CORRECTION: in the wargame section, I mistakenly said "now-defunct Artipia Games" but I meant "Golden Egg Games". My apologies to Artipia, who are still with us!
Rahdo, you just saved me a weeks worth of pocket money. I have been leaning towards Earthborn Rangers - but your skillcheck comment definitely is the nail in the coffin for me.
Wholeheartedly agree! Paul was a big part of the heart and soul of SU&SD. As for 3+ player games, Zoo Vadis and Waterfall Park's inclusion on the list gives me the impression negotiation games tend to be at this player count (Sidereal Confluence also springs to mind).
Heavy fire fighting game also makes me think of Helionox: Chronicles. Early scenarios are already more complex than Pandemic, but if you play the infinite mode or one of the later scenario's, that's a pretty complex game, by my standards anyway. Really cool game too.
I would say that heavy economic games especially those with auctions would still be candidates to forgo the solo mode. 99% of 18xx games are 3P+ for good reason.
Except the 2 player/ solo version is like the holy grail, they must be theoretically possible -and the innovation required to do it right would probably be healthy for the industry.
@@tmcd5049Hey. Games of that sort just won't work at two players. Not saying all 18xx games are great, but the dynamism of multi-player games like them is FAR better than any two-player, zero/sum lame-*ss version of them could EVER attain to. My appreciation for this fact is why I don't really care about Rahdo's opinions on anything, especially games. Not my fault he can't get friends to play with
I agree with a lot of your points on skill checks and wasting cards/resources when you ended up not having to. I just house rule the uncertainty out of it and do what you said - look at the requirement first and decide if I want to spend those resources or take the hit (in the case of AHLCG). I paid for the game, and games are supposed to be fun.
I was looking for a fix since i bought it lol thanks! I was thinking that perhaps you can get back a portion of the resources you spend but not all. maybe round up
Just ignore reddit, they are not representative of the boardgame-playing community. It's often just the voice of a few bitter people, disappointed in the world for their own reasons. No matter what you do in life, there will always be someone who thinks you should do it differently. Shrug it off and stick to doing what you do best: be rahdo.
A really good show. I'm a 95% solo gamer. I just picked up UnMatched: Tales to Amaze and found it to be the best AI of any game I have played. It feels like playing an opponent. And in UnMatched opponents are defeated/exhausted as in a boxing match. So it's a clean game so to speak.
One co-op game kind of answers two of your questions this week: Sammu-Ramat. It's a heavier co-op that doesn't feel at all like a fire fighting game. It's also a cooperative, euro War game.. that's right, it's a wargame you might like. The theme is concentrating on the strong female leader from 700 BC. I wasn't sure I'd like this (it had a small Gamefound), but it is an overlooked co-op that deserves much more attention.
18:15 My wife and I play Scythe (2p) and love it. We never combat unless we both agree to play it that way at the beginning of the game which happens from time to time depending on our mood. 99% of the time we just play it and enjoy the engine building resource management aspect of it which is very low-key and casual. Anyone watching us play scythe would probably be bored and wonder how we can play it without combat. Well once you hit a certain age it doesn't take much to be entertained It's almost like doing a puzzle together on the table. Richard I would highly suggest trying it with Jen just remove the combat completely. In fact we play at cooperatively meaning we tend to help each other out rather than impede each other's progress which is a lot of fun.
the problem with ignoring combat is that it's sub optimal and (IMO) potentially breaks the balance of the game. if you can just let your resources pile up on the board, with no fear of anyone taking them with their mech, one of the major costs (defense) goes away which your normally have to pay, and which has knockon effects for the rest of the game. of course, none of that matters if you're having fun, but i know i wouldn't be able to with that in mind! :)
Could someone point me to the review(?) which Rahdo mentioned that pointed out issues with Earthborne rangers? Sounds valid, glad I didn't jump on that one yet. Really excited about Agemonia now, though!
You mentioned in the podcast not understanding why Waterfall Park amd So Clover didn't have an official 2p mode... Funnily, they are both published by Repos, the same company that owns 7 Wonders. So that's 3 games by the same publisher, with 7 Wonders and So Clover which would otherwise be in your (and Jen's) favorite games it seems.
Even if a shingles vaccine makes you feel rough, it’s for sure better than the real illness. I got it full blown on my face during a low period in my 30s and it was NOT a fun time. I’ve got the scars to prove it! Have to agree with you about the SU&SD team. They seem like nice enough folks, but their recommendations go on my list of games to avoid 99% of the time.
