There is a trick to remember the cube color relationship to the factions they represent in the game (assuming you know basic British geography). The regions where you put 2 cubes initially (Home regions) are in the same color than the cubes you put there (You put 2 blue cubes in Moray/Scotland so blue = Scottish faction, You put 2 red cubes in Gwynedd/Wales so red = Welsh faction and 2 yellow cubes in Essex/England so yellow = English faction)
Unfortunately, there appears to be an issue with the production run of the game board. The English region (Essex) is green, as opposed to the yellow it should have been.
@@robertdavey5582 Weird I don´t have the game and I imagined this was just a light problem on the video. If you look at Rodney Smith´s video it looks bright yellow in his copy of the board
Unfortunately red is usually associated with England, and yellow with none of them. Wales is usually green. Scotland is blue theyve got that right, its all about flag colours
This is indeed a nice-looking edition, but the two previous editions of the game (the original "King of Siam" and "The King is Dead - First Edition") were also fine. As for game-play alone, I find that "King of Siam" has a more interesting map than its successors. Why they didn't put it on the back of the board in this edition is beyond me. The inclusion of the special action cards ("cunning actions") spoils the game for me. The no-luck perfect information was precisely what made this game original and great in the first place, and with three out of eight (!) actions each player has now hidden, that unique challenge goes completely down the drain. The action cards don't make the game more "advanced", but convert it into run-of-the-mill area control fare.
@@amirabdollahi5221 Even one action card would be too many (for me - obviously this is all a matter of taste), because your whole game-plan would then hinge around this card, which you would of course want to play as late as possible, in order to deny your opponent(s) perfect information.
Totally know what you mean, but I like the game plan to hinge around 1-2 action cards that you play at the end. 3 is too much. It can give the game a little bit of unpredictable feeling which on its own can give you hope if you are behind also less math puzzle feeling like chess.
I don't know what it is, but I really like cubes. Cubes in games representing troops or factions just is nice to me. It's simple but feels good. Like blue cubes representing cops... genius! lol
@@conillet very good point, but sometimes cubes feel a little too plain and lazy. For this particular game they are perfect though and super practical for sure.
I feel like this game, although different, occupies the same space as Condottiere for me and after several plays of both I think I'd pick up Condottiere every time. Production is fantastic on this one though.
This is one of those rare gems that both feels very different and works really well at each player count. The 2-player game feels like a true battle-of-wits/tug-of-war. The 3-player game feels more like playing chicken: you don't want to be playing too many cards too soon and run out of options by the end game, but you also don't want to wait too long or the remaining provinces on the board will be too few to manipulate in your favour. French invasions are more common and a strong threat option. The 4-player game is a no-communication 2vs2 team game. If the game ends in coronation, you count your followers individually and you win if either you or your team mate wins. If there is an invasion, the teams pool their followers and count them together. This is one of my favourite team games, together with Concordia Venus, because you have to assess not only the other team, but your own team mate as well. I'm surprised this wasn't mentioned in the video.
@@YoungWillem It's quite unique indeed. I haven't seen anything like it. Zee is right saying that the gameplay is subtle. Is it game of the year ? No. But it's one that I'll gladly keep in my collection. Guess it's quite easy to get on the table with new players too with so little rules... Had spotted that game a while back but it was out of print. This reprint was such a great news for me :D
North Americans are incredibly bad at knowing the difference between the definitions of the UK, British Isles, England, Scotland, Ireland, etc, etc, etc. I saw this because I see it all the time and I screw it up all the time myself :D
@@bored_pyro Yes, I live in Hawaii now, not exactly America, I find it funny and endearing. Trying to explain your from England but not London is tricky!
All of a sudden everyone's taking about this, but I'd never heard of it during 2020. Might have just glanced past it due to the cover and look of the game, who knows?
British and English are not synonymous. British typically includes Scottish, Welsh, and English. That aside, this game looks as though another geographical region/nation/set of nations would have suited the game better. Historically there was and has been a huge disparity in resources and power between the component nations of Great Britain. Perhaps some landed families in one country would've made more thematic sense.
I have watched this video twice and cannot wrap my head around a strategy, nor do I fully grasp the game. Zee does well as always, I just feel like this game is a little convoluted.
