So my verdict on too many bones. A lot to love here, but after 3 full campaigns of it, I feel like i'm done with it. For at least a while. It's a great game to discover and explore, but i'm not feeling the call to really dig into it and master each character. The core gameplay loop is just a little too repetitive for me personally. I'd gladly play it again, but not immediately. As a concept and as a piece of board game design, its really impressive and clever and i can see why its hugely popular. But as much as i love the character system, the fights felt grindy after a while. Like i wanted them to be over so i could just get the upgrade. Which is very MMO like.
@@ratguy69 I definitely lend it to Bobby while i think over if it stays in the collection or not. Its on the cusp as i did enjoy it a lot. But also, i did burn out on it a bit.
@@3MBG It's an amazing game, but you definitely shouldn't play it too often. I try to limit myself as each playthrough is quite long or I chop it up into sessions as it's easy to save a playthrough. Solo/2 players is probably the best option, more players feels tedious (to me). It's best enjoyed over time, and the Age of Tyranny provides some MUCH needed Days 1-3 options whereas 40 Days in Daelore provides more monsters and encounters. If you feel combats are grindy, maybe try a harder difficulty or solo with 2 gearlocks. It can get really hard so you need to do the best with limited resources and it's a bit of a puzzle.
I don't see the appeal of this game. It looks like a spreadsheet on the table, and as you mention, appears to be too repetitive. I also don't understand why people think the production quality is so good. What is amazing about these components other than pricey poker chips? Visually, this thing has no appeal to me.
@@retroarcadefan Production quality comes in a few forms - the chips, the dice trays, the neoprene mats for characters and combat, the pvc cards. Expansions have introduced a lot more variety to the encounters to solve the repetitive nature of campaigns. As for appeal, obviously the game might not appeal to everyone. If you're not the type that enjoys campaigns involving numbers and optimizing your moves (and dice rolling), then this is not the game for you. Watching a 3 minute rules video for a complex game like Too Many Bones (with so, so many expansions) is also probably not the best way to understand what is in this game, since it only really gives you the very basic elements of what the game offers. At the very least I can say that if you don't enjoy combat oriented games then this is definitely not the game for you.
I'd like to thank Jerry the underpants gnome for his contribution to this video........ Actually, that's all me and no special effects either. Apparently, i am part underpants gnome :)
Had it, played it, liked it at first, but eventually sold it. This game is not for casual gamers. You need to invest in this game (both money and time) for it to shine. After a campaign, I just couldn’t bring myself to learning a whole new character again. Knowing what a particular character can do takes a few games and then you haven’t even scratched the surface yet. This game falls into a category with Gloomhaven, Tainted Grail and other campaign games, where (A LOT OF) repeated plays are necessary for the gaming experience to really shine. Being a casual gamer myself that likes to play a lot of different games or leave weeks/months between sessions of the same game, I had to let go of this. Cool game with ridiculously cool components, but only if you are dedicated to playing this often.
Easily one of the best games made. Highest quality for sure. I was amazed at how well you summed up the game play in your usual "about 3 minutes", well done. People correctly call Star Wars Rebellion "Star Wars in a box", Too Many Bones is World of Warcraft in a box. The characters aren't just a little different from each other, they are totally unique. Cheers : ]
For World of Warcraft in a box I would look at Massive Darkness 2 or a houseruled version of World of Warcraft The Boardgame. They come closer to WoW, than this.
That's the most efficient explanation of Too Many Bones I've seen.. does a great job of describing the concept, core mechanics, gameplay and a little review. Personally I was amused by the gearloc voices you did too. I'm curious what part of the fights wasn't fun. I've never played it but I had the thought that that 4x4 battle board might not offer as many strategic options for movement/positioning as I'd want for a very replayable game. Or, was it something else, maybe related to the decisions about what dice to roll on your turn, etc. I'm still so curious to try this game, though.
The original grid can get a bit stale (although some gearlocks can definitely play with positioning, displacement, etc), however the Undertow grid is definitely more fun. One side has extra spaces on the left and right for special monsters, whereas the water battles move starting positions around and offer different challenges and objectives compared to regular battles.
Great review. I think I like it more than you but agree with everything you've said 😁 It's a game I might play twice in a row but not more than that. It's also great that as a solo game it sets up quick and plays pretty quick (for a campaign game) too. I have undertow on the way and I'm interested to see if the different combat zones adds a bit more freshness to that side of things.
Wonderful snapshot of the game! I just found out about the game, having ignored it all this time because it sounded like the "on fire pirate ship with zombies' game" (whatever that is). I am intrigued, and the artwork is right up my alley (and other places). When I stop buying overly-expensive other things, I will consider this.
