I received mine a couple weeks ago. Opened the boxes, looked at the books, flipped through them, then put them back in their sleeves and now they're on my bookshelf, probably never to be used again.
Tanares had a standee version so I picked it up this time. Need more standee games due to shelf space. :) Plus I'm a little tired of grey figures on a board (since I don't paint).
I 110% love your venting and ferociousness. Your honest opinion about games has kept me subscribed and watching every video. You haven’t been perfect on every single one, but I still appreciate the content you’ve delivered. Thank you for all your hard work and making this hobby fun.
Say it again and say it loud. The game IS the rulebook: you can play it with sticks and stones on a diagram drawn in the dirt. Without a rulebook it’s just an idea and all the cardboard and plastic are just ornaments. The crowdfunders will have us believe that this risk is in the nature of crowdfunding, but that’s just a distraction storyline, a magic trick, to make it easier to give money that may not result in much. Yes to crowdfunding, without it many things truly wont be made. But NO to half-baked crowdfunding.
Concerning +50% of funding. I believe pledge managers take into account also shipping charges as "raised funds". I had a conversation where XY claimed +30-40% increase in funding but looking at the campaign backers and backer numbers after PM, they were like 1000 vs. 1100 backers
I loved JoTL. Bought Gloomhaven and played 50+ scenarios so far, also loving the play. I wound up painting the GH minis, found that relaxing and enjoyable...and just wished they were better. Enter in Frothaven: more of a good thing for me personally. I understand it might not be for everyone. But painted 3D minis just add so much extra to my games! ❤❤
You have a good point about crowdfunding essentially being a loan for the industry. However there was one positive element to the Cephalofair Gloomhaven grand festival campaign, they are closing each pledge manager wave at different times. I used this to my advantage, and only backed button and bugs while I waited to see if I wanted anything else. I have now decided to back the replacement miniatures for Gloomhaven, and not to get the hundreds of other miniatures. I don't know if having the pledge manager close separately for each wave benefited or hurt the campaign overall, however it did allow me to keep my money until the last possible moment.
Crowdfunding has always been a loan for the game creator. It used to be that backers could treat crowdfunding as an investment - we were risking our money but getting rewarded with exclusives and/or discounts that provided great value. With the economic mess that started with COVID related decisions, the value is no longer there. It's just a risky preorder now.
@@Sthunderrocker yeah the only thing keeping Awaken Realms making a LOT of money are the "Yeah this game might be 💩right now...bUt iTs aWaKeN rEaLmS" fanboys and stretch pay making their games $8-27 a month
Love the ranting, you are the only gaming channel that I am now consuming. Hopefully you won't sell your soul to the altar of Crowdfunding. I'm waiting for Merchants Cove to enventually fulfill, Half Tilt I'm one of the last backers to be fulfilled and Tiny Epic gamne of Thrones and that's it. And not really seeing anything to grab my cash. Going on holiday (vacation) and Gaia Project and Imperium going with us.
I'm happy that Stalker has one-offs. But I'm a fan of the book, the movie and the games. But I also use both modes in Aliens - AGDITC, Conan, and can't wait to play the Arcs campaign, but will continue to play base Arcs.
Agree with you regarding Frosthaven. It's not for the casual players. My gaming group predicts we'll be done with the game in another 18 months (we play it weekly - 1 to 2 missions per session). That's pretty daunting, especially with all of the other great games that need to get to the table. It's a great time when we do sit down and play through the missions, which I find seem a lot more difficult than Gloomhaven scenarios.
I have 4 outstanding KS/Gamefound - Maladum: Dungeons of Enveron (due in August), CDMD: Fear of the Unknown (due fall/winter I guess), Pandora related expansions for Hoplomachus: Victorum and Remastered (Fall/Winter), and Shadows of Brimstone Hell Train / Lost Tombs (due in 2025). And with these I am essentially done with crowdfunding - especially bigger games - although I am sure there will be one or two exceptions. I recognise that SoB is something of a longer term loan - but they do make it worth your while if you like Shadows of Brimstone as picking up expansions in retail are often much more costly (because of their sales model).
