Well your addendum final thoughts were just incredible. As a big fan of Simone Luciani's output I am really just looking for any excuse to buy Newton but when watching the run through, this hollowness to the world map and invention rewards leaves me wanting more. You do a great service of articulating these things and as a simple contrast with a game such as Lorenzo, which a lot of people label as JASE, I can deduce loads of theme simply from each card's title and its relating mechanical ability. 'Foreign Labour' grants you some more servants eh? A 'Theatre' gives you money for each person you have. Go figure!. For me, Newton seems to be lacking these small lashings of subtle detail.
I agree with you on the thematic! I feel exactly the same. I love it, it's there, but not fully alive. They could have so easily made it more obvious! On the mechanics: The decisions definitely feel hard! This game was the most brain-burner of all Essen games I played last week-end (Teotihuacan, Forum Trajanum, Founders of Gloomhaven, etc.). Just as a note, in my game, I did 3 of the 4 Masters and went all over the different tracks except Work, which I didn't advance at all. That strategy scored me a LOT. The final scores were 102 (me), 68, 59 & 53. An other group that played on the same week-end got a similar result: someone high at the top, and three left-out players, again not advancing the Work track at all. This must rings a bell on the balancing of the game. Having said all that, damn, that was a good, fun and exhausting experience! Everything is so interconnected, every move you make cascade either in or out of your strategy. Crazy!
While definetly somewhat thematic I wish the technologies you reasearched were more thematic (e.g. real life scientific advancements from the period) rather than 'oh I discovered the technology of, visiting ancient cities and earning two VP!'
You could treat the potions as doing an experiment on the subject and learning it that way instead of reading the book? I know it is a bit abstract still but I think it makes sense if you think it that way.
I actually got all four of my Masters into play in my first game yesterday (I played the last one in my very last turn, lol), so it's definitely possible with the right cards. I did not win, but I felt very satisfied with getting all of them out as well as emptying all four stacks of books and all the travel markers (two of the cards I aquired were ones that let me drop an extra cube during travel and one that let me place an extra book by splitting my study points). Definitely enjoy the game a lot and look forward to getting it back to the table :)
I had the 'tiny turn' issues with Marco Polo. I never quite warmed up to it until the expansion (I now dig it). I do hope this one is a hit for me right out the gate so I don't have to wait for an expansion lol.
For me: Newton is somewhat more brain-burning, Teotihuacan has more book-keeping to do but is more intuitive (in my opinion). I like both, but I considerably prefer Teotihuacan.
Out of curiosity, which current euro games have opportunities for these mega epic turns where players can burst ahead? (I'm paraphasing there). It seems to me that most current Euro games by design try to hedge against these huge point leads, especially when players have equal experience levels. Anyway thanks for your thoughts and playthrough, rahdo! I'm keen in this one since I like the theme and history of scientific discovery in general. And I like the designers' previous games. :)
i just put up a video for crown of emara today, and the very first turn i play in the runthrough is a good example of an epic turn :) i think it's a pretty common element of a lot of euro games to be honest :)
Yeah, Rajas of the Ganges does that and it feels so good. I also like having those (epic) turns when it works. I like "slow-paced" games as well, but there are some of them that really are slow.
Me and my girlfriend's favourite game is Marco Polo for many years now, i want a new eurogame i think Newton is a good choice for the next level of Marco Polo, right?
Well your addendum final thoughts were just incredible. As a big fan of Simone Luciani's output I am really just looking for any excuse to buy Newton but when watching the run through, this hollowness to the world map and invention rewards leaves me wanting more. You do a great service of articulating these things and as a simple contrast with a game such as Lorenzo, which a lot of people label as JASE, I can deduce loads of theme simply from each card's title and its relating mechanical ability. 'Foreign Labour' grants you some more servants eh? A 'Theatre' gives you money for each person you have. Go figure!. For me, Newton seems to be lacking these small lashings of subtle detail.
yeah, this game and coimbra were so screaming out for the simplest of touches to make the world come alive. so simple to implement, so much impact!
thanks for being critical, even though you want to like them well enough. these designers, despite their triumphs, can't be given a free pass
I've been able to get 4 scientist out a couple of times. The map layout really plays a factor there.
I agree with you on the thematic! I feel exactly the same. I love it, it's there, but not fully alive. They could have so easily made it more obvious!