Great game and the in box divider is brilliant. I never play solo with one gearloc, always two. The only thing I dont like. It won't fit in a Kallax. It sits on top and that bothers me. And the price is pretty high after all the upgrades and expansions.
Haha, very cute. ;) Based on what I’ve seen, this looks like a game I’d pick up if it was on sale at a thrift store or yard sale, but not at full price without a bunch of people SUPER committed to learning and playing it. Love dice games though, hope I try it one day!
I had the weird experience of someone telling me TMB is one of the easiest games they've ever learned. I mean maybe because the game play loop is repetitive?
Im unfortunaty in the Too little cash game department with this one. Tried it but there is better ways to spend my solo gaming budget. Also, I found that Ttrpgs are often better at me having too much stuff on the table :3 ( dice goblin anyone?) I love the smol voice tho. Expert falsetto
You're right about the price. I looked it up just now and found it at $400. I've been looking for a good game that I can play solo but it seems like the "inexpensive" games start at about $100, so I guess I'm stuck with a deck of cards and solitaire.
@@3MBG Possibly. It's one I have considered. I also thought about Dawn of the Zeds until I saw the price. I'm also considering One Deck Dungeon. I have a hard time paying more for a board game than a video game. Especially when video games are the upper limit of my budget.
Yeah, that price tag is not something to just waltz on buy is it? With all the add ons as well, you could easily spend $1k NZ. That's a lot of dollars for a lot of people.
It was about 60% of retail. But came with tuck boxes and some extra mods. The tricky things is hot as fudge new games just dont come on the second hand market often. Well, except from Conan of course. (You on the buy, sell trade NZ FB group?)
Bones/Dice are a synonym. Dice started off being made from bones, so "roll the bones" means "roll the dice". So the game is quite literally called "too many dice" already. It's archaic and not commonly used, but still somewhat correct.
Yeah. It's price point is kinda crazy. Very much a game for people with a lot of disposable income. And, with the expansions, you could easily spent the whole $1000 on this.
@@3MBG You do you. Whatever makes it fun for you. Just thought you might be interested in the feedback from someone who has watched (and will continue to watch) all the content you create. No ill will. Kia ora
Hahaha, cheers. I knew the silliness would work for some and not for others. its all good mate :) Just a laugh and not something i'll fight and die over
Glad this one ended up feeling like a grind for someone else after many sessions. Have you played any of the Hoplomachus games from Dice Theory? Would be interested in your take on those by comparison.
@@3MBG No worries. Was just happy it wasn't only me with Too Many Bones! Haha. Been really enjoying Hoplomachus Origins and Lost Cities. So hopefully at some point you get a chance to try those out.
@@stogrady All good. There's a lot to like about Too Many Bones. But its not a game i can play back to back campaigns of i think. After 3 full run throughs of the campaign, i have little interest in playing it again for some time.
@@3MBG wasn’t trying to be disrespectful. Really do enjoy your videos as a newcomer. Just want expecting it with two ear buds. I hated toot toots voice in Dresden files… until I didn’t. Despite my comment. It’s is a spot on fae voice… just want in the mood. Sorry mate
So my verdict on too many bones. A lot to love here, but after 3 full campaigns of it, I feel like i'm done with it. For at least a while. It's a great game to discover and explore, but i'm not feeling the call to really dig into it and master each character. The core gameplay loop is just a little too repetitive for me personally. I'd gladly play it again, but not immediately.
As a concept and as a piece of board game design, its really impressive and clever and i can see why its hugely popular. But as much as i love the character system, the fights felt grindy after a while. Like i wanted them to be over so i could just get the upgrade. Which is very MMO like.
3 Minute Board Games Pass it on to Bobby. Probably right up his alley. (Or do review copies have to go back?)
@@ratguy69 I definitely lend it to Bobby while i think over if it stays in the collection or not. Its on the cusp as i did enjoy it a lot. But also, i did burn out on it a bit.
@@3MBG It's an amazing game, but you definitely shouldn't play it too often. I try to limit myself as each playthrough is quite long or I chop it up into sessions as it's easy to save a playthrough. Solo/2 players is probably the best option, more players feels tedious (to me).
It's best enjoyed over time, and the Age of Tyranny provides some MUCH needed Days 1-3 options whereas 40 Days in Daelore provides more monsters and encounters. If you feel combats are grindy, maybe try a harder difficulty or solo with 2 gearlocks. It can get really hard so you need to do the best with limited resources and it's a bit of a puzzle.
I don't see the appeal of this game. It looks like a spreadsheet on the table, and as you mention, appears to be too repetitive. I also don't understand why people think the production quality is so good. What is amazing about these components other than pricey poker chips? Visually, this thing has no appeal to me.
