This is the most sophisticated, thought provoking and educational board game video I’ve ever seen, and I’ve watched a whole lot. Keep up the stellar work and deep dive content. Love it!
This is why I absolutely love Star Realms.The game is so quick, and turns are so simple and both players know how much luck is involved (though you can still be good at the game) that when a player gets a big combo and manages to scrap two cards and draw two with Brain World, which draws a Command Ship which draws two more cards, which you then copy with a Stealth Needle and get to draw another two cards, but also activate both faction abilities so that you can destroy two enemy bases and one of the cards you drew was another base for yourself and so your Embassy Yacht gets to draw ANOTHER two cards and on and on and you end up with an outrageous turn that wipes out your opponent in one swoop from 60% health down to nothing.. well it doesn't feel bad to play against because you *know* that that sort of luck is a part of the game and it took so little time that the disappointment of losing is more than made up for by the fascination of watching your opponents deck just roll 20 after 20. And then you can just immediately start another game.
@gormenghast88 The turns when you're down to really low health can be some of the best. Like if you're on 15 Authority and you go "right, I'm scrapping this decent card to draw a card, and I'm scrapping that one to make you discard 1 more" And you know it makes your deck overall weaker, but you're pushing to try to survive just one more turn longer to hope you get a bit of luck and a nice combo that might be able to bring you back into the game And if you don't... damn, did the best I could. Want another game?
Try Shards of Infinity. The combos you can do there are ludicrous, and it's very close to Star Realms. For me it's clearly the better game, and I have played them both for hundreds of hours. Beware that the digital version is worse than Star Realms unfortunately, especially because it doesn't have matchmaking.
That doesn't really solve the problem that NPI has with deckbuilders. You can't really interact with your opponent's combos. The only interaction you have is whether to point your damage at an opponent's non-outpost base or to their face.
Don't know if you recall Efka, but we met once in Essen, I think it was 2014 or so, the same year Alchemists was featured there. Me and my friend were walking around in the evening, looking to drink beer and talk to people, and I remember sitting in the lobby of a hotel with you there (this had to be very early in your youtube days, I had no idea who you were, just a bearded nerd (like myself)) and I asked you to come over and sit with us to chat, as you seemed lonely and I wanted to be a good person or something :P I remember your enthusiasm talking about alchemists and you showed us the contents of the box you had in your backpack, and we were quite intrigued, and was hunting the game the next game at the faire. Needless to say, this has nothing to do with anything, just that we met shortly once, you were very polite and friendly, and I just wanted to say that I enjoy your RUclips success and am very impressed with your content. I'm Niclas from past RUclips channel rosmt and am just glad to have met you once! Take care 😁❤️
I do remember this. At the Motel One lobby, right? I think it was my second year at Spiel. I don't remember much about our conversation but I do remember it being very pleasant.
Your channel DOES make some of the most thoughtful videos on board games in the world. I'm learning from your channel how to do that myself. Thanks for the YEARS of work making these videos for us!
Now I'm even more excited for Fort. As someone who loves deck builders, owns far too many of them and has reviewed some with an ever increasingly large "to make a video about pile" of them, they're great, but I also totally get the issue with combos. One day during a game of Dominion I suddenly realised I was kind of bored of my friend's go, the same move, every go, that took 3 minutes to do. But, Fort looks like it does something interesting and different and I can't wait to get my hands on it.
Hands in the Sea, now that's a masterpiece of a deckbuilder. The deck beautifully represents even the growing bureucracy when you control more and more of the map.
Exactly the comment I wanted to make. However, while we didn't have pizza and had limited toys - that forced us to be creative with them? And building forts was a manifestation of this creativity.
Fantastic review, Efka! I came for Fort and learned more about the genre. I’ve been a Dominion fan for years, but legitimately get worn out by the min/max sensibilities of others who have more time to return to the game than I have. I played an early version of Fort and fell in love for many of the same reasons you mention - the whimsy and variability throughout the game forced more strategic pivoting than walking into each game with a memorized strategic approach. Great stuff!
I have been really enjoying these longer in depth explorations of board games you've put out recently. You're like guerilla investigative journalists of board gaming. Keep up the fantastic work!
sometimes there's that trap of wanting to create an intricate combo versus just doing the thing that would help you win. also now i want the snack Combos
The original Legendary Encounters was the first deck-builder I played and is still one of my favourites. Also, great analysis of combos and the idea that if they're only fun for the person playing them then that limits how far game designers can push that aspect. I like your videos that delve a bit into mechanics and game design.
Did you mean Legendary (the Marvel one) or the first of the Legendary Encounters series (the Alien one)? The two series are from the same publisher but are subtly different in that Legendary Encounters games are pure cooperative* while Legendary are "semi-coop" since you accumulate a personal victory pile. *) LE: Predator has a competitive mode where you ply as predators hunting humans for points.
@@TorIverWilhelmsen The first Legendary Encounters (Alien). I haven't played Legendary (Marvel, Buffy, Big Trouble, etc.) but I was told it's not as good for some reason. Don't know why.
