I do feel like you can get in the way of the AI by playing it smart/patient on the track and putting influence on the cards it likely takes. When I got those tips the solo mode fleshed out to be a lot more thinky/fun
One of the hardest solos I’ve ever played. It’s crazy haha next time I think I’ll either reset cards everytime someone rests or roll a dice and if it’s even the ai skips a turn (max two per rest) and see how that works. The fact there are resources you have to get while it doesn’t is pretty rough
I didn't realize that Architects had a revised solo mode. I just looked into it. I was thinking about getting Wayfarers during the holiday sales, but maybe I'll look into the Works of Wonder expansion for Architects instead. Thanks for the lead!
I got the works of wonder expansion for architects based on your review and that was excellent, both the review and the expansion. I have played raiders of scythia solo and really enjoyed it. Bought Wayfarers and was hoping the solo would be good, sounds like it is just ok. Would you say it is better than the solo mode of base box architects?
I find it funny how the AI has multiple mechanisms for randomizing (for comets, bonuses, when to journal, what path to take, etc, etc) and NONE of them are dice.
Heard the same thing from other people. That's unfortunate. I felt the same about Wingspan. The AI just happens and I either beat it or not regardless of anything I do to influence it.
I don't know if I fully agree with this. Their focus is what you should be aiming to counter, and it really dictates whether you're playing better than the AI. I think the upgrade AI is probably the most random, but for the townsfolk/space AI, you can influence the townsfolk/space cards reliably. For the journal AI, you need to be aware that the AI will be rushing the game and so focus on quick scoring rather than engine building. A "beat your own score" solo wouldn't interact with and change up the board state in the same manner these AI do, and it wouldn't have a focus that I can attempt to thwart. I'm not sure if there's a good way to counter the upgrade AI, but if there is I haven't found it yet.
After many solo plays of Viscounts on all four boards I reckon the solo is pretty random too, ranging from beatable, just, to impossible. I don't think you can go head to head with it and expect to get to outwit it constantly either. I just play now to beat my own score and let it do its own thing. As for Paladins - its an utter pain , so many conditional alternatives, too distracting - I will play it two handed solo to get any enjoyment. Raiders of Scythia is soooooo much better, simple to operate, challenging and way less prone to wild swings
@@TheBrokenMeeple I wonder if the lack of discussion about Scythia when Garphill games are discussed these days is that most pro's and expert gamers saw it was just 'Raiders of the Black Sea' , nothing new here and moved on. Being recent to the hobby and ignorant at the time, Scythia was a very early purchase and I love it. Solo or Multi-player. Simpler than West Kingdom games but more fun , (though I like Architects and Viscounts a lot). I take the opportunity to recommend it to Garphill fans as an excellent non-trilogy choice. Doesn't cry out for an expansion either. I also prefer the character artwork of Sam Phillips (who also did Hadrians Wall) over Mico , though the main board lacks contrast and some clarity Hire yourself a bloodthirsty crew, dose up on Kumis and get raiding I should get the Raider of the North Sea steam version at some point and enjoy that too. Thanks for your great non-shill, non-marketing bull approach. Happy holidays
You’ve mentioned all the games in the previous trilogy. Am just wondering if you’ve tried Hadrian’s Wall and Legacy of Yu and if you’d compare those against these. I understand Hadrian’s Wall is best as a solo Flip and Write, and Legacy of Yu is pure solo. Still wondering how they’d rank against those you’ve mentioned.
Felt like a mode that rewards you more for stringing the game out. I tried to race up the track and got whooped. Won a lot more after I let the opponent move up the track first.
Having only played Raiders and Explorers solo I think this one is more interesting and although it 'cheats' so do a lot of solo modes in games. I find you can steer the AI a little using your influence to block cards and action spaces giving you more options.
You might have a rule wrong (which may or may not affect your opinion). When the AI draws its third same colour it completes that regular turn then rests the next turn. I found this change balanced the scoring and pacing of the game massively for me
I have been super disappointed with the solo on this one. In all of my plays so far the AI has absolutely steamrolled me by grabbing card after card after card and also upgrade tiles. I have found it very unsatisfying unfortunately. I did enjoy the game a lot multiplayer, but I don't get the same level of enjoyment from the solo. As you mentioned, the AI just straight cheats and I am not a fan of how that feels in this game. Oh, well. Maybe I'll check out one of the other ones you mentioned at some point.
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I do feel like you can get in the way of the AI by playing it smart/patient on the track and putting influence on the cards it likely takes.
When I got those tips the solo mode fleshed out to be a lot more thinky/fun
One of the hardest solos I’ve ever played. It’s crazy haha next time I think I’ll either reset cards everytime someone rests or roll a dice and if it’s even the ai skips a turn (max two per rest) and see how that works. The fact there are resources you have to get while it doesn’t is pretty rough
I didn't realize that Architects had a revised solo mode. I just looked into it. I was thinking about getting Wayfarers during the holiday sales, but maybe I'll look into the Works of Wonder expansion for Architects instead. Thanks for the lead!