That’s right when I started going hard into backing….soooo many games I was interested in…literally over 20 games backed since then. Not even exaggerating…including late pledges it’s like 24 on my list 😅
my thing with it is the wait. Like i dont want to put out 100-300 bucks only to have to wait a year where i can get a game thats already out and no wait time.
@@mech0pI just added up the amount of money I have spent on games the last 2 years, and how much is still in purgatory….i have just under $7k in “pending games” holy f
I'm pist too that it seems like we need to wait so long for the miniatures which is why I backed it in the first place. I'm waiting to play the game until I get them in. I also backed Tanaras ultimate big box
I just got my Tanares Ultimate delivered a couple weeks ago. Work is busy right now though, so not sure when we'll get to play it yet. He's right that these games are a heck of a commitment.
I agree about the previews becoming more prevalent. I wonder if it is because the prototypes aren't finished/polished enough to warrant a review or opinion.
Not sure what your definition of a Lifestyle game is, maybe make a vid on it. Cause I always thought a lifestyle game was a game that you constantly play throughout your life. In the case of Campaign games even though their long, they don't fit the definition of Lifestyle game because your most likely to play them through once then never come back to them again. The whole campaign is 1 play over a number of sessions even if you stop, and come back to it later. As an Example something like Spirit Island fits Lifestyle game, as opposed to something like Gloomhaven. While Gloomhaven took 6 months to beat, it only took that part of that year, on the other hand I play Spirt Island less times during the year, but I am always playing it every year.
I think Primal was the last thing I backed, so nothing pending right now....Wait. I did back the latest Shadows of Brimstone, so there is one pending...I have too many dungeon crawl campaign games as it is. Cudos for any of these games that go standies rather than minis.
I got burnt by Awaken Realms on Lords Of Ragnarok. Terrible game. The STALKER disaster class of then pulling the bait and switch and reducing the amount of content was the last straw. Add all the Midjourney AI work in Grimcoven, and Awaken Realms are becoming the Kardashians of Crowdfunding. Peddling plastic without any meaningful happening in the games.
Well with Lords of Ragnarok, if you watched several playthrough's not on their campaign page, during when it launched you could tell the game was trash. Not your fault, I was backing it also, but then I watch several of those vids, were people justified all the problems with it being prototype, and it made me cancel my pledge.
From my reading base game is good enough for most people. As full pledge seems to require a lot more learning , a lot more meta. So unless you have a friends/family dedicated to play often, just get the base game, which apparently will not stale with multiple plays
Picked up JotL trhough retail because of the hype. I found it as boring as ...... Why would I want an even bigger version of it? Different folks, different strokes. CMON always love the ideas, always want the All In and as a result I never dip my toe in the water because I can't justify the cost given the likely play levels. So I pick up the retail version if I'm still bothered. Ooops.
No because time and money are spent on extraneous modes, that could be spent on the game proper. Also, extraneous modes will in some way constrain the game design space to ensure changes don’t break those extraneous modes.
Yep had a rare time a couple of weeks ago were I had 6 friends over, and majority of my games are 4 or less, so we ended up playing nothing, making me which I picked up some of the 5-6 player expansions.
Cyclades Legendary looks awful. I know it's subjective, but the art looks cartoonish, which is a LARGE drop off from the original. The game play is not simply combining, it's refining it while also making it a game you can play in under an hour. That was the pitch, that was the goal. If you're playing a dude on a map game why would you want to play it in 45 minutes? The reason you're getting love for it is the reason you don't get many negatives on a particular pages forum.....they're mostly all fanboys. The Kemet crowdfunding in hindsight is mainly negatives from what I hear, and I think this will be ultimately be a net negative as well. OG Cyclades gave you options to cater play to how you felt and what your group likes. If the group one night likes confrontation, Cyclades + Titans. If you have people who don't, Cyclades + Hades. The old Cyclades stuff is selling at a premium right now, especially the stuff that was hard to find prior. I just lucked out and got the Cyclades portion of the crossover kit and Kemet minis + the Hectate promo to complete my collection. Great video BTW, love the rants.
