you’re some kind of Native American animist or something I guess... Sorry, the term “soulless” for games is a huge hot button for me, because it’s a useless, generic knock with no information in it beyond “you didn’t like it.” I get that you’re having a hard time articulating what you don’t like, but “soulless” is a heavy handed term that shuts down conversation and doesn’t help anyone. It doesn’t even mean the same thing to two different people! For example, if you don’t like Le Havre, you could argue that rules often seem arbitrary and don’t fit the theme, even if the resources do, and that as a result it feels too much like an abstract game to you. Maybe that’s what you meant, maybe it isn’t, because you used a term that conveys no information beyond dislike instead. There’s no way to know.
Gus Smedstad Fair points, well articulated. A tedious game lacking character and/or excitement is what I mean by soulless. Maybe it is a heavy handed term easily misconstrued so I ll be more specific in the future.
I’m not perfectly sure what “character” means. Theme perhaps? I don’t like abstract games, and I find that even a moderate layer of theme helps me enjoy what is arguably otherwise a fairly abstract game, like Lords of Waterdeep. I’ve been playing a lot of Le Havre on the iPad recently, and I don’t find it tedious at all. I find I agonize over most turns, at least once the game starts going. I feel I’m constantly torn between construction, ship building, and resource grabbing. On the other hand, I’m starting to feel like certain parts of the game are falling into well worn grooves. The early turns in particular, and the end game once it’s largely about making and shipping steel. It does, however, take a lot of repeated plays until it gets there. This is sort-of relevant since you used Le Havre as a specific contrast to Brass, and I’m trying to get a feel for the strengths you feel Brass has that Le Havre lacks.
Gus Smedstad Character in a game is to me a blend of theme, narrative potential and/or a sense of “I built this”. The industrial empire building theme, income management, opportunistic manipulation of turn order, tactical player interaction are why I love brass. I haven’t played Le Havre on the iPad but I do play Agricola on it and it does significantly cut down the tedious aspect of it. I enjoy abstract games like Azul and splendor when they’re quick and fun. If I’m sitting down for a 2-3 hour session I d like for it to deliver more. What are your other games of interest?
If people didn't hammer Tom every live chat with 734 questions about his opinion on Brass and why Brass wasn't on his 2018 lists, maybe he wouldn't feel such need to go around in circles just to not step on any toes.
Awww Kidderminster as a city - folks from Kiddy would love to hear that 😁 Really appreciate this change up of format, worked really well for this particularly review.
Thanks Tom I feel exactly the same! I do normally enjoy deep strategy games but this one fell flat for me as well. I had a hard time explaining "why" to my friends but you pointed it out perfectly.
Thanks Tom for sharing. All points you mentioned are definitely what I love about a board game - Strategy is for me the fun and get me to relax from the daily work activities. Therefor I will definitely add Brass to my collection as soon it is available in South Africa. Strategy is definitely not for me work, its what I enjoy the most about board games - all started with Chess from the age of 8, that my dad refused (that taught me) to play against me anymore when I was 11 years old. He kept losing every time we played. I joined the school chess team and later won local school championships. Also taught other kids & adults how to play chess and be the captain of the school chess team. That is where my love for strategic board games started. I am always keen to add those type of board games to my collection. Thanks again Tom.
Tom and I are often on the same wavelength. And for that; I'm glad to see that we both aren't huge fans of the game. Like Tom and many other have said; it's a well designed game, but just not a game that I particularly enjoy.
I completely get what Tom is saying. The banal quote "There is just that level you do not want to go to" applies even for board gamers and for things you like. But also I do believe you get good at something by first being really bad at something. But is playing Brass a skill you want to hone, or just a game you want to play. I still love playing Brass, even if I get destroyed by some players, but I still learn something each time I play either Brass game.
It's a tough line. There's so many board games out there, that first impressions are everything. If it doesn't click for you, its so easy to move on these days.
I'm sure MANY people in these comments will disagree with your thoughts on Brass: Birmingham despite loving your work with The Dice Tower, what you do for the board game industry, and how instrumental your content is in proliferating this wonderful hobby. Although I personally, VEHEMENTLY contrast to your opinion on Brass, I appreciate the well-justified review and you expressing your opinion in an honest, heartfelt way. Bravo!
Tom, sincerely, one of your best reviews. I still need to experience it for myself, but your point of view and why you feel the way you do about the game comes across incredibly well. Thanks for taking the time to express it.
A few recommendations for first time players: 1. Play your first game with a friendly group. Brass can be played in a way in which players gain advantage by piggybacking on each others’ achievements, but it can also be played more selfishly where players try to deny each other of things. As far as I can tell, you can score well with both styles, but the selfish style could definitely give new players a bad impression. 2. Don’t wait until the end of each era to score buildings. Score each building the instant its tile is flipped. (Veteran players know you’ll have to be careful about doing this with certain buildings, but it’s super easy to account for.) Scoring as you go can take a lot of mystery out of a first time experience.
A map pack for Brass. It’s ok but Lancashire is less convoluted so If were forced to play one, I’d stick to Lancashire, but yeah none of these games are for me. Too restrictive, punishing and pseudoknockout for 3 hours.
Well, you summarized my preferences in games better than I have. There is a tipping point in games with mental work outs that become more labor than love... and the older I get the more I find this to be true. Trying this game out tonight. We'll see.... (Thanks for the review)
Nowadays, a game has to be REALLY amazing gameplay and theme-wise to warrant such a big investment. So many great games come out each year and I don't have multiple board game sessions each week anymore. So any game that requires very regular play (preferably with the same game group) to become fun, has to be one the best games ever made for to even consider buying it.
I have played it cca 100-times and I feel still like beginner as well ;-) My friends find it wonderful, not me. I deeply love euro-gamess but this one is so limitating. I have same feelings about this game like you. Not my cup of tea. Apropos, how long do you set up the game?
You don’t really go into debt....your income level is reduced a couple of steps. It’s a game mechanism and Tom is placing the wrong emphasis on this element of the game. The irony is, his beloved Le Harvre has a very prominent “loan” mechanism
Yeah, it's weird for me because I hated loans in La Havre (especially that loans were almost always good, but you needed to set yourself up in the right way to be allowed to take them, which felt like an awkward and artificial mechanic) but was fine with them in Brass because your income was net positive for most of the game regardless of strategy.
