I made a simple fix to the monuments only being complete at the end of the game (if at all). I put mine on the board, fully assembled and place a D6 at the bottom to track each monument’s current level.
This has been on my buy list for a long time but I finally booted it off with the announcement of Lords of Ragnarok (lately i've been more into Nordic fantasy than Greek fantasy)
I really enjoyed Lords of Hellas. I liked the roaming Monsters, the Monster fights, and how this game combines RPG elements with dudes on a map area control.
This was one of the first big Kickstarters I ever backed, I wish I would have liked the game more, I feel it tried to do a lot to innovate the genre but in the end it was a Jack of all Trades and a master of none. All aspects were rather bland for me, and a bit messy in combination. I ended up going back to simpler (yet to me, more streamlined and fun) games like Blood Rage and Rising Sun. Not to mention that the rulebook layout was also all over the place at times. I also feel the extra player expansions and boards disbalance the game even further so 3-4 players keeps being the ideal number. I'm so glad Awaken Realms has kept improving their games, but I sincerely hope Ragnarok is better.
About Monster hunting being OP: In one of the games, to deny the player, we tried to let the monster run away from a player X'D I realy like the Monster Hunting aspect, during the early game they feel like a real meanece and just thinking about fighting them is kinda brave and especialy a creature like Meduas who denies moving options for troops is very unpleasent. But I will have to agree that Monster Hunting is a bit OP, picking Herakles + Boots of teleportation will lead to a steamrolling and with other players using Battle cards in different points of the game will leave the Monster all up to one player. (that's my experience with 4 players). I guess the reward for killing a monster is just a little too much sometimes putting the table on a 3-4 turn clock cause everything the player doess will be: Move hero, fight monster/reset the board state cause they don't need anything else anymore.
Personally, I'm glad BR is still safe cause it's my #1. I agree with most of your review about LoH; definitely a great game. The game already has enough things going for it that I find the expansions add more bloat that they're worth. Recently replaced LoH with Kemet: B&S though cause my collection can only handle a few big box area control games.
Yes!!! They are continuing this epic game..I'm so excited..definitely following and backing it!!! I regrettably didn't get the apollo and atlas expansion..but maybe in the gamefound next campaign, I can!!
Love this game, but hate the included insert. I don't know how one expects to fit everything with the manufacturer's insert, it makes it such a bear to setup. I ended up having to buy a third party insert and crate to make it actually fit properly.
You can play the monuments in reverse so they start fully built and you are destroying them. Same issue though, they won’t be fully built for long and you’ll have headless and half built monuments shortly.
Got this game after seeing your collab video of "games I havent played but would definitely like". First game was tons and tons of fun, but after 4 plays, I think it's dangerously close to the trade away territory. Agree 100% of your critic of board position, random card draw, and bashing the leader/king-making aspect. Though i dont mind tracking everyone tableau (I love Kemet after all). I dont know how you think teaching this game is easy. It's as fiddly as (or even more than) Kemet lol and is not as streamlined as Blood Rage Replayability is a main major issue. Yes the event cards, temple, and blessing change every time but your heroes' power combined with the fixed maps make the meta very static. Perseus always has the option of usurping the Athena region and cheese strat with the build monument rush (so Achilles always has to be picked after Perseus. Even with the full 9 heroes, you cant really deviate from these 2 hero duo. I'm not sure how my group could breakaway from that (maybe house rule to move Athena's monument away) Besides, somehow the miniature quality is quite bad compared to Blood Rage. Soft plastic that feels like rubber, sundropped is terrible and reduce all the detail so cant really paint well
Curious to see the changes they make in Ragnarok. I'm not a huge fan of the instant win conditions. Which I'm surprised you didn't really touch on (seemed to allude to once in a neutral manner), considering that plays into the "must know your enemies' tableau" dislike to a degree (if not a lot of degrees). And I do agree about the "messy" opinion, though I'd say the game just seems "overly-scrambly". Just perhaps too many disjointed things going on for a Dudes On A Map game. But I think that's what they tried to do an already growing Euro-DOAM hybrid genre - mix in more. The adventure genre aspects, worker placement, etc. Besides that, I like everything else about the game. It really makes you think. Monster fighting is fun, the theme and aesthetic are great, and even just sending your hero on an adventure to get gear feels very thematic, even if it's just a simple "hero sits out for X rounds" mechanic. Definitely an interesting, hybridized take on the DOAM genre. I have a few expansions, but have not played any of them yet, sadly. :( And don't know if/when I ever will. *cry* But this video has definitely got me in the mood to bust out the game again lol.
Been on my self for a while too and played it last month. Loved it. Definitely prefer it to Blood Rage. Managed to get the Warlord Box for a great price too, although one annoying thing is the expansion artifacts, combat cards and event cards are slightly different sizes to the base game! The artifacts are a different width, but the others just have different corners.
