Hegemony - Board Game Review - Help! Help I'm Being Repressed!
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- Опубліковано 1 лип 2024
- Hegemony - Board Game Review - Help! Help I'm Being Repressed!
The Nation is in disarray and a war is waging between the classes. The working class faces a dismantled welfare system, the capitalists are losing their hard-earned profits, the middle class is gradually fading and the state is sinking into a deep deficit. Amidst all this chaos, the only person who can provide guidance is... you. Will you take the side of the working class and fight for social reforms? Or will you stand with the corporations and the free market? Will you help the government try to keep it all together, or will you try to enforce your agenda no matter the cost to the country?
Hegemony is an asymmetric politico-economic card-driven board game for 2-4 players that puts you in the role of one of the socio-economic groups in a fictional state: The Working Class, the Middle Class, the Capitalist Class and the State itself.
The Working class controls the workers. The Capitalist class controls the companies. The Middle class combines elements from both the Working class and the Capitalist. It has workers who can work in the Capitalist's companies but it can also build companies of its own, yet smaller. Finally the State is trying to keep everyone happy, providing benefits and subsidies when needed but trying also to maintain a steady income through taxes to avoid going into debt.
While players have their own separate goals, they are all limited by a series of policies that affect most of their actions, like Taxation, Labor Market, Foreign Trade etc. Voting on those policies and using their influence to change them is also very important. Through careful planning, strategic actions and political maneuvering, you will do your best to increase the power of your class and carry out your agenda. Will you be the one to lead your class to victory?
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Who Am I?
One single batchelor from the UK talking about his passion for board games and the people who play them! I support small content creators, board game cafes and go against the status quo when it comes to the board game industry. I give my honest opinions without bias towards any publishers or designers and will not hold back if I don't like a game.
The Broken Meeple is a variety channel that hosts all kinds of board game content from reviews to Top 10 lists to playthroughs to live stream collaborations with special guests (predominantly small channels who deserve more exposure).
I look forward to engaging with you, the community on my live streams or in the comments on my videos!
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Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
00:30 - Background
02:30 - Game Overview
03:45 - Other Similar Games
04:44 - Pros (A Heavy Game But It's Accessible)
08:00 - Pros (Crisp and Clean Graphic Design)
09:50 - Pros (Kickstarter Worthy Components)
11:28 - Pros (Perfect Player Interaction and Dripping Theme)
13:46 - Pros (Meaty Gameplay and Tight Scoring)
16:01 - Cons (This is LONG! Do Your Research!)
17:50 - Cons (Some Luck Aspects To Be Aware Of)
20:02 - Cons (Practicalities of Getting It To The Table)
22:06 - The Solo Mode
24:42 - Summary, Two Verdicts & Player Scaling
28:34 - Please Share and Support The Show
#brokenmeeple #hegemony #class #state #boardgames #boardgame #lukehector #supportsmallcreators #tabletop #tabletopgames #bgg #boardgamer #boardgamereview
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Full credit to BoardGameGeek and its members for any images used that aren't my own or part of the publisher press kit. - Ігри
Thank you for going into the Automata. I've been looking forward to this and am excited to hear that the Automata work as intended!
Glad to help, other reviewers I'm not sure have played the solo mode at all.
Very interested in this one! Love heavy, asymmetric games (think COIN from GMT) and studied Economics in undergrad. Not sure why I didn’t back this, maybe my gaming budget was busted by then 🤷🏻♂️. Thanks for the review, will be looking to pick this up.
Stellar review! I think this is one of your best video reviews ever. Great insights and your dedication to provide a balanced POV of the product comes through. I may have to look this one up when it gets to retail in my area.
Been binging your recent vids (because YT works that way for me) and impressed by the quality. I also noted Fort and Beer & Bread on my wants list from the "Next Step 2p Games" video. Thank you for your hard work!
Thanks for the kind words - it's great to get feedback that the improvements I try to make each year are doing their part. And yes this one took a lot of time in playing, reviewing, editing etc so I'm glad it's a hit with the fans.