Me: That’s orange juice.... definitely. I really hope that’s orange juice. OH MY GOD THAT BETTER BE ORANGE JUICE! It’s not, is it? Oh god it’s the egg... ... ... ... Knew it was orange juice.
Easily the best video on your channel. I really like the video essay format, and you made some solid points about combos, deck builders, and what sets Fort apart.
Slay the Spire is so good. The only reason I don't play it more is because I have it for PC, and I'm trying not to get it on Switch because I'll play it way too much lol But I'm still tempted for trips and whatnot. I've only ever gotten through the whole thing once (coincidentally it was my 2nd run), but looove the different characters and cards and how you can really make fun combos.
Same, it's so good! I love how different all of the characters are, I've come to really enjoy each of them. I don't like playing on PC, especially now that I'm working from home, so I only play on the Switch, but I really hope to see more games like it ported over. In particular, Dicey Dungeons looks like a cute dice variant and should be ported later this year, and I hear Monster Train is really good, though who knows when that'll be ported.
I think it's also out for IOS and coming soon to Android. I've been having a lot of fun with it on XBone via Gamepass, but I don't doubt that having a mobile version would be very good (and simultaneously very very bad).
@@shelby142 Dicet Dungeons is a really neat dice placement game. I got it recently too. You also have to balance inventory space (certain abilities take multiple spaces in your inventory and they have different shapes so you need to make them fit)
I've been a huge fan of physical and digital deckbuilders ever since dominion came out. While I did eventually grow out of dominion, I've found CLANK to be one of my all-time favorite games. It strikes such a good balance of deckbuilding with pushing your luck mechanics. It's the perfect balance! I'll admit, fort wasn't even on my radar, but now I'll definitely check it out. Thanks for sharing!
Exceptional content. You have really grown in every aspect of content creation over the past few years. This is one of your best videos. You describe the mechanics involved, but also do a great job of capturing the feelings they invoke. This is a gold standard game review.
Hey, great video! Just here to add on to your bit about the magic tournament: Usually, games are not as complicated as that. It was completely insane to see this combo. There's never really any combo's and the most amount of game actions and triggers is like, 3. Sincerely, a Gruul player.
Fort might be one of my favorite games of 2020. Its deep enough that every game feels unique and fun but also has a simplicity once you learn the game and different symbols. Great game at any player count IMO.
Picked up Slay The Spire on Switch at the start of lockdown and crammed about 200 hours in since end of March, and I’ve almost only played Ironclad in search of that perfect combo. Couldn’t beat the heart despite what I tried and kept at a strength build - but just couldn’t find it reliable. Finally stumbled on a hilarious Juggernaut combo deck and beat it with out taking damage. Slay The Spire is by far one of the most compelling games I’ve every player with so much depth - and great for boardgamers. Chasing the achievements now - so much fun trying to figure out how to beat half of them.
Combos are also a feature of complex engine builders, i.e. games where you build up a tableau of cards (usually) that you then activate. So activating one card can trigger or feed another card etc. For instance, in Terraforming Mars you can have a card that adds cubes to another card, then you can activate that card to use the cubes to get other cubes etc. But at least there it's not endless turns (just two actions and then it's the next player), except if you run out of actions and another player with a huge card collection takes turn after turn while you wait for the round to end.
Mind blown 😳. Loved Deckbuilding games before... now I'm spellbound with them. I've been waiting patiently to play fort cause I didn't had friends to play with my combos!
Cool learning about the recruit mechanic in Fort! After playing Food Chain Magnate I wondered about a game where you could hire from the Beach. I like seeing innovation, thanks for sharing it!
Wow, that's Cifka in the background playing magic ** he was my favorite Hearthstone player when I played it, so smart, so reckless, so arrogant with his bananas ** used to love him
When I started playing boardgames and had my first game of Dominion, I though I misread the rules. I thought it could not be possible to have these nearly endless deck cycle combos. I also felt bad, slowing down the game and having my (also Newby) friends watch me cycling through my deck. I sold the game.
I love spirit island for that. You build combos....via cards you essentially draft. But. The combo is typically with other players. And you mentioned it too! Woo.
So to summarize... If boardgames are art, then 'Fort' is a masterful deconstruction of the deck-builder genre. And just like any artistic deconstruction, it's only at its best if you're intimately familiar with the tropes it's deconstructing. Hmm... Never really considered the idea of "Boardgame as art" before.
@@Reggie1408 - I thought that was pretty clear... I mean, sure, anything can be art. I just never specifically considered that fact in relation to boardgames.
@@stephenspackman5573 - This is a very odd reply by you. Novels (i.e., writing) are among the things traditionally considered art. So, no, it's certainly not like "never having considering novels (writing) as an art", because even the most uncultured person knows that novels are generally considered art. Then you go completely the opposite direction. Taekwondo, despite being what is referred to as a "martial art", is not a thing that I think most people could even be convinced is an "art" in the sense that one calls writing a novel "art", much less do they consider it such by default. *Art: the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.* One traditionally does not practice taekwondo "primarily for it to be appreciated for its beauty or emotional power". Taekwondo is an "art" more in the sense of... *Art: a skill at doing a specified thing, typically one acquired through practice* ... Which is a very different definition. So I don't really think that you've got any intellectual high ground here considering the fact that you are muddling (intentionally or not) various unrelated definitions of "art" in making your criticism of how I have thought (or haven't thought) about what meets (or doesn't meet) *one of* the *particular* definitions. Because it's hard to imagine that you've given the topic as thorough consideration as you pretend when you can't even parse which definition of "art" you're trying to apply to boardgames.
