@@Neon_Gorilla I am talking about how loose this game is in terms of resource management. did the designer test the math modeling behind the rules before publishing ? you can get so many resources in a turn and keep all of them. almost everyone can fill orders so quickly and the rewards are more resources with some points. some shops are clearly more powerful than others so most players just visit these shops and ignores the rest . The art is the only good thing for this garbage game design in my opinion.
yeah I have not taken a critical look at it since I have not done coverage but when I play this it is not in a highly competitive sense. I think the abundance in resources might me why I recommend this and a worker placement/ resource management gateway. Extremely tight games often discourage kids and new players. If you are a veteran who wants and intense resource puzzle I would not recommend this. At this point its mass produced big box retailer game because of this approachability.
@@Neon_Gorilla I've found (almost) nothing inspires hatred in this hobby like making a cute and accessible game. Flamecraft and Wingspan are hated VEHEMENTLY despite the fact that there are PLENTY of other games that are less fun to play.
@@Neon_Gorilla I am not asking a gateway game to be super tight but this level of looseness kills everything for me. even the worker placement element sucks in flamecraft if you can just pay a few resources to go to an occupied shop and gets so much more in return. no tension , no puzzle , just brainless boring experience.
Great video, I have all of these games lol I totally relate, the production is the only reason I’m keeping all of them, apart from endless winter I enjoy playing that one. Your mic setup is great, super crisp
thank you! I am now inspired to get EW to the table again so hopefully I rediscover the love. re: mic yeah I personally really appreciate great sound so had to opt for the ridiculous mic set up :)
Yep, I totally agree with Flamecraft. It rarely comes out for us but I have the deluxe version and can’t seem to part with it. It’s always in the running and I think one day my younger kids may really enjoy it.
We love endless winter. It was our first game with gametrayz and the individual player ones really make a difference. My fathers work is up there for not getting rid of due to the production. Gorgeous game.
@@Neon_Gorilla no it's great. We really enjoy it. However I think once you've played the 3 scenarios a few times you kinda know what might happen. It can still surprise you but eventually it won't.
That's funny, a couple years ago I bought Dog Park, Flamecraft, and Merchants of the Dark Road all at once from an LGS sale. I end up trading of Merchants of the Dark Road because it was too difficult for me to get to the table, but the other two games will stay in my collection as gateway games.
I fell for this one, too. We have gotten it to the table a few times. More than any other game, it's helped me realize how important the toy factor is to me. Honestly, the reviewers weren't wrong, but the production is just so much fun to play with that, if you're like me, I think you can have a really good time.
@@total_Gulby totally agree I really though hard about the master set they kickstarted for that reason. I actually wanted to play it after I god rid of it. It’s a marvel the game worked at all frankly.
hahaha you and I are twins! I have soooooooo many games that I love sitting on my shelf but have YET TO PLAY! You're not the only one wowed by deluxification (and yes, mine are all sleeved too - btw pet peeve are inserts that don't account for sleeving grrr).
@@casey5542 no I am right handed:) I think the mic boom arm on my right is getting in the way so I use the left hand and the open space on the desk is to the left.
I've got a few like this kept in my collection in no particular order: 1. The Age of Atlantis- the teach of this for such a midweight game is such a drag (too many different actions) but the coloured minis, worker dice (that can go on the minis) and theme is so cool that it's the only game I'm keeping knowing I'm probably never playing it. 2. Coffee rush - there's a lot of AP and very low scores lets this down. Even the pretty components are finnicky to pick up, but it's just so darn cute with the art and little coffee cups. 3. RA - I'm not really a big auction fan but the wooden tiles satisfyingly tactile and that large RA piece is a delight to pass around. Others just enjoy the game a whole lot more than me. 4. Imhotep - It's a bit of a cheat but I got these 3D printed boats that perfectly fit the large chunky cubes that come with the game and it's a tactile delight. The game itself is fine but fine by itself doesn't cut it in my collection and would have been culled if it wasn't for the components. 5. Endless Winter - Probably one of the nicest productions I own. I haven't got around to playing it after the middling reviews for it came out because it was just getting overshowed by Dune Imperium and Arnak, both games in my top 10. Flamecraft was just too simplistic and loose with resources for me that I had to move it on to someone who will appreciate it and the gorgeous production far more than me. I'm probably also selling Lets Go to Japan soon as whilst the production is great and the theme really resonates with me, the game felt like it had a lot of unnecessary rules and components for the sake of theme.
