The period of history in this game is one I've read a lot about and find fascinating. My Masters thesis was on the evolution of Japanese Military Strategy as a result of the occupation after World War II, focusing on how article 9 of the Japanese Constitution was interpreted and implemented. But Meiji provided so much back story to how Japan came to be occupied. From the arrival of Commodore Perry to Japan in 1853 to their occupation by US and the Korea war ending in 1953 is possibly the most dynamic century of change of any one country ever. So much happens and so much of it is tragic. If you love reading history, and want a great topic to dig into. I highly recommend it.
3 Minute Board Games also, it’s one of my favorite worker placement games… 😄 Point salad done right with a lot of randomization both in board setup and point placement. and the placement and pickup mechanic swiped from Istanbul which adds more interaction than simply spot blocking. So underrated as a game. I feel it’s because it’s Meiji Japanese instead of the the Mediterranean in the Middle Ages,
It is top 100 on BGG so its definitely got some love from that audience. It's also one I really want to give 5-10 more plays to see if patterns start emerging in the play style as i have a slight nag that some strategies, regardless of map format, might be strong. But yeah, that's gonna take a while, and well, that would be 15 odd plays :) Its going in the permanent collection and I am still thinking about it, so those are great signs for a game.
My thesis was on the changes in Japans Defense Policy as a result of WWII and the peace constitution, so Japanese history from say 1860-1980 was one of areas of expertise. That was 20 odd years ago now though. But still a period and a country i find fascinating.
You missed talking about the set collection part of the game (foreign flags). I think the biggest negatives of the game are the table space used and how intimidating (cluttered) the game looks to a first time player. Once you learn the symbology, it seems very practical and eliminates the need to refer to a rule sheet, but it looks so weighty when you sit in front of it for the first time.
I took a photo for that exact thing, and it appears in the video, but it was one of the bits that got cut due to time code. I started writing up all the ways to score points and then, well, that was 60 seconds of a 3 and a bit minute video :)
I wonder who encouraged you to try this game out, and told you it’s one of the best worker placement games out there? Hmm 🤔 And precisely. Not only do orders shuffle each time you play, not only do technology cards shuffle each time you play, not only do five power rewards shuffle each time you play, not only do the bonuses for your warehouses on each tile shuffle each time you play, but the whole freaking board shuffles. Absolute killer replay ability because of it. I only recommend during three or four person games that once the tiles are flipped, if the Canal is in a corner move it toward the center of the board or even smack in the middle. If you REALLY want to play ten steps ahead and tick off everyone around you, play with a three player board with four players. Oh man, the congestion and rage you can create planning and jamming everyone! So is this a keeper for you? Also it was only 40 dollars for me, and the thick tiles are certainly not going to break any time soon. I loudly slap and smack them together when I shuffle and I’ve noticed no wear or tear after about 30 or so games. Plus the two extra tiles in case you actually lose one. also all the baggies that it comes with. Attention to detail and quality of life is always a good thing. Just remember there’s no limit to resources if you ever use all the tokens. Sometimes I’ve hoarded like 15 iron, lol.
Ha, cheers. Yeah, its a keeper. My connection to the setting and the fact its a bit different to any other game I currently have make it a keeper. I'm not sure its a favourite "top ten" for me game though. But its def a "top 100"
Thinking of worker placement. Tier one for me is Anachrony & Argent Tier two is Crisis, Yokohama, Caverna, Architects, Paladins, Energy Empire Tier three is Raiders, Above and Below, Ancient World, Circadians Tier four is everything else i'd play Kinda spoiled any top ten worker placement vid i plan to do right there though :)
The period of history in this game is one I've read a lot about and find fascinating. My Masters thesis was on the evolution of Japanese Military Strategy as a result of the occupation after World War II, focusing on how article 9 of the Japanese Constitution was interpreted and implemented. But Meiji provided so much back story to how Japan came to be occupied. From the arrival of Commodore Perry to Japan in 1853 to their occupation by US and the Korea war ending in 1953 is possibly the most dynamic century of change of any one country ever. So much happens and so much of it is tragic. If you love reading history, and want a great topic to dig into. I highly recommend it.