@@retroarcadefan Production quality comes in a few forms - the chips, the dice trays, the neoprene mats for characters and combat, the pvc cards. Expansions have introduced a lot more variety to the encounters to solve the repetitive nature of campaigns. As for appeal, obviously the game might not appeal to everyone. If you're not the type that enjoys campaigns involving numbers and optimizing your moves (and dice rolling), then this is not the game for you. Watching a 3 minute rules video for a complex game like Too Many Bones (with so, so many expansions) is also probably not the best way to understand what is in this game, since it only really gives you the very basic elements of what the game offers. At the very least I can say that if you don't enjoy combat oriented games then this is definitely not the game for you.
0:19 - DARTH JAR JAR HAS RETURNED
I'd like to thank Jerry the underpants gnome for his contribution to this video........ Actually, that's all me and no special effects either. Apparently, i am part underpants gnome :)
More bones!
Had it, played it, liked it at first, but eventually sold it. This game is not for casual gamers. You need to invest in this game (both money and time) for it to shine. After a campaign, I just couldn’t bring myself to learning a whole new character again. Knowing what a particular character can do takes a few games and then you haven’t even scratched the surface yet.
This game falls into a category with Gloomhaven, Tainted Grail and other campaign games, where (A LOT OF) repeated plays are necessary for the gaming experience to really shine. Being a casual gamer myself that likes to play a lot of different games or leave weeks/months between sessions of the same game, I had to let go of this.
Cool game with ridiculously cool components, but only if you are dedicated to playing this often.
Best game ever! Nothing I've played that much.
Easily one of the best games made. Highest quality for sure. I was amazed at how well you summed up the game play in your usual "about 3 minutes", well done. People correctly call Star Wars Rebellion "Star Wars in a box", Too Many Bones is World of Warcraft in a box. The characters aren't just a little different from each other, they are totally unique. Cheers : ]
For World of Warcraft in a box I would look at Massive Darkness 2 or a houseruled version of World of Warcraft The Boardgame. They come closer to WoW, than this.
That's the most efficient explanation of Too Many Bones I've seen.. does a great job of describing the concept, core mechanics, gameplay and a little review. Personally I was amused by the gearloc voices you did too. I'm curious what part of the fights wasn't fun. I've never played it but I had the thought that that 4x4 battle board might not offer as many strategic options for movement/positioning as I'd want for a very replayable game. Or, was it something else, maybe related to the decisions about what dice to roll on your turn, etc. I'm still so curious to try this game, though.
Yeah, it was the 4by4 grid for the most part. Felt very much like an app game
The original grid can get a bit stale (although some gearlocks can definitely play with positioning, displacement, etc), however the Undertow grid is definitely more fun. One side has extra spaces on the left and right for special monsters, whereas the water battles move starting positions around and offer different challenges and objectives compared to regular battles.
Great video as usual. You are definitely my favorite reviewer on RUclips for the short videos
I think you need to make “more bones! More bones! More bones!” Your ringtone.
Better yet, i'll make it Stephs ringtone.
Great review. I think I like it more than you but agree with everything you've said 😁
It's a game I might play twice in a row but not more than that. It's also great that as a solo game it sets up quick and plays pretty quick (for a campaign game) too.
I have undertow on the way and I'm interested to see if the different combat zones adds a bit more freshness to that side of things.
Step 1: collect dice
Step 2: ?
Step 3: Profit!
I always look for your videos first for a game idk - they’re just so great 😊
Cheers and thank you
Wonderful snapshot of the game! I just found out about the game, having ignored it all this time because it sounded like the "on fire pirate ship with zombies' game" (whatever that is). I am intrigued, and the artwork is right up my alley (and other places). When I stop buying overly-expensive other things, I will consider this.
Hahaha, looks fun!! Thanks, great review! This one is on my list for consideration for sure
When you're a minute into the description and you already know, nah, that ones not for me. :)
YOU ARE AWESOME! ❤❤❤
Great game and the in box divider is brilliant. I never play solo with one gearloc, always two. The only thing I dont like. It won't fit in a Kallax. It sits on top and that bothers me. And the price is pretty high after all the upgrades and expansions.
If you get everything for this game, its right up there as one of the most expensive games to own. Lots of add ons for it.
They have a really cool looking Trove Chest which can contains every expansions and would fit in the Kallax. Of cause the price is high as well
This made me buy the game. Thank you!
What about the inevitable sequel, too few bones?
More like "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too many bones"!
Too Few Bones is the prequel, obviously. :P
Have you listened to the Dresden files audio books? Your gear lock voice sounds like Toot Toot
Ha, no. But thats a silly terrible voice i do.
Haha, very cute. ;)
Based on what I’ve seen, this looks like a game I’d pick up if it was on sale at a thrift store or yard sale, but not at full price without a bunch of people SUPER committed to learning and playing it. Love dice games though, hope I try it one day!
