Ah so yeah that's why I mentioned this copy is a bit lacking in some things, like the 1.5 update. That being said, that's still an issue if the "updates" section of Apoc rules don't mention it, meaning I'd have to re-read the entire original campaign rulebook to play Apoc since the updates in the new book still doesn't mention it :(
Love the fair criticism and the enthusiasm was palpable!!! Thanks for the preview King. I got mine in recently but haven’t played yet. Not the all in but about 60% of the content.
I think that my biggest issue with this has been the cost. I backed at the $99 level and the 2 big boxes that arrived are mostly empty. For $168 after taxes I was expecting more than 4 new heroes and few dozen minis across 2 almost kallax sized boxes.
I backed this but held off on the huge horsemen minis, as much as I would enjoy painting them. I just couldn't imagine balancing them on the 3D terrain?
Just finished recording and posting my mahoosive Master All-In Pledge Unboxing!!! Phew 😅 Starting to organise - your tips most definitely welcome! (On the road right now but look forward to watching this vid tonight when I'm properly stopped)
I know there's more storage added and it's fairly open to condensing and is something I still need to do. That should help some! But I'm uncertain how to go about it.
I dropped out and refunded this just after the PM closed. it was costing near on a thousand pounds (UK) with shipping and VAT. I have never regretted it as it was just stupidly expensive for one game (plus enough expansions that most owners will never play) All that being said I’m pleased folks are happy with what they are getting. But for me it was the campaign that broke my need for mega expensive games. Is it really worth that much for a dungeon crawler? Even if it’s good. Not for me But that’s just me …. The. Game did me a huge favour and I’m thankful for that. My new year resolution is to stop backing games which require a Kallax each going forward. Although I have a fair few yet to arrive to facilitate a trip to ikea 😜
Does the game overstay its welcome? What I mean by that is, for example, Bardsung would make you traverse dungeons that looked and felt the same. (Not to mention forcing you to replay the same dungeons sometimes.) Did you ever feel like you were getting bored from things being the same? Also, is there a new rulebook to download or are we supposed to be reading both CoD and Apocalypse when playing only CoD (1st game)?
You play the original Campaign with the Corebox Rulebook. The Apocalypse rulebook contains some rule clarifications, some very minor changes to two rules aspects (minor actions and how cleanse can now also remove negative effects) that you can backport but don't have to and then some new rules and mechanics that do not apply to the corebox campaign at all because they are just not used there.
@@andreasgabel Ah. Thanks for explaining that. I am waiting for the Apocalypse stuff to deliver. I've played some of the original but stopped because I thought Apoc might change the original. Now I wish I had kept playing so I'd be ready for Apoc.
@@timf7354 No Apoc builds on top of the existing. And Awakenings, the Stretch Goals box that comes with Apoc essentially adds another small campaign that you can play where you start with heroes at level 0 just like in the corebox. For apocalypse you will start with prelevelled Heroes as instructed by the storybook. The actual improvement of the game came with the 1.5 version that was introduced by the gamefound campaign.
I have not. There's so much I have here that the variety is quite nice both narratively and mechanically. For the rulebