Every single thing about the God of War: The Board Game campaign was half-assed. Incredibly simplistic gameplay, very few enemies per encounter, only 8 encounters, only six large board tiles plus a few small ones, no actual weapon or armor loot, nothing to explore, just grind the same levels over and over with the many elites and minions in the base game. Not one single god or dragon in the base game. Even the minis are misshappen, making several of them look dwarfish (large head, small bodies)! In addition, all the enemy minis have boring, static poses while the heroes are dynamic. CMON could have easily surpassed 2 million with the campaign if they had put some effort into anything other than putting the best content (which wasn't even really all that great) in the expansions and charging way too much for shipping. As a huge GoW fan and an avid mini painter, I was ready to go all-in, but ended up passing altogether.
Yeah don’t know what went wrong here. Gameplay simplicity is CMON’s wheelhouse but the cartoony minis made little sense. The game might be better than we think, if so, could be a hit on the secondary market given the initial low turnout (thus lower print run / availability).
Oh common, the witcher is not just a video game IP, it is a book and it is on netflix,... you cannot compare it to a video game only, it is more in that marvel, game of thrones, DC category,... so also pulling a lot of different people in.
The witcher old world with the kickstarter expansions Is amazing. My number 2 game at the moment. If they could get player turns down would be great. I play it 2 player 3 max.
Maximum apocalypse was exciting for a few games but then dropped off badly and became a real grind… ended up selling it off (artwork was very cool though),
i really don't understand the love for roll and writes, there were some good games on this list IMO. Robot quest is great(painted minis yes please) mosaic is great as well.
Awesome, I'm glad you covered smaller/cheaper games instead of mostly the expensive mini-filled ones that I [and my wallet] have no interest in That Chai Tea for 2 disaster is insane! And it's such a small, simple game, too. I wonder if the designers/publisher just decided to blow all their money on personal treats rather than continuing to do their job and finish creating the game?
Robot quest is great, but you don’t need to own it. I like it, but it doesn’t get played much. The setup time is crazy for how long the game actually plays.
I almost backed Robot Quest Arena on the 2nd campaign, but the cost was way too high for what you get, even if I do think the game looks fun. I've played Mosaic. It's a table hog, and kind of simplistic. I prefer civ games on PC.
I would say (imho), Mosaic is more a Civilization themed Engine Building Euro than an Actual Civ game. (Perhaps here is the fork in the road for users, expectations). So in that niche + the ability for it to be "short" if you need it to be is spectacular. You roughly decide the durarion when you set it up. This versatility allows you to cater to the groups mood/constraints. Playing something like this faster than a group next to you plays Wyrmspan is a feat of design.
The Mosaic Kickstarter was very expensive, but you can pick up the retail version very cheaply and it makes it great value. No need for the endless plastic minis to enjoy the game. Bizarrely and annoyingly the solo mode is not in the retail version - despite being just a small deck of cards. A strange choice that feels like it hurts wider appeal to save what - a few cents??
Only backed Mosaic of this bunch. Doesn’t get played as much as I would like but it is a solid game and well produced so overall still happy with backing it
Isle of Cats Expl & Draw is better than the original according to many ppl… my biggest concern is some people struggle to mentally manipulate the shapes in their mind vs physically to figure out how where to place it on their ship.
I got the first Robot Quest Arena and it was quite a good price I think. As you said I was really tempted to get in on the 2nd campaign but it was just too expensive and I was able to resist.
Mosaic setup is not small, and the deluxe version massive box is annoying. I had it, played it, sold it. The game is fine, but there are better that do not take up so much space and actually fit on a shelf.
At around the 11:00 mark, I agree with you regarding solo modes. If the game isn’t initially designed with a solitaire variant, then don’t force one into the game. Not every game needs a solo version, especially area control
The Witcher has a very popular TV series (so I had at least heard of the IP before the campaign), God of War doesn't have one yet. I really enjoy Mosaic, haven't played Explore & Draw yet (got the retail version), and sold/am selling The Witcher (doesn't seem too exciting to me and people pay a lot) and Hoplomachus (I am not a solo gamer, either); I didn't get the rest and don't regret it, either.
My guess might be that witcher comes from a more pc playerbase, which mabye is more interested in tabletop though dnd style games. Where god of war i always thought was more of a console style audience that were more into action gameplay.
Mosaic was pretty good and looks nice on the table, but it takes too long to setup for what it is. Having said that, you can find it at retail for a very good price these days.
Every single thing about the God of War: The Board Game campaign was half-assed. Incredibly simplistic gameplay, very few enemies per encounter, only 8 encounters, only six large board tiles plus a few small ones, no actual weapon or armor loot, nothing to explore, just grind the same levels over and over with the many elites and minions in the base game. Not one single god or dragon in the base game. Even the minis are misshappen, making several of them look dwarfish (large head, small bodies)! In addition, all the enemy minis have boring, static poses while the heroes are dynamic.
CMON could have easily surpassed 2 million with the campaign if they had put some effort into anything other than putting the best content (which wasn't even really all that great) in the expansions and charging way too much for shipping. As a huge GoW fan and an avid mini painter, I was ready to go all-in, but ended up passing altogether.
