Battlecrest is one of my favorite (solo) games. I love it for all the reasons you mentioned..especially the card play choices. I love how most games feels so close. But yeah, learning the rules (especially solo) was especially rough. I have decent number of solo plays now, but I still find myself forgetting little rules/cases or messing something up from time to time. I do say the game really opens up to me once I have (most) of the rules internalize. As Ben Mason mentioned, Mike from One Stop Coop Shop has a solo variant where the AI range matter. Initially, I also didn't like how the AI can attack from anywhere too..but I remember the designer's comments about trying to keep some things simpler for a game that's already rules/icon dense. I haven't tried the variant yet but will at some point. Thanks for the review (and the brain burn to learn solo rules for the video)! Time to watch your video for WildTails to learn that game.
Excellent; thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience! It's definitely a big investment but also a big payoff! Lmk if you try Mike's solo variant and how it goes! 😊
@@tabletoptokki I did a handful of plays using Mike's variant. In some ways, it feels more fair as the AI can't attack from anywhere. It's unclear how the difficulty changes (it feels similar to me). You basically use the AI card to see which action card to activate and then decide where to move (and trying to take advantage of landmark bonuses). It gets rid of the dead turns. The AI's star flowchart isn't used anymore. I'd say it's not any more complicated to run vs the official rules..just a few different things to consider to make it behave a bit more like a normal player. One thing that not sure about is Mike has some modifications to 2 of the heroes for the solo mode. Not sure it'll be updated in the future after more characters are released (if there's any unbalances). I'll still play around with Mike's variant to see if my feeling change. Otherwise, both rules still offers good changes despite the random AI deck like you mentioned.
Have you tried Mike's (from one stop co-op shop) solo variant? I really didn't like the loss of range mechanics for the opponent, and his variant fixes that nicely! However, I still think it is much better 2p ;-)
This is definitely my style of game, but I found myself constantly saying “yeah, I’m going to have to watch this again”. Not a knock on your video, just a lot going on here. Especially for a Button Shy title. Not ruling this out. Just not hitting “Buy” quite yet. Off topic. When are you hearing “For Northwood” is going to be in our grubby little hands? Cannot wait for that!
Yep, this needs a play mat. As always great job! and I really appreciate the honest approach.
A playmat would be nice, but huuuuuge. 😂
Battlecrest is one of my favorite (solo) games. I love it for all the reasons you mentioned..especially the card play choices. I love how most games feels so close.
But yeah, learning the rules (especially solo) was especially rough. I have decent number of solo plays now, but I still find myself forgetting little rules/cases or messing something up from time to time. I do say the game really opens up to me once I have (most) of the rules internalize.
As Ben Mason mentioned, Mike from One Stop Coop Shop has a solo variant where the AI range matter. Initially, I also didn't like how the AI can attack from anywhere too..but I remember the designer's comments about trying to keep some things simpler for a game that's already rules/icon dense. I haven't tried the variant yet but will at some point.
Thanks for the review (and the brain burn to learn solo rules for the video)! Time to watch your video for WildTails to learn that game.
Excellent; thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience! It's definitely a big investment but also a big payoff! Lmk if you try Mike's solo variant and how it goes! 😊
@@tabletoptokki I did a handful of plays using Mike's variant. In some ways, it feels more fair as the AI can't attack from anywhere. It's unclear how the difficulty changes (it feels similar to me). You basically use the AI card to see which action card to activate and then decide where to move (and trying to take advantage of landmark bonuses). It gets rid of the dead turns. The AI's star flowchart isn't used anymore. I'd say it's not any more complicated to run vs the official rules..just a few different things to consider to make it behave a bit more like a normal player.
One thing that not sure about is Mike has some modifications to 2 of the heroes for the solo mode. Not sure it'll be updated in the future after more characters are released (if there's any unbalances).
I'll still play around with Mike's variant to see if my feeling change. Otherwise, both rules still offers good changes despite the random AI deck like you mentioned.
@@tops256 Awesome, so good to hear! Also curious to see what changes/ tweaks may be made as more characters and map packs come out. :)
How fast I clicked on this video!
Ahaha well done! 🥇
The play mat really helps me keep layout straight 😀
Would love that! haha
Have you tried Mike's (from one stop co-op shop) solo variant? I really didn't like the loss of range mechanics for the opponent, and his variant fixes that nicely! However, I still think it is much better 2p ;-)
I have not, but I'll absolutely look into it next time now that it's in my radar! 😊
I came here to highlight that variant that seems to be well liked by a lot of folk 👍
This is definitely my style of game, but I found myself constantly saying “yeah, I’m going to have to watch this again”.
Not a knock on your video, just a lot going on here. Especially for a Button Shy title. Not ruling this out.
Just not hitting “Buy” quite yet.
Off topic. When are you hearing “For Northwood” is going to be in our grubby little hands?
Cannot wait for that!
Yeah, totally feel you there!
And no idea; same boat as everyone else… just waiting for the next KS update. 😒
I love solo games, these button games don't do it for me...looking forward to non button games!
Fair; different strokes! ^^
What are some solo games that you love and would recommend?
@@six12 Concordia Solitaria, Arkham Horror card game, Viticulture