Thanks for the Q & A.... Very Enlightening.... Not even Memoir 44 as a 2 player "war" game? or even the fantasy version of the same system -- Battlelore I think it is? Hope you and the family are doing well!!! 🙂
Although I very much like historical war games, I also understand how they can be a huge turnoff to people. You really can’t think about the deaths involved. If you do, it seems it would make war games unplayable. But I find although I like themes in my games, it’s mostly as skins rather than getting really involved in the theme. Therefore the concept of people getting killed doesn’t enter my mind that much. (Boy, I don’t know what that says about me)…
It is a shame you went off shut up and sit down but opinions will differ which is fine. I love them for their entertainment value and find i agree with several but not all of their reviews. I love your run-throughs even though i do not always like the same things, myself and my game friends are definitely not as care bear but love the channel keep doing what you're doing and ignore reddit myself and many others never doubt your integrity and genuine joy for gaming :)
Fair not noticed before i love all the contributors it is very strange though when you see an old review with Paul as well though they are still very entertaining. I wonder if Paul is over Quinns disgarded Caverna yet :-p @@olivierjodoin2283
Save the bugs. I am midwestern...fewer now than there used to be, fewer birds and varmints as well. Picking on ANTs! Seriously? :D War games are good, necessary and rewarding. Do not whitewash the horror by putting it out of your observation. Focus on it, study it, know where you will be if you follow that path. I always lose.
I don't think Chinatown with 2 players would be satisfying. Can the automa win? If so, how do you value losing to the automa compared to losing to the human? The key to trading games is making trades where both parties gain, which isn't possible in a traditional 2-player game.
@@rahdo, if we're OK with the automa's trades being a very large source of randomness, I guess it could work with a simple automa. Otherwise, I think we'd need an app that is aware of the game state. If we're trying to get to a good 2-player game with these components and theme, I don't think the multiplayer rules make a good starting point.
The 2 player portable catan game had a mechanism where you could force the other player to trade, but not too often. Not sure if the idea can be adapted to Chinatown, never having played it.
CORRECTION: in the wargame section, I mistakenly said "now-defunct Artipia Games" but I meant "Golden Egg Games". My apologies to Artipia, who are still with us!
Rahdo low energy = me after 3 cups of coffee.
LOL 😂
Rahdo, you just saved me a weeks worth of pocket money. I have been leaning towards Earthborn Rangers - but your skillcheck comment definitely is the nail in the coffin for me.
Me too. I hated Red November for those similar skill checks.
Same. The new hotness, Agemonia, seems to handle those really well, giving players decisions on how to compensate for bad rolls.
Wholeheartedly agree! Paul was a big part of the heart and soul of SU&SD.
As for 3+ player games, Zoo Vadis and Waterfall Park's inclusion on the list gives me the impression negotiation games tend to be at this player count (Sidereal Confluence also springs to mind).
Heavy fire fighting game also makes me think of Helionox: Chronicles. Early scenarios are already more complex than Pandemic, but if you play the infinite mode or one of the later scenario's, that's a pretty complex game, by my standards anyway. Really cool game too.
I would say that heavy economic games especially those with auctions would still be candidates to forgo the solo mode. 99% of 18xx games are 3P+ for good reason.
Except the 2 player/ solo version is like the holy grail, they must be theoretically possible -and the innovation required to do it right would probably be healthy for the industry.
@@tmcd5049Hey. Games of that sort just won't work at two players. Not saying all 18xx games are great, but the dynamism of multi-player games like them is FAR better than any two-player, zero/sum lame-*ss version of them could EVER attain to. My appreciation for this fact is why I don't really care about Rahdo's opinions on anything, especially games. Not my fault he can't get friends to play with
I agree with a lot of your points on skill checks and wasting cards/resources when you ended up not having to. I just house rule the uncertainty out of it and do what you said - look at the requirement first and decide if I want to spend those resources or take the hit (in the case of AHLCG). I paid for the game, and games are supposed to be fun.
I was looking for a fix since i bought it lol thanks! I was thinking that perhaps you can get back a portion of the resources you spend but not all. maybe round up
Phalanxx was a conflict game you enjoyed, it was a fairly cool card game that incentivised the players to have one fight, but usually no more...
Just ignore reddit, they are not representative of the boardgame-playing community. It's often just the voice of a few bitter people, disappointed in the world for their own reasons. No matter what you do in life, there will always be someone who thinks you should do it differently. Shrug it off and stick to doing what you do best: be rahdo.
💯. Rahdo > Reddit!
A really good show. I'm a 95% solo gamer. I just picked up UnMatched: Tales to Amaze and found it to be the best AI of any game I have played. It feels like playing an opponent. And in UnMatched opponents are defeated/exhausted as in a boxing match. So it's a clean game so to speak.
One co-op game kind of answers two of your questions this week: Sammu-Ramat. It's a heavier co-op that doesn't feel at all like a fire fighting game. It's also a cooperative, euro War game.. that's right, it's a wargame you might like. The theme is concentrating on the strong female leader from 700 BC. I wasn't sure I'd like this (it had a small Gamefound), but it is an overlooked co-op that deserves much more attention.
Wow talk about a hidden gem!
