I personally rank the Japanese #1. Although that's probably because I've never had a game go completely sideways due to having key faction buildings torched. As soon as that happens, yeah, down the rankings they go. And yeah, I totally have a love/hate relationship with the Atlanteans, too. I find them fascinating because they make common buildings powerful, but having the rules clutch up regularly can get frustrating. Love this video, Zee. Your praise of this game is what got me into it in the first place, and now it's one of my all-time favorites.
I had a roommate who played probably 25 games in a row playing all five factions at the same time. He concluded that the Barbarians are by far the most powerful faction, such that if you play correctly you will almost never lose. I'm inclined to agree with him.
Looking forward to your thoughts on the Amazons when they come out. I don't own Aztecs (yet) and I haven't got to try out the Atlantean's (yet) since I got them, so of the initial 4 factions I rank them: 1.) Egyptians - Big combo potential, but also still fun if your card draw isn't that synergistic. 2.) Barbarians - There is something very satisfying about winning the game based mostly on multiplying your people and having an economy based on sticks. I have also played these guys well without being aggressive. 3.) Japan - I find Japan always gets a target painted on their back as they have so much potential for massive victory points turns. Neat buildings and strategy, but can be more frustrating as you can't count on any buildings being safe. 4.) Romans - They are still fun, but they start slow and they don't really feel that interesting. I also find that their ability to keep swords means you have to be the jerk of the game. I love the Why Can't We Be Friends Expansion. New cards for everyone, and the ability to visit other players' cards to benefit both of you is great.
I recently did some deck building with factions and we played some 1:1 games with all 6. The results were: Aztecs 65 vs 63 Egyptians Atlanteans 41 vs 38 Barbarians Japanese 57 vs 45 Romans Some factions just couldn’t get their key buildings into play. Need to try some different combinations to fine tune.
I wonder if there will be a male side for the Amazons, since all factions so far have a male and a female side on the player board. Maybe the expansion should be called Amazons and Gargareans? No, I had no idea who or what Gargareans was, until I googled "male amazons". :p
My favorites are the Egyptians, with my second favorites being the Atlanteans. I will be curious to see what the Amazons add to the game, which is one both my daughter and I enjoy.
I rebuilt all the decks. Right now I can achieve 150 regularly with both atlantean, japanese and aztecs... Most I got with any other faction was a lill bit over 130... Still tuning the decks so everybody can be at the same lvl, but those 3 simply can't be stopped as of now.
Actually funny how you less like the japanese because of them having more rules and long texts, while your favorite aztecs also have more rules and even longer text ;-) I think for me 6. babarians, 5. egyptians (but that may be because my friend always plays them), 4. japanese, 3. romans, 2. aztecs, and the atlantians switching between highest and lowest position and back
I like the Aztecs but they are severely overpowered. Their faction deck is way too powerful and super easy to build the entire faction deck in a game. I've played 6 games with or against them and they win every time and easily score over 100 points each time. Shocking that this wasn't addressed in play testing
Never Enough Games The Japanese have a lot of ways to gain abundant food and turn that food into lots of Victory Points. I figure their cards were designed to earn a lot of points in a short space of time before they are razed by their opponent(s). So if their opponents don’t bother to raze those cards lose their balance and they can run away with it.
laziester They also seem the faction that is most dependent on certain Faction cards turning up. If you draw them early in the game you stand a chance, if you never draw you get hosed.
I personally rank the Japanese #1. Although that's probably because I've never had a game go completely sideways due to having key faction buildings torched. As soon as that happens, yeah, down the rankings they go. And yeah, I totally have a love/hate relationship with the Atlanteans, too. I find them fascinating because they make common buildings powerful, but having the rules clutch up regularly can get frustrating. Love this video, Zee. Your praise of this game is what got me into it in the first place, and now it's one of my all-time favorites.
I had a roommate who played probably 25 games in a row playing all five factions at the same time. He concluded that the Barbarians are by far the most powerful faction, such that if you play correctly you will almost never lose. I'm inclined to agree with him.