That sucks. I’m overly sensitive to noticing stuff like that. It would make me want to sleeve. Although, it’s even more frustrating if you get one pack of sleeves that is cut at a different length too.
I suspect the spiritual successor might be better then both hellas and blood rage. Lords of hellas to me feels like it is a good game, needed more streamlining.
I really really really really did not like the rulebook, or teaching this one. My first game lasted a very dry 2 hours and we weren't even halfway in so we conceeded it wasn't worth finishing.
While I agree this game isn’t quite as good as Blood Rage, I also feel it has way more in common with Kemet. Do you like Kemet or Lords of Hellas more? Inis or Lords of Hellas? I personally like this more than Kemet, it’s probably a top 3 or at least top 5 dudes on a map game for me.
I must admit, I was fairly surprised this one got a 5/5. SU&SD's review was less kind to LoH, to put it mildly. When LoR campaign launches, I would love to see if BGC can work in a discussion on some of their objections with LoH to see if they have been improved/changed in LoR; you know, without calling them out or anything. I don't want anyone to feel targeted, or that their opinions aren't valid, but AR games are expensive and if one isn't going to really hit the table, then it's probably best to pass on it.
Not the review we deserve, but the review we needed.
Ah that's the Batman game, wrong video ;)
I made a simple fix to the monuments only being complete at the end of the game (if at all). I put mine on the board, fully assembled and place a D6 at the bottom to track each monument’s current level.
Great idea.
Visually it's an improvement but harder to see the board at a glance.
I'm interested in Lords of Ragnarok! Same for me though, Blood Rage is my favorite area control game!
It's awesome :)
I just bought this from your web-store. Played it twice so far. I'm thoroughly enjoying the experience.
Glad to hear :)
This has been on my buy list for a long time but I finally booted it off with the announcement of Lords of Ragnarok (lately i've been more into Nordic fantasy than Greek fantasy)
Yep, I had this well before Ragnarok was known :) Or I would have just waited as well.
I really enjoyed Lords of Hellas. I liked the roaming Monsters, the Monster fights, and how this game combines RPG elements with dudes on a map area control.
This was one of the first big Kickstarters I ever backed, I wish I would have liked the game more, I feel it tried to do a lot to innovate the genre but in the end it was a Jack of all Trades and a master of none. All aspects were rather bland for me, and a bit messy in combination. I ended up going back to simpler (yet to me, more streamlined and fun) games like Blood Rage and Rising Sun. Not to mention that the rulebook layout was also all over the place at times.
I also feel the extra player expansions and boards disbalance the game even further so 3-4 players keeps being the ideal number. I'm so glad Awaken Realms has kept improving their games, but I sincerely hope Ragnarok is better.
The addition of Ports fixes the territory/military imbalances that can evolve.
Good to know thanks!
Excellent review
Thanks :)
Its my favourtie area control game :D Great review :)
It's awesome :)
Have to done a review on the LOH expansions and has it changed your option for the better or worse for LOH?
I have not played a lot of dood on a map games as I am not a big fan of them but Lords of Hellas I enjoyed and would ask to play again.
Nice :)
Nice review, I do like me some Lords of Hellas.
It's great :)
Is it possible for more than 1 monument to end up fully built in a game or would maximum only one get built?
About Monster hunting being OP:
In one of the games, to deny the player, we tried to let the monster run away from a player X'D
I realy like the Monster Hunting aspect, during the early game they feel like a real meanece and just thinking about fighting them is kinda brave and especialy a creature like Meduas who denies moving options for troops is very unpleasent. But I will have to agree that Monster Hunting is a bit OP, picking Herakles + Boots of teleportation will lead to a steamrolling and with other players using Battle cards in different points of the game will leave the Monster all up to one player. (that's my experience with 4 players). I guess the reward for killing a monster is just a little too much sometimes putting the table on a 3-4 turn clock cause everything the player doess will be:
Move hero, fight monster/reset the board state cause they don't need anything else anymore.
Anyone know when Ragnsrok campaign launches?
No official date yet.
I really wanna get this game, should I wait and see if they offer it again with the LOR kickstarter or just pull the trigger?
I'd potentially just wait to see if Lords of Ragnarok is better for you.
Personally, I'm glad BR is still safe cause it's my #1. I agree with most of your review about LoH; definitely a great game. The game already has enough things going for it that I find the expansions add more bloat that they're worth. Recently replaced LoH with Kemet: B&S though cause my collection can only handle a few big box area control games.
I'm curious about the expansions but I can see them going either way.
Yes!!! They are continuing this epic game..I'm so excited..definitely following and backing it!!! I regrettably didn't get the apollo and atlas expansion..but maybe in the gamefound next campaign, I can!!
I love this game. It is such an epic blast.
A ton of fun :)
Love this game, but hate the included insert. I don't know how one expects to fit everything with the manufacturer's insert, it makes it such a bear to setup. I ended up having to buy a third party insert and crate to make it actually fit properly.
