I'd suggest chaptering your video, so people who want to skip the bulk of the spoilers could skip to 16:30ish and get your overall impressions. As someone considering buying it, I agree I would rather avoid spoilers but I *am here* to try to get your impressions.
Great review... This whole fear of creating spoilers sometimes really make the reviews useless... I like how much you shared... On the other side, any ideas on if this would play well with 2 players (with or without the automa)? Thanks
I really enjoyed our 2 player campaign. We did use the Automa at the recommended time when the game says you should use it if playing with fewer players . It slows down the game, but it also simulates more interactions and bumping, and the Automa build more buildings around the map in a more natural way than if you play without them. The Automa also unlock things so you don't have to unlock everything, and it creates more competition on the Reputation track. That being said, it's totally playable with just 2 players without Automa, but you won't get new stuff as quickly, and there's just a bit less chance of getting in each other's way/benefiting from interaction. It also has the added benefit of playing much more quickly without the Automa. I enjoyed the campaign at 2, and I'd be willing to play the campaign again, but not necessarily with the same person again. Best part though, is that the post-legacy campaign plays very well at 2 players, lightning fast turns and very fun. I won't say much else about that, unless you're curious, but it is definitely fun to play with just 2.
Very much agree, that too much fear to spoiler even tiny bits of a game often spoilers the review, by rendering it useless. Ryan found the right balance in that one. I did watch it all through without having played out the whole campaign, but it did not reveal as much to taint the coming experience.
Meeple Overboard - Hi, so, does the rules book (or the legacy material) tells you when to add the automa during the campaign? So you would not play with the automa all the time? That is interesting, thanks. Could you do some games with automa (to test) and then a few without (if you wanted a faster game)? Thanks
DTM The rulebook says the Automa are optional, and recommends you don't add them in until the 3rd game. There's a separate little rulebook for the Automa. Also, yes, if you play with them a few games, you're also free to drop them any point in the campaign you want. It's a groovy game, and the Automa are clever, but Jamey Stegmaier has also said the game was made so you could play without them (at 2+ players).
I'm glad about the review, and that you overall very much enjoyed the campaign, while pointing out, that the first couple of games were too light for your taste. I just played the first two games the other day, and was quite disappointed, for exactly the same reasons, you mentioned. Now I have high hopes again, that the game will improve and been enjoyed by the group.
I think, unless somebody would like to completely drop out of the campaign, it would be unfair to them. Each game the players "level up" a bit. The winner gets a price, while the losers can improve their storing ability. And everybody is rewarded with stars depending on the amount of VP they got during the games. If you miss a game or two, you would fall behind compared to everybody else. So I would simply play something else, if the group is not complete. The automating option is rather to even out, if you play the complete campaign with a low player count.
I'd suggest chaptering your video, so people who want to skip the bulk of the spoilers could skip to 16:30ish and get your overall impressions. As someone considering buying it, I agree I would rather avoid spoilers but I *am here* to try to get your impressions.
Good to see you back Ryan. I hope you review the new versions of Brass when they’re released.
martynking3 oh I definitely will
Great review... This whole fear of creating spoilers sometimes really make the reviews useless... I like how much you shared... On the other side, any ideas on if this would play well with 2 players (with or without the automa)? Thanks
DTM yes I’m curious as well how this plays with 2 players?
I really enjoyed our 2 player campaign. We did use the Automa at the recommended time when the game says you should use it if playing with fewer players . It slows down the game, but it also simulates more interactions and bumping, and the Automa build more buildings around the map in a more natural way than if you play without them. The Automa also unlock things so you don't have to unlock everything, and it creates more competition on the Reputation track.
That being said, it's totally playable with just 2 players without Automa, but you won't get new stuff as quickly, and there's just a bit less chance of getting in each other's way/benefiting from interaction. It also has the added benefit of playing much more quickly without the Automa. I enjoyed the campaign at 2, and I'd be willing to play the campaign again, but not necessarily with the same person again.
Best part though, is that the post-legacy campaign plays very well at 2 players, lightning fast turns and very fun. I won't say much else about that, unless you're curious, but it is definitely fun to play with just 2.
Very much agree, that too much fear to spoiler even tiny bits of a game often spoilers the review, by rendering it useless. Ryan found the right balance in that one. I did watch it all through without having played out the whole campaign, but it did not reveal as much to taint the coming experience.
Meeple Overboard - Hi, so, does the rules book (or the legacy material) tells you when to add the automa during the campaign? So you would not play with the automa all the time? That is interesting, thanks. Could you do some games with automa (to test) and then a few without (if you wanted a faster game)? Thanks
DTM The rulebook says the Automa are optional, and recommends you don't add them in until the 3rd game. There's a separate little rulebook for the Automa. Also, yes, if you play with them a few games, you're also free to drop them any point in the campaign you want. It's a groovy game, and the Automa are clever, but Jamey Stegmaier has also said the game was made so you could play without them (at 2+ players).
Couldn't help but notice the gloomhaven box, will we see a review?
I'm glad about the review, and that you overall very much enjoyed the campaign, while pointing out, that the first couple of games were too light for your taste. I just played the first two games the other day, and was quite disappointed, for exactly the same reasons, you mentioned. Now I have high hopes again, that the game will improve and been enjoyed by the group.
I probably missed it but, how do you handle it if a player isn't there? I heard something about automating them and they could play again later.
I think, unless somebody would like to completely drop out of the campaign, it would be unfair to them. Each game the players "level up" a bit. The winner gets a price, while the losers can improve their storing ability. And everybody is rewarded with stars depending on the amount of VP they got during the games. If you miss a game or two, you would fall behind compared to everybody else. So I would simply play something else, if the group is not complete. The automating option is rather to even out, if you play the complete campaign with a low player count.
Rahdo mentioned that it's fine to automate a player for a game.
Looks great :)
The game or the Ryan?
Oliver König both!
How's your brother Erl? ;)