This game is a Gem. It was one of my gateway tittles when I first joined this thing a year ago. Honestly, after 10 plays I became somewhat frustrated with it and if it hadn't been for my g/f, I would have sold it or trade it. So there it stood, on the shelf, for about a year without being played. Tried it again a month ago and I don't know what happened. I don't know if it was me approaching it with a different mentality, or just being more familiar with Euro games in general, but I was mind blown. My complaint had been that the dice rolls were frustrantingly random and they would totally destroy my rounds. But I found that this game is highly strategic, and through smart placement and tool improvements, I never found my plans totally destroyed on any round. I have been playing it on the table and Ipad for the last month, and every game reassures me more and more, thst this is the best wp placement game ever made. And one of the best board games ever designed period, just love it.
This is one of my favourite games, I play it a lot with my family, I don't think that the dice make it that random, and what I love most are the multiple ways to victory. In Spain, where I live, the game has been very succesfull and there are always people playing it at conventions. I would not mind a review for Pillars of the Earth too :)
Stone age is a great game! One of my family favorites. I love rolling the dice and having the tension of what the outcome will be. If I want a worker placement game without dice we just bust out Caverna.
So your comments on this game and how much you like it with your kids is one of the reasons I played it with my daughter ( who loves it). Id be really curious about a list of games you think are good for getting children into games.
Great review Sam! Stone Age was one of the first games I ever bought after seeing TableTop. My collection is still growing (I have about 75 games now), and this is a CLASSIC that everyone must own. :D
If you do no like random chance of dice then go with the average of 3,5 on a single d6 dice roll. So, one worker is worth 3 pts, 2 workers 7pts, 3 workers 10pts, 4 workers 14 pts, etc... It is less of a chance and maybe less fun for some people, but it's more tactical and more fun for some other people.
I don't totally agree with there being many ways to win the game. You really only do it by building huts or gaining civs. How you do it is where the diversity comes in, but again, you need the same kind of ressources for either. I wishes you could choose to specialize more on which ressources you needed/wanted, but that would probably hurt the cutthroat element. However, I think it is a great gateway game to introducing a Euro-style/Worker-placement/Point-salad game with a tiny cutthroat element to it (by cutting off other player from taking actions). It's easily taught, doesn't take long and setup/take down is fairly easy as well. I like this game a lot myself, so I'm on the boat with Mr. Healey. Two stone-axe-thumbs up.
Been trying to decide between Stone Age, Caverna and Scythe. Not sure if I'll like the die-rolling aspect of Stone Age, but I feel like the simplicity of the game and the theme may bring it to the table more than Caverna. Scythe looks fantastic, but I keep seeing mixed reviews about it.
Thanks for doing these, Sam. I like that you play the game out a bit so you can see how the game evolves within itself. Does the mathy aspect of the game get annoying? I wonder if rolling and then dividing by often not-evenly-divisible numbers would get old.
Every time i hear about this game from you guys or on other channels i think to give it a try and it always fall flat for me. Can't say exactly, but it just feels boring to play it. Though while watching a review it looks nice. Maybe i should give it a third chance :)
I tried it a few times, but couldn't make it work in a 4 player game, because you will be blocked out of wood more often because you need it when using this strategy. Plus, most games I can do without extra food for 5 turns or so, because of free technology food, lucky 6 rolls on the technology cards, etc. It's not a big deal, as long as you won't breed as rabbits.
correct but some players especially in tourneys take the 10 point loss and still manage to win by overcompensating in other areas. at least that is my understanding I have just read about it and never played it.The issue is that goes totally against the theme of the game
+pad92011 I recently played the game and I went for tools first and I won by a healthy margin. Granted I made some lucky rolls for hunting when I really needed them but that's all part of the game. At the very end I did eat some of my resources but I made sure I had enough to get me through that last turn.
Well, a few years ago there was a lot of debate on BGG over what was the best first few moves in SA. The consensus was that farms were better than tools and tools were better than meeples.
I think tools are very powerful indeed, but then again so is agriculture and so is reproduction. More folks, more actions.. But also more food. Such a delicate balance! Lol
+pad92011 I actually cut the section from the final in which I addressed it. I think it is a bit scripted, but at the same time, I'm okay with that...everything else is a sandbox of sorts.
This is a great game. To me, the dice rolls represent the hardships of living in the stone age.
The more you play this game -- the better it gets! A real gem. The artwork is excellent.
This game is a Gem. It was one of my gateway tittles when I first joined this thing a year ago. Honestly, after 10 plays I became somewhat frustrated with it and if it hadn't been for my g/f, I would have sold it or trade it. So there it stood, on the shelf, for about a year without being played. Tried it again a month ago and I don't know what happened. I don't know if it was me approaching it with a different mentality, or just being more familiar with Euro games in general, but I was mind blown. My complaint had been that the dice rolls were frustrantingly random and they would totally destroy my rounds. But I found that this game is highly strategic, and through smart placement and tool improvements, I never found my plans totally destroyed on any round. I have been playing it on the table and Ipad for the last month, and every game reassures me more and more, thst this is the best wp placement game ever made. And one of the best board games ever designed period, just love it.