Their has been a trend with Dude on a map games, people want shorter more accessible versions. You can't blame the companies catering to a trend with the consumers. Also specifically with Cyclades people have always been complaining about how you needed certain expansions to mix up the game, and why it wasn't incorporated into the main game. I got Legendary because that was a constant complaint in my group along with the art. I actually agree with you but I had to cater to what my group wanted lol.
@@CheddahSlammer THEY chose what they wanted to add to it though. It isn't hard to know what expansion to add to the game. Not sure why your group is so fickle about that. Each expansion added, changed, or enhanced the game in a VERY specific way. Also, that new art, yuck! Looks more cartoonish than anything. lol
Hey Chris. Australian here. We're not far away. You're far away.
Tanares Adventures ultimate is actually fulfilling now in the US and EU, it already was sent out last month in Australia
I received mine a couple weeks ago. Opened the boxes, looked at the books, flipped through them, then put them back in their sleeves and now they're on my bookshelf, probably never to be used again.
Tanares had a standee version so I picked it up this time. Need more standee games due to shelf space. :) Plus I'm a little tired of grey figures on a board (since I don't paint).
I 110% love your venting and ferociousness. Your honest opinion about games has kept me subscribed and watching every video. You haven’t been perfect on every single one, but I still appreciate the content you’ve delivered. Thank you for all your hard work and making this hobby fun.
From far far Australia...happened to stumbling this great YT.😂
Crowdfunding free at the moment, feels good!
Say it again and say it loud. The game IS the rulebook: you can play it with sticks and stones on a diagram drawn in the dirt. Without a rulebook it’s just an idea and all the cardboard and plastic are just ornaments. The crowdfunders will have us believe that this risk is in the nature of crowdfunding, but that’s just a distraction storyline, a magic trick, to make it easier to give money that may not result in much. Yes to crowdfunding, without it many things truly wont be made. But NO to half-baked crowdfunding.
Very good point
Concerning +50% of funding. I believe pledge managers take into account also shipping charges as "raised funds". I had a conversation where XY claimed +30-40% increase in funding but looking at the campaign backers and backer numbers after PM, they were like 1000 vs. 1100 backers
Good point Chris about late rule books. You may get a game you did not expect.
I'm a big Lacerda and Inventions fan but you are right that few who aren't heavy gamers will rate that.
I loved JoTL. Bought Gloomhaven and played 50+ scenarios so far, also loving the play. I wound up painting the GH minis, found that relaxing and enjoyable...and just wished they were better. Enter in Frothaven: more of a good thing for me personally. I understand it might not be for everyone. But painted 3D minis just add so much extra to my games! ❤❤
You have a good point about crowdfunding essentially being a loan for the industry. However there was one positive element to the Cephalofair Gloomhaven grand festival campaign, they are closing each pledge manager wave at different times. I used this to my advantage, and only backed button and bugs while I waited to see if I wanted anything else. I have now decided to back the replacement miniatures for Gloomhaven, and not to get the hundreds of other miniatures. I don't know if having the pledge manager close separately for each wave benefited or hurt the campaign overall, however it did allow me to keep my money until the last possible moment.
Crowdfunding has always been a loan for the game creator. It used to be that backers could treat crowdfunding as an investment - we were risking our money but getting rewarded with exclusives and/or discounts that provided great value. With the economic mess that started with COVID related decisions, the value is no longer there. It's just a risky preorder now.
I backed Stalker, hope it’s fun!
I was happy with my Stalker all in. Then I found out that was only half of the real all in. Got a refund.
People will ask "Where were you in the great Awaken Realms 2024 Stalker deception? When they promoted 1000+ cards but only delivered 600"
Glad it wasn't just me.