@@stephenspackman5573 - Also, I'm happy to clarify my thinking for you considering your reply to the creator's comment... Most people don't go around asking themselves, "Is this thing art?", whenever they come across some new thing that some other person has done or made. Usually this requires either a powerful personal experience that makes it obvious to them that this thing is art, or for someone else to suggest to them that this thing might be art. Well, I have had no such powerful experience with a boardgame. And until I had to formulate my original comment here, nobody (including No Pun Included) had ever talked about boardgames in a way that really made me think "art". Honestly, it was my own choice of the word "deconstruction" that made me think of "art" at all. Which is a term implied, but not actually said (that I remember) in this video. And it's not like I rejected the idea. I accepted it immediately. "Oh, yeah, never thought of that. But, sure, that makes sense."... I literally don't know why that response is so scandalizing. Like, if I had denied that boardgames could be art I would get why you would be shocked. But considering that I immediately accepted the premise once it was introduced... Not so much.
@@stephenspackman5573 - I assume you were writing this before you saw my previous reply, but... *I never claimed boardgames weren't art. I simply said that I hadn't really considered the idea until I was writing that comment.* It seems to me that both you and the person who originally questioned me were misreading "had not *considered* the idea before" as "will not *entertain* the idea now". But now that it has been suggested to me I am perfectly fine with the idea of boardgames as art, and I don't think that I ever so much as implied that I was not perfectly fine with that idea.
I was too excited by Slay the Spire and had to comment, now that I've watched the entire video. Great stuff. This is probably the most well informed I've been for a video as every subject brought up I knew about already (MTG, Joseph Campbell, deck builders, combos sucking to play against). When Fort went up for pre-order, I watched some videos about it and I ordered it quick. I liked how the mechanisms actually fit the theme (don't play with a kid? they'll go off and help someone who will play with them, etc.), and while you can't long term plan as well due to potentially losing any card you don't play I liked the idea that the decisions matter more because of it. It'll be my first Leder game, so here's hoping I don't get an addiction (to Leder games specifically, I'm already addicted to board/video games lol)
Not all deckbuilders use cards! In fact, my favorite deckbuilder is one such example: Quacks of Quedlinburg. The decision to have simultaneous, asynchronous turns fixes a lot of the combo issues here. The last turn being completely in sync is also a fantastic opportunity to show off the combo deck you built in a more intense, moment of truth environment. It hits the best of both worlds
I didn't play Dominion for at least a year after it came on the scene because I couldn't get past that box art and title text. When when I did my mind exploded. It's been a long time since then and I don't think I'd personally want to play original recipe Dominion, but if you can instead play the standalone Dominion: Intrigue or Intrigue + another expansion like Dark Ages, I can't recommend that enough for experienced board gamers who have never played a deckbuilder.
Interesting review of game and commentary on this modern board game mechanism. Bravo! (makes me more interested in Fort and less interested in MTG). The hero's journey of deckbuilding is definitely there in Mage Knight TBG but not so visceral in Dominion.
My favorite digital card drafting game is Age of Rivals. It is perfection and free on browser (also a paid app with special challenges). Love the art. Also fantastic video as usual.
I love the comparison between the experience of deckbuilders and the hero journey. That is spot on. I am a lover of deckbuilders all the way and Dominion was my gateway board game. However, I do think your analysis is weakened my the fact you do not even mention Star Realms/Hero Realms. This is in my opinion, the gold standard of deckbuilders (for the speed of a game, accessibility, price, balance - though Hero Realms a little less). While it does display many of the features of the standard deckbuilder you mentioned Fort innovating upon, it creates an arms race to buy that good card in the shared market, the agony of watching your opponent get that card (it was supposed to be your card!) and use it against you, the choice of trying investing in a single faction to create those combos or having a more diverse deck to try to make use of a variety of unique abilities. While it doesn't weaken your assessment of Fort in any way (and indeed, I want more than ever to add it to my collection), I cannot help but feel like your assessment of deckbuilders as a whole would have been more complete if it included this absolute gem of a game! Also, I would be curious to here your assessment of other innovations on the deckbuilder that exist or are forthcoming. At the moment, I can think of the Clank! series, Shadowrun Crossfire, and Moonrakers. Basically super intriguing discussion and I want more!
When you crack an egg you're supposed to crack it against a flat surface, not the rim of the bowl. If you crack it along the rim you risk getting tiny shell fragments all up in your delicious egg.
It's really amazing how much better it works. I didn't properly learn this until I was an adult. And then I see the occasional professional TV/internet chef do it the "wrong" way and I wince. Maybe they've just perfected the edge crack, like they have the one handed crack. Or maybe they just like the crunchy bits.
