This was such a great video, a tour through how different games implement a mechanism. Please do more like this. Things like auctioning, trick taking, and story interaction come to mind as just a few examples.
For auctioning specifically you can look at economics, difference between how boardgames and real auctioning goes is pretty minimal. And loads of forms of auctioning are pretty rare in boardgames. For example I don't know any boardgame using a Dutch style auction (going from a set high price lowering till the first person takes it).
My favorite kind of attacking mechanism is in Forbidden Stars. I love using combat cards with special powers (that are also upgradable), and rolling dice based on the number of units. Very satisfying system to use.
There was an interesting miniatures game that I don't quite remember the name of. Castles and Ramparts? Basically it was a marble flinging game where one side was using cannons to knock open the doors to the keep, while the castle defenders were using a catapult to take out the attackers HQ. Placement of the cannons was restricted to whether you had a guy far enough up a path. The Catapult was restricted to behind the castle walls. It was interesting and needed open floor space.
This was really good. I learned a lot about the different combat systems. I didn't realize there are so many different ways combat is done. More videos like this would be great!
Anyone remember the Omega Code? The one where you're exploring a space station, trying to lock down an AI before it blew the place up? And, the AI was controlled by an actual little electronic computer at the center of the board.
My friend's favorite way combat happens is when it uses dice that are useless outside of the game they're in, like Root's 0-3 D12s. Love this series! Hoping to see more soon. Maybe one about different kinds of spatial puzzles? Or different ways we use tiles
Interesting quirk to Combat Commander is that the "die rolls" are a result of card draws. The cards have pictures of 6-sided dice results, so that the results are semi - random and you won't have one player always rolling high and one always rolling low.
Yeah, I don't know for sure where the multi-use card thing was used first as being also "dice," but the first time I ever saw it was in Up Front! from 1983. There is a chance that was the first game to replace dice with the card flip AS dice. heh
DT on fire with new content, while keeping the best of the older stuff! This, shelf videos, and look back are fantastic! Podcast is still my favorite, though
One of my favorite dice systems is the one for Mythic Battles: Pantheon. The way dice can be used to mitigate the value of other dice, and 5s bursting to hit defenses of 6+ make for a really good system.
Great video Tom! I really like the cube tower, it resolves quickly, is exciting & mitigates luck over the course of the game. I also like the wars in Imperial Struggle, controlling certain territories gives you an edge, which you can augment by playing war tiles. You can become very invested in a war while preparing in the game's peace turns, feeling both plotting & epic!
Excellent video Tom. Please release more like this. It was interesting to see how different, game mechanics for the same purpose (combat) are implemented in various games.
This was an excellent video! I don't have a lot of combat games but I love Undaunted's system... You add up the defender's unit defense, the defender's tile defense, and the number of tiles you (the attacker) are from the defender. You roll one or more D10s and must equal or exceed the number just calculated with at least one of the dice. If successful, the defending unit may or may not be removed from the board depending on if the defender still has a card matching that unit in their hand, discard pile, or in their deck; if they no longer have a card representing that unit in any of those places then the unit is removed from the board. Brilliant system.
Great video ;) Just what I was looking for. I would love to see another video with the other combat systems you get in mind. That helps a lot to invent new games.
Really enjoyed this video. But I'd love to see more credit given to designers on the Dice Tower. Especially when you're talking about game design, it would be great to see the designer names credited instead of (or at least alongside) the publisher names
Been a while since you have played Risk I see. Couple of correction/additions: The attacker can attack with up to 3 die if he brings that many units (correct) but if he only brings 1 he can only roll 1 (it is implied in the video you would roll 2). The defender wins any tie results.
I think that's happened with a lot of games. Older games (like pre-2000) used d6 because if someone lost the dice they could easily get a replacement, but a d10 not so much.
-Inis: dicard your action card or kill your troops -Civiliztion/Western Empire: kill the units in turn until the certian limit -Through the Ages: Each player involved got one turn until they resolve the war
My favorite war game combat system is from the original supremacy. Essentially attacker gets 1d6 defender gets 2d6, whoever has a stronger force gets an extra d6, whoever has more satellites gets an extra, higher tech gets an extra, etc. Roll them all and remove 1 enemy army for every 3 points you rolled. I like the system because you can gain combat advantages many ways and the more dice you roll the more you are likely to kill but if your opponent rolls well it will still be very costly.
I prefer card combat but I can't help but want to point that there is far more depth and variety to how it plays out than just picking a number and adding modifiers. Card text can vary immensely from disabling enemy units to adding extra forces, with units having multiple stats etc.
I do prefer cards to dice in general. Dice feel too random to me. However I also do enjoy the combination of both. If I can play cards to affect the probality of the outcome on the dice. Then at least I get a sense of control, even if it is superficial.
