Really great teaching play through. I understand this game so much better now that I have purchased a copy. Looking forward to playing it against the Crown and then eventually playing it with a group.
I'd like to express my utmost gratitude for this solo mode. I got my copy earlier this week, and I've just done a playthrough of the 1710 scenario, which was amazing :) I won 30 points to 25 (the Crown got the power award), but it was not easy. I did get lucky with the events, and it was a little bit of a weird game, as the Crown turned peacock early (so it was mostly voting down legislation), but it didn't manage to win a single deployment. I did make sure to remain chairman throughout the entire game, which I found helps a lot with limiting the Crown's ability to mess with you, as well as gives you opportunity to hit its budget, so I suppose this is a winning strategy. As a result, the Company ended up successful, which helped with the final score, as I got two final retirements. Once again, I just don't have words to express my admiration with the wonderful job you have done with the solo rules. Your algorithm is simply a work of art - clean, easy to run and emulating actual negotiation, which I didn't believe possible for such a game. I was already looking forward to playing this with other people, but now John Company 2 has become one of my top solo games as well, something I never expected to happen. I do hope you get many rewards for this solo mode, it will be fully deserved!
congratulations on the win and thank you for your kind words. Cole has once again , after Pax Pamir, done a fabulous job on the design. good luck in your future games ! 👍👍
Just finished watching the series, even though it's 4:30am I had to track a copy down to order. Watched some multiplayer playthroughs and thought this looked great but couldn't see a way the solo mode would work. You should be very proud of this as it looks fantastic fun with so much of the 3+ player game in there, as you said at the beginning it is mostly the same ruleset with just a few additions to learn. Also you have a very good manner of teaching games that seem complicated in a unrushed, clear way for people like me that struggle learning games from rulebooks. Thank you.
Phenomenal job with the solo mode of this. I’m not a big solo player but I can’t think of anyone I game with who’d play this. To simulate the negotiation element with the red cubes is just brilliant.
This is probably the best solo design I’ve ever seen. That ending with the company fail card, I was rooting hard for you I went super crazy when I saw those 8 points. Too bad you couldn’t pull it out but this series was the best time investment ever. Cannot wait to get this solo in my hands. Can’t say enough how genius it is.
Wow. I can't believe how close to the edge of my seat I was throughout that whole playthrough! I mainly bought this game to play with friends, but you made something quite amazing here in The Crown and I'm so excited to give it a try. Thanks for the videos and I'll keep my eye out for more down the road! Thanks, Ricky!
Hey Ricky! Your solo rules in JC 2nd ed, is your best achievement yet! Super depth! I’m exhausted just following this one play through with the game setup before me and placing and moving the pieces as I follow along. Fantastic! Like others have said before…..More play through videos! Peace…Aria
Such a tight finish! It all came down to which law got to the vote. Well done for the videos, hopefully, we'll get to see another scenario! Can't wait to receive my copy of the game!
Fantastic playthrough, Ricky. So looking forward to the copy arriving. Reminds me a bit of republic of Rome, which I loved, although it's going back a bit, and John company seems so much more streamlined
Epic! This game will provide plenty of drama in the solo mode. Really liked that you became Chairman so I could see that. Not knowing the Crown's mood until after distribution of funds maintains the uncertainty I want in a solo game.
You truly are the master of uncomplicated, realistic solo modes that perfectly recreate the feeling of the multiplayer game. This, Pax Pamir 2e and Tales of the Northlands: Sagas of Noggin the Nog are three of the best solo modes I have ever played. Bravo. Also exciting playthrough and great teach. Really looking forward to getting the physical copy now. I would give up my "Consent for Nepotism" and £2 if you could organise the shipping in my direction.
much appreciated - it’s been a joy and a pleasure to work on all those games. Great to hear you like them and I hope you continue to enjoy them solo. Good times ! 👍👍
Fantastic play through Ricky! Really enjoyed that and the way you do it is incredibly insightful. Many thanks and would love to see more!!! If you have the time of course!