They are on the CMON track. I stopped backing most of their games too.
@@Sthunderrocker yeah the only thing keeping Awaken Realms making a LOT of money are the "Yeah this game might be 💩right now...bUt iTs aWaKeN rEaLmS" fanboys and stretch pay making their games $8-27 a month
@@Sthunderrocker With how duccessful that company is they shouldnt even be crowdfunding anymore imo.
Love the ranting, you are the only gaming channel that I am now consuming. Hopefully you won't sell your soul to the altar of Crowdfunding. I'm waiting for Merchants Cove to enventually fulfill, Half Tilt I'm one of the last backers to be fulfilled and Tiny Epic gamne of Thrones and that's it. And not really seeing anything to grab my cash.
Going on holiday (vacation) and Gaia Project and Imperium going with us.
Just got TenAres Adventures I am trying to rebox it right now.
I'm happy that Stalker has one-offs. But I'm a fan of the book, the movie and the games. But I also use both modes in Aliens - AGDITC, Conan, and can't wait to play the Arcs campaign, but will continue to play base Arcs.
Agree with you regarding Frosthaven. It's not for the casual players. My gaming group predicts we'll be done with the game in another 18 months (we play it weekly - 1 to 2 missions per session). That's pretty daunting, especially with all of the other great games that need to get to the table. It's a great time when we do sit down and play through the missions, which I find seem a lot more difficult than Gloomhaven scenarios.
I have 4 outstanding KS/Gamefound - Maladum: Dungeons of Enveron (due in August), CDMD: Fear of the Unknown (due fall/winter I guess), Pandora related expansions for Hoplomachus: Victorum and Remastered (Fall/Winter), and Shadows of Brimstone Hell Train / Lost Tombs (due in 2025). And with these I am essentially done with crowdfunding - especially bigger games - although I am sure there will be one or two exceptions. I recognise that SoB is something of a longer term loan - but they do make it worth your while if you like Shadows of Brimstone as picking up expansions in retail are often much more costly (because of their sales model).
Only one i backed was Witchcraft! Which i really enjoy
That’s right when I started going hard into backing….soooo many games I was interested in…literally over 20 games backed since then. Not even exaggerating…including late pledges it’s like 24 on my list 😅
my thing with it is the wait. Like i dont want to put out 100-300 bucks only to have to wait a year where i can get a game thats already out and no wait time.
@@mech0pI just added up the amount of money I have spent on games the last 2 years, and how much is still in purgatory….i have just under $7k in “pending games” holy f
I backed TA and so far really enjoy it. Hopefully that lasts the next 6 to 8 months.
I'm pist too that it seems like we need to wait so long for the miniatures which is why I backed it in the first place. I'm waiting to play the game until I get them in. I also backed Tanaras ultimate big box
I just got my Tanares Ultimate delivered a couple weeks ago. Work is busy right now though, so not sure when we'll get to play it yet. He's right that these games are a heck of a commitment.
I agree about the previews becoming more prevalent. I wonder if it is because the prototypes aren't finished/polished enough to warrant a review or opinion.
Not sure what your definition of a Lifestyle game is, maybe make a vid on it. Cause I always thought a lifestyle game was a game that you constantly play throughout your life. In the case of Campaign games even though their long, they don't fit the definition of Lifestyle game because your most likely to play them through once then never come back to them again. The whole campaign is 1 play over a number of sessions even if you stop, and come back to it later.
As an Example something like Spirit Island fits Lifestyle game, as opposed to something like Gloomhaven. While Gloomhaven took 6 months to beat, it only took that part of that year, on the other hand I play Spirt Island less times during the year, but I am always playing it every year.
THX CHRIS..
I think Primal was the last thing I backed, so nothing pending right now....Wait. I did back the latest Shadows of Brimstone, so there is one pending...I have too many dungeon crawl campaign games as it is. Cudos for any of these games that go standies rather than minis.