Merchants of the Dark Road looks amazing! I never heard about it surprisingly. I’m going to look up some play through videos. I also get enticed by pretty games. I force myself to watch at least 2 reviews and one play through before I order anything. I have to know that I will enjoy the gameplay and I have to determine if any of my friends will play it with me too. A lot of games have solo modes so that has become less of a barrier to buying games I don’t need. Did you see the wooden creature meeples on Wondrous Creatures? They are mind blowing! Critter Kitchen is also super deluxified and delicious.
wondrous creatures is currently on the way to my house are I type :). Very excited about that. I tend to do more research now but when I backed Merchants I was but a baby in the hobby. I have since become more discerning. than you for watching!
Well unfortunately the members voted on Endless Winter to be their exclusive vid this month. I do think I will do a separate Winter games video the should have my take in it though. That would be a December video likely. I am starting to play it once again now.
I'd love a flamecraft review. Haven't been able to pull the trigger on that one either. Flamecraft is a perfect example for when game mats make sense. A fits in the box, B cards lay on the mats and C its in a table runner format
Big time wingspan vibe, mostly aesthetic though. I am sure if I thought hard enough (or played it again) there are some mechanical similarities. You select which dogs to take on the walk which can activate their abilities so I suppose it’s like selecting a row of birds to activate
I am guilty of not selling Flamecraft just for cuteness and local publisher announced that tey will translate Critter Kitchen to czech also. And i love production quality of Eagle gryphon Lacerda series foe example easels in Gallerist and those little trucks in Speakeasy.
This is a great list. I'm in the same boat with Flamecraft, and it looks like a lot of the comment section is too. Of the three worker placement deckbuilders, I went with Lost Ruins of Arnak cause the theme appealed to me the most, but I still want to try the other two someday. Arnak also has a few nice resource pieces in the base game, but unfortunately, no insert whatsoever.
LOL I had to come back to this and was about to say I have zero clue what you are talking about. Green is my back up and blue after that. I will never feel good about read and have no idea why :)
Crazy how similar my experience with Flamecraft is. We played it so much when we first got it (still a fantastic rulebook imho) and now play it on occasion but not often. Yet, I cannot cull it! And I have the base version not even deluxe. The neoprene mats in Flamecraft and Challengers are my fave in my collection. Honey Buzz is another huge example of this for me.
I am completely ignorant to how vindication plays, but I will say on the looks front I don't think you could mentioned a game that "looks" more different :) I am sure its great though.
If I had that version of Endless Winter I think it would be hard to get rid of as well. I’m just glad I’ve avoided buying a copy because from the gameplays I saw, I got the feeling that the game let you do everything to the max instead of making you focus on a few parts of the game to maximize your points.
It doesn't let you do everything to the max. You usually have something 25% two things 75% and something 100%. It's about flexing given the situation at hand. Love the game deeply. It was a staple for us the moment we had it
Have you added in cave paintings and rivers? I do agree I remember making tough decisions in what to engage with but adding more to focus on seems like it might dilute the experience.
@@Neon_Gorilla no I haven’t played the base game yet. I’m just going off of a couple playthroughs I watched, the one I remember most is by Monique & Naveen. Their end of game state had them both at the top of 1 track and almost both to the top of the other, all tents out, only 1/3 villages out, a ton of animal cards, their stone tiles all placed, and the bigger grey score tiles placed on the bottom left of their board. It’s not 100% of everything but from their game it seems to be 100% in a couple & 80%+ completed in the other sections.
The only games I'm guilty of blinging out are Scythe and Root- I mean, how could you not! Despite differing opinions on gameplay (of which I personally love), its hard to deny they have some of the best production in the industry.
what have you done for ROOT, im interested. We were having a chat about game upgrades just today in the discord. Root is the type of game I could invest in. I am hoping for a big box soon.
You should sell all of those games, and take the money, and buy some REALLY deluxe components for some of the games that you love. Like the handmade hand painted stuff that seems insanely expensive, but when you think about how much time it took to make, is totally worth it. Bling out Dune, or Castles, or Arcs, or whatever it is you absolutely love.
i am a mid-heavy gamer and I absolutely love Flamecraft. I know it gets a lot of hate from people, i think its a easy target to attack. But i will bury myself with this game (deluxe edition ofc) I love it, and everyone i introduce to love it. So haters can suck it😊
I really like Merchants. I don’t have the deluxe version and really enjoy the game play. I like trying to figure out how to maximize my deliveries. Let us know if you get it to the table for winter vibes.