I'm going to play this for the first time tomorrow. I'm so ready.
This is one of my favourite games, I play it a lot with my family, I don't think that the dice make it that random, and what I love most are the multiple ways to victory. In Spain, where I live, the game has been very succesfull and there are always people playing it at conventions.
I would not mind a review for Pillars of the Earth too :)
I totally agree. Through smart play, the dice will never destroy your round. It is of course wise imo, to get those tools early lol.
Stone age is a great game! One of my family favorites. I love rolling the dice and having the tension of what the outcome will be. If I want a worker placement game without dice we just bust out Caverna.
I recently scored this game for $15! Stoked to try this one out with my family.
Surprised for such a devoted Stone Age fan you haven't tricked this puppy out with upgraded resources. Thanks for the review Sam. Keep them coming!
+Joseph Lynn I actually like the resources as they are in the base game. I just haven't felt the need to upgrade them.
+Sam Healey I agree, same here. The base pieces are awesome already.
Need?! This isn’t about NEED-it’s about decadence!
So your comments on this game and how much you like it with your kids is one of the reasons I played it with my daughter ( who loves it). Id be really curious about a list of games you think are good for getting children into games.
Great review Sam. Really value your reviews and endoresments
Great review Sam! Stone Age was one of the first games I ever bought after seeing TableTop. My collection is still growing (I have about 75 games now), and this is a CLASSIC that everyone must own. :D
If you do no like random chance of dice then go with the average of 3,5 on a single d6 dice roll.
So, one worker is worth 3 pts, 2 workers 7pts, 3 workers 10pts, 4 workers 14 pts, etc...
It is less of a chance and maybe less fun for some people, but it's more tactical and more fun for some other people.
I don't totally agree with there being many ways to win the game. You really only do it by building huts or gaining civs. How you do it is where the diversity comes in, but again, you need the same kind of ressources for either. I wishes you could choose to specialize more on which ressources you needed/wanted, but that would probably hurt the cutthroat element.
However, I think it is a great gateway game to introducing a Euro-style/Worker-placement/Point-salad game with a tiny cutthroat element to it (by cutting off other player from taking actions). It's easily taught, doesn't take long and setup/take down is fairly easy as well.
I like this game a lot myself, so I'm on the boat with Mr. Healey. Two stone-axe-thumbs up.
Very clear explanation! Thank you!
LOL. We always place workers above the card too.
Been trying to decide between Stone Age, Caverna and Scythe. Not sure if I'll like the die-rolling aspect of Stone Age, but I feel like the simplicity of the game and the theme may bring it to the table more than Caverna. Scythe looks fantastic, but I keep seeing mixed reviews about it.
I hated Scythe, if that helps.
You sold me. I want it.
Thanks for doing these, Sam. I like that you play the game out a bit so you can see how the game evolves within itself. Does the mathy aspect of the game get annoying? I wonder if rolling and then dividing by often not-evenly-divisible numbers would get old.
+C. Prusse (Kaylore14) I really dislike it when games get too math-y...so that should answer your question...;)
Just bring a calculator with you if you need to.
Great explanation. Fun game.
Every time i hear about this game from you guys or on other channels i think to give it a try and it always fall flat for me. Can't say exactly, but it just feels boring to play it. Though while watching a review it looks nice. Maybe i should give it a third chance :)
Please tell me the name of the song in Sam's intros
Any comments on the Expansions?
+Gabriel Conlledo Coming soon...
Great!
Keep it up mate.
I am seriously considering it getting the expansion soon. Looking forward to that Healey.
+Sam Healey I really like your avatar!!
What are the dimensions of the box?
Seems like worse Catan with more rules, but maybe that's just me
any comments on the starvation strategy that i have read that many players find annoying?
+Ryan Mahon I try to avoid playing games with those kinds of anti-thematic strategies and with those who use them.
House rule it! Less 10 points per worker
I tried it a few times, but couldn't make it work in a 4 player game, because you will be blocked out of wood more often because you need it when using this strategy. Plus, most games I can do without extra food for 5 turns or so, because of free technology food, lucky 6 rolls on the technology cards, etc. It's not a big deal, as long as you won't breed as rabbits.
Wasn't that rule fixed by the designer? If you starve, you lose ten points.
correct but some players especially in tourneys take the 10 point loss and still manage to win by overcompensating in other areas. at least that is my understanding I have just read about it and never played it.The issue is that goes totally against the theme of the game
any opinion on how people say that the first move for the first player is scripted? "always go for agriculture"
+pad92011 I recently played the game and I went for tools first and I won by a healthy margin. Granted I made some lucky rolls for hunting when I really needed them but that's all part of the game. At the very end I did eat some of my resources but I made sure I had enough to get me through that last turn.
Well, a few years ago there was a lot of debate on BGG over what was the best first few moves in SA. The consensus was that farms were better than tools and tools were better than meeples.
I think tools are very powerful indeed, but then again so is agriculture and so is reproduction. More folks, more actions.. But also more food. Such a delicate balance! Lol
+pad92011 I actually cut the section from the final in which I addressed it. I think it is a bit scripted, but at the same time, I'm okay with that...everything else is a sandbox of sorts.
you havent talked about tools o.O