Yeah, one of those games where I promptly threw out the insert. Everything fits nicely in bags including a couple of smaller expansions.
Oh I dumped it all. Everything I have fits into the two large boxes.
The game of ankles
You can play the monuments in reverse so they start fully built and you are destroying them. Same issue though, they won’t be fully built for long and you’ll have headless and half built monuments shortly.
This is sad because it's true.
Wait to see your opinion of Lords of Ragnarok.
Not yet sure if I'm getting a prototype but I hope so.
Got this game after seeing your collab video of "games I havent played but would definitely like". First game was tons and tons of fun, but after 4 plays, I think it's dangerously close to the trade away territory.
Agree 100% of your critic of board position, random card draw, and bashing the leader/king-making aspect. Though i dont mind tracking everyone tableau (I love Kemet after all). I dont know how you think teaching this game is easy. It's as fiddly as (or even more than) Kemet lol and is not as streamlined as Blood Rage
Replayability is a main major issue. Yes the event cards, temple, and blessing change every time but your heroes' power combined with the fixed maps make the meta very static. Perseus always has the option of usurping the Athena region and cheese strat with the build monument rush (so Achilles always has to be picked after Perseus. Even with the full 9 heroes, you cant really deviate from these 2 hero duo. I'm not sure how my group could breakaway from that (maybe house rule to move Athena's monument away)
Besides, somehow the miniature quality is quite bad compared to Blood Rage. Soft plastic that feels like rubber, sundropped is terrible and reduce all the detail so cant really paint well
Curious to see the changes they make in Ragnarok. I'm not a huge fan of the instant win conditions. Which I'm surprised you didn't really touch on (seemed to allude to once in a neutral manner), considering that plays into the "must know your enemies' tableau" dislike to a degree (if not a lot of degrees). And I do agree about the "messy" opinion, though I'd say the game just seems "overly-scrambly". Just perhaps too many disjointed things going on for a Dudes On A Map game. But I think that's what they tried to do an already growing Euro-DOAM hybrid genre - mix in more. The adventure genre aspects, worker placement, etc.
Besides that, I like everything else about the game. It really makes you think. Monster fighting is fun, the theme and aesthetic are great, and even just sending your hero on an adventure to get gear feels very thematic, even if it's just a simple "hero sits out for X rounds" mechanic. Definitely an interesting, hybridized take on the DOAM genre. I have a few expansions, but have not played any of them yet, sadly. :( And don't know if/when I ever will. *cry* But this video has definitely got me in the mood to bust out the game again lol.
I’ve played this game only twice (sad!), and the winner of game one went the monster method, and the winner of game two won via the temple option
same here
This looks interesting. I want to see how it compares to Lords of Ragnarok.
You and me both :)
Play Mysthea!
I plan on :)
Inis or lord of hellas??
(Hi Alex :D)
Inis still
Good to hear ❤️
as far as looks of miniatures go, lord of hellas vs. ragnarok, i like hellas more
Been on my self for a while too and played it last month. Loved it. Definitely prefer it to Blood Rage. Managed to get the Warlord Box for a great price too, although one annoying thing is the expansion artifacts, combat cards and event cards are slightly different sizes to the base game!
The artifacts are a different width, but the others just have different corners.
That sucks. I’m overly sensitive to noticing stuff like that. It would make me want to sleeve. Although, it’s even more frustrating if you get one pack of sleeves that is cut at a different length too.
I sleeved it all already and don't notice it offhand yet. Lots of content :)
I don't usually sleeve stuff (apart from Ti4) but that's a good idea. I had to take the extra cards out because I could see them real easy.
Wait a minute... Did this dude say his name is Alex Mack?
I suspect the spiritual successor might be better then both hellas and blood rage. Lords of hellas to me feels like it is a good game, needed more streamlining.
I look forward to a streamlined core game, can do without the expansions
I really really really really did not like the rulebook, or teaching this one. My first game lasted a very dry 2 hours and we weren't even halfway in so we conceeded it wasn't worth finishing.
I actually didn't have much problems with the rules...not a great ruleset but better than most awaken realms games.
While I agree this game isn’t quite as good as Blood Rage, I also feel it has way more in common with Kemet.
Do you like Kemet or Lords of Hellas more?
Inis or Lords of Hellas?
I personally like this more than Kemet, it’s probably a top 3 or at least top 5 dudes on a map game for me.
Boy talk about being late to the party :)
Lol yep :)
Premier !!!!
Vlog famille maman solo
I must admit, I was fairly surprised this one got a 5/5. SU&SD's review was less kind to LoH, to put it mildly. When LoR campaign launches, I would love to see if BGC can work in a discussion on some of their objections with LoH to see if they have been improved/changed in LoR; you know, without calling them out or anything. I don't want anyone to feel targeted, or that their opinions aren't valid, but AR games are expensive and if one isn't going to really hit the table, then it's probably best to pass on it.
If "Meh" was turned into a game, you'd get Lords of Hellas
How dare you sir.