Blue player tokens all the way! I own the version of Sakura arms from Level 99 Games, and I love the production value! Great artwork, dual layer player board ... But it's a one vs one game that my wife will never play. Definitely should leave my collection. But there's still plenty of room for it, so ....
This video seems so in par with the way my collection has grown out of proportion and yes I do play Yellow, preferably. I collect good looking board games with great theme and good graphic design, gorgeous art (which is in the eye of the beholder) and fantastic production. Most of them are just a piece of art in its whole. But some culling should be mandatory. But it's so hard ;-) Base games with fantastic production like Wingspan, are actually allmost all games by Keymaster games (Parks and Caper Europe). One of my most favorite one still remains Pax Pamir 2 by wehrlegig games. Remarkc Summit I liked a lot, but production wise (what you showed) I would have shown Oath ;-) Mine Endless Winter pledge is still waiting to be played. and have the same issues with Merchants of the dark Road. Too good looking, still need to put a game in. On the other hand I play Forest shuffle 20 times... Guess I have a good half of my collection that I play frequently and another half just to be eyecatchers within the central hall's games shelf. Gorgeous productions with too much shelf space are Everdell the complete collection (I've played my OG game more then enough), Rococo Deluxe Edition, Coffee Traders, OROS, ICE and Scarface 1920 (just 1 play).
My discord just voted Endless winter as their video pick so it looks like I will finally get it back to the table which I am excited about actually. Parks is so beautiful. I actually just got harvest from keymaster. Another beautiful game but production unfortunately is not at the parks levels.
I might be among the minority but I really like dog park as a game. Not sure why it is not as well received, but we have had good time with the game. Yes definitely not a complex crunchy game by design. But there is quite a bit of mechanics and thoughts in it - you need to consider the combination of dogs and watch what others are going for. I personally see it as a great game to play with casual gamer.
I quite like you and your channel, and I’m gonna keep subscribing and clicking, so please don’t take this too hard, but… man, this video is sad on so many levels. Level 1: I deeply believe that games are only as valuable as the fun they bring. A game that doesn’t get played is worthless, regardless of production, and it’s sad to see the worth of these beautiful experiences reduced to production values. Level 2: Despite point 1, I am guilty of this as well! And it SUUUUUUCKS. I do have games that never get played, that I don’t get rid of because of their potential. Because they’re aspirational. Because I WANT to play them, but I CAN’T. This video reminded me of these games that I should, rationally, sell, but won’t. And that’s sad. Level 3: Despite my criticisms, I fully 100% am aware that, if I had more money, I’d be both feet in your shoes right now. I’m not above this. You’re not sad - I am sad. (Maybe both of us are.)
I appreciate the feedback...I will say this is my experience and that is what I am going to keep brining to this channel...I did not manufacture this I literally am giving these games a second chance because of how they look. I don't think not wanting to give up on a game you have invested money in and is honestly a work of art is a bad thing. As you know I valued mechanics and gameplay over anything else. I hardly mention production and this video is a way to show you all I do appreciate it even though I really don't ever use it as a selling point. I appreciate you being here and continuing to comment and in this instance really respectfully. I am sorry this one did not hit for you....I have a VERY mechanic focused video that is sitting in members only ready to come out in two days. You might like that one.
For me it's not about deluxe components, but rather the totality of what comes in the box. Pandemic Legacy seasons 1-3. We finished them, they're done with no more play potential ... but can't get rid of them. Sexy for reasons of what was discovered/earned during those campaigns. And appearance too.
I have/had three of the five. Dog Park - Beautiful but the gameplay totally flopped for me and my group despite us all being dog lovers, so even the theme could not salvage it. Its been sold. Flamecraft - Adorable, great game, hits the table a decent amount. Endless Winter - I have the retail version and I think I have all the stuff you have minus the expansions (and retail box is a big smaller so the expansions wont all fit) and minis dont have the wash. The production value for a retail game version is INSANE. Initial take was there was a bit to many things happening in the game, but I do really like it, and want to get more plays.