Solid review man, it is fun to begin seeing what other creators think about the game. I only tried solo once out of my four plays, but I totally agree: the "simple" bots are all that you need if you are gonna try this solo. Still, this is a 4p only game for my group, and as long as we have four hours to play it, I'm down! (Our first play was five hours and 10 minutes, and I really can't see any way this goes under four hours with a full player count.)
4 hours IF EVERYONE knows the game inside out without rules checking, but yeah it ain't easy. The game does function well with 3 players though, the loss of the State player is not a big hit.
Bang on review. Have only played 2 2 players games to learn the basics and figured the automas could greatly enhance the experience. I'm so surprised such a dry theme (it's quite academic in its presentation after all even though that's what drew me to it in the first place) can be so much fun! Tons of interaction and name calling :) I don't recall naturally role-playing in a boardgame much less a heavy euro! It would have been nice to have an introductory set-up for new players to learn as they played a bit like Root did. A minor element and lots of effort for little return but to me this is Hegemony's only true negative - it feels/looks way more complicated from an outsider perspective than it really is once you've played a single game. Compared to Trickerion/weather machine and the likes, this is a walk in the park to understand yet felt that incredibly daunting checking videos and flipping through the excellent documentation.
Root has a lot less moving parts though then Hegemony - I think a tutorial for this would be a whole book in itself to go through all those potential actions.
Great review, especially with that Solo expansion this is mighty tempting - would allow me to play it far more, either solo or with 2 or 3 players (Which happens far more regularly for me)
Now just to wait until it hits retail!
Hopefully not too long after fulfillments!
This game is one that I'd love to have/play. I find the theme and the interaction of the game play very compelling. I just don't have the group to play it. Because of that, I didn't back it but now I'm having to reconsider based on the ability to play it solo. Just not sure I can justify it if I'm only ever going to be able to play solo since I'll lose out on the fun and tension of the interaction with the other players. Good review!
Same
I think solo only this game might not be worth getting for you - I'll play it solo but with the knowledge that a few people will want to play it multiplayer and at cons I can get it played.
So you did not get the coin upgrade XD happy to hear that you like it. I am currently waiting for mine (a smaller German crowdfunding platform did the German version) and the reviews coming in all seem great :)
Meh I got clay chips! :P
Can’t wait to get my kickstarter copy, though you had me worried whether I was getting the expansion as it wasn’t called Crisis and Control in the campaign but they had separated the bits into stretch goals.
Yeah it's not 100% clear, but if you're getting the Extended Edition, you're sorted.
I have already been looking forward to this greatly, now following your game with Paul and this review... did not make the wait easier XD
Hope you enjoy it!
Excellent review! Now even more happy I backed this and can't wait for it to arrive. It seems like exactly what I was hoping it would be. I'll probably mostly play it solo but I'm definitely going to try to organize a game with friends.
Glad it was helpful! Solo works great, but certainly if you can get 2-3 others, it's worth a group game too.
Very helpful summary of the pros and cons. For a complex game, an overview like this is especially useful.
Glad it was helpful! Not something that can be conveyed in a mere 5-10 min!
Eagerly awaiting the arrival from Kickstarter - really happy you liked it - still a bit wary about the assymetric factions and how heavy it will be to teach
It's a LONG teach - players should do their research ideally - watch Paul Grogan's various videos and read their individual player aids.
Very good and almost thorough review (little caveat, being the kind of person that enjoy complex bots when I play solo, but your job is really well done as always!). The fact that you have two level of complexity for the bots is very appealing and make it easier to use them when playing multiplayer. I'm really eager to grab my kickstarter copy...
"Almost thorough"? 🙃
@@TheBrokenMeeple ''90% of the two solos plays was played with the simple bot'' but you rate the experience with the complex ones? Usually, when I play with a COIN bot, by exemple, it tends to be hard before it become easier on my second or maybe third play... so for me you were a bit quick on the guns for this one! Haha, but I understands that, as a reviewer, you feel this need to move quickly in between games.
@@francois-xavierjodoin1255 the complex bots feel like too much effort for the gain when the simple bots are already good
Might watch a few rules vids and then decide if I am up to it !!