I think my two favorite are cosmic/blood Rage and DnD. I actually WAY prefer rising sun's theme but the combat is the main reason I like blood Rage much more (and I'm not huge on the alliances). I still like it but blood rages combat is so much better. And I'm just a big fan of the random fun of DnDs combat
@@petergross7235 Runequest tried to fix that by giving different body parts different AC based on what the character was wearing. Is that kind of what you are talking about?
My question is, where is the strategy in these games? Where is the 'Puzzle' aspect? I want to make a table top game, and I'm trying to think of a way to balance chance and strategy.
Came into this video expecting Tom and Zee to just reminisce about all the arguments they've had over the years. Fortunately I Came away from this video a more enlightened gamer. Pretty 😎
This was such a great video, a tour through how different games implement a mechanism. Please do more like this. Things like auctioning, trick taking, and story interaction come to mind as just a few examples.
I realize I'm kinda randomly asking but do anyone know a good place to stream new movies online?
For auctioning specifically you can look at economics, difference between how boardgames and real auctioning goes is pretty minimal. And loads of forms of auctioning are pretty rare in boardgames. For example I don't know any boardgame using a Dutch style auction (going from a set high price lowering till the first person takes it).
Don’t forget ‘name calling’ and ‘throwing board pieces.’
My favorite kind of attacking mechanism is in Forbidden Stars. I love using combat cards with special powers (that are also upgradable), and rolling dice based on the number of units. Very satisfying system to use.
There was an interesting miniatures game that I don't quite remember the name of. Castles and Ramparts? Basically it was a marble flinging game where one side was using cannons to knock open the doors to the keep, while the castle defenders were using a catapult to take out the attackers HQ. Placement of the cannons was restricted to whether you had a guy far enough up a path. The Catapult was restricted to behind the castle walls. It was interesting and needed open floor space.
This was really good. I learned a lot about the different combat systems. I didn't realize there are so many different ways combat is done. More videos like this would be great!
Anyone remember the Omega Code? The one where you're exploring a space station, trying to lock down an AI before it blew the place up? And, the AI was controlled by an actual little electronic computer at the center of the board.
I like it when Tom is in Professor Vasel mode.
My friend's favorite way combat happens is when it uses dice that are useless outside of the game they're in, like Root's 0-3 D12s.
Love this series! Hoping to see more soon. Maybe one about different kinds of spatial puzzles? Or different ways we use tiles
Love this. Please do more like it in the future!
Interesting quirk to Combat Commander is that the "die rolls" are a result of card draws. The cards have pictures of 6-sided dice results, so that the results are semi - random and you won't have one player always rolling high and one always rolling low.
Yeah, I don't know for sure where the multi-use card thing was used first as being also "dice," but the first time I ever saw it was in Up Front! from 1983. There is a chance that was the first game to replace dice with the card flip AS dice. heh
10:53 Exactly what I was looking for. Chaos.
Looks like Chaos is waiting for us...
DT on fire with new content, while keeping the best of the older stuff! This, shelf videos, and look back are fantastic! Podcast is still my favorite, though
Reminds me of an excellent documentary called “Why We Fight”.
I would LOVE to do one of these for trick-taking!!
I might at some point!
One of my favorite dice systems is the one for Mythic Battles: Pantheon. The way dice can be used to mitigate the value of other dice, and 5s bursting to hit defenses of 6+ make for a really good system.
I love card driven, hidden information, slight randomness and bluffing. So I love the system used in Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan.
This is a great video, thanks Tom. Working on a game with my son that will include combat. Love to see more like this.
Thanks for the compilation!
Great video Tom! I really like the cube tower, it resolves quickly, is exciting & mitigates luck over the course of the game.
I also like the wars in Imperial Struggle, controlling certain territories gives you an edge, which you can augment by playing war tiles. You can become very invested in a war while preparing in the game's peace turns, feeling both plotting & epic!
Really enjoyed this and the "Dice" video. A welcome dive into specific mechanisms!
Excellent video Tom. Please release more like this. It was interesting to see how different, game mechanics for the same purpose (combat) are implemented in various games.
Love the format of this video! The total number of games played is such a good advantage here and that's also what makes the video possible.
This was an excellent video!
I don't have a lot of combat games but I love Undaunted's system... You add up the defender's unit defense, the defender's tile defense, and the number of tiles you (the attacker) are from the defender. You roll one or more D10s and must equal or exceed the number just calculated with at least one of the dice. If successful, the defending unit may or may not be removed from the board depending on if the defender still has a card matching that unit in their hand, discard pile, or in their deck; if they no longer have a card representing that unit in any of those places then the unit is removed from the board. Brilliant system.
Trudvang Legends will use a combat system where you pull discs out of a bag.
But my favorite is throwing burritos at each other. 😄
I really enjoy the exploding dice\card combat. It is fun when you keep rolling. It doesn't happen much, but I love it when it does.
Very interesting topic. Thanks for the clear presentation. I like dice as in my favorite combat games, X-wing, Root, & King of Tokyo.
You should definitely do this for more things, this is great!
Great video ;) Just what I was looking for. I would love to see another video with the other combat systems you get in mind. That helps a lot to invent new games.