@@Szurumbur Correct which means it has a significant impact on game play. Some argue that the Le Havre rule is an exploit that imbalances the game. In other words, you can just go into debt and ignore the need to feed your people in order to exploit the game. This is NOT the case in Brass. The loan function is purely an option if you need more cash. It does not penalise you in any significant way other than replacing a more efficient and effective play for the turn on which you take it
Probably the best game review I’ve ever watched. My reaction was identical except I pushed through the many games it takes to understand the strategy and enjoyed the challenge. But I think it’s great that you did a negative review of a popular game in the manner in which you did. Your criticisms are accurate. Leave to the individual to decide if those criticisms apply to them.
I'm one of the few who like Lanchashire more than Birmingham - though the margin is very narrow. I think this is a fair review. I've played Lanchashire once and Birmingham twice. I don't think it's as thinky of a game as Tom describes it to be. The "type of workout" makes sense, I suppose. Either way, I believe it's a very well designed and developed game - well balanced with a high replay value.
4 года назад
What it is, especially Lancashire, is a game that requires a significant amount of long term planning. Hand management is crucial: identifying the cards that you are going to need later in the phase and hanging onto them, while burning off cards that don't fit into your strategy. His bind where he would get to the end of a phase and not be able to do anything is probably a case of poor hand management; he didn't have enough of an idea of where he was going to make sure to keep the correct cards. Every once in a while you just never see the cards you need for your plans, and if there isn't enough time to pivot to a different plan you're in trouble; it happens.
An excellent and nuanced review. Brass looks incredibly neat but I do like my heavy Euros to allow for tactical pivots as Tom mentioned, so I know it's probably not as much for me either. I do love games that open up with more plays though, so I'll definitely give it a try first chance I get- I just wont purchase it until I know I want it.
snek please understand that this is a game which rewards consistent play. I hope you have the chance for that. It is a lifestyle game. If you can devote your time, I believe it is a game; wherein like chess, you can become a true master.
@@eddieb8054 I fully understand what you mean. I have a few games I would consider fall into that category, for example Twilight Struggle. If I enjoy 2 or 3 plays of Brass (I'll assume my butt will get kicked the first time), it might end up becoming another lifestyle game for me down the road. But right now, until I have that chance, it's not going to be on my radar, if that makes sense.
@@StyxTBuferd I would say, Brass more then simply allows tactical play. It demands it, if you want to play any good. You should form some strategy based on the cards you got dealt and (in case of Birmingham) the setup of the markets. But you should always look out for supply and demand. Use iron, when it is cheap, built iron, when the market is depleted. Canal links are rather weak. If you think, somebody else will build one, delay doing so yourself and rather wait to build in the target location later on. (As long as you have a location card, which allows you to built out of your network.) With Birmingham, always look out for opportunities to use others people's beer. This might include gaming the turn order to get 4 actions before them, even if one of them was not something you planned to do initially. There are 6 different actions in the game you can do. Only with one of them it actually matters, what is printed on your card. This gives a lot of flexibility in what you can archive. Still each card is an action, so they are counted and precious.
You're not the only one who has trouble with the play a card for actions, one mechanical thing that works well is to put a card down and pay the money (if applicable) on the card and at the end of the turn move the cards and money to the track
Well that was refreshing. Imagine if you liked every single board game you "should" like, if you liked every music artist you "should" like, if you liked every movie you "should" like, and also that you disliked everything you should dislike according to some formula. There would be no negative surprises, and no positive surprises either for that matter. Hooray.
I get what you are saying here Tom and I value your honest opinion. However, I still struggle with some of the reasonings. I understand your personal sentiment about loans but one of your favorite games is Le Havre ( never played it without at least one loan). The strategic depth is there but after my plays of it I do not consider them on a "work-Level". I agree that some of the rules are fiddly but the overall package provides an amazing game - to my opinion. The one thing I didn't fully understood is whether you did not like Brass at all or just this variation. You mentioned that your opinion on the game changed considerably over time. Whatever, one of my favorite games of all times and while I am struggling with your harsh dislike I am grateful for your respectful thoughts and explanations.
Fantastic Review Tom! This is exactly the kind of thing the boardgame community needs! Different perspectives and the strength of will to disagree ! Thanks so much
we played it once, i found the scoring to be really strange, and some of the rules are wierd. Maybe we did something wrong but i dont think so. I usually like most games but this was one im not super excited about.
Thanks for this review! I for sure do not and will not own this. I don't care if I win games but since I cannot think ahead several moves and sometimes even one move as my brain is not wired that way--why would I play this? And who wants to play with anyone (me) who is not a challenging opponent? Great format for this review and I hope you do more like this one. Just your final thoughts is excellent!
Great review. I disagree with most of your points, but you made a fair point, no doubt. I think it’s unfortunate that you did not include the usual gameplay overview in this particular video - sure there are in-depth rules explanations out there, but I would hazard a guess that most people who seek those out are interested in the game. I think your points a valid and should be known to more casual players - and by skipping the gameplay there’s a chance these people will ignore the review, because they don’t know which mechanisms you’re referring to.
As soon as you said "I don't like it" like 90 seconds in, I immediately gave this review a like 🤣not because you didn't like it, but because I respect your honesty 😁
Interesting review. Very honest. I like how you can respect this is a "good" game but just not one that you personally enjoy. Game look great. I kind of felt that feeling a little about Scythe. Thanks for your honest opinion Tom! You are the best of the best when it comes to game reviews. You have a way of articulating things that nobody else can.
For those who keeps talking "how many times did you play? Oh you can only enjoy it after x plays" If i told you you can only enjoy a particular film only after watching it x times (x is higher than 1) you would probably laugh at my face. A game should be enjoyable from the first play. Heck, should be enjoyable even before that, when you open it, read the rules.
First game WAS enjoyable for all of us. I think, Tom just had a really bad teacher. No way, somebody needs 20+ games to grock this one. Maybe if all your game experience is Phase 10 and Sorry! But not a prolific reviewer, who knows hundreds of modern games.
I love brass, but i also appreciate this review. i think one point that may be missed is that Brass has exceptions as part of the core rules and i think that’s becoming a dated issue with games. More and more modern games have more straight forward rules with out a lot of exceptions. i also am not a fan of taking loans in games and normally wouldn’t seek out a game that that type of money management. overall i think this was a constructive review and i think we need these to help the hobby continue to grow and develop.
I have to say, this kind of review actually makes me interested in the game (I wasn't before), even when I know beforehand that I will not like it that much, because some of the negatives Tom said are also negatives for me as aI've found before on some games.
The loans are not really loans in this game. Your income just goes down slightly. You don't actually have to pay them back ever. It's a "loan" in name only. It's just a game mechanism.