I love these ranking video Zee! Keep em up!
Looking forward to your thoughts on the Amazons when they come out.
I don't own Aztecs (yet) and I haven't got to try out the Atlantean's (yet) since I got them, so of the initial 4 factions I rank them:
1.) Egyptians - Big combo potential, but also still fun if your card draw isn't that synergistic.
2.) Barbarians - There is something very satisfying about winning the game based mostly on multiplying your people and having an economy based on sticks. I have also played these guys well without being aggressive.
3.) Japan - I find Japan always gets a target painted on their back as they have so much potential for massive victory points turns. Neat buildings and strategy, but can be more frustrating as you can't count on any buildings being safe.
4.) Romans - They are still fun, but they start slow and they don't really feel that interesting. I also find that their ability to keep swords means you have to be the jerk of the game.
I love the Why Can't We Be Friends Expansion. New cards for everyone, and the ability to visit other players' cards to benefit both of you is great.
This kind of ranking and coments for the Empires Of The North, could be great
I recently did some deck building with factions and we played some 1:1 games with all 6. The results were:
Aztecs 65 vs 63 Egyptians
Atlanteans 41 vs 38 Barbarians
Japanese 57 vs 45 Romans
Some factions just couldn’t get their key buildings into play.
Need to try some different combinations to fine tune.
Did you ever experiment more?
Card Draw + Barbarians is my favorite. Raze the card from your hand and score points, sometimes 3+ points for each card.
I wonder if there will be a male side for the Amazons, since all factions so far have a male and a female side on the player board. Maybe the expansion should be called Amazons and Gargareans?
No, I had no idea who or what Gargareans was, until I googled "male amazons". :p
It's funny. I found the Aztecs rules were harder for me to undertand than the Atlanteans.
Yeah I really like the Pray action, I’ve given all the other factions the cards that allows them to Pray.
I really like all of them, but if i had to rank them IMO:
#1 Aztecs
#2 Japanese
#3 Egyptians
#4 Romans
#5 Barbarians
#6 Atlanteans
My favorites are the Egyptians, with my second favorites being the Atlanteans. I will be curious to see what the Amazons add to the game, which is one both my daughter and I enjoy.
I rebuilt all the decks. Right now I can achieve 150 regularly with both atlantean, japanese and aztecs... Most I got with any other faction was a lill bit over 130...
Still tuning the decks so everybody can be at the same lvl, but those 3 simply can't be stopped as of now.
Actually funny how you less like the japanese because of them having more rules and long texts, while your favorite aztecs also have more rules and even longer text ;-) I think for me 6. babarians, 5. egyptians (but that may be because my friend always plays them), 4. japanese, 3. romans, 2. aztecs, and the atlantians switching between highest and lowest position and back
I like the Aztecs but they are severely overpowered. Their faction deck is way too powerful and super easy to build the entire faction deck in a game. I've played 6 games with or against them and they win every time and easily score over 100 points each time. Shocking that this wasn't addressed in play testing
Richie Turner did you find any satisfactory fixes?
Geki Not yet. I'm working on building decks for all of the factions and am hoping I can balance it that way
Wow. I love the Japanese & tend to crush with them & the Atlantans (who I find a little bland). Maybe my game group plays the game too passively.
Never Enough Games The Japanese have a lot of ways to gain abundant food and turn that food into lots of Victory Points. I figure their cards were designed to earn a lot of points in a short space of time before they are razed by their opponent(s). So if their opponents don’t bother to raze those cards lose their balance and they can run away with it.
Roman is definitely least fav in the base game. Too slow at the beginning and even with the color combo its quite impossible to catch up at the end...
laziester They also seem the faction that is most dependent on certain Faction cards turning up. If you draw them early in the game you stand a chance, if you never draw you get hosed.
I do think it is interesting you find the Atlanteans underpowered. I rarely have played a game where they don’t score over 200 points.