The artwork from photos/video seems a bit too, ehm, artistic comparing to the 1st edition. Not sure if it's a good change actually tho it looks engaging at the same time.
I for one really like the art style, seems very authentic but also sleek enough to where its not going to age. Definitely the kind of game i would be proud to display on my shelves.
@@AltarenGalil yeah, I'm not saying it doesn't look cool. I'm just not sure it's good the the gaming process, maybe a clearer art distracts players less that's what I meant.
I like the cover art on this one. The board colours appear less practical than the first edition and may hide the cubes. And thematically the control disks could have had flag art to underline they represent a nation of people. I like the inclusion of the cunning actions as a game variant but agree with another poster here that this would make the game less unique; the limited and identical actions are what make the game tense.
There is no way around saying this, but this game is bad. This is the type of game you play 3 times and then you stash it , but at least it looks nice on the shelf. It is a shelfable game.
@@DyrnwynAh it seems we are playing the classic game of Disagreeopoly! But fear not sir , differing opinions are the spice that make the game truly lively.
I remember trying to get you to play this years ago; glad you finally did.
Hi, Andy! 👋🏻
@@amandadavis3800 Hi! I was just thinking about you recently. I hope you’re well.
There is a trick to remember the cube color relationship to the factions they represent in the game (assuming you know basic British geography). The regions where you put 2 cubes initially (Home regions) are in the same color than the cubes you put there (You put 2 blue cubes in Moray/Scotland so blue = Scottish faction, You put 2 red cubes in Gwynedd/Wales so red = Welsh faction and 2 yellow cubes in Essex/England so yellow = English faction)
Unfortunately, there appears to be an issue with the production run of the game board. The English region (Essex) is green, as opposed to the yellow it should have been.
@@robertdavey5582 Weird I don´t have the game and I imagined this was just a light problem on the video. If you look at Rodney Smith´s video it looks bright yellow in his copy of the board
Unfortunately red is usually associated with England, and yellow with none of them. Wales is usually green. Scotland is blue theyve got that right, its all about flag colours
Bloody love Zee's reviews.
This is indeed a nice-looking edition, but the two previous editions of the game (the original "King of Siam" and "The King is Dead - First Edition") were also fine.
As for game-play alone, I find that "King of Siam" has a more interesting map than its successors. Why they didn't put it on the back of the board in this edition is beyond me.
The inclusion of the special action cards ("cunning actions") spoils the game for me.
The no-luck perfect information was precisely what made this game original and great in the first place, and with three out of eight (!) actions each player has now hidden, that unique challenge goes completely down the drain.
The action cards don't make the game more "advanced", but convert it into run-of-the-mill area control fare.
You are not supposed to include the action cards if you don’t like them, Also how about including only 1-2 action cards instead of 3 ?
@@amirabdollahi5221 Even one action card would be too many (for me - obviously this is all a matter of taste), because your whole game-plan would then hinge around this card, which you would of course want to play as late as possible, in order to deny your opponent(s) perfect information.
Totally know what you mean, but I like the game plan to hinge around 1-2 action cards that you play at the end. 3 is too much.
It can give the game a little bit of unpredictable feeling which on its own can give you hope if you are behind also less math puzzle feeling like chess.
I don't know what it is, but I really like cubes. Cubes in games representing troops or factions just is nice to me. It's simple but feels good. Like blue cubes representing cops... genius! lol
They are also just very practical: You don't have to orientate them in any way and they won't roll off the table.
I'm sure you would love COIN games in that way
@@conillet very good point, but sometimes cubes feel a little too plain and lazy. For this particular game they are perfect though and super practical for sure.
Ricky royal demonstrates a brilliant solo variant he devised for this on his channel
I feel like this game, although different, occupies the same space as Condottiere for me and after several plays of both I think I'd pick up Condottiere every time. Production is fantastic on this one though.
TKID can be played with 2 players though. :)
@@RottenJeeves Ah yeah good point - 3p is probably the best for TKID though? Can’t remember my favorite count for Condottiere
I have Condottiere from Z-man and I'm kind of disappointed. I wish I have Fantasy Flight copy instead.
@@CoNSu_11 why, I'm looking to buy a z man copy
I think I’d prefer Condottiere. But I really do want to try this one, too!