Wow, just stumbled on your video, thank you, sir you did a great job, I really liked how you talked about things in general. I’m wondering about getting it since I do enjoy deck building games. I played a bit of Magic, I do like Dominion and I sadly got this feeling of playing a kind of solitaire game, even if I do enjoy watching someone building his engine. So when I just discovered Leder Games, I got naturally here. Could you please tell me how long it takes to get used to the lack of words on the cards?
I love and hate Dominion so much! for exactly the reasons you mentioned I am not interacting with my opponents we are each playing fun little games. MTG tends to be mostly... quite interactive even when you are playing combo there is a lot of things you have to play around.
Well one way to make an interactive deckbuilder is to bind the core mechanic to a board but overall I agree, there isn't much interaction most of the time.
When he said he grew up in the Soviet Union and had neither forts, pizza, nor toys, I had to pause it just to sit and appreciate the irony and humor there. I think this was your best video.
As someone who also loves Slay the Spire, you should check out Monster Train. It's the best game to come out in the genre of digital deckbuilding games and it draws a lot of inspiration from StS while also innovating fantastically.
I feel like Ganz Schon Clever has a similar combo problem which is why I actually prefer that game as a solo experience (although since it is less confrontational than something like magic I feel like it is easier to be excited by the other players turn)
I love the video and great analysis. So much that I've seen it a couple of times. But what are you holding in your right hand all the time? I'm sorry, I had to ask it.
I remember dominion being described, and i guess it extends to deck builders, that its essentially a more advanced solitaire. Solitaire is fun solo(maybe time for me to finally get Slay the Spire), but like with that MTG example watching someone play solitaire isnt entirely riveting. Fort sounds like a fix to that genre of making everyone involved in each others "solitaire boards" so to speak. Ya peaked my interest!
I'm here early so i just wanted to say that you all end up in my dreams occasionally and its getting kinda weird so im going to have to politely ask you to leave. Thanks.
Eurotrash, it is worth it. Just be aware that your brain may try to dribble out of your nose to escape the pain caused by watching it. Also, this is the most excellent review of a board game ever.
Hey Efka, weird question but what game is that on your shelf with the shirtless person and the odd text in red at the bottom? It's next to the D&D sourcebooks. Please, it looks cool as hell.
the whole cookie cutter review format of NPI and SUSD has gotten a bit stale for me personally so it's been a long time since I've tuned in, but i LOVE these video-essays. you have a real talent for interesting commentaries like this. this was genuinely brilliant. hope to see you make more.
![Run Away - Tzuyu(TWICE) ツウィ 쯔위 [Music Bank] | KBS WORLD TV 240906](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KnHNNyAYiu0/mqdefault.jpg)
This is the most sophisticated, thought provoking and educational board game video I’ve ever seen, and I’ve watched a whole lot. Keep up the stellar work and deep dive content. Love it!
I feel like ProZD summarised these feelings best in his “when you do a good turn” video.
This is why I absolutely love Star Realms.The game is so quick, and turns are so simple and both players know how much luck is involved (though you can still be good at the game) that when a player gets a big combo and manages to scrap two cards and draw two with Brain World, which draws a Command Ship which draws two more cards, which you then copy with a Stealth Needle and get to draw another two cards, but also activate both faction abilities so that you can destroy two enemy bases and one of the cards you drew was another base for yourself and so your Embassy Yacht gets to draw ANOTHER two cards and on and on and you end up with an outrageous turn that wipes out your opponent in one swoop from 60% health down to nothing.. well it doesn't feel bad to play against because you *know* that that sort of luck is a part of the game and it took so little time that the disappointment of losing is more than made up for by the fascination of watching your opponents deck just roll 20 after 20. And then you can just immediately start another game.
@gormenghast88 The turns when you're down to really low health can be some of the best. Like if you're on 15 Authority and you go "right, I'm scrapping this decent card to draw a card, and I'm scrapping that one to make you discard 1 more"
And you know it makes your deck overall weaker, but you're pushing to try to survive just one more turn longer to hope you get a bit of luck and a nice combo that might be able to bring you back into the game
And if you don't... damn, did the best I could. Want another game?
Try Shards of Infinity. The combos you can do there are ludicrous, and it's very close to Star Realms. For me it's clearly the better game, and I have played them both for hundreds of hours. Beware that the digital version is worse than Star Realms unfortunately, especially because it doesn't have matchmaking.
@@RaidenFreeman I will check it out
That doesn't really solve the problem that NPI has with deckbuilders. You can't really interact with your opponent's combos.
The only interaction you have is whether to point your damage at an opponent's non-outpost base or to their face.
@@downsjmmyjones101 Some games try to do that with a 1 action/turn restriction or reaction cards
Wow, incredible, Efka. Love the deep-dive.