Wow. Tom I totally agree. You don’t like it, but others will. We can’t all spend a hundred hours on a game. I have my set of games that I play repeatedly. Terraforming Mars is a fantastic game. I play it every Monday. The group I play with is consistently getting better and better. Honestly, if we played a newer player; I can’t see it being fun for them. We would crush them. Yes we would try to help, but it wouldn’t be their best game of the year. But I can’t devote that energy to every game. I’ve played Brass Birmingham once, and I really enjoyed that experience. However, I won’t play it again unless my friends ask to play it. Because I already have the game I want to play repeatedly already. I also have other games I want to play over and over. So Brass isn’t my game. But for the people who are able to invest that amount of time into it. I am so happy for them. They will love this game. If it sounds like the game for you. Please enjoy it. I hope you find the right group. I hope you can meet regularly. You will have so much pleasure and enjoyment. But yes I won’t be playing this amazing game. So I fully agree with Tom, and I hope everyone understands that this isn’t the game for him, but it will be an amazing game for many people.
This was a great review! I want more reviews like this where you explain in more detail what you like and dislike in the game. This is far more useful than a rules review.
@@TheBrokenMeeple But not every game gets the comments that Tom said. It says a lot that he didn't like the game due to personal preferences, but recognizes the quality anyway.
Great review. I was looking forward to buying this game and now i'm kind of hesitant. I'm afraid that it will become the next Concordia for me, another game that feels like you are very restricted in your choices and the game that almost demands from you long-term strategy and to force yourself through mental puzzle, which is just isn't enjoyable for me.
Great review! I always loved the look of this one but I've been on the fence about whether it's the right kind of game for me and my game group, so this helped solidify that I probably don't need to own it. Interesting point about the debt mechanic. Like many people, I'm looking for a sense of escapism in games and would rather not have them simulating unpleasant aspects of day-to-day real life.
What Gabor says. I probably would not recommend outright buying the game, if you are on the fence based on this review. But try before buy. Tom got a lot wrong with this game, probably from a bad teacher. It has simpler and much more intuitive rules then let's say Eldrich Horror or Descent, which he like. And it is a highly tactical game.
No problems with this review, except for your thing about loans. You gave Le Havre your number 1 for 2019, and it is heavily balanced around taking loans?
@@thedicetower There is no repaying loads in Brass though, so they arent really loans, they can be called "liquidation" where you liquidated some of your assets to get money, or "fire sale" with same idea, or "barter" where you gave up VPs for money. its no different than a basic game like Cascadia, where you give up a leaf token (worth VPs) to do something else. Its just theme wise, Loans is the best name for it here. But mechanically its not even a loan.
Accurate review. I feel exhausted after playing brass. It’s a knife fight in a phone booth. I think it’s a good game but I have to be in the exact right mindset to want to play which means it doesn’t come out that much. I appreciate the design. The new school of game design runs opposite to brass, points everywhere, forgiving of mistakes, any path to victory etc. so i think it’s collection worthy just for the contrast.
The new board is a lot harder to see things on than the old “boring”board. Your complaint about the cards isn’t minor. It is a valid complaint that the cards are not easy to just see where things are at a quick glance. This is all a result of form over function, which seems to be in vogue these days. Most people tell me how beautiful this game looks now, and will finally play Brass. For years, nobody would, just because it wasn’t pretty. Apparently.
Jackanapes7 Most of what sells a game is its theme, art, and accessibility(how heavy it looks). So since the art on the game board looks like a game of life, people aren’t attracted to it as much as, Super Art 9000 the wickedly awesome board game. It’s just things that bring people to games before they play it. Like looking at the cover of a book.
I don’t follow the issue involving loans. There is no actual mechanic of debt in this game. If you take out a “loan” for £30, it’s not an actual loan you never have to pay that back. You just increase your income level to a positive value. If your income level is higher than 3, then you’re not even going negative when taking out a loan, so again no debt. I just don’t understand your reasoning, unless it’s just the word “loan” that’s triggering your trauma associated with debt, in which case you can just avoid using the term and just say you’re taking a £30 grant with a pay penalty or something to that effect. I’m drowning in debt in reality now, but this game doesn’t have that affect on me because the gameplay mechanic is literally not debt outside of the term “loan” being used for theme.
I quite like and empathize with your point of view, Tom. Having said that, Brass: Birmingham is still sitting unwrapped on my shelf. Hope I'll enjoy it, even though I'm not a fan of loans or that kind of long-term strategy thinking in board games either.
I'd still recommend unwrapping it and giving it a try your own. Tom is of course allocated to his own opinion, but his reasons are strange. Neither is this a game, where loans are painful, nor is it a long term strategy game, quite the contrary. Also the claim, that you need 20+ games to understand all the (his call) fiddly rules, is just nuts. I played this and Lancashire with a lot of people, and nobody had any issues. It might be fiddly rules for somebody, who has to read 50+ rule books a week, so for a professional reviewer like Tom, but not for regular gamers, who give some time to prefer before the first game. After one proper game without rushing, it should get intuitive for most players, who are familiar with games above family weight.
@@markusschmidt9260 Oh, I do intend to play it, had i had more time on my hands. I've got plenty of games sitting unwrapped on my shelf, unfortunately.
The Dice Tower also has reviews from Ryan Metzler and Brian Drake available on their website. As well, most other "big name" reviewers have given their opinion and play throughs (all the links are available on BGG website). It's probably time to give some attention to one of the thousands of other games coming out this year.
Caught myself nodding at your review, Tom. BB is just not for me; feeling like a failure all way through a game, even when winning/having won is just not for me. Slightly admiring those who enjoy it; wanted to like it so much!😮
I think that we all have a limit where games start to become too taxing for your brain, and stop being a fun activity and start "feeling like work". For Tom this game is beyond that limit. For others not.
Moot point. There's too many games to play out there, if you don't like something, it's time to move on. If you need 10 plays for it to get good for you, then it's not really worth it if you play as many games as Dice Tower needs to to put out their content.
@@PsiRedEye22 It's not moot point. This game is expensive at least where I live, 84 euros. You're supposed to take time to get good at it. If someone plays the guitar for couple of days and gives up, maybe they shouldn't buy a guitar. Is playing the guitar fun in the beginning? No.
This guy is capable of opening up and share deeply intimate aspects of his life, in order to explain a personal bias. You've got to appreciate this.
I can't help feeling deep admiration and respect. This is an honest person.
All the best Mr. Tom. You are the best.