What a finale! Damn! (Edit: I think you took 1£ instead of 2£ when you rolled a governor success after a governor failure, but I doubt that would have changed anything)
This playthrough was so, so helpful. Thanks much for taking the time to do it. Your explanations are really clear. 20:35 isn't the region off to the right (Bengal?) also part of the empire for a total strength of 5? 23:25 Success after failure gives 2 pounds not one.
I think you would have won, have you decided to be director in turn 3. Amazing video, it must be hard to make an honest decision while recording, getting the rules straight, talking without long pauses, thinking of content, all that influences decisions. Thanks a lot of the series!
Well you've gone and done it to me again Ricky! Another brilliant playthrough that has put the game immediately at the top of my "I must spend my money on this" list! What really appeals to me is not just the interesting theme but also how the game can clearly play out very differently each time - things I love about Pax Pamir 2nd Ed too. Quick question: roughly how long does the John Company solo game take you to play when you're not doing a teaching game - does it play in
great question: it really depends on how long the company lasts... it could be a lot quicker! But yes, sub-2-hours in solo for sure... unless you like to play slowly.
Finally got to finish watching this after the reupload. Beautiful game, both to look at, but moreso in the mechanisms and narrative. “The little solo addition.” 🤣🤣🤣 You’ve clearly put a lot of work in there Mr W and, oh my does it show. Something very special you’ve achieved there. Love how reactive the crown is, and the promise tokens is an almost sublime answer to games with heavy negotiation aspects played solo. Bravo 👏! Now, just one question… when is this beauty hitting retail in the UK?!?!?
16:41 extra ships cost 2 to fit, crown had 5 to spend in the shipping office. They would have been required to order 2 extra ships. You placed a single one only and paid 3. 21:45 you did take 2 pounds during your governor action last time, so you shorted yourself 1, and shorted the company or the treasury of that presidency some amount. Pretty sure i remember you took 2 or 4 into the company bottom line, so only the presidency got shorted 2.
@32:28 Doesn't "sovereign" here refer to the top of the draw (Mysore)? i.e., I thought the only Events based on the Elephant's location are Peace & Crises?
yes, it should be the location on top of the deck, not the Elephant. As it goes I drew a "Punjab" tile and said "Punjab" out load, so in my head I played it in Punjab (I wasn't looking at the Elephant) instead of the region on top of the deck, which was Mysore, so it should have been a Leader event in Mysore... Good spot !
@@BoxofDelights All good, I figured it was one of those "brain moments" because you'd drawn a Punjab tile! Not intending to correct, just double-checking my own understanding as I lock down Events.
Quick question: at 2:26 as you revisited the hiring in Madras, does Nepotism actually apply? Commanders are not considered officers as specifically noted for hiring Governors, so you were the only one with family members in the hiring pool... Would you actually get to keep those 2 cubes?
Great question: the pool of candidates were my 2 writers in Madras, and the Crown officer in the Madras army. There was no commander in Madras at the time, only one Officer. (though that Officer got promoted to Commander later, during Military Affairs). Does this answer?
At 7:00 when you realise that the Director of Trade "should be empty" it was because you didn't move the family member from office into 'retirement' on the previous turn. I don't think it made any difference. The Crown had no money to buy the retiree a nice house to live in.
@@BoxofDelightsGetting the rules right in a solo game is extremely complicated. In a 2p game you at least have a backup check. I am impressed by your perseverance.
@@der.Schtefan I should have gotten it right, as I am designer of the solo rules; even I get things wrong when playing on video or playing quickly! Haha
What a wonderful solo play through! Thanks!
Really great teaching play through. I understand this game so much better now that I have purchased a copy. Looking forward to playing it against the Crown and then eventually playing it with a group.
This makes the Wakhan look like child's play... Amazing series -- thanks for posting.
my pleasure! thank you for watching 👍
I'd like to express my utmost gratitude for this solo mode. I got my copy earlier this week, and I've just done a playthrough of the 1710 scenario, which was amazing :)
I won 30 points to 25 (the Crown got the power award), but it was not easy. I did get lucky with the events, and it was a little bit of a weird game, as the Crown turned peacock early (so it was mostly voting down legislation), but it didn't manage to win a single deployment. I did make sure to remain chairman throughout the entire game, which I found helps a lot with limiting the Crown's ability to mess with you, as well as gives you opportunity to hit its budget, so I suppose this is a winning strategy. As a result, the Company ended up successful, which helped with the final score, as I got two final retirements.