Don't know if you recall Efka, but we met once in Essen, I think it was 2014 or so, the same year Alchemists was featured there. Me and my friend were walking around in the evening, looking to drink beer and talk to people, and I remember sitting in the lobby of a hotel with you there (this had to be very early in your youtube days, I had no idea who you were, just a bearded nerd (like myself)) and I asked you to come over and sit with us to chat, as you seemed lonely and I wanted to be a good person or something :P I remember your enthusiasm talking about alchemists and you showed us the contents of the box you had in your backpack, and we were quite intrigued, and was hunting the game the next game at the faire.
Needless to say, this has nothing to do with anything, just that we met shortly once, you were very polite and friendly, and I just wanted to say that I enjoy your RUclips success and am very impressed with your content.
I'm Niclas from past RUclips channel rosmt and am just glad to have met you once! Take care 😁❤️
I do remember this. At the Motel One lobby, right? I think it was my second year at Spiel. I don't remember much about our conversation but I do remember it being very pleasant.
Your channel DOES make some of the most thoughtful videos on board games in the world. I'm learning from your channel how to do that myself. Thanks for the YEARS of work making these videos for us!
Now I'm even more excited for Fort. As someone who loves deck builders, owns far too many of them and has reviewed some with an ever increasingly large "to make a video about pile" of them, they're great, but I also totally get the issue with combos. One day during a game of Dominion I suddenly realised I was kind of bored of my friend's go, the same move, every go, that took 3 minutes to do.
But, Fort looks like it does something interesting and different and I can't wait to get my hands on it.
This is it. You're the Nerdwriter of board game criticism
Alternatively, I could just be Efka of NPI of board game criticism ;)
三年後才看到超粒方留言😂😂
Hands in the Sea, now that's a masterpiece of a deckbuilder. The deck beautifully represents even the growing bureucracy when you control more and more of the map.
Grew up in post-soviet country - and didn`t have pizza either till I turned 18.
But I had toys- we where making them with knives and stiсks.
I had wooden coloured blocks and LET ME TELL YOU, best toy ever.
Exactly the comment I wanted to make. However, while we didn't have pizza and had limited toys - that forced us to be creative with them? And building forts was a manifestation of this creativity.
I had wooden toys nailed to the floor
@@goblingon yeah, and hairy hands of nanny
@@goblingon I understood that reference.
Fantastic review, Efka! I came for Fort and learned more about the genre. I’ve been a Dominion fan for years, but legitimately get worn out by the min/max sensibilities of others who have more time to return to the game than I have. I played an early version of Fort and fell in love for many of the same reasons you mention - the whimsy and variability throughout the game forced more strategic pivoting than walking into each game with a memorized strategic approach. Great stuff!
I have been really enjoying these longer in depth explorations of board games you've put out recently. You're like guerilla investigative journalists of board gaming. Keep up the fantastic work!
Thank you for offering 2k and 4k resolutions on your videos! one of the few boardgame reviewers that does so!
sometimes there's that trap of wanting to create an intricate combo versus just doing the thing that would help you win.
also now i want the snack Combos
Great video, love the departure from the pure review into a deep dive of the genre.
What an awesome video, loved all the research that went into it.
Never thought of deck builders as a hero's journey, but it fits so well .
That might be my favorite moment in all your videos, when you told John D Clair you are sorry and you really loved Space Base!
The original Legendary Encounters was the first deck-builder I played and is still one of my favourites. Also, great analysis of combos and the idea that if they're only fun for the person playing them then that limits how far game designers can push that aspect. I like your videos that delve a bit into mechanics and game design.
Did you mean Legendary (the Marvel one) or the first of the Legendary Encounters series (the Alien one)? The two series are from the same publisher but are subtly different in that Legendary Encounters games are pure cooperative* while Legendary are "semi-coop" since you accumulate a personal victory pile.
*) LE: Predator has a competitive mode where you ply as predators hunting humans for points.
@@TorIverWilhelmsen The first Legendary Encounters (Alien). I haven't played Legendary (Marvel, Buffy, Big Trouble, etc.) but I was told it's not as good for some reason. Don't know why.
oh snap. your content lately has been elevating the game of board game reviews. Just thought you should know!
Me: That’s orange juice.... definitely. I really hope that’s orange juice. OH MY GOD THAT BETTER BE ORANGE JUICE! It’s not, is it? Oh god it’s the egg... ... ... ... Knew it was orange juice.
To be fair, it was orange juice with an added splash of oat milk.
@@NoPunIncluded That might be worse than raw egg...
@@mahna_mahna couldn't really taste the oat milk.
@@NoPunIncluded Didn't it curdle?
Easily the best video on your channel. I really like the video essay format, and you made some solid points about combos, deck builders, and what sets Fort apart.
Slay the Spire is so good. The only reason I don't play it more is because I have it for PC, and I'm trying not to get it on Switch because I'll play it way too much lol But I'm still tempted for trips and whatnot. I've only ever gotten through the whole thing once (coincidentally it was my 2nd run), but looove the different characters and cards and how you can really make fun combos.
Same, it's so good! I love how different all of the characters are, I've come to really enjoy each of them.
I don't like playing on PC, especially now that I'm working from home, so I only play on the Switch, but I really hope to see more games like it ported over. In particular, Dicey Dungeons looks like a cute dice variant and should be ported later this year, and I hear Monster Train is really good, though who knows when that'll be ported.