Tom, this review is excellent. I love Brass: Birmingham, it's quickly become a favorite of mine, but you do an awesome job of explaining positives and negatives of B:B and why it didn't work for you, especially the way the game made you feel. I personally would prefer that every game review was like this -- don't waste time on a vague rules explanation -- instead spend more time explaining why the game works (or doesn't work) for you, like you did here!
I wanted to post something similar to this, but your words here say it better, Jonathan. Keep up the good work Tom!
I often skip through the rules section, so I would love more reviews like this. I felt like a I got a stronger sense of the feel of the game than a rules overview could.
Honestly a quick grasp of the rule will help you a lot in understanding if I am gonna like it or not... I mean, different things work differently for different people, that's why there are different offers
A truly valuable review. For those who find it strange or 'wrong' that Tom didn't enjoy the game, I would ask: what is he supposed to do? Pretend to like it because he recognizes it is a well-made game that many others will enjoy? He clearly has the experience and expertise to know what he likes and doesn't, and to identify why. I'd much rather have honesty and the careful explanation of his viewpoint so I can see where I'm likely to agree with him and so better judge if I'd enjoy a game.
@Gabor Kiss 1. Not sure it's fair to say that Tom is mixing the two; I think he's just experiencing the mechanic of corporate debt - which is both effective and thematic in Brass - making him feel uncomfortable because of his history with personal debt. He's not arguing debt is unsuitable or badly used in the game. Is this likely to be a problem for most of the rest of us? No. But I think it's still good that he mentions it, because it effected his enjoyment of the game.
2. I agree some more examples to compare/contrast would have been helpful. But I also know that some games with deep strategy and a steep learning curve I love, while others feel like work, and it can be difficult to explain why other than in very subjective or personal terms.
3. Absolutely. Come to think of it, it seems we're only disagreeing about whether Tom's review was negative or not. I would actually call it more positive than negative, but it's really another beast entirely from a 'classic' review - as much or more about him than about the game. And I like that. Maybe not all the time, but in a case where he sees that a popular, objectively 'good' game doesn't suit him, and he wants to walk us through why that is. That's why it felt valuable to me anyway.
personally, problem is Dice Tower currently doesn't have a prominent medium and heavy strategy reviewer. Most people will see this review and turn away from Brass and other strategy games.
@@w.b.anderson7350 I suppose my problem with the review is that it' s a bit like going into a butchers and moaning because they don't have any broccoli. Also, I suppose I'm in a business where negative customer reviews have a real impact and I really think this does come over as a negative review but for reasons that don't have anything objectively to do with the game itself.
@@billeaton6495 spot on.
That’s something that I’ve found repeatedly about Tom’s reviews. He frequently judges them based on things that have little to do with the game. He doesn’t really do deep analysis, and all to often reacts based on some personal visceral reaction.
Great review Tom. You conveyed what makes this hobby so great; that you can respect the design of a game whilst also understanding that it can suit a certain audience but not work for you. I love this honesty.
Hey Tom! I am a follower from Italy, who lives now in Belgium. I have watched plenty of reviews by the Dice Tower, and I have to admit my favourit of you 3 guys is Zee. That said, this review of yours is stunning even if I never played the game: very clear, extremely rational, and also intimate. Because of this last point, I send you a big hug. Thank you for your high quality videos, and for sharing your opinions with sincerity. I wish you all the best.
I love this game and I understand Tom's review. Everyone has their own style/preference.
Randomly stumbled into this review and it's one of my favourites. This is a superb example of how to make a review useful regardless of whether the reviewer liked or disliked the game. Bravo!
My biggest take away from this review is - congratulations Tom on overcoming debt! It's a tough grind and always good to hear people who have survived it.
Also, I prefer this review style over your normal style. The gameplay overviews are nice but this was sooooooo informative and did a great job expressing your opinion.
Brass (and I mean both Lancashire as Birmingham) is one of my favorite games. I might be a heavy Euro gamer, but I like an evening of good, simple dice chucking with Arcadia Quest as well. That being said, this game requires strategic insight and planning. If you don’t like that in your games, then Brass just isn’t for you. Plenty of other games to choose, catering to anyone’s taste. I was stunned that Tom decided to review this game. I knew it wouldn’t be for him. He was fair to the game though. And yes, you need to play it many times to master it, but the people that enjoy this kind of game get a huge mental pay out from mastering the game and seeing their strategies getting rewarded. I love this game, but I too can see that this feeling will not be universal among board gamers. Thank god we have such different tastes and interests, since it fuels the diversity in games and in the hobby.
Brass Birmingham is now #1 in BGG. It's an amazing game. I played it around 500 times.
How?
A courageous and honest review despite the wide popularity of Brass Birmingham.
This may be one of the best reviews I’ve seen.
It's not for everyone. But it is for me! Love it! I think I'll take another loan.
The first couple of times I played Brass I felt kind of like Tom did in this review. It was hard, it wasn't intuitive, and it felt like work. However, some in my group really like the game and I was always at least willing to play it. Now after a dozen or so plays, it has become one of my top ten games. I completely understand why some people don't like it (there are those in my group that like almost all the same games I do that refuse to play Brass) but all I can say is while there are not many games that I will ever tell people to "suffer through" the first couple of games, Brass is one of the select few on that list. But hey, Tom, thanks for giving a review of a top rated game that you don't like, you keeping it honest is one of the reasons I watch your reviews.
I've been watching the Dice Tower for about 8 years now. Sometimes for the walkthrough, often for the opinion. But this is now my favorite. Great analysis, personal and really helpful for fans and people interested in the game.
Can’t fault a reviewer speaking from the heart! The way you expressed your opinion should not generate any negative comments, only respect and understanding. Well done!
A good review, but as a person who is originally from some where on the board I bristled when Tom said "Kid-in-Meister" 😄😄😄
I love Tom, this was such a great review. He is always very upfront with the expectations of his reviews. He adds a bit of a personal touch to it as well, which is great because it reminds you that he does game reviews, not a sales pitch. Thanks Tom!
I found, not long ago, your channel... and I started to appreciate and respect your game board opinion. Today, I respect more yet your human side!!! Great video, AS ALWAYS!!! I’m still trying to buy this game in Spanish, although, like you, I think it will be a bit mental heavy! Thank you for your review!
"Here's some options, but you better find the right one or you're going to lose." - Tom sums up why I also didn't like B:B after my first play.
I didn't have a great teacher, so I got thrown into a 4-player game and absolutely bombed in the canal era.
This is one of the best board game review I've seen. It was honest and very informative. Thank you!
