Carolus Magnus - Playthrough With Friends

Today I am joined by my friend Anastasia to play a full game of Carolus Magnus! I will start with a brief overview of the game, and then we will teach the rules while we play.
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Timestamps:
Introduction - 0:00
Game overview - 1:07
Game start - 3:04
Choosing turn order discs - 3:45
Placing cubes - 5:10
Moving the emperor - 6:03
Rolling resource dice - 6:32
Merging regions - 11:45
Postgame discussion - 47:55
BGG link - boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4...
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[@Mike_James]

this game looks fun. Jon being flustered is a new one. at least its quick at 2

[@joelsummerell1012]

Surprisingly pleasing game. Dry Euro if ever I saw one. Yet still thematic. Good game designer. Good playthrough. Cheers!

[@timoseppa9124]

Interesting design. I like simple, elegant rules. Open minded watching this...

[@clvrswine]

Playing this at 3, it can go on and on. I took this to a game night at a local bar 20+ years ago and random people were having fun with it.

[@robwilkinson1331]

Bruno Faidutti recommends a variant where you roll the dice at the beginning of your turn, but take the new cubes at the end of your turn as usual. So you take your current turn with knowledge of your next bunch of cubes. Might help?

[@JonGetsGames]

I suppose that would have helped abit, but I doubt it would have helped enough for me. I think if I was to play again, I'd certainly use the cube draft variant instead.

[@leah2778]

13:28 Anastasia would actually get a castle here because she has majority in red, even though it's your turn. After you move the king you ALWAYS check for majority and place a castle if possible, even if it would give your opponent a castle.

[@timoseppa9124]

Yes, dice is plural, die is singular.

[@IavorDiatchki]

I enjoy this game a lot, but when playing with 4 (2 vs. 2 teams), with the draft cube variant (which I think is the default in the new version, Eryantis)

[@rogerburrows3400]

I feel for you wrt the dice😀. I have to be honest and say I skipped to the end after about the first 5 minutes or so. For me, it was both too abstract and too random.

[@YakovPetrovich]

Sad to hear you were miserable with this. Carolus Magnus is great, super swingy and mean and yes.. there is a healthy dose of randomness and you have to be okay with that. 90% of my gaming preferences are for zero luck economic games but Carolus Magnus is such a good snappy & easy game to play. My one suggestion is that if you are placing cubes on the map and your opponent isn't, your opponent will probably win. When you place cubes on the map you lose opportunities to compete in the majorities. Placing cubes on the map is a very strong situational play and can be game-winning in the late game, but in the early game its much more important to stay competitive with the majorities.

[@YakovPetrovich]

The cube drafting variant is fine, its the standard rule in Eriyantis (sp?) which is the new version of this game. I'd happily play either way (random or draft) but I would recommend you try the drafting variant before writing off the game. also.. (sorry) never underestimate adding cubes even if you can't take majority right away, keeping your opponent on their toes and forcing them to double down to protect their majorities can leave you openings in other colours

[@allenthiele1804]

It feels like there's a lot of weight on the turn order auction, but ultimately comes down to the whim of the dice with wilds being clutch. While up my personal alley, I can't fault anyone for not liking it.

[@andrewmorgensen326]

Play with the variant of roll the three dice at the beginning of your turn, place these colored cubes on the board (one on each of the next three locations, counting individual locations even if combined into a large kingdom) then continue turn as normal, roll dice again at end of turn for your own stash.

[@dramajoe]

Oof, I don't think this is a game for Jon. What's the polar opposite of seeing the Matrix? 😬😂