18:15 My wife and I play Scythe (2p) and love it. We never combat unless we both agree to play it that way at the beginning of the game which happens from time to time depending on our mood. 99% of the time we just play it and enjoy the engine building resource management aspect of it which is very low-key and casual. Anyone watching us play scythe would probably be bored and wonder how we can play it without combat. Well once you hit a certain age it doesn't take much to be entertained It's almost like doing a puzzle together on the table. Richard I would highly suggest trying it with Jen just remove the combat completely. In fact we play at cooperatively meaning we tend to help each other out rather than impede each other's progress which is a lot of fun.
the problem with ignoring combat is that it's sub optimal and (IMO) potentially breaks the balance of the game. if you can just let your resources pile up on the board, with no fear of anyone taking them with their mech, one of the major costs (defense) goes away which your normally have to pay, and which has knockon effects for the rest of the game.
of course, none of that matters if you're having fun, but i know i wouldn't be able to with that in mind! :)
Ant Wars. 😂 Jason McAllister designer, popped into mind,
couldn’t help it.
Could someone point me to the review(?) which Rahdo mentioned that pointed out issues with Earthborne rangers? Sounds valid, glad I didn't jump on that one yet. Really excited about Agemonia now, though!
oh i've only really talked about EBR here in this Q&A
You mentioned in the podcast not understanding why Waterfall Park amd So Clover didn't have an official 2p mode... Funnily, they are both published by Repos, the same company that owns 7 Wonders. So that's 3 games by the same publisher, with 7 Wonders and So Clover which would otherwise be in your (and Jen's) favorite games it seems.
oh wow... i guess there's some old fashioned attitudes in that house. it broke my heart so hard when they excised the excellent 2p from 7 wonders!
Even if a shingles vaccine makes you feel rough, it’s for sure better than the real illness. I got it full blown on my face during a low period in my 30s and it was NOT a fun time. I’ve got the scars to prove it!
Have to agree with you about the SU&SD team. They seem like nice enough folks, but their recommendations go on my list of games to avoid 99% of the time.
Thanks for the Q & A.... Very Enlightening.... Not even Memoir 44 as a 2 player "war" game? or even the fantasy version of the same system -- Battlelore I think it is? Hope you and the family are doing well!!! 🙂
We played some battlelore back when we first got into gaming 12 years ago but it didn't stick with us. Very neat system though!
Although I very much like historical war games, I also understand how they can be a huge turnoff to people. You really can’t think about the deaths involved. If you do, it seems it would make war games unplayable. But I find although I like themes in my games, it’s mostly as skins rather than getting really involved in the theme. Therefore the concept of people getting killed doesn’t enter my mind that much. (Boy, I don’t know what that says about me)…
It is a shame you went off shut up and sit down but opinions will differ which is fine.
I love them for their entertainment value and find i agree with several but not all of their reviews.
I love your run-throughs even though i do not always like the same things, myself and my game friends are definitely not as care bear but love the channel keep doing what you're doing and ignore reddit myself and many others never doubt your integrity and genuine joy for gaming :)
very talented and wildly entertaining for sure!
It's not really new, Rahdo has been saying for years that he stopped watching SUSD when Paul left.
Fair not noticed before i love all the contributors it is very strange though when you see an old review with Paul as well though they are still very entertaining. I wonder if Paul is over Quinns disgarded Caverna yet :-p @@olivierjodoin2283
Questions for future Q&A: Are you Jewish? Are you a fan of Jon Stewart? What is your religion, besides board games?
these are so easy i'll just answer them here! :) not jewish, big fan of stewart, atheist
"Fire extinguishing games" ... there is actually a coop fire fighting game.
Save the bugs. I am midwestern...fewer now than there used to be, fewer birds and varmints as well. Picking on ANTs! Seriously? :D War games are good, necessary and rewarding. Do not whitewash the horror by putting it out of your observation. Focus on it, study it, know where you will be if you follow that path. I always lose.
Curious if Orleans co-op would be brain burning enough for him.
I don't think Chinatown with 2 players would be satisfying. Can the automa win? If so, how do you value losing to the automa compared to losing to the human?
The key to trading games is making trades where both parties gain, which isn't possible in a traditional 2-player game.
losing is losing, whether it's against a human or an automa, imo :)
@@rahdo, if we're OK with the automa's trades being a very large source of randomness, I guess it could work with a simple automa. Otherwise, I think we'd need an app that is aware of the game state. If we're trying to get to a good 2-player game with these components and theme, I don't think the multiplayer rules make a good starting point.
The 2 player portable catan game had a mechanism where you could force the other player to trade, but not too often. Not sure if the idea can be adapted to Chinatown, never having played it.
20:31 Then how come that back and forth on a meter is ok, but the one in 7 Wonders Duel is not?!
It's not the meter that's the problem for me in 7w duel... It's the mean spirited stuff that happens at certain spots on the meter!
"Now defunt artipia games"? I wonder if you were thinking about a different publisher. Artipia was very much alive this last Essen ^^'
argh! yes i meant golden egg... not sure why my brain flipped there
@@rahdo For a moment I thought you meant TMG, but I couldn't see any reference to them on the BGG page