Tom, this is a beautiful review, and the perfect way to do a review of a game that you don't necessarily like, but understand the value of. I wish that there were more reviews like this, where instead of mocking a game for it's assumed shortcomings, reviewers explain why it just isn't something they personally enjoy.
Even though I own this game, I have only managed to play it a couple times. I did enjoy myself, but that's because I do like those mental puzzlers that challenge you to find the best options available to you. I totally understand the feeling of being constrained by the options though instead of being able to swerve your strategy to try something else mid game.
Anyways, just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this review.
I watched a lot of your reviews but this one was truly exceptionell! Insightful, personal and spicy. Do more in this way !
This is the most useful board game review I've watched since getting into board games. I've wanted this game since it came out because of all the positive buzz but from this review I feel like the game crosses over into a depth of strategy that I know I am not very good at.
Just keep pushing! I was crap at this game for weeks before it 'clicked'.
@Gabor Kiss Well, do you like every game on the BGG top 20? I did't think so. He even said that the game is good, just not for him. Remember, this is a personal review.
Neue Ära oof, edgy much? The only people I found who don’t enjoy B:B are those who just haven’t grasped the rules yet. It’s really not that bad at all. It’s not even a medium-heavy game.
@@jonlocke7112 So what you're saying is that everyone will like this game, given that they play it enough times? That's just wrong. I've not played this game yet so I don't have an opinion myself though.
@@nebelung1 "I've not played this game yet so I don't have an opinion myself though"
Then why are you even commenting? It sounds like B:B might be a little too complex for you to play.
I love the tightness of the game, I find the 2 moves per turn to be really intense, and I love that spending a little too much money one round which puts you at a different turn order can ruin your plans.
Joe Chang I can see that this game would reward you for a significant investment in time and really learning the game. I hope you get to play many times and have a ton of enjoyment from it. Good luck my friend.
Great and honest video as usual Tom. I played it yesterday and loved it. It has good chances to become one of my favorite games. A thing that I noticed and wondered about, and I'm not trying to critique you here: In our group we recently played Barrage and Brass. I loved both and if I remember correctly you enjoyed Barrage as well. However I think that Barrage is way more punishing and stresses me out more than Brass Birmingham. In Brass I have the feeling that there's good moves, maybe not the most optimal one but still something to work with. In Barrage I was often stuck because of a tiny miscalculation.
This is an awesome game. Listening to toms critiques about it made me question why I love it and i realize i love it for its puzzly nature! I can understand the comments made here in the review but as i said, it makes me realize why i like Birmingham.
More reviews like this pls Dice Tower crew!!!
The degree of satisfaction when you build your industry engine and those cubes of iron and coal get immediately sucked up and tiles begin flipping....utterly delicious. This is hard game to master, to be sure, but it’s gives you such a high when it clicks. A must own for any strategy game lover. A MUST OWN
Really appreciate your reviews! Always really insightful and with a deep understanding of the mechanics and board gaming space. Thank you so much!
Just wanted to say that I really like this style of review from you. The game play summary is nice, but I love the deep dive on likes and dislikes. Great review!
100% agree, get him to do this more often. I have zero interest in this game or any like it but loved this style review.
Tom is entitled to his opinion and personal preference, no doubt. The points he expresses against the game are surprising though. In Gloomhaven (a 10 for me as well as Tom s #1) you bring an axe into battle, swing it once and it’s done. Is it any more thematic than iron “flying”? No. Brass has a clear and convincing reason for why iron and coal behave the way they do. Le Havre (not a personal fan, but Tom loves it) is a dry soulless euro. Brass is neither dry nor soulless. It perfectly captures the essence of opportunistic capitalism and industry building. I play it every chance I get.
Tom's #3, you missed the update i guess hehe
Games don’t have souls. They’re inanimate objects. Unless you’re some kind of Native American animist or something I guess...
Sorry, the term “soulless” for games is a huge hot button for me, because it’s a useless, generic knock with no information in it beyond “you didn’t like it.” I get that you’re having a hard time articulating what you don’t like, but “soulless” is a heavy handed term that shuts down conversation and doesn’t help anyone. It doesn’t even mean the same thing to two different people!
For example, if you don’t like Le Havre, you could argue that rules often seem arbitrary and don’t fit the theme, even if the resources do, and that as a result it feels too much like an abstract game to you. Maybe that’s what you meant, maybe it isn’t, because you used a term that conveys no information beyond dislike instead. There’s no way to know.
Gus Smedstad Fair points, well articulated. A tedious game lacking character and/or excitement is what I mean by soulless. Maybe it is a heavy handed term easily misconstrued so I ll be more specific in the future.
I’m not perfectly sure what “character” means. Theme perhaps? I don’t like abstract games, and I find that even a moderate layer of theme helps me enjoy what is arguably otherwise a fairly abstract game, like Lords of Waterdeep.
I’ve been playing a lot of Le Havre on the iPad recently, and I don’t find it tedious at all. I find I agonize over most turns, at least once the game starts going. I feel I’m constantly torn between construction, ship building, and resource grabbing.
On the other hand, I’m starting to feel like certain parts of the game are falling into well worn grooves. The early turns in particular, and the end game once it’s largely about making and shipping steel. It does, however, take a lot of repeated plays until it gets there.
This is sort-of relevant since you used Le Havre as a specific contrast to Brass, and I’m trying to get a feel for the strengths you feel Brass has that Le Havre lacks.
Gus Smedstad Character in a game is to me a blend of theme, narrative potential and/or a sense of “I built this”. The industrial empire building theme, income management, opportunistic manipulation of turn order, tactical player interaction are why I love brass. I haven’t played Le Havre on the iPad but I do play Agricola on it and it does significantly cut down the tedious aspect of it. I enjoy abstract games like Azul and splendor when they’re quick and fun. If I’m sitting down for a 2-3 hour session I d like for it to deliver more. What are your other games of interest?
I love this. I know why your other reviews are shorter. Sometimes that's cos there's less to day. But I like the deep dive.
Wow this review took a personal turn! Shows how deeply Tom cares about his games
If people didn't hammer Tom every live chat with 734 questions about his opinion on Brass and why Brass wasn't on his 2018 lists, maybe he wouldn't feel such need to go around in circles just to not step on any toes.
Thank you, Tom. That was the best critical review video of a game which I have seen from you. Not every game is for everyone.
Awww Kidderminster as a city - folks from Kiddy would love to hear that 😁 Really appreciate this change up of format, worked really well for this particularly review.
I think you mean Kiddenmeister.