The latest expansion has a much improved solo mode. Wayfarers is still great fun though.
I got the works of wonder expansion for architects based on your review and that was excellent, both the review and the expansion. I have played raiders of scythia solo and really enjoyed it. Bought Wayfarers and was hoping the solo would be good, sounds like it is just ok. Would you say it is better than the solo mode of base box architects?
Despite its flaws its better than BASE architects solo - but the Works of Wonder expansion vastly improved that solo mode
I find it funny how the AI has multiple mechanisms for randomizing (for comets, bonuses, when to journal, what path to take, etc, etc) and NONE of them are dice.
Heard the same thing from other people. That's unfortunate. I felt the same about Wingspan. The AI just happens and I either beat it or not regardless of anything I do to influence it.
I don't know if I fully agree with this. Their focus is what you should be aiming to counter, and it really dictates whether you're playing better than the AI. I think the upgrade AI is probably the most random, but for the townsfolk/space AI, you can influence the townsfolk/space cards reliably. For the journal AI, you need to be aware that the AI will be rushing the game and so focus on quick scoring rather than engine building.
A "beat your own score" solo wouldn't interact with and change up the board state in the same manner these AI do, and it wouldn't have a focus that I can attempt to thwart. I'm not sure if there's a good way to counter the upgrade AI, but if there is I haven't found it yet.
You can still use the AI to mix around the cards and stuff but I just wouldn't pay much attention to their score as its mostly chaos.
After many solo plays of Viscounts on all four boards I reckon the solo is pretty random too, ranging from beatable, just, to impossible. I don't think you can go head to head with it and expect to get to outwit it constantly either. I just play now to beat my own score and let it do its own thing. As for Paladins - its an utter pain , so many conditional alternatives, too distracting - I will play it two handed solo to get any enjoyment.
Raiders of Scythia is soooooo much better, simple to operate, challenging and way less prone to wild swings
Just rather play Raiders multiplayer. And that's Raiders the original.
@@TheBrokenMeeple I wonder if the lack of discussion about Scythia when Garphill games are discussed these days is that most pro's and expert gamers saw it was just 'Raiders of the Black Sea' , nothing new here and moved on.
Being recent to the hobby and ignorant at the time, Scythia was a very early purchase and I love it. Solo or Multi-player. Simpler than West Kingdom games but more fun , (though I like Architects and Viscounts a lot). I take the opportunity to recommend it to Garphill fans as an excellent non-trilogy choice. Doesn't cry out for an expansion either. I also prefer the character artwork of Sam Phillips (who also did Hadrians Wall) over Mico , though the main board lacks contrast and some clarity
Hire yourself a bloodthirsty crew, dose up on Kumis and get raiding
I should get the Raider of the North Sea steam version at some point and enjoy that too.
Thanks for your great non-shill, non-marketing bull approach. Happy holidays
@@glossie6338 Raiders of Scythia is so elegant as a solo game. Its the best I’ve played and I’ve played many. It needs more love for sure!
You’ve mentioned all the games in the previous trilogy. Am just wondering if you’ve tried Hadrian’s Wall and Legacy of Yu and if you’d compare those against these. I understand Hadrian’s Wall is best as a solo Flip and Write, and Legacy of Yu is pure solo. Still wondering how they’d rank against those you’ve mentioned.
Not Legacy as I didn't have much interest, but Hadrian's Wall yes. It's fine, but I think it's too much fath for what it is.
Felt like a mode that rewards you more for stringing the game out. I tried to race up the track and got whooped.
Won a lot more after I let the opponent move up the track first.
Having only played Raiders and Explorers solo I think this one is more interesting and although it 'cheats' so do a lot of solo modes in games. I find you can steer the AI a little using your influence to block cards and action spaces giving you more options.
You might have a rule wrong (which may or may not affect your opinion). When the AI draws its third same colour it completes that regular turn then rests the next turn. I found this change balanced the scoring and pacing of the game massively for me
That's how I play it, just didn't explain it that well! :P
I have been super disappointed with the solo on this one. In all of my plays so far the AI has absolutely steamrolled me by grabbing card after card after card and also upgrade tiles. I have found it very unsatisfying unfortunately. I did enjoy the game a lot multiplayer, but I don't get the same level of enjoyment from the solo. As you mentioned, the AI just straight cheats and I am not a fan of how that feels in this game. Oh, well. Maybe I'll check out one of the other ones you mentioned at some point.
"I forgot". Lol, honesty always the best policy 🙂
The bot did 64 and I did like 27 points 😂🤣 I will try to not journal that much to drag the game a bit to build my tableau I think. To retry 😂😝
Spot-on criticism that mirrors mine - very underwhelming bot compared to Viscounts/Paladins/Architects 2nd expansion.