Ditto Flamecraft. Although the deluxe resource components and the coins get used in other games all the time, so it's still serving a purpose even if the game itself isn't getting used much. 😅
I'm also a sucker for pretty games an components, which can be a problem when my friend tries to introduce new games that I find ugly. I almost got Flamecraft when I first saw it in retail, but then I looked into the reviews and decided it was probably not for me. I also have a slight aversion to Ark Nova (yes, that one game everyone seems to love so much) because of the poor look of it. I normally prefer to play blue, but since I'm not the only one in my gaming group with that preference, I've switched to yellow. :)
funny you mention Ark Nova, I feel the same way and I even played it and really enjoyed it but subconsciously didn't keep playing #1 its pretty long #2 I really dislike the card "art"...With that said I started playing it again with some members and can't get it out of my head.
@@Neon_Gorilla Ironicaly, Terraforming Mars is among my favourite games and it's not exactly pretty. Who knows, perhaps I'll grow to appreciate Ark Nova too eventually!
I backed Flamecraft on Kickstarter. Initially, I found the game way too light and was only keeping it because of the artwork and deluxe components. However, it grew on me as I realised that there are so many different strategies you can take to win. Our gaming group really likes it even though we play heavier games. I think it's more fun with a higher player count. I also own a deluxe copy of Merchants of the Dark Road and can't wait for the expansion. It's easy to learn, looks amazing, and is one of my favourite games. The insert is terrible though!
oooh tell me why the insert sucks...I assume it has to do with functionality that I have yet to experience since I have not played it? I find flame craft rather enjoyable. It is not the deepest game but each time I play it I feel challenged enough and serves a purpose for me getting certain players to the table.
@@Neon_Gorillathe insert is terrible because you bury little pieces under medium pieces under larger pieces under...and you'd need tweezers to get some pieces out. The market piece storage is perfect, and the rest is worse than a baggie
Flamecraft was an easy cull, and we had the deluxe version, as it was very, very, very dull. On the other hand we keep John Company 2, Deal with the Devil and Oath because of their beautiful productions even if they hardly ever get to the table.
@@rekath16 keeping games despite their looks might just be a future episode :) I did a video on 9 games I waited to long to play and so of that was due to aesthetic.
hey I just saw you joined the cardboard club...thanks and glad to have you...go to the member announcements and follow the discord link on the most recent post. I hope to see you over there to chat and play some games if you are into it.
@@Neon_GorillaI have Endless Winter ,Arnak, and Dune. Love and play them all. The give different vibes and game play tensions for how similar they sound on paper. I think the three of those are about as comparable as everDell and dune
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
flamecraft sucks from a game designing perspective. the designer should take some math class before designing another game.
@@Clairewest-x6j tell me more, I didn’t find the math broken. I am happy to explore it.
@@Neon_Gorilla I am talking about how loose this game is in terms of resource management. did the designer test the math modeling behind the rules before publishing ? you can get so many resources in a turn and keep all of them. almost everyone can fill orders so quickly and the rewards are more resources with some points. some shops are clearly more powerful than others so most players just visit these shops and ignores the rest . The art is the only good thing for this garbage game design in my opinion.
yeah I have not taken a critical look at it since I have not done coverage but when I play this it is not in a highly competitive sense. I think the abundance in resources might me why I recommend this and a worker placement/ resource management gateway. Extremely tight games often discourage kids and new players. If you are a veteran who wants and intense resource puzzle I would not recommend this. At this point its mass produced big box retailer game because of this approachability.
@@Neon_Gorilla I've found (almost) nothing inspires hatred in this hobby like making a cute and accessible game. Flamecraft and Wingspan are hated VEHEMENTLY despite the fact that there are PLENTY of other games that are less fun to play.
@@Neon_Gorilla I am not asking a gateway game to be super tight but this level of looseness kills everything for me. even the worker placement element sucks in flamecraft if you can just pay a few resources to go to an occupied shop and gets so much more in return. no tension , no puzzle , just brainless boring experience.
Great video, I have all of these games lol I totally relate, the production is the only reason I’m keeping all of them, apart from endless winter I enjoy playing that one. Your mic setup is great, super crisp
thank you! I am now inspired to get EW to the table again so hopefully I rediscover the love. re: mic yeah I personally really appreciate great sound so had to opt for the ridiculous mic set up :)
Yep, I totally agree with Flamecraft. It rarely comes out for us but I have the deluxe version and can’t seem to part with it. It’s always in the running and I think one day my younger kids may really enjoy it.
@@MDJ0983 yes a perfect stepping stone into the hobby for kids
We love endless winter. It was our first game with gametrayz and the individual player ones really make a difference.