Thanks Tom I feel exactly the same! I do normally enjoy deep strategy games but this one fell flat for me as well. I had a hard time explaining "why" to my friends but you pointed it out perfectly.
Went back to see this review (again) after it hit bgg #1 - you convinced me, again!
Anyway those chips looks good
Thanks Tom for sharing.
All points you mentioned are definitely what I love about a board game - Strategy is for me the fun and get me to relax from the daily work activities.
Therefor I will definitely add Brass to my collection as soon it is available in South Africa.
Strategy is definitely not for me work, its what I enjoy the most about board games - all started with Chess from the age of 8, that my dad refused (that taught me) to play against me anymore when I was 11 years old. He kept losing every time we played.
I joined the school chess team and later won local school championships.
Also taught other kids & adults how to play chess and be the captain of the school chess team.
That is where my love for strategic board games started.
I am always keen to add those type of board games to my collection.
Thanks again Tom.
It's always amazing seeing a reviewed have the balls to not just automatically gush over the hobby favorites.
Tom and I are often on the same wavelength. And for that; I'm glad to see that we both aren't huge fans of the game. Like Tom and many other have said; it's a well designed game, but just not a game that I particularly enjoy.
I completely get what Tom is saying. The banal quote "There is just that level you do not want to go to" applies even for board gamers and for things you like.
But also I do believe you get good at something by first being really bad at something. But is playing Brass a skill you want to hone, or just a game you want to play.
I still love playing Brass, even if I get destroyed by some players, but I still learn something each time I play either Brass game.
It's a tough line. There's so many board games out there, that first impressions are everything. If it doesn't click for you, its so easy to move on these days.
I'm sure MANY people in these comments will disagree with your thoughts on Brass: Birmingham despite loving your work with The Dice Tower, what you do for the board game industry, and how instrumental your content is in proliferating this wonderful hobby. Although I personally, VEHEMENTLY contrast to your opinion on Brass, I appreciate the well-justified review and you expressing your opinion in an honest, heartfelt way. Bravo!
So basically... Dice Tower judgement SEAL OF EXCELLENCE! Just not for Tom.
My TOP 5 game and I thoroughly enjoyed this review. Well agrued and I see where you are coming from as a reviewer.
Tom, sincerely, one of your best reviews. I still need to experience it for myself, but your point of view and why you feel the way you do about the game comes across incredibly well. Thanks for taking the time to express it.
This review is truly exceptional. Thank you, Tom.
A few recommendations for first time players:
1. Play your first game with a friendly group. Brass can be played in a way in which players gain advantage by piggybacking on each others’ achievements, but it can also be played more selfishly where players try to deny each other of things. As far as I can tell, you can score well with both styles, but the selfish style could definitely give new players a bad impression.
2. Don’t wait until the end of each era to score buildings. Score each building the instant its tile is flipped. (Veteran players know you’ll have to be careful about doing this with certain buildings, but it’s super easy to account for.) Scoring as you go can take a lot of mystery out of a first time experience.
I get it. I have it on my shelf, and am eager to play it. I have a feeling I'll like it.
You are the best Tom! Thank you for your honesty.
A map pack for Brass. It’s ok but Lancashire is less convoluted so If were forced to play one, I’d stick to Lancashire, but yeah none of these games are for me. Too restrictive, punishing and pseudoknockout for 3 hours.
Well, you summarized my preferences in games better than I have. There is a tipping point in games with mental work outs that become more labor than love... and the older I get the more I find this to be true. Trying this game out tonight. We'll see....
(Thanks for the review)
Nowadays, a game has to be REALLY amazing gameplay and theme-wise to warrant such a big investment. So many great games come out each year and I don't have multiple board game sessions each week anymore. So any game that requires very regular play (preferably with the same game group) to become fun, has to be one the best games ever made for to even consider buying it.
I have played it cca 100-times and I feel still like beginner as well ;-) My friends find it wonderful, not me. I deeply love euro-gamess but this one is so limitating. I have same feelings about this game like you. Not my cup of tea. Apropos, how long do you set up the game?
I figured that this was the game Tom alluded to as one he would catch guff for because he didn’t like it...
You don’t really go into debt....your income level is reduced a couple of steps. It’s a game mechanism and Tom is placing the wrong emphasis on this element of the game. The irony is, his beloved Le Harvre has a very prominent “loan” mechanism
But isn't the loan in Le Havre always 1 coin no matter how many you have? It just feels like it's not that big of a deal.
Yeah, it's weird for me because I hated loans in La Havre (especially that loans were almost always good, but you needed to set yourself up in the right way to be allowed to take them, which felt like an awkward and artificial mechanic) but was fine with them in Brass because your income was net positive for most of the game regardless of strategy.
@@Szurumbur Correct which means it has a significant impact on game play. Some argue that the Le Havre rule is an exploit that imbalances the game. In other words, you can just go into debt and ignore the need to feed your people in order to exploit the game. This is NOT the case in Brass. The loan function is purely an option if you need more cash. It does not penalise you in any significant way other than replacing a more efficient and effective play for the turn on which you take it
Does the game come with those Iron Clays???
videos like this are why Tom is the best - honest and sincere
Probably the best game review I’ve ever watched. My reaction was identical except I pushed through the many games it takes to understand the strategy and enjoyed the challenge. But I think it’s great that you did a negative review of a popular game in the manner in which you did. Your criticisms are accurate. Leave to the individual to decide if those criticisms apply to them.
I'm one of the few who like Lanchashire more than Birmingham - though the margin is very narrow. I think this is a fair review. I've played Lanchashire once and Birmingham twice. I don't think it's as thinky of a game as Tom describes it to be. The "type of workout" makes sense, I suppose. Either way, I believe it's a very well designed and developed game - well balanced with a high replay value.
What it is, especially Lancashire, is a game that requires a significant amount of long term planning. Hand management is crucial: identifying the cards that you are going to need later in the phase and hanging onto them, while burning off cards that don't fit into your strategy.
His bind where he would get to the end of a phase and not be able to do anything is probably a case of poor hand management; he didn't have enough of an idea of where he was going to make sure to keep the correct cards. Every once in a while you just never see the cards you need for your plans, and if there isn't enough time to pivot to a different plan you're in trouble; it happens.
An excellent and nuanced review. Brass looks incredibly neat but I do like my heavy Euros to allow for tactical pivots as Tom mentioned, so I know it's probably not as much for me either. I do love games that open up with more plays though, so I'll definitely give it a try first chance I get- I just wont purchase it until I know I want it.
snek please understand that this is a game which rewards consistent play. I hope you have the chance for that. It is a lifestyle game. If you can devote your time, I believe it is a game; wherein like chess, you can become a true master.