And they can make 5% on that $5,000,000 risk free right now.
Still waiting for Arydia...
I got burnt by Awaken Realms on Lords Of Ragnarok. Terrible game. The STALKER disaster class of then pulling the bait and switch and reducing the amount of content was the last straw. Add all the Midjourney AI work in Grimcoven, and Awaken Realms are becoming the Kardashians of Crowdfunding. Peddling plastic without any meaningful happening in the games.
Kardashians of Croudfunding? Brilliant!
Patent that phrase now 🤘
What was the stalker disaster?
Well with Lords of Ragnarok, if you watched several playthrough's not on their campaign page, during when it launched you could tell the game was trash. Not your fault, I was backing it also, but then I watch several of those vids, were people justified all the problems with it being prototype, and it made me cancel my pledge.
@@CheddahSlammer I cancelled my pledge but I also lost 9% which felt like robbery because the game was straight trash
not gonna lie that i did get grimcoven mainly because the "art" did look amazing.
Innovations base game rulebook is like one page, how is that rulebook "not done yet"? lol
From my reading base game is good enough for most people. As full pledge seems to require a lot more learning , a lot more meta. So unless you have a friends/family dedicated to play often, just get the base game, which apparently will not stale with multiple plays
@@nimblegoat I have the base game. That's why I don't understand how not having the rule book finished is even a thing. The game barely has any rules
Picked up JotL trhough retail because of the hype. I found it as boring as ...... Why would I want an even bigger version of it? Different folks, different strokes. CMON always love the ideas, always want the All In and as a result I never dip my toe in the water because I can't justify the cost given the likely play levels. So I pick up the retail version if I'm still bothered. Ooops.
Chris stop it! dont tell me how i got all the west kingdoms and north sea because i liked ONE game
Actually, I wasn't backing as much at that time...
Between campaign and total funding is also: retail and group pledges. That might be a big amount for soke games
Game modes: Better to have it and not need than need it and not have it.
That's my philosophy on owning games 😁
No because time and money are spent on extraneous modes, that could be spent on the game proper. Also, extraneous modes will in some way constrain the game design space to ensure changes don’t break those extraneous modes.
Yep had a rare time a couple of weeks ago were I had 6 friends over, and majority of my games are 4 or less, so we ended up playing nothing, making me which I picked up some of the 5-6 player expansions.
Cyclades Legendary looks awful. I know it's subjective, but the art looks cartoonish, which is a LARGE drop off from the original. The game play is not simply combining, it's refining it while also making it a game you can play in under an hour. That was the pitch, that was the goal. If you're playing a dude on a map game why would you want to play it in 45 minutes?
The reason you're getting love for it is the reason you don't get many negatives on a particular pages forum.....they're mostly all fanboys. The Kemet crowdfunding in hindsight is mainly negatives from what I hear, and I think this will be ultimately be a net negative as well. OG Cyclades gave you options to cater play to how you felt and what your group likes. If the group one night likes confrontation, Cyclades + Titans. If you have people who don't, Cyclades + Hades.
The old Cyclades stuff is selling at a premium right now, especially the stuff that was hard to find prior. I just lucked out and got the Cyclades portion of the crossover kit and Kemet minis + the Hectate promo to complete my collection.
Great video BTW, love the rants.
Their has been a trend with Dude on a map games, people want shorter more accessible versions. You can't blame the companies catering to a trend with the consumers. Also specifically with Cyclades people have always been complaining about how you needed certain expansions to mix up the game, and why it wasn't incorporated into the main game. I got Legendary because that was a constant complaint in my group along with the art. I actually agree with you but I had to cater to what my group wanted lol.
@@CheddahSlammer THEY chose what they wanted to add to it though. It isn't hard to know what expansion to add to the game. Not sure why your group is so fickle about that. Each expansion added, changed, or enhanced the game in a VERY specific way.
Also, that new art, yuck! Looks more cartoonish than anything. lol