My fathers work is up there for not getting rid of due to the production. Gorgeous game.
So is my father’s work no good?
@@Neon_Gorilla no it's great. We really enjoy it. However I think once you've played the 3 scenarios a few times you kinda know what might happen. It can still surprise you but eventually it won't.
@@robinsmith6847 ahh got it
That's funny, a couple years ago I bought Dog Park, Flamecraft, and Merchants of the Dark Road all at once from an LGS sale. I end up trading of Merchants of the Dark Road because it was too difficult for me to get to the table, but the other two games will stay in my collection as gateway games.
@@ShinakoX2 is merchants tough to table because the rules?
Merchants of the dark road is the exact same for me.
Never played…. But can’t move. Sometimes I just open it to look at it 😂
@@mothraw1 we should really play with such a beautiful toy
I fell for this one, too. We have gotten it to the table a few times. More than any other game, it's helped me realize how important the toy factor is to me. Honestly, the reviewers weren't wrong, but the production is just so much fun to play with that, if you're like me, I think you can have a really good time.
@@total_Gulby totally agree I really though hard about the master set they kickstarted for that reason. I actually wanted to play it after I god rid of it. It’s a marvel the game worked at all frankly.
hahaha you and I are twins! I have soooooooo many games that I love sitting on my shelf but have YET TO PLAY! You're not the only one wowed by deluxification (and yes, mine are all sleeved too - btw pet peeve are inserts that don't account for sleeving grrr).
Hopefully we are past the sleeving not being accounted for.
Great video!! And totally random question.....are you left-handed?
@@casey5542 before I answer I have to know why ;)
Just the way you show off the bits, hold cards, push the big boxes to your left, etc. The watch on your left wrist was throwing me off though. ;)
@@casey5542 no I am right handed:) I think the mic boom arm on my right is getting in the way so I use the left hand and the open space on the desk is to the left.
Love this video! So many games I wanna move on from, but just can’t pull the trigger because of all these reasons 😂
Thank you so much!!! I think many of us are also just collectors at heart
I've got a few like this kept in my collection in no particular order:
1. The Age of Atlantis- the teach of this for such a midweight game is such a drag (too many different actions) but the coloured minis, worker dice (that can go on the minis) and theme is so cool that it's the only game I'm keeping knowing I'm probably never playing it.
2. Coffee rush - there's a lot of AP and very low scores lets this down. Even the pretty components are finnicky to pick up, but it's just so darn cute with the art and little coffee cups.
3. RA - I'm not really a big auction fan but the wooden tiles satisfyingly tactile and that large RA piece is a delight to pass around. Others just enjoy the game a whole lot more than me.
4. Imhotep - It's a bit of a cheat but I got these 3D printed boats that perfectly fit the large chunky cubes that come with the game and it's a tactile delight. The game itself is fine but fine by itself doesn't cut it in my collection and would have been culled if it wasn't for the components.
5. Endless Winter - Probably one of the nicest productions I own. I haven't got around to playing it after the middling reviews for it came out because it was just getting overshowed by Dune Imperium and Arnak, both games in my top 10.
Flamecraft was just too simplistic and loose with resources for me that I had to move it on to someone who will appreciate it and the gorgeous production far more than me. I'm probably also selling Lets Go to Japan soon as whilst the production is great and the theme really resonates with me, the game felt like it had a lot of unnecessary rules and components for the sake of theme.
I have been wrestling with let’s go to Japan but have stayed away until now
Merchants of the Dark Road looks amazing! I never heard about it surprisingly. I’m going to look up some play through videos. I also get enticed by pretty games. I force myself to watch at least 2 reviews and one play through before I order anything. I have to know that I will enjoy the gameplay and I have to determine if any of my friends will play it with me too. A lot of games have solo modes so that has become less of a barrier to buying games I don’t need.
Did you see the wooden creature meeples on Wondrous Creatures? They are mind blowing!
Critter Kitchen is also super deluxified and delicious.
wondrous creatures is currently on the way to my house are I type :). Very excited about that. I tend to do more research now but when I backed Merchants I was but a baby in the hobby. I have since become more discerning. than you for watching!
Most interested in Endless Winter. Would love to see coverage of that in your oodles if free time 🙃
Well unfortunately the members voted on Endless Winter to be their exclusive vid this month. I do think I will do a separate Winter games video the should have my take in it though. That would be a December video likely. I am starting to play it once again now.
@@Neon_Gorilla makes total sense!