I think it's also out for IOS and coming soon to Android. I've been having a lot of fun with it on XBone via Gamepass, but I don't doubt that having a mobile version would be very good (and simultaneously very very bad).
@@shelby142 Dicet Dungeons is a really neat dice placement game. I got it recently too. You also have to balance inventory space (certain abilities take multiple spaces in your inventory and they have different shapes so you need to make them fit)
I've been a huge fan of physical and digital deckbuilders ever since dominion came out. While I did eventually grow out of dominion, I've found CLANK to be one of my all-time favorite games. It strikes such a good balance of deckbuilding with pushing your luck mechanics. It's the perfect balance! I'll admit, fort wasn't even on my radar, but now I'll definitely check it out. Thanks for sharing!
Exceptional content. You have really grown in every aspect of content creation over the past few years. This is one of your best videos. You describe the mechanics involved, but also do a great job of capturing the feelings they invoke. This is a gold standard game review.
Combos are a blast in cooperative deck building games.
Hey, great video! Just here to add on to your bit about the magic tournament: Usually, games are not as complicated as that. It was completely insane to see this combo. There's never really any combo's and the most amount of game actions and triggers is like, 3.
Sincerely, a Gruul player.
Fort might be one of my favorite games of 2020. Its deep enough that every game feels unique and fun but also has a simplicity once you learn the game and different symbols. Great game at any player count IMO.
LOL "do yourself a favor, get Dominion and you'll be...a whole new world."
Highest quality ever, thank you!
Picked up Slay The Spire on Switch at the start of lockdown and crammed about 200 hours in since end of March, and I’ve almost only played Ironclad in search of that perfect combo. Couldn’t beat the heart despite what I tried and kept at a strength build - but just couldn’t find it reliable.
Finally stumbled on a hilarious Juggernaut combo deck and beat it with out taking damage.
Slay The Spire is by far one of the most compelling games I’ve every player with so much depth - and great for boardgamers.
Chasing the achievements now - so much fun trying to figure out how to beat half of them.
Amazing how smoothly this developed from a deep dive of combos to reviewing Fort 😄👍👍👍
Yep love how deep you went. Absolutely brilliant stuff!!!
This video is amazing! Thanks for the insight into game mechanics. Hope there's gonna be more of that!
Very, very helpful! Thank you kindly!
What a golden channel.
That's some random Мумий Тролль on your shelf there!
Really enjoyed this style of video. Sympathised with Efka’s view on deck builders.
That was a masterclass. Astounding. 👏❤️
Combos are also a feature of complex engine builders, i.e. games where you build up a tableau of cards (usually) that you then activate. So activating one card can trigger or feed another card etc. For instance, in Terraforming Mars you can have a card that adds cubes to another card, then you can activate that card to use the cubes to get other cubes etc. But at least there it's not endless turns (just two actions and then it's the next player), except if you run out of actions and another player with a huge card collection takes turn after turn while you wait for the round to end.
Wow, Fort looks awesome. It's going on my must-get list
Mind blown 😳. Loved Deckbuilding games before... now I'm spellbound with them. I've been waiting patiently to play fort cause I didn't had friends to play with my combos!
Cool learning about the recruit mechanic in Fort! After playing Food Chain Magnate I wondered about a game where you could hire from the Beach. I like seeing innovation, thanks for sharing it!
First I wanted this, then watched another play through and decided I didn’t want it. Now I’ve watched this and want it again.
Lovely review! I bought fort a few days ago because of the new take on deck building as you mentioned.
Wow, that's Cifka in the background playing magic ** he was my favorite Hearthstone player when I played it, so smart, so reckless, so arrogant with his bananas ** used to love him
He was a great deckbuilder on HS, one of the best. It seems he stopped playing right now.
It was really memorable that he and his team won HGG.
When I started playing boardgames and had my first game of Dominion, I though I misread the rules. I thought it could not be possible to have these nearly endless deck cycle combos. I also felt bad, slowing down the game and having my (also Newby) friends watch me cycling through my deck. I sold the game.
This is an amazing video, thank you!
I love spirit island for that. You build combos....via cards you essentially draft. But. The combo is typically with other players.
And you mentioned it too! Woo.
So to summarize... If boardgames are art, then 'Fort' is a masterful deconstruction of the deck-builder genre. And just like any artistic deconstruction, it's only at its best if you're intimately familiar with the tropes it's deconstructing.
Hmm... Never really considered the idea of "Boardgame as art" before.
@@Reggie1408 - I thought that was pretty clear... I mean, sure, anything can be art. I just never specifically considered that fact in relation to boardgames.
I would like to encourage people to de-escalate their replies. Everyone is on their own journey, discovering things at their own pace.
@@stephenspackman5573 - This is a very odd reply by you. Novels (i.e., writing) are among the things traditionally considered art. So, no, it's certainly not like "never having considering novels (writing) as an art", because even the most uncultured person knows that novels are generally considered art.