3 Minute Board Games also, it’s one of my favorite worker placement games… 😄
Point salad done right with a lot of randomization both in board setup and point placement. and the placement and pickup mechanic swiped from Istanbul which adds more interaction than simply spot blocking. So underrated as a game. I feel it’s because it’s Meiji Japanese instead of the the Mediterranean in the Middle Ages,
It is top 100 on BGG so its definitely got some love from that audience. It's also one I really want to give 5-10 more plays to see if patterns start emerging in the play style as i have a slight nag that some strategies, regardless of map format, might be strong. But yeah, that's gonna take a while, and well, that would be 15 odd plays :)
Its going in the permanent collection and I am still thinking about it, so those are great signs for a game.
I love this game. Thank you for devoting so much time to the flavor of the game - IMHO this is one of the best themes on any Euro.
My thesis was on the changes in Japans Defense Policy as a result of WWII and the peace constitution, so Japanese history from say 1860-1980 was one of areas of expertise. That was 20 odd years ago now though. But still a period and a country i find fascinating.
Another game I'm inspired to learn more about thanks to a 3MBG review!
Played it today at BGA... Instantly hooked on it...it kinda reminds me of lehavre but more sandboxy...
Yeah, good comparison. One of the things i dig about yokohama is how open it is, and how different it is to most euros.
Great summary thank you.
You missed talking about the set collection part of the game (foreign flags).
I think the biggest negatives of the game are the table space used and how intimidating (cluttered) the game looks to a first time player. Once you learn the symbology, it seems very practical and eliminates the need to refer to a rule sheet, but it looks so weighty when you sit in front of it for the first time.
I took a photo for that exact thing, and it appears in the video, but it was one of the bits that got cut due to time code. I started writing up all the ways to score points and then, well, that was 60 seconds of a 3 and a bit minute video :)
3 Minute Board Games yeah I can imagine. The point salad is crazy. I think you got everything else though.
Game got good reviews, is relatively cheap and looks like a lot of fun. The tri-fecta.
This is such a good game. It's favorite of mine and my wife's.
Great job again.
Cheers Paul. What a neat game
I wonder who encouraged you to try this game out, and told you it’s one of the best worker placement games out there? Hmm 🤔
And precisely. Not only do orders shuffle each time you play, not only do technology cards shuffle each time you play, not only do five power rewards shuffle each time you play, not only do the bonuses for your warehouses on each tile shuffle each time you play, but the whole freaking board shuffles. Absolute killer replay ability because of it. I only recommend during three or four person games that once the tiles are flipped, if the Canal is in a corner move it toward the center of the board or even smack in the middle. If you REALLY want to play ten steps ahead and tick off everyone around you, play with a three player board with four players. Oh man, the congestion and rage you can create planning and jamming everyone!
So is this a keeper for you? Also it was only 40 dollars for me, and the thick tiles are certainly not going to break any time soon. I loudly slap and smack them together when I shuffle and I’ve noticed no wear or tear after about 30 or so games. Plus the two extra tiles in case you actually lose one.
also all the baggies that it comes with. Attention to detail and quality of life is always a good thing. Just remember there’s no limit to resources if you ever use all the tokens. Sometimes I’ve hoarded like 15 iron, lol.
Ha, cheers. Yeah, its a keeper. My connection to the setting and the fact its a bit different to any other game I currently have make it a keeper. I'm not sure its a favourite "top ten" for me game though. But its def a "top 100"
And where you would put Architects and Paladins of the west kingdom?
About the same level i think. I enjoy both games and awful lot. But neither are on my "top shelf"
Thinking of worker placement.
Tier one for me is Anachrony & Argent
Tier two is Crisis, Yokohama, Caverna, Architects, Paladins, Energy Empire
Tier three is Raiders, Above and Below, Ancient World, Circadians
Tier four is everything else i'd play
Kinda spoiled any top ten worker placement vid i plan to do right there though :)
3 Minute Board Games and time to google and watch your thoughts on all of those again. You suck 😭
Hmm, toying with picking up the latest iteration, purely as art work more appealing.
Interesting, i quite like the look of this version.