Love your reviews especially with a little helium effect...you should do it more often!
No helium, Just falsetto
Awesome game, thanks for the review!
I had the weird experience of someone telling me TMB is one of the easiest games they've ever learned. I mean maybe because the game play loop is repetitive?
Maybe. I personally found the game about a deep as a thimble once i got over learning the initial systems
Im unfortunaty in the Too little cash game department with this one. Tried it but there is better ways to spend my solo gaming budget. Also, I found that Ttrpgs are often better at me having too much stuff on the table :3 ( dice goblin anyone?) I love the smol voice tho. Expert falsetto
Thank you Claudia. And yeah, that price point is.... well theres no way around it, its an expensive game
You're right about the price. I looked it up just now and found it at $400.
I've been looking for a good game that I can play solo but it seems like the "inexpensive" games start at about $100, so I guess I'm stuck with a deck of cards and solitaire.
Under falling skies perhaps?
@@3MBG Possibly. It's one I have considered. I also thought about Dawn of the Zeds until I saw the price. I'm also considering One Deck Dungeon.
I have a hard time paying more for a board game than a video game. Especially when video games are the upper limit of my budget.
Nice vid, love your sense of humour. It's highlighted that the game isn't my cup of tea.
Love this game. One of my favourites 🙂
Ah. Now I get it.
Including shipping it's $300+ to NZ. Just for the base game! I like the idea, but I think it's unlikely I'll play this game.
Yeah, that price tag is not something to just waltz on buy is it? With all the add ons as well, you could easily spend $1k NZ. That's a lot of dollars for a lot of people.
@@3MBG Even if this was a group investment, it's a hard call against other games which are in stock in NZ.
Hard agree. I picked up food chain magnate second hand for the same reason. Getting it new here in NZ is just.... it aint pocket money
@@3MBG The second hand market is pretty active in NZ. Even second hand shouldn't be much of a discount.
It was about 60% of retail. But came with tuck boxes and some extra mods. The tricky things is hot as fudge new games just dont come on the second hand market often. Well, except from Conan of course. (You on the buy, sell trade NZ FB group?)
Use that voice every review
Lol, no :) Dear goodness no :)
Too many dice...
Would have been a fitting name...
Bones/Dice are a synonym. Dice started off being made from bones, so "roll the bones" means "roll the dice". So the game is quite literally called "too many dice" already. It's archaic and not commonly used, but still somewhat correct.
@@3MBG I never stop learning sth new... thx
i want this game but good god $200 even if someone handed me $1000 i dont think i could justify buying a board game for $200
Yeah. It's price point is kinda crazy. Very much a game for people with a lot of disposable income. And, with the expansions, you could easily spent the whole $1000 on this.
Love your videos. You always do such a great job and I watch as soon as I see a new one posted. Didn't love the voice...
Heh, i mix things up to make the process more fun, thats all :)
@@3MBG You do you. Whatever makes it fun for you. Just thought you might be interested in the feedback from someone who has watched (and will continue to watch) all the content you create. No ill will. Kia ora
Hahaha, cheers. I knew the silliness would work for some and not for others. its all good mate :) Just a laugh and not something i'll fight and die over
Please do stuffed fables.
HAhahah, maybe. But not in that voice ;)
Great components, too expensive games and not friendly with new players. Also kind of slow and heavy on gamelength.
That voice, lol!
No special effects either. Just natural underpants gnome
Glad this one ended up feeling like a grind for someone else after many sessions. Have you played any of the Hoplomachus games from Dice Theory? Would be interested in your take on those by comparison.
Nah, only cloudspire sorry Sean
@@3MBG No worries. Was just happy it wasn't only me with Too Many Bones! Haha. Been really enjoying Hoplomachus Origins and Lost Cities. So hopefully at some point you get a chance to try those out.
@@stogrady All good. There's a lot to like about Too Many Bones. But its not a game i can play back to back campaigns of i think. After 3 full run throughs of the campaign, i have little interest in playing it again for some time.
Please never use that voice again.
Hahahaha, no promises :)
@@3MBG I fast forwarded through the voice. Couldn't take it.
Fair enough. As mentioned elsewhere, i do random little things on occasion to make the video making process more fun :)
I like your content. The voice was too much for too long. I almost stopped watching. The last 15 seconds made me wish I did.
Eh, we try different things for different videos. This is a game about tiny faeries after all.
@@3MBG wasn’t trying to be disrespectful. Really do enjoy your videos as a newcomer. Just want expecting it with two ear buds. I hated toot toots voice in Dresden files… until I didn’t.
Despite my comment. It’s is a spot on fae voice… just want in the mood.
Sorry mate
All g. It's one of those games where i think people forget just how silly it is, deep down. And yeah, that voice is pretty awful, lol