Then you go completely the opposite direction. Taekwondo, despite being what is referred to as a "martial art", is not a thing that I think most people could even be convinced is an "art" in the sense that one calls writing a novel "art", much less do they consider it such by default.
*Art: the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.*
One traditionally does not practice taekwondo "primarily for it to be appreciated for its beauty or emotional power". Taekwondo is an "art" more in the sense of...
*Art: a skill at doing a specified thing, typically one acquired through practice*
... Which is a very different definition.
So I don't really think that you've got any intellectual high ground here considering the fact that you are muddling (intentionally or not) various unrelated definitions of "art" in making your criticism of how I have thought (or haven't thought) about what meets (or doesn't meet) *one of* the *particular* definitions. Because it's hard to imagine that you've given the topic as thorough consideration as you pretend when you can't even parse which definition of "art" you're trying to apply to boardgames.
@@stephenspackman5573 - Also, I'm happy to clarify my thinking for you considering your reply to the creator's comment...
Most people don't go around asking themselves, "Is this thing art?", whenever they come across some new thing that some other person has done or made. Usually this requires either a powerful personal experience that makes it obvious to them that this thing is art, or for someone else to suggest to them that this thing might be art.
Well, I have had no such powerful experience with a boardgame. And until I had to formulate my original comment here, nobody (including No Pun Included) had ever talked about boardgames in a way that really made me think "art". Honestly, it was my own choice of the word "deconstruction" that made me think of "art" at all. Which is a term implied, but not actually said (that I remember) in this video.
And it's not like I rejected the idea. I accepted it immediately. "Oh, yeah, never thought of that. But, sure, that makes sense."... I literally don't know why that response is so scandalizing. Like, if I had denied that boardgames could be art I would get why you would be shocked. But considering that I immediately accepted the premise once it was introduced... Not so much.
@@stephenspackman5573 - I assume you were writing this before you saw my previous reply, but...
*I never claimed boardgames weren't art. I simply said that I hadn't really considered the idea until I was writing that comment.*
It seems to me that both you and the person who originally questioned me were misreading "had not *considered* the idea before" as "will not *entertain* the idea now". But now that it has been suggested to me I am perfectly fine with the idea of boardgames as art, and I don't think that I ever so much as implied that I was not perfectly fine with that idea.
Spotted Adventure Mart in the intro. Just picked that up on sale and tried it out for the first time. Neat little game and the art is just adorable.
This video is great. More video essays about board games instead of merely reviews!
I think you’ve enlightened us all in regards to combos and the struggle to maintain fun. I know you did for me at least.
I was too excited by Slay the Spire and had to comment, now that I've watched the entire video. Great stuff. This is probably the most well informed I've been for a video as every subject brought up I knew about already (MTG, Joseph Campbell, deck builders, combos sucking to play against).
When Fort went up for pre-order, I watched some videos about it and I ordered it quick. I liked how the mechanisms actually fit the theme (don't play with a kid? they'll go off and help someone who will play with them, etc.), and while you can't long term plan as well due to potentially losing any card you don't play I liked the idea that the decisions matter more because of it. It'll be my first Leder game, so here's hoping I don't get an addiction (to Leder games specifically, I'm already addicted to board/video games lol)
Not all deckbuilders use cards! In fact, my favorite deckbuilder is one such example: Quacks of Quedlinburg. The decision to have simultaneous, asynchronous turns fixes a lot of the combo issues here. The last turn being completely in sync is also a fantastic opportunity to show off the combo deck you built in a more intense, moment of truth environment. It hits the best of both worlds
I didn't play Dominion for at least a year after it came on the scene because I couldn't get past that box art and title text. When when I did my mind exploded. It's been a long time since then and I don't think I'd personally want to play original recipe Dominion, but if you can instead play the standalone Dominion: Intrigue or Intrigue + another expansion like Dark Ages, I can't recommend that enough for experienced board gamers who have never played a deckbuilder.
Just played fort today at digital gencon. It was really fun, going to pick up a physical copy as soon as it comes out
Interesting review of game and commentary on this modern board game mechanism. Bravo! (makes me more interested in Fort and less interested in MTG). The hero's journey of deckbuilding is definitely there in Mage Knight TBG but not so visceral in Dominion.
My favorite digital card drafting game is Age of Rivals. It is perfection and free on browser (also a paid app with special challenges). Love the art. Also fantastic video as usual.
I think I have 300 or so hours playing Slay the Spire... and I still feel like trash when I watch people stream it.
This and the 18xx video have turned me into a patron, amazing work, well done guys.
I love the comparison between the experience of deckbuilders and the hero journey. That is spot on. I am a lover of deckbuilders all the way and Dominion was my gateway board game.
However, I do think your analysis is weakened my the fact you do not even mention Star Realms/Hero Realms. This is in my opinion, the gold standard of deckbuilders (for the speed of a game, accessibility, price, balance - though Hero Realms a little less). While it does display many of the features of the standard deckbuilder you mentioned Fort innovating upon, it creates an arms race to buy that good card in the shared market, the agony of watching your opponent get that card (it was supposed to be your card!) and use it against you, the choice of trying investing in a single faction to create those combos or having a more diverse deck to try to make use of a variety of unique abilities.