Still a bit annoyed I didn't back this one on KS, as it ticks so many boxes, but I've pre-ordered a full bundle now, including the KS add ons box.
If you're a Baycon this year Luke, I'd love it if you brought this to give a try
I willl now be at Baycon yes! I will have the game there, so do your research on the rules :P
@@TheBrokenMeeple had Paul Grogan's playthrough on in the background whilst I was working, it's what persuaded me to pre-order, was actually surprised how intuitive such a heavy game was in terms of gameflow
Asymmetrical powers im learning is very problematic for most games. The extra level of balancing required and all that time and energy seems better put elsewhere.
Skymines, Architects of the West Kingdom are perfect example of asymmetry, where you have a different set of starting resources or the factions are assmetric. Then try to teach it
The theme doesn’t overly appeal to me but you’ve made me want to try it now!
The theme didn't appeal to me either but I get immersed during it.
Great review, Luke, very informative. I'll play it only solo.
Thank you for the excellent review! I am generally not a fan of asymetric games and I know very well this isn't going to make it to the table enough and yet I so want a game like in my collection. I can't wait for it to arrive.
Glad it was helpful!
What other games would you say remind you of this one? thanks I love your review!
There's a section in the video about game comparisons.
Very cool theme and it does look interesting. Unfortunately it would never hit the table mostly cause of length these days.
Which is fair enough, it's long and will never be a short affair.
Great review, I can't wait for my copy to arrive! Will probably sit on the shelf for longer than I'd like to admit, but maybe I'll give that ai solo a go.
Yeah it's not 100% clear, but if you're getting the Extended Edition, you're sorted for solo.
Thanks for the review. Patiently waiting for my copy to arrive!
Hope you enjoy it!
This game, even though I don't have it yet, has the potential to change everything. They may have to shut this down. I wonder what the expansions will look like and who votes on how the modules are added into the mix, and which have to be ASsanged. l.... Never mind, I've said too much.
great to see you enjoying this - thanks for the thorough review
Glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent review of the game thank you, not an easy one to cover. Can I ask please in your section for Pro's is the components and you say they are Kickstarter worthy, can I assume you have the retail edition as I am trying to find out if the components vary between retail and KS ?
The components are the same in all editions aside from a potential coin upgrade which i think was a KS add on. But honestly just use your own money. But all the meeples, cards, dual layer boards etc were simply stretch goals.
The main thing to note is that the normal version doesn't have solo mode, that's in the Crisis expansion or the Extended Edition.
@@TheBrokenMeeple Perfect thanks Luke, with order now and save a bunch looking for a KS edition. I have the iron clays as well so money not a problem and have seen there is the 2 add-ons for Solo and then actual events. That's just saved me over £100
we pretty much learned the game by reading the (big) reference sheet. Just to say, yea, they are REALLY well done the owner of the game only had to clear things after and answer to questions.
I'm loving the flavor text from Edmund Blackadder.
Very useful review! I loved the look of this one when it was in crowdfunding, but I did not pledge because I thought it would probably be too hard to get to the table. However, now you might be costing me money once again as I'm tempted to get it and the expansion at retail purely for solo. But I hadn't even considered that option before, so I'm grateful for you highlighting it 🙂
It's great when a game has a rare or unique theme. If a designer comes up with a theme I've not seen before I'm likely in, unless the game is obviously bad, even if the theme is not inherently exciting. Want to sell me a game about managing house and commercial cleaning services? Or, say, a game about neighborhood watch? You'd get my money...
Yes a good unique theme sets it out from the crowd. Take Obsession for instance.
Wow, this game seems to be what I wanted Planet B to be (but what it isn't).
The price for the coming German version (135 EUR incl the solo exp.) still is a barrier.
Wow, that's pretty high! Maybe do a group share if the same people will be playing it?
Thanks for the review, where to purchase this?
It's fulfilling currently so hopefully retail soon, but maybe check Hegemonic's website.
Eagerly awaiting my KS
This game looks awesome, love the subject as I'm interested in history and politics. I wonder how it plays at 2 player. Just saw 2 players control the capitalists and working class
Yeah that's it, but you can add AI's as well.