Yeah don’t know what went wrong here. Gameplay simplicity is CMON’s wheelhouse but the cartoony minis made little sense. The game might be better than we think, if so, could be a hit on the secondary market given the initial low turnout (thus lower print run / availability).
Oh common, the witcher is not just a video game IP, it is a book and it is on netflix,... you cannot compare it to a video game only, it is more in that marvel, game of thrones, DC category,... so also pulling a lot of different people in.
The witcher old world with the kickstarter expansions Is amazing. My number 2 game at the moment. If they could get player turns down would be great. I play it 2 player 3 max.
The Witcher Boardgame is a VERY, VERY good game. I don't need God of War if I have Witcher. I've got that one covered.
Maximum apocalypse was exciting for a few games but then dropped off badly and became a real grind… ended up selling it off (artwork was very cool though),
i really don't understand the love for roll and writes, there were some good games on this list IMO. Robot quest is great(painted minis yes please) mosaic is great as well.
Including a solo mode, even if it's not great, is valuable to at least learn the game - and getting a group together is not always easy.
Awesome, I'm glad you covered smaller/cheaper games instead of mostly the expensive mini-filled ones that I [and my wallet] have no interest in
That Chai Tea for 2 disaster is insane! And it's such a small, simple game, too. I wonder if the designers/publisher just decided to blow all their money on personal treats rather than continuing to do their job and finish creating the game?
Robot quest is great, but you don’t need to own it. I like it, but it doesn’t get played much. The setup time is crazy for how long the game actually plays.
I almost backed Robot Quest Arena on the 2nd campaign, but the cost was way too high for what you get, even if I do think the game looks fun.
I've played Mosaic. It's a table hog, and kind of simplistic. I prefer civ games on PC.
I would say (imho), Mosaic is more a Civilization themed Engine Building Euro than an Actual Civ game. (Perhaps here is the fork in the road for users, expectations).
So in that niche + the ability for it to be "short" if you need it to be is spectacular.
You roughly decide the durarion when you set it up. This versatility allows you to cater to the groups mood/constraints.
Playing something like this faster than a group next to you plays Wyrmspan is a feat of design.
Picked up the Castle Panic Wood Collection on the secondary market for approx US$130, mint condition, shipped. Much nicer than the plastic minis imho.
20:27 For some people, a 7.0 (which is obviously higher than a 6.6) on BGG isn't good. For some it is ok/about average.
26:20 change of clothes😊
The Mosaic Kickstarter was very expensive, but you can pick up the retail version very cheaply and it makes it great value. No need for the endless plastic minis to enjoy the game.
Bizarrely and annoyingly the solo mode is not in the retail version - despite being just a small deck of cards. A strange choice that feels like it hurts wider appeal to save what - a few cents??
Only backed Mosaic of this bunch. Doesn’t get played as much as I would like but it is a solid game and well produced so overall still happy with backing it
Isle of Cats Expl & Draw is better than the original according to many ppl… my biggest concern is some people struggle to mentally manipulate the shapes in their mind vs physically to figure out how where to place it on their ship.
I got the first Robot Quest Arena and it was quite a good price I think.
As you said I was really tempted to get in on the 2nd campaign but it was just too expensive and I was able to resist.
Mosaic setup is not small, and the deluxe version massive box is annoying. I had it, played it, sold it. The game is fine, but there are better that do not take up so much space and actually fit on a shelf.
Chia Tea for 2. What is the betting that this game will only be delivered to US backers.... with the rest of the world receiving nothing!
At around the 11:00 mark, I agree with you regarding solo modes. If the game isn’t initially designed with a solitaire variant, then don’t force one into the game. Not every game needs a solo version, especially area control
I didn't get any of these so I missed both the highs and lows, but my shelves are full so I need to be picky.
I really loved the Witcher I need to pull it back out. I painted all of it and didn’t want to look at it anymore but I have recovered.
there's so much addiction and $ in this hobby
The Witcher has a very popular TV series (so I had at least heard of the IP before the campaign), God of War doesn't have one yet.
I really enjoy Mosaic, haven't played Explore & Draw yet (got the retail version), and sold/am selling The Witcher (doesn't seem too exciting to me and people pay a lot) and Hoplomachus (I am not a solo gamer, either); I didn't get the rest and don't regret it, either.
I backed one project: Chai: Tea for 2. I have lost more on other projects that didn't deliver but it sucks anyway even-though it wasn't much.
I'll have to play my copy of Path of Light & Shadow... Thank you for reminding me about it, Chris!
i don't feel right unless im emptying my back account for cardboard every single month to flip for 50% for more cardboard #nogamegroup #fomomofo
My guess might be that witcher comes from a more pc playerbase, which mabye is more interested in tabletop though dnd style games. Where god of war i always thought was more of a console style audience that were more into action gameplay.
Mosaic was pretty good and looks nice on the table, but it takes too long to setup for what it is. Having said that, you can find it at retail for a very good price these days.
What’s still insane for me is the hurdle your facing with TMB. Missing on a game i like a lot.
TMB is so good but I have a feeling once Elder Scrolls comes out people will say to just play that.
witcher total sales: ~75m
god of war total sales: ~66m
Can't believe gow isn't more popular
It makes sense. God of War is a PS exclusive series.
This guy is the Nutnfancy of boardgames