While it doesn't weaken your assessment of Fort in any way (and indeed, I want more than ever to add it to my collection), I cannot help but feel like your assessment of deckbuilders as a whole would have been more complete if it included this absolute gem of a game!
Also, I would be curious to here your assessment of other innovations on the deckbuilder that exist or are forthcoming. At the moment, I can think of the Clank! series, Shadowrun Crossfire, and Moonrakers. Basically super intriguing discussion and I want more!
Best boardgame video essay! Congrats!
Brilliant video!
That mid video switch was... chefs kiss. Also didn’t know Edgar grew up in the Soviet Union
There's a lot we don't know about... Edgar.
He's Lithuanian and we were part of the USSR for a long time sadly...
When you crack an egg you're supposed to crack it against a flat surface, not the rim of the bowl. If you crack it along the rim you risk getting tiny shell fragments all up in your delicious egg.
It's really amazing how much better it works. I didn't properly learn this until I was an adult. And then I see the occasional professional TV/internet chef do it the "wrong" way and I wince. Maybe they've just perfected the edge crack, like they have the one handed crack.
Or maybe they just like the crunchy bits.
Loved the soft ball in this video
Wow, just stumbled on your video,
thank you, sir you did a great job,
I really liked how you talked about things in general.
I’m wondering about getting it since I do enjoy deck building games.
I played a bit of Magic, I do like Dominion and I sadly got this feeling of playing a kind of solitaire game,
even if I do enjoy watching someone building his engine.
So when I just discovered Leder Games, I got naturally here.
Could you please tell me how long it takes to get used to the lack of words on the cards?
I laughed. I cried. Outstanding. Bravo! I'm heading over to your patreon right now.
I love and hate Dominion so much! for exactly the reasons you mentioned I am not interacting with my opponents we are each playing fun little games. MTG tends to be mostly... quite interactive even when you are playing combo there is a lot of things you have to play around.
Well one way to make an interactive deckbuilder is to bind the core mechanic to a board but overall I agree, there isn't much interaction most of the time.
When he said he grew up in the Soviet Union and had neither forts, pizza, nor toys, I had to pause it just to sit and appreciate the irony and humor there. I think this was your best video.
As someone who also loves Slay the Spire, you should check out Monster Train. It's the best game to come out in the genre of digital deckbuilding games and it draws a lot of inspiration from StS while also innovating fantastically.
One of the best reviews ever!
Love this content. Stunning.
Кто ещё заметил обложку Мумий Тролль - ставьте лайк!
i enjoy Fort, recommended
I feel like Ganz Schon Clever has a similar combo problem which is why I actually prefer that game as a solo experience (although since it is less confrontational than something like magic I feel like it is easier to be excited by the other players turn)
Great work! Thank you
I've just been playing Slay the Spire quite a bit the last few weeks. Great fun. Did not know I could play it on my Switch though!
I love the video and great analysis. So much that I've seen it a couple of times. But what are you holding in your right hand all the time? I'm sorry, I had to ask it.
I remember dominion being described, and i guess it extends to deck builders, that its essentially a more advanced solitaire. Solitaire is fun solo(maybe time for me to finally get Slay the Spire), but like with that MTG example watching someone play solitaire isnt entirely riveting.
Fort sounds like a fix to that genre of making everyone involved in each others "solitaire boards" so to speak. Ya peaked my interest!
You should try Dead Cells dude. The combo potential for the powers you acquire randomly is superb
Blooming fantastic review :)
Great video. I really want to get this game.
Cifka was my favourite.
I think this is the best piece of boardgaming criticism on all of YT, and 34k views is just criminal, really.
Excellent Eurotrash reference!
Superb video!
ooo love me some Dragonfire
Cheeky Mumii Troll album cover off to the side? Hmmm...
I'm here early so i just wanted to say that you all end up in my dreams occasionally and its getting kinda weird so im going to have to politely ask you to leave. Thanks.
Great review!
Eurotrash, it is worth it. Just be aware that your brain may try to dribble out of your nose to escape the pain caused by watching it.
Also, this is the most excellent review of a board game ever.
Hey Efka, weird question but what game is that on your shelf with the shirtless person and the odd text in red at the bottom? It's next to the D&D sourcebooks. Please, it looks cool as hell.
It's not a game, it's a record :)
@@NoPunIncluded That's disappointing. Thanks for the response though. And out of curiosity, what's the record?
What did you guys think of Adventure Mart? I've been thinking of picking that one up for my group.
Nice acknowledging a legit video game!
I like this dude's shirt.
Just here seeing if anyone had brought up Slay the Spire KS yet
Anyone got the link to the video of that Magic Pro Tour final?
I got you. ruclips.net/video/SZDaM4VpSBk/видео.html
the whole cookie cutter review format of NPI and SUSD has gotten a bit stale for me personally so it's been a long time since I've tuned in, but i LOVE these video-essays. you have a real talent for interesting commentaries like this. this was genuinely brilliant. hope to see you make more.