Cool!
Vast improvement in video editing compared to 'world of dice' video from a few days ago!
Keep up these videos, they are genuinly important.
Inis has a simple and fun combat mechanic too - discard any action card or remove a unit. All combatants can agree on peace and stop whenever.
The best I feel is Battle of Five Armies is so interesting. I would recommend looking it up if you don't know about it would look to see it more.
Thanks for this great and interesting video!
Really enjoyed this video. But I'd love to see more credit given to designers on the Dice Tower. Especially when you're talking about game design, it would be great to see the designer names credited instead of (or at least alongside) the publisher names
They do a pretty good job of that usually- I tho I you’re over thinking this.
Tom. Once again Tom a video of super excellence.
Absolutely superb video!
Great video! Thank you so much!
I think my favorite combat system is cards. While I love dice games, I like the sneaky out-guessing feel of playing cards for modifiers and such.
Been a while since you have played Risk I see. Couple of correction/additions: The attacker can attack with up to 3 die if he brings that many units (correct) but if he only brings 1 he can only roll 1 (it is implied in the video you would roll 2). The defender wins any tie results.
Awesome video as always thanks !
I have noticed that in a lot of the newer war games d10s have replaced d6's in the combat result tables.
I think that's happened with a lot of games. Older games (like pre-2000) used d6 because if someone lost the dice they could easily get a replacement, but a d10 not so much.
Galaxy Hunters has deterministic combat, but since it's primarily a worker placement game, I think it works out perfectly.
You left out your favorite, Dice Masters! Also, Magic.
I just picked up battlecon and the combat in that is pretty great
-Inis: dicard your action card or kill your troops
-Civiliztion/Western Empire: kill the units in turn until the certian limit
-Through the Ages: Each player involved got one turn until they resolve the war
Loving this series.
My favorite war game combat system is from the original supremacy. Essentially attacker gets 1d6 defender gets 2d6, whoever has a stronger force gets an extra d6, whoever has more satellites gets an extra, higher tech gets an extra, etc. Roll them all and remove 1 enemy army for every 3 points you rolled. I like the system because you can gain combat advantages many ways and the more dice you roll the more you are likely to kill but if your opponent rolls well it will still be very costly.
Those rolls for D&D...
Great video! But what about thematic ties of combat, some systems really dont make sense to the type of combat they are simulating
I prefer card combat but I can't help but want to point that there is far more depth and variety to how it plays out than just picking a number and adding modifiers. Card text can vary immensely from disabling enemy units to adding extra forces, with units having multiple stats etc.
"Combat" is just theming and resolutions can have non-violent themes.
Missed out on speaking about cry havoc!
BattleTech’s system is fantastic. It makes it seem as if almost no luck is involved.
I do prefer cards to dice in general. Dice feel too random to me. However I also do enjoy the combination of both. If I can play cards to affect the probality of the outcome on the dice. Then at least I get a sense of control, even if it is superficial.
Awesome video!
I think my two favorite are cosmic/blood Rage and DnD. I actually WAY prefer rising sun's theme but the combat is the main reason I like blood Rage much more (and I'm not huge on the alliances). I still like it but blood rages combat is so much better. And I'm just a big fan of the random fun of DnDs combat
Imperial Assault has my favorite combat system
D20 is my favorite prob because I started playing AD&D in '81 so I'm most comfortable with it and it makes the most sense to me.
The D20 is definitely my favorite die to roll! But the AC system in D&D leaves a little.to be desired.in my opinion.
@@petergross7235 Runequest tried to fix that by giving different body parts different AC based on what the character was wearing. Is that kind of what you are talking about?
Yesss!! Neuroshima Hex!!!
Great vid 👍
AWESOME
Unmatched is so good.
Really enjoying the series. The border feel too large, gives the video a claustrophobic, cluttered feeling.
My question is, where is the strategy in these games?
Where is the 'Puzzle' aspect?
I want to make a table top game, and I'm trying to think of a way to balance chance and strategy.
Great video
Gloomhaven card powers
It’s cards .. but it’s special .. Exceed
Who did Tom beat in the intro?
Came into this video expecting Tom and Zee to just reminisce about all the arguments they've had over the years. Fortunately I Came away from this video a more enlightened gamer. Pretty 😎
wow 🔥 like
THAC0
Dice hate me and love my wife. So card for me are the way to go. :)
Battle flipper in teenage mutant ninja turtles pizza power
What's this? Tom didn't mention Gloomhaven's combat system? Shame!
I couldn't mention every game. I simply listed several types.
I was kind of shocked he didnt as well, especially since he mentioned Sleeping god's so its not like he was against coops.
@@relativelyboard9959 I'm not against anything here, I just didn't have time to mention everything.
@@thedicetower Oh for sure I know that, I know you love Gloomhaven. I was just surprised. But yeah, hard to cover everything! Great video by the way!
I hate fighting with dice, cards or the rest of the ideas