This game DO ALLOWS tactical pivots, just saying.
@@eddieb8054 I fully understand what you mean. I have a few games I would consider fall into that category, for example Twilight Struggle. If I enjoy 2 or 3 plays of Brass (I'll assume my butt will get kicked the first time), it might end up becoming another lifestyle game for me down the road. But right now, until I have that chance, it's not going to be on my radar, if that makes sense.
@@winnie_s Interesting. Mind telling me what those are?
@@StyxTBuferd I would say, Brass more then simply allows tactical play. It demands it, if you want to play any good. You should form some strategy based on the cards you got dealt and (in case of Birmingham) the setup of the markets. But you should always look out for supply and demand. Use iron, when it is cheap, built iron, when the market is depleted. Canal links are rather weak. If you think, somebody else will build one, delay doing so yourself and rather wait to build in the target location later on. (As long as you have a location card, which allows you to built out of your network.) With Birmingham, always look out for opportunities to use others people's beer. This might include gaming the turn order to get 4 actions before them, even if one of them was not something you planned to do initially. There are 6 different actions in the game you can do. Only with one of them it actually matters, what is printed on your card. This gives a lot of flexibility in what you can archive. Still each card is an action, so they are counted and precious.
You're not the only one who has trouble with the play a card for actions, one mechanical thing that works well is to put a card down and pay the money (if applicable) on the card and at the end of the turn move the cards and money to the track
This is a great review. Tom is a high profile game reviewer and when he knocks a sacred cow a detailed explanation is a good thing.
Well that was refreshing. Imagine if you liked every single board game you "should" like, if you liked every music artist you "should" like, if you liked every movie you "should" like, and also that you disliked everything you should dislike according to some formula. There would be no negative surprises, and no positive surprises either for that matter. Hooray.
I get what you are saying here Tom and I value your honest opinion. However, I still struggle with some of the reasonings. I understand your personal sentiment about loans but one of your favorite games is Le Havre ( never played it without at least one loan). The strategic depth is there but after my plays of it I do not consider them on a "work-Level". I agree that some of the rules are fiddly but the overall package provides an amazing game - to my opinion. The one thing I didn't fully understood is whether you did not like Brass at all or just this variation. You mentioned that your opinion on the game changed considerably over time.
Whatever, one of my favorite games of all times and while I am struggling with your harsh dislike I am grateful for your respectful thoughts and explanations.
my favourite game of all time. but i understand and respect this review! :) i really wish they showed the location on the card too
Fantastic Review Tom! This is exactly the kind of thing the boardgame community needs! Different perspectives and the strength of will to disagree ! Thanks so much
we played it once, i found the scoring to be really strange, and some of the rules are wierd. Maybe we did something wrong but i dont think so. I usually like most games but this was one im not super excited about.
Thanks for this review! I for sure do not and will not own this. I don't care if I win games but since I cannot think ahead several moves and sometimes even one move as my brain is not wired that way--why would I play this? And who wants to play with anyone (me) who is not a challenging opponent? Great format for this review and I hope you do more like this one. Just your final thoughts is excellent!
A million victory points to Tom for using "grok"!
Great review. I disagree with most of your points, but you made a fair point, no doubt.
I think it’s unfortunate that you did not include the usual gameplay overview in this particular video - sure there are in-depth rules explanations out there, but I would hazard a guess that most people who seek those out are interested in the game. I think your points a valid and should be known to more casual players - and by skipping the gameplay there’s a chance these people will ignore the review, because they don’t know which mechanisms you’re referring to.
Did you break any clays with that hammer?
As soon as you said "I don't like it" like 90 seconds in, I immediately gave this review a like 🤣not because you didn't like it, but because I respect your honesty 😁
Interesting review. Very honest. I like how you can respect this is a "good" game but just not one that you personally enjoy. Game look great. I kind of felt that feeling a little about Scythe. Thanks for your honest opinion Tom! You are the best of the best when it comes to game reviews. You have a way of articulating things that nobody else can.
For those who keeps talking "how many times did you play? Oh you can only enjoy it after x plays"
If i told you you can only enjoy a particular film only after watching it x times (x is higher than 1) you would probably laugh at my face.
A game should be enjoyable from the first play. Heck, should be enjoyable even before that, when you open it, read the rules.
First game WAS enjoyable for all of us. I think, Tom just had a really bad teacher. No way, somebody needs 20+ games to grock this one. Maybe if all your game experience is Phase 10 and Sorry! But not a prolific reviewer, who knows hundreds of modern games.
Awesome awesome review!!! I imagined Tom would not like this game. I feel the same about this game.
I love brass, but i also appreciate this review.
i think one point that may be missed is that Brass has exceptions as part of the core rules and i think that’s becoming a dated issue with games. More and more modern games have more straight forward rules with out a lot of exceptions.
i also am not a fan of taking loans in games and normally wouldn’t seek out a game that that type of money management. overall i think this was a constructive review and i think we need these to help the hobby continue to grow and develop.
I have to say, this kind of review actually makes me interested in the game (I wasn't before), even when I know beforehand that I will not like it that much, because some of the negatives Tom said are also negatives for me as aI've found before on some games.
The loans are not really loans in this game. Your income just goes down slightly. You don't actually have to pay them back ever. It's a "loan" in name only. It's just a game mechanism.
Wow. Tom I totally agree. You don’t like it, but others will. We can’t all spend a hundred hours on a game. I have my set of games that I play repeatedly. Terraforming Mars is a fantastic game. I play it every Monday. The group I play with is consistently getting better and better. Honestly, if we played a newer player; I can’t see it being fun for them. We would crush them. Yes we would try to help, but it wouldn’t be their best game of the year. But I can’t devote that energy to every game. I’ve played Brass Birmingham once, and I really enjoyed that experience. However, I won’t play it again unless my friends ask to play it. Because I already have the game I want to play repeatedly already. I also have other games I want to play over and over. So Brass isn’t my game. But for the people who are able to invest that amount of time into it. I am so happy for them. They will love this game. If it sounds like the game for you. Please enjoy it. I hope you find the right group. I hope you can meet regularly. You will have so much pleasure and enjoyment. But yes I won’t be playing this amazing game. So I fully agree with Tom, and I hope everyone understands that this isn’t the game for him, but it will be an amazing game for many people.
Love the game and also love the review. Well done giving your critical perspective on the game!