Dog Park looks so much like wingspan! Love the bone trayz xD I've been eying merchants of the dark road for so long!
I'd love a flamecraft review. Haven't been able to pull the trigger on that one either. Flamecraft is a perfect example for when game mats make sense. A fits in the box, B cards lay on the mats and C its in a table runner format
Endless Winter actually is not gametrayz its their own dedign and the retail version has it too. The retail!
That makes sense, gametrayz would have been tighter and had board slots
Maybe a something I will put together for a members only vid
Big time wingspan vibe, mostly aesthetic though. I am sure if I thought hard enough (or played it again) there are some mechanical similarities. You select which dogs to take on the walk which can activate their abilities so I suppose it’s like selecting a row of birds to activate
I am guilty of not selling Flamecraft just for cuteness and local publisher announced that tey will translate Critter Kitchen to czech also. And i love production quality of Eagle gryphon Lacerda series foe example easels in Gallerist and those little trucks in Speakeasy.
@@frantaf critter kitchen was another I was interested in after Flamecraft but never pulled the trigger
This is a great list. I'm in the same boat with Flamecraft, and it looks like a lot of the comment section is too.
Of the three worker placement deckbuilders, I went with Lost Ruins of Arnak cause the theme appealed to me the most, but I still want to try the other two someday. Arnak also has a few nice resource pieces in the base game, but unfortunately, no insert whatsoever.
Yeah I desperately need a big box for arnak after the expansions. Great game though. Dune is probably superior but I love the arnak theme
I went with the Folded Space V2 insert, which holds the Expedition Leaders expansion as well. Folded Space FTW!
always green. always always green. except for in Edge of Darkness because the red has the carnival masks.
LOL I had to come back to this and was about to say I have zero clue what you are talking about. Green is my back up and blue after that. I will never feel good about read and have no idea why :)
Crazy how similar my experience with Flamecraft is. We played it so much when we first got it (still a fantastic rulebook imho) and now play it on occasion but not often. Yet, I cannot cull it! And I have the base version not even deluxe. The neoprene mats in Flamecraft and Challengers are my fave in my collection. Honey Buzz is another huge example of this for me.
honey buzz is up there but that one is deceptively crunchy for sure! I need to play it again :(
How do you get rid of Dog Park? Replace it with Vindication, similar or better production and such a great game.
I am completely ignorant to how vindication plays, but I will say on the looks front I don't think you could mentioned a game that "looks" more different :) I am sure its great though.
EPIC video title. Literally a first world problem I have sometimes.
Thanks and yes a very first world problem
If I had that version of Endless Winter I think it would be hard to get rid of as well. I’m just glad I’ve avoided buying a copy because from the gameplays I saw, I got the feeling that the game let you do everything to the max instead of making you focus on a few parts of the game to maximize your points.
It doesn't let you do everything to the max. You usually have something 25% two things 75% and something 100%. It's about flexing given the situation at hand. Love the game deeply. It was a staple for us the moment we had it
Have you added in cave paintings and rivers? I do agree I remember making tough decisions in what to engage with but adding more to focus on seems like it might dilute the experience.
@@Neon_Gorilla no I haven’t played the base game yet. I’m just going off of a couple playthroughs I watched, the one I remember most is by Monique & Naveen. Their end of game state had them both at the top of 1 track and almost both to the top of the other, all tents out, only 1/3 villages out, a ton of animal cards, their stone tiles all placed, and the bigger grey score tiles placed on the bottom left of their board. It’s not 100% of everything but from their game it seems to be 100% in a couple & 80%+ completed in the other sections.
The only games I'm guilty of blinging out are Scythe and Root- I mean, how could you not! Despite differing opinions on gameplay (of which I personally love), its hard to deny they have some of the best production in the industry.
what have you done for ROOT, im interested. We were having a chat about game upgrades just today in the discord. Root is the type of game I could invest in. I am hoping for a big box soon.
You should sell all of those games, and take the money, and buy some REALLY deluxe components for some of the games that you love. Like the handmade hand painted stuff that seems insanely expensive, but when you think about how much time it took to make, is totally worth it. Bling out Dune, or Castles, or Arcs, or whatever it is you absolutely love.
or just look at them every 6 months or so lol. If I sold it would likely just go back into the channel.
Love playing as purple or black when possible with games
oooh purple is good, I do black sometimes but it gets lost on some boards...trying to think what is the best purple I have played with...