TKID can be played with 2 players quite well though.
the two games have NOTHING in common, besides components type. Condottiere feels way more swingy and subject to luck.
Hey Zee did you play mostly 2 players ? 3 ? 4 ? Does it feels the same at every player count ? Hope I didn't just miss that part in the video.
This is one of those rare gems that both feels very different and works really well at each player count.
The 2-player game feels like a true battle-of-wits/tug-of-war.
The 3-player game feels more like playing chicken: you don't want to be playing too many cards too soon and run out of options by the end game, but you also don't want to wait too long or the remaining provinces on the board will be too few to manipulate in your favour. French invasions are more common and a strong threat option.
The 4-player game is a no-communication 2vs2 team game. If the game ends in coronation, you count your followers individually and you win if either you or your team mate wins. If there is an invasion, the teams pool their followers and count them together. This is one of my favourite team games, together with Concordia Venus, because you have to assess not only the other team, but your own team mate as well.
I'm surprised this wasn't mentioned in the video.
@@YoungWillem It's quite unique indeed. I haven't seen anything like it. Zee is right saying that the gameplay is subtle. Is it game of the year ? No. But it's one that I'll gladly keep in my collection. Guess it's quite easy to get on the table with new players too with so little rules...
Had spotted that game a while back but it was out of print. This reprint was such a great news for me :D
yessss love this game and love your reviews, zee!
"The scots, the british, and the welsh." Scots and Welsh are British.
North Americans are incredibly bad at knowing the difference between the definitions of the UK, British Isles, England, Scotland, Ireland, etc, etc, etc. I saw this because I see it all the time and I screw it up all the time myself :D
@@bored_pyro Yes, I live in Hawaii now, not exactly America, I find it funny and endearing. Trying to explain your from England but not London is tricky!
This has a bit of a Liberté feel to me. I think I'll pick it up for that same feel of a game that I can play with 2 or 3
All of a sudden everyone's taking about this, but I'd never heard of it during 2020. Might have just glanced past it due to the cover and look of the game, who knows?
Would these be a good beginner area control game Zee? Or is there a better one you'd prefer?
Would suggest El Grande as a start, instead of this since it is a bit more straight forward, yet offers genius gameplay mechanics.
what a great review, one of your very best
British and English are not synonymous. British typically includes Scottish, Welsh, and English. That aside, this game looks as though another geographical region/nation/set of nations would have suited the game better. Historically there was and has been a huge disparity in resources and power between the component nations of Great Britain. Perhaps some landed families in one country would've made more thematic sense.
It never states it is a historical simulation.
I find the original theme of Siam to be a bit better.
El Grande still the King.
love your review zee
Hi Zee, seems you don't have a clear verdict?
I have watched this video twice and cannot wrap my head around a strategy, nor do I fully grasp the game. Zee does well as always, I just feel like this game is a little convoluted.
The artwork from photos/video seems a bit too, ehm, artistic comparing to the 1st edition. Not sure if it's a good change actually tho it looks engaging at the same time.
I for one really like the art style, seems very authentic but also sleek enough to where its not going to age. Definitely the kind of game i would be proud to display on my shelves.
@@AltarenGalil yeah, I'm not saying it doesn't look cool. I'm just not sure it's good the the gaming process, maybe a clearer art distracts players less that's what I meant.
I like the cover art on this one. The board colours appear less practical than the first edition and may hide the cubes. And thematically the control disks could have had flag art to underline they represent a nation of people. I like the inclusion of the cunning actions as a game variant but agree with another poster here that this would make the game less unique; the limited and identical actions are what make the game tense.
@@stephengroves8189 the cover art is no doubt stunning.
Dude, just look at the board. Wales is red. Scotland is blue. England is Yellow. Or at least the main hunks of those countries are...
There is no way around saying this, but this game is bad. This is the type of game you play 3 times and then you stash it , but at least it looks nice on the shelf. It is a shelfable game.
I disagree with the utmost vehemence, sir.
@@DyrnwynAh it seems we are playing the classic game of Disagreeopoly! But fear not sir , differing opinions are the spice that make the game truly lively.
first
Did you get a medal?
No. He’s the new king.
@@peterkarlsson1825 btw i did