Once again, I just don't have words to express my admiration with the wonderful job you have done with the solo rules. Your algorithm is simply a work of art - clean, easy to run and emulating actual negotiation, which I didn't believe possible for such a game. I was already looking forward to playing this with other people, but now John Company 2 has become one of my top solo games as well, something I never expected to happen. I do hope you get many rewards for this solo mode, it will be fully deserved!
congratulations on the win and thank you for your kind words. Cole has once again , after Pax Pamir, done a fabulous job on the design. good luck in your future games ! 👍👍
That was so intense! I loved every moment. I am definitely going to play more solo .
Just finished watching the series, even though it's 4:30am I had to track a copy down to order. Watched some multiplayer playthroughs and thought this looked great but couldn't see a way the solo mode would work. You should be very proud of this as it looks fantastic fun with so much of the 3+ player game in there, as you said at the beginning it is mostly the same ruleset with just a few additions to learn. Also you have a very good manner of teaching games that seem complicated in a unrushed, clear way for people like me that struggle learning games from rulebooks. Thank you.
thank you , you are very kind. I hope you enjoy playing ! Great choice 👍👍
Phenomenal job with the solo mode of this. I’m not a big solo player but I can’t think of anyone I game with who’d play this. To simulate the negotiation element with the red cubes is just brilliant.
thank you ! that's much appreciated. I hope you enjoy playing! best wishes, Ricky
This is probably the best solo design I’ve ever seen. That ending with the company fail card, I was rooting hard for you I went super crazy when I saw those 8 points. Too bad you couldn’t pull it out but this series was the best time investment ever. Cannot wait to get this solo in my hands. Can’t say enough how genius it is.
thank you ! Hope you love it when it arrives! best wishes, R.R.
Wow. I can't believe how close to the edge of my seat I was throughout that whole playthrough! I mainly bought this game to play with friends, but you made something quite amazing here in The Crown and I'm so excited to give it a try. Thanks for the videos and I'll keep my eye out for more down the road! Thanks, Ricky!
Great run through-looking forward to receiving my copy!!
Hey Ricky! Your solo rules in JC 2nd ed, is your best achievement yet! Super depth! I’m exhausted just following this one play through with the game setup before me and placing and moving the pieces as I follow along. Fantastic! Like others have said before…..More play through videos! Peace…Aria
thank you !
Such a tight finish! It all came down to which law got to the vote. Well done for the videos, hopefully, we'll get to see another scenario! Can't wait to receive my copy of the game!
Exciting finish. Thanks for this great playthrough.
I agree with Matt. This is such an engaging solo mode. Congratulations on the design. I too would love to see another playthrough of a later scenario.
I hope you do at least another one of the scenarios! Thanks again for an engaging solo game.
Wow so epic end cant wait my copy
Fantastic playthrough, Ricky. So looking forward to the copy arriving. Reminds me a bit of republic of Rome, which I loved, although it's going back a bit, and John company seems so much more streamlined
Epic! This game will provide plenty of drama in the solo mode. Really liked that you became Chairman so I could see that. Not knowing the Crown's mood until after distribution of funds maintains the uncertainty I want in a solo game.
really top-notch solo version of a sublime game. Cannot wait to get it in my hands.
You truly are the master of uncomplicated, realistic solo modes that perfectly recreate the feeling of the multiplayer game. This, Pax Pamir 2e and Tales of the Northlands: Sagas of Noggin the Nog are three of the best solo modes I have ever played. Bravo. Also exciting playthrough and great teach. Really looking forward to getting the physical copy now. I would give up my "Consent for Nepotism" and £2 if you could organise the shipping in my direction.
much appreciated - it’s been a joy and a pleasure to work on all those games. Great to hear you like them and I hope you continue to enjoy them solo. Good times ! 👍👍
Fantastic play through Ricky! Really enjoyed that and the way you do it is incredibly insightful. Many thanks and would love to see more!!! If you have the time of course!