On the mechanics: The decisions definitely feel hard! This game was the most brain-burner of all Essen games I played last week-end (Teotihuacan, Forum Trajanum, Founders of Gloomhaven, etc.). Just as a note, in my game, I did 3 of the 4 Masters and went all over the different tracks except Work, which I didn't advance at all. That strategy scored me a LOT. The final scores were 102 (me), 68, 59 & 53. An other group that played on the same week-end got a similar result: someone high at the top, and three left-out players, again not advancing the Work track at all. This must rings a bell on the balancing of the game.
Having said all that, damn, that was a good, fun and exhausting experience! Everything is so interconnected, every move you make cascade either in or out of your strategy. Crazy!
While definetly somewhat thematic I wish the technologies you reasearched were more thematic (e.g. real life scientific advancements from the period) rather than 'oh I discovered the technology of, visiting ancient cities and earning two VP!'
I wrote this before I got to the end of the video, but seems like you agree Rahdo
These potions are the early version of Red Bull, that’s why you can do more things after haha
Looking forward to playing this tomorrow.
Thanks Rahdo.
You could treat the potions as doing an experiment on the subject and learning it that way instead of reading the book? I know it is a bit abstract still but I think it makes sense if you think it that way.
that helps :)
I actually got all four of my Masters into play in my first game yesterday (I played the last one in my very last turn, lol), so it's definitely possible with the right cards. I did not win, but I felt very satisfied with getting all of them out as well as emptying all four stacks of books and all the travel markers (two of the cards I aquired were ones that let me drop an extra cube during travel and one that let me place an extra book by splitting my study points). Definitely enjoy the game a lot and look forward to getting it back to the table :)
NICE!
I had the 'tiny turn' issues with Marco Polo. I never quite warmed up to it until the expansion (I now dig it). I do hope this one is a hit for me right out the gate so I don't have to wait for an expansion lol.
This looks good for two players. How do you think it would play with more than two players?
oh i suspect it'll play great, but you're better off checking with those who have actually played it that way :)
when you think it's over, it's not ;op
What rating would you give this game?, taking Jen's thoughts out of the mix?
oh it's a solid 8. i like it a lot and had great fun with it.
Is it a keeper since you like it, or since Jen does not enjoy it, will/did you give it away?
Sooo... If you had to pick. Newton or Teotihuacan?
For me: Newton is somewhat more brain-burning, Teotihuacan has more book-keeping to do but is more intuitive (in my opinion). I like both, but I considerably prefer Teotihuacan.
for my wife the answer is easily teotihuacan. for me, it would be very close
way to grind out another great review; I guess Newton didn’t quite make the grade.
Out of curiosity, which current euro games have opportunities for these mega epic turns where players can burst ahead? (I'm paraphasing there).
It seems to me that most current Euro games by design try to hedge against these huge point leads, especially when players have equal experience levels.
Anyway thanks for your thoughts and playthrough, rahdo! I'm keen in this one since I like the theme and history of scientific discovery in general. And I like the designers' previous games. :)
Rajas of the Ganges builds up to a crescendo turn. Not many others do, though I do also understand what Jen means with her complaint...
i just put up a video for crown of emara today, and the very first turn i play in the runthrough is a good example of an epic turn :) i think it's a pretty common element of a lot of euro games to be honest :)
"epic turn", haha, cool
Yeah, Rajas of the Ganges does that and it feels so good.
I also like having those (epic) turns when it works. I like "slow-paced" games as well, but there are some of them that really are slow.
For an oldie but a classic, try Russian Railroads, you start the first round scoring 2-3 points, but by the final round you're scoring 100+ points!
Alchemists FTW!
Me and my girlfriend's favourite game is Marco Polo for many years now, i want a new eurogame i think Newton is a good choice for the next level of Marco Polo, right?
if you love MP, newton would likely make a very good fit for you :)
@@rahdo great i trust your opinion! Thx!
Gah but it just looks so bland lol. I’ve heard it compared with Coimbra but that looks wayyy better!
So this or Shakespeare?
for us, shakespeare definitely
@@rahdo thanks I was deciding wich one to get.
it doesnt stand out by nothing for me to be honest
totally, it's like euro is becoming a dirty word, so much overkill running in the same circles