@@Neon_Gorilla love the purple dragon on flamecraft!
@@JarvisDMLord this is true
I fell down that rabbit hole.
you are in good company then
i am a mid-heavy gamer and I absolutely love Flamecraft. I know it gets a lot of hate from people, i think its a easy target to attack. But i will bury myself with this game (deluxe edition ofc)
I love it, and everyone i introduce to love it. So haters can suck it😊
and please review MotD! I am very curious what you think, if it is worth getting?
Yeah deluxe is where it’s at :)
I really like Merchants. I don’t have the deluxe version and really enjoy the game play. I like trying to figure out how to maximize my deliveries. Let us know if you get it to the table for winter vibes.
@@christagregg9363 that is the plan, thanks for sharing your experience. I am excited to finally play it.
Blue player tokens all the way!
I own the version of Sakura arms from Level 99 Games, and I love the production value! Great artwork, dual layer player board ... But it's a one vs one game that my wife will never play.
Definitely should leave my collection. But there's still plenty of room for it, so ....
Blue eh, “ games I keep despite my wife never playing” is a video I have a long list for :)
This video seems so in par with the way my collection has grown out of proportion and yes I do play Yellow, preferably. I collect good looking board games with great theme and good graphic design, gorgeous art (which is in the eye of the beholder) and fantastic production. Most of them are just a piece of art in its whole. But some culling should be mandatory. But it's so hard ;-)
Base games with fantastic production like Wingspan, are actually allmost all games by Keymaster games (Parks and Caper Europe). One of my most favorite one still remains Pax Pamir 2 by wehrlegig games.
Remarkc Summit I liked a lot, but production wise (what you showed) I would have shown Oath ;-)
Mine Endless Winter pledge is still waiting to be played. and have the same issues with Merchants of the dark Road. Too good looking, still need to put a game in.
On the other hand I play Forest shuffle 20 times... Guess I have a good half of my collection that I play frequently and another half just to be eyecatchers within the central hall's games shelf. Gorgeous productions with too much shelf space are Everdell the complete collection (I've played my OG game more then enough), Rococo Deluxe Edition, Coffee Traders, OROS, ICE and Scarface 1920 (just 1 play).
My discord just voted Endless winter as their video pick so it looks like I will finally get it back to the table which I am excited about actually. Parks is so beautiful. I actually just got harvest from keymaster. Another beautiful game but production unfortunately is not at the parks levels.
I might be among the minority but I really like dog park as a game.
Not sure why it is not as well received, but we have had good time with the game. Yes definitely not a complex crunchy game by design. But there is quite a bit of mechanics and thoughts in it - you need to consider the combination of dogs and watch what others are going for. I personally see it as a great game to play with casual gamer.
I don’t disagree I just don’t ever reach for it. Opening it up inspired me to play it again though.
I quite like you and your channel, and I’m gonna keep subscribing and clicking, so please don’t take this too hard, but… man, this video is sad on so many levels.
Level 1: I deeply believe that games are only as valuable as the fun they bring. A game that doesn’t get played is worthless, regardless of production, and it’s sad to see the worth of these beautiful experiences reduced to production values.
Level 2: Despite point 1, I am guilty of this as well! And it SUUUUUUCKS. I do have games that never get played, that I don’t get rid of because of their potential. Because they’re aspirational. Because I WANT to play them, but I CAN’T. This video reminded me of these games that I should, rationally, sell, but won’t. And that’s sad.
Level 3: Despite my criticisms, I fully 100% am aware that, if I had more money, I’d be both feet in your shoes right now. I’m not above this. You’re not sad - I am sad. (Maybe both of us are.)
I appreciate the feedback...I will say this is my experience and that is what I am going to keep brining to this channel...I did not manufacture this I literally am giving these games a second chance because of how they look. I don't think not wanting to give up on a game you have invested money in and is honestly a work of art is a bad thing. As you know I valued mechanics and gameplay over anything else. I hardly mention production and this video is a way to show you all I do appreciate it even though I really don't ever use it as a selling point. I appreciate you being here and continuing to comment and in this instance really respectfully. I am sorry this one did not hit for you....I have a VERY mechanic focused video that is sitting in members only ready to come out in two days. You might like that one.
For me it's not about deluxe components, but rather the totality of what comes in the box. Pandemic Legacy seasons 1-3. We finished them, they're done with no more play potential ... but can't get rid of them. Sexy for reasons of what was discovered/earned during those campaigns. And appearance too.