I hope to show you more.thank you for your support 👍👍
What a finale! Damn! (Edit: I think you took 1£ instead of 2£ when you rolled a governor success after a governor failure, but I doubt that would have changed anything)
This playthrough was so, so helpful. Thanks much for taking the time to do it. Your explanations are really clear.
20:35 isn't the region off to the right (Bengal?) also part of the empire for a total strength of 5?
23:25 Success after failure gives 2 pounds not one.
yes! exactly right.
I think you would have won, have you decided to be director in turn 3. Amazing video, it must be hard to make an honest decision while recording, getting the rules straight, talking without long pauses, thinking of content, all that influences decisions.
Thanks a lot of the series!
Well you've gone and done it to me again Ricky! Another brilliant playthrough that has put the game immediately at the top of my "I must spend my money on this" list! What really appeals to me is not just the interesting theme but also how the game can clearly play out very differently each time - things I love about Pax Pamir 2nd Ed too. Quick question: roughly how long does the John Company solo game take you to play when you're not doing a teaching game - does it play in
great question: it really depends on how long the company lasts... it could be a lot quicker! But yes, sub-2-hours in solo for sure... unless you like to play slowly.
Finally got to finish watching this after the reupload. Beautiful game, both to look at, but moreso in the mechanisms and narrative.
“The little solo addition.” 🤣🤣🤣 You’ve clearly put a lot of work in there Mr W and, oh my does it show. Something very special you’ve achieved there. Love how reactive the crown is, and the promise tokens is an almost sublime answer to games with heavy negotiation aspects played solo. Bravo 👏!
Now, just one question… when is this beauty hitting retail in the UK?!?!?
Thank you ! That's a fine question... I am not sure which/or if any UK retailers picked it up... a question for Cole and Drew... R.R
Around 23:58 at your second roll you should`ve got 2 coins, because the previous roll was unsuccessful. 🙂
yes, it's one rule I always mess up !
16:41 extra ships cost 2 to fit, crown had 5 to spend in the shipping office. They would have been required to order 2 extra ships. You placed a single one only and paid 3.
21:45 you did take 2 pounds during your governor action last time, so you shorted yourself 1, and shorted the company or the treasury of that presidency some amount. Pretty sure i remember you took 2 or 4 into the company bottom line, so only the presidency got shorted 2.
that's right.... other commenters spotted the same. Well spotted !
@32:28 Doesn't "sovereign" here refer to the top of the draw (Mysore)? i.e., I thought the only Events based on the Elephant's location are Peace & Crises?
yes, it should be the location on top of the deck, not the Elephant. As it goes I drew a "Punjab" tile and said "Punjab" out load, so in my head I played it in Punjab (I wasn't looking at the Elephant) instead of the region on top of the deck, which was Mysore, so it should have been a Leader event in Mysore... Good spot !
@@BoxofDelights All good, I figured it was one of those "brain moments" because you'd drawn a Punjab tile! Not intending to correct, just double-checking my own understanding as I lock down Events.
@@malexander4094 Hey, it's all good: I need corrections to keep me honest! Much appreciated :) R.R>
Quick question: at 2:26 as you revisited the hiring in Madras, does Nepotism actually apply? Commanders are not considered officers as specifically noted for hiring Governors, so you were the only one with family members in the hiring pool... Would you actually get to keep those 2 cubes?
Great question: the pool of candidates were my 2 writers in Madras, and the Crown officer in the Madras army. There was no commander in Madras at the time, only one Officer. (though that Officer got promoted to Commander later, during Military Affairs). Does this answer?
@@BoxofDelights It certainly does--cheers!
At 7:00 when you realise that the Director of Trade "should be empty" it was because you didn't move the family member from office into 'retirement' on the previous turn. I don't think it made any difference. The Crown had no money to buy the retiree a nice house to live in.
You got it - good spot!
16:44, does an extra ship not cost 2? You seem to pay 3
good spot! yes, extra ships are £2 each.
@@BoxofDelightsGetting the rules right in a solo game is extremely complicated. In a 2p game you at least have a backup check. I am impressed by your perseverance.
@@der.Schtefan I should have gotten it right, as I am designer of the solo rules; even I get things wrong when playing on video or playing quickly! Haha