This was a great review! I want more reviews like this where you explain in more detail what you like and dislike in the game. This is far more useful than a rules review.
Loved the nuance in this review, but shouldn't Brass get a seal of some sort given what you said?
Mattchew2232 not really because then every game could get a seal. It’s barely a 5/6 anyway.
@@TheBrokenMeeple But not every game gets the comments that Tom said. It says a lot that he didn't like the game due to personal preferences, but recognizes the quality anyway.
Different strokes for different folks.
*yawn*
@@GoldenSirius never rub another man's rhubarb
That was one of the best videos DT has produced in my opinion. Well thought out, honest, straightforward, and really valuable. Thanks!
Great review. I was looking forward to buying this game and now i'm kind of hesitant. I'm afraid that it will become the next Concordia for me, another game that feels like you are very restricted in your choices and the game that almost demands from you long-term strategy and to force yourself through mental puzzle, which is just isn't enjoyable for me.
Great review! I always loved the look of this one but I've been on the fence about whether it's the right kind of game for me and my game group, so this helped solidify that I probably don't need to own it. Interesting point about the debt mechanic. Like many people, I'm looking for a sense of escapism in games and would rather not have them simulating unpleasant aspects of day-to-day real life.
What Gabor says. I probably would not recommend outright buying the game, if you are on the fence based on this review. But try before buy. Tom got a lot wrong with this game, probably from a bad teacher. It has simpler and much more intuitive rules then let's say Eldrich Horror or Descent, which he like. And it is a highly tactical game.
No problems with this review, except for your thing about loans. You gave Le Havre your number 1 for 2019, and it is heavily balanced around taking loans?
I have taken loans in one game. Out of dozens.
Tom how do you feel about loans in Le Havre?
Not a huge fan, I usually avoid taking them, and pay them off as soon as possible when I play.
@@thedicetower There is no repaying loads in Brass though, so they arent really loans, they can be called "liquidation" where you liquidated some of your assets to get money, or "fire sale" with same idea, or "barter" where you gave up VPs for money. its no different than a basic game like Cascadia, where you give up a leaf token (worth VPs) to do something else. Its just theme wise, Loans is the best name for it here. But mechanically its not even a loan.
@@Duxa_ Exactly. I left a similar comment some time ago. The "loans" in Brass are loans in name only. Tom should be able to see this.
Great review. But i still love this game :) For many reasons. Some of them I disagree with Tom but that’s ok.
Not a fan of this game and you do an amazing job of explaining why. Thanks Tom!
Accurate review. I feel exhausted after playing brass. It’s a knife fight in a phone booth. I think it’s a good game but I have to be in the exact right mindset to want to play which means it doesn’t come out that much. I appreciate the design. The new school of game design runs opposite to brass, points everywhere, forgiving of mistakes, any path to victory etc. so i think it’s collection worthy just for the contrast.
That's the nicest bad review I've ever seen.
You didn't bury the lede there.
The new board is a lot harder to see things on than the old “boring”board. Your complaint about the cards isn’t minor. It is a valid complaint that the cards are not easy to just see where things are at a quick glance.
This is all a result of form over function, which seems to be in vogue these days. Most people tell me how beautiful this game looks now, and will finally play Brass. For years, nobody would, just because it wasn’t pretty. Apparently.
Jackanapes7 Most of what sells a game is its theme, art, and accessibility(how heavy it looks). So since the art on the game board looks like a game of life, people aren’t attracted to it as much as, Super Art 9000 the wickedly awesome board game.
It’s just things that bring people to games before they play it. Like looking at the cover of a book.
Great review Tom! Thanks!
hi tom, I totally got ur message and I love the game (played 2x only so far!) Keep truckin'!
I don’t follow the issue involving loans. There is no actual mechanic of debt in this game. If you take out a “loan” for £30, it’s not an actual loan you never have to pay that back. You just increase your income level to a positive value. If your income level is higher than 3, then you’re not even going negative when taking out a loan, so again no debt. I just don’t understand your reasoning, unless it’s just the word “loan” that’s triggering your trauma associated with debt, in which case you can just avoid using the term and just say you’re taking a £30 grant with a pay penalty or something to that effect. I’m drowning in debt in reality now, but this game doesn’t have that affect on me because the gameplay mechanic is literally not debt outside of the term “loan” being used for theme.
I quite like and empathize with your point of view, Tom. Having said that, Brass: Birmingham is still sitting unwrapped on my shelf. Hope I'll enjoy it, even though I'm not a fan of loans or that kind of long-term strategy thinking in board games either.
I'd still recommend unwrapping it and giving it a try your own. Tom is of course allocated to his own opinion, but his reasons are strange. Neither is this a game, where loans are painful, nor is it a long term strategy game, quite the contrary. Also the claim, that you need 20+ games to understand all the (his call) fiddly rules, is just nuts. I played this and Lancashire with a lot of people, and nobody had any issues. It might be fiddly rules for somebody, who has to read 50+ rule books a week, so for a professional reviewer like Tom, but not for regular gamers, who give some time to prefer before the first game. After one proper game without rushing, it should get intuitive for most players, who are familiar with games above family weight.
@@markusschmidt9260 Oh, I do intend to play it, had i had more time on my hands. I've got plenty of games sitting unwrapped on my shelf, unfortunately.
Honest review. I hope Jason has a chance to review it as it’s a “Jason game”. Stephenson’s Rocket, too!
The Dice Tower also has reviews from Ryan Metzler and Brian Drake available on their website. As well, most other "big name" reviewers have given their opinion and play throughs (all the links are available on BGG website). It's probably time to give some attention to one of the thousands of other games coming out this year.
Caught myself nodding at your review, Tom. BB is just not for me; feeling like a failure all way through a game, even when winning/having won is just not for me. Slightly admiring those who enjoy it; wanted to like it so much!😮
I think that we all have a limit where games start to become too taxing for your brain, and stop being a fun activity and start "feeling like work". For Tom this game is beyond that limit. For others not.
How many times did you play?
Moot point. There's too many games to play out there, if you don't like something, it's time to move on. If you need 10 plays for it to get good for you, then it's not really worth it if you play as many games as Dice Tower needs to to put out their content.
@@PsiRedEye22 My point is not that he should have played Brass more in order to enjoy it. It's about reviewing a game after a single play.
@@PsiRedEye22 It's not moot point. This game is expensive at least where I live, 84 euros. You're supposed to take time to get good at it. If someone plays the guitar for couple of days and gives up, maybe they shouldn't buy a guitar. Is playing the guitar fun in the beginning? No.