@@tteshera nostalgia is a reason that came up in the discord when we discussed this.
Simple solution: if you don't buy, you don't need to cull. Just play at board game club or online
Prophetic words
I have/had three of the five.
Dog Park - Beautiful but the gameplay totally flopped for me and my group despite us all being dog lovers, so even the theme could not salvage it. Its been sold.
Flamecraft - Adorable, great game, hits the table a decent amount.
Endless Winter - I have the retail version and I think I have all the stuff you have minus the expansions (and retail box is a big smaller so the expansions wont all fit) and minis dont have the wash. The production value for a retail game version is INSANE. Initial take was there was a bit to many things happening in the game, but I do really like it, and want to get more plays.
Some of my other games with best production are Return to Dark Tower, Cosmic Frog, Vindication and Septima
you don't give me hope for dog park :) I think endless winter might be wonderful or terrible :)
Sexy and wintery: Frostpunk. Don't expect to survive, though... I still haven't beaten the first scenario after 6-7 attempts...
This one never appealed to me but since you said it was sexy I will give it a look ;)
Ditto Flamecraft. Although the deluxe resource components and the coins get used in other games all the time, so it's still serving a purpose even if the game itself isn't getting used much. 😅
@@morgaknightgames that is a great idea!
I have games I like to HAVE, and games I like to play. Those are not necessarily the same.
very relatable
I'm also a sucker for pretty games an components, which can be a problem when my friend tries to introduce new games that I find ugly. I almost got Flamecraft when I first saw it in retail, but then I looked into the reviews and decided it was probably not for me. I also have a slight aversion to Ark Nova (yes, that one game everyone seems to love so much) because of the poor look of it.
I normally prefer to play blue, but since I'm not the only one in my gaming group with that preference, I've switched to yellow. :)
funny you mention Ark Nova, I feel the same way and I even played it and really enjoyed it but subconsciously didn't keep playing #1 its pretty long #2 I really dislike the card "art"...With that said I started playing it again with some members and can't get it out of my head.
@@Neon_Gorilla Ironicaly, Terraforming Mars is among my favourite games and it's not exactly pretty. Who knows, perhaps I'll grow to appreciate Ark Nova too eventually!
I backed Flamecraft on Kickstarter. Initially, I found the game way too light and was only keeping it because of the artwork and deluxe components. However, it grew on me as I realised that there are so many different strategies you can take to win. Our gaming group really likes it even though we play heavier games. I think it's more fun with a higher player count. I also own a deluxe copy of Merchants of the Dark Road and can't wait for the expansion. It's easy to learn, looks amazing, and is one of my favourite games. The insert is terrible though!
oooh tell me why the insert sucks...I assume it has to do with functionality that I have yet to experience since I have not played it? I find flame craft rather enjoyable. It is not the deepest game but each time I play it I feel challenged enough and serves a purpose for me getting certain players to the table.
@@Neon_Gorillathe insert is terrible because you bury little pieces under medium pieces under larger pieces under...and you'd need tweezers to get some pieces out. The market piece storage is perfect, and the rest is worse than a baggie
@@nipzie that sucks, I thought it looked nice and tidy but did notice it was thin vacuum trays that wobbled a lot
Flamecraft was an easy cull, and we had the deluxe version, as it was very, very, very dull. On the other hand we keep John Company 2, Deal with the Devil and Oath because of their beautiful productions even if they hardly ever get to the table.
I will never cull JC and have nobody to play it with lol.
La Granja Deluxe Master Set is one of those games... it's sooooo beautiful, but got old.
Did you allready make a video about ugly games?
@@rekath16 keeping games despite their looks might just be a future episode :) I did a video on 9 games I waited to long to play and so of that was due to aesthetic.
hey I just saw you joined the cardboard club...thanks and glad to have you...go to the member announcements and follow the discord link on the most recent post. I hope to see you over there to chat and play some games if you are into it.
@@Neon_Gorilla Welcome, I only support 1 Content Producer and it's you. ;-) You put the content on another level.
For me its Merchantd Cove. For the same reasons
@@alwaysardent1125 ahhh I had and sold that but actually enjoyed my plays. That is a mess of a game but it somehow works
@@Neon_GorillaI have Endless Winter ,Arnak, and Dune. Love and play them all. The give different vibes and game play tensions for how similar they sound on paper. I think the three of those are about as comparable as everDell and dune