Ever since getting into Sierra Madre games and wargames, the heavy euros all the sudden became a tasty snack.
By comparison yes! Although at the rate I'm going with Hegemony, this will become comfort food!
So on the pronunciation thing - that felt wrong so I checked across the proper dictionaries and stuff. The U.K. pronunciation is with a hard ‘g’ ie h-egg-emony. The US pronounce it with a J i.e. Hejemony as you said in the vid, and which the designers say. The designers are Cypriot and the work has Greek origins so maybe their chosen pronunciation is closer to the root word however that’s pronounced more like an English ‘Y’ ie ‘he-ye-moni’!
I need the Australian pronunciation which is either the same as the British one or you just say ‘politics, mate’ instead ;-)
Whatever the designer says goes I say!
Nothing to do with the Greek root which is with γ (closer to ye) as you said.
11:15 maybe the money is the weak link for you but I got greedy and added on the metal coins to my pledge.
Review copy didn't have metal coins in it, didn't know they were even a thing, but honestly I use clay chips!
Boy , what a nice review! Thanks!
Glad you liked it!
Acquisition chicken: interested in a game, but hope someone else buys it to try it. Need to play acquisition chicken with this. I sprung for EU: Price of Power. Someone else can jump on this.
Yeah I ain't buying that one! :P
"Bloody peasant!" Thats so doggone funny!
It just came to me and I'm like "yeesss, it's going in!"
The word is Automa, not Automna! You add a random n every time you say it!
I've only tried with the advanced Automa so far (on Tabletop Simulator) but it works for me and isn't too cumbersome. Perhaps with physical components it will feel more clunky though.
Oh with physical components it is but even then that's a lot of fath to check priorities before you even do a move.
I introduced this game to my 3 separate board gaming groups... And they want to play more... Perhaps its not for everyone but a lot of people really like this game....😊
Oh it's not for everyone, it's a niche game for sure, but what a niche!
@@TheBrokenMeeple yeah.... I agree.... And I really love this game.... 👍
Oh... And you are right.... There is no idle moment in this game... You have to keep an eye on another player
Also thanx for your review.... It really help me to decide to buy ths game....
You COMPLETELY lost me when you said you don't feel you do much interacting in Root. Luckily, it was pretty close to the end of the video 😂
I am here for you... just give me 2 whinks and I will send in the swat team...
OW OW POLICE BRUTALITY!!!
Very well explained, much better than anything I've ever watched in german as a German. ;)
Thanks a lot!
Awaiting delivery, love the theme.
I think Paul Grogan was involved. He should have a how to play coming.
Lol I was in it!
Excellent review! 👍
Thanks! 👍
Root is one of the most interactive games out there
Indeed, but I don't enjoy it nearly as much.
Thank you Luke. I kickstarted Hegemony as the theme is dear to me as I love political sciences. Your review made me hopeful that I took the right decision.
I think you'll be set with this, rules investment permitting.
Good aids I admit easy referencing over and over. But nothing on you personal boards about refilling bag does hurt
..."a more serious theme than Root". So, you haven't understood the theme in Root! Hint: they're rather similar...
Yeah but one has cute cats, little mice, birds and a raccoon....
@@TheBrokenMeeple Hegemony has little wooden men. In Root the birds are the Royalists, the Cats are the capitalist class, the Alliance is the socialists, the racoon is the lumpen proletariat, etc. Root looks super cute, but the theme is actually historical and pretty heavy.
I enjoyed him mispronouncing not just the word hegemony but also the word pronunciation
It's correct according to designer.
I hate the people who follow a certain "German" who made economics a cover for his philosophical and religious values, have I covered my tracks enough here? But, that being said, even a game dog whistling a name for itself that is obviously certain to a type of policy hot dog forensic platitude falsetto corrugate, can still be amazing if I play with only my right hand. Man, sometimes it's amazingly hard to get past the Hegemony of SocNte.
Omg I say a 100 cash on the middle.class something sees.weired there
I've finished middle class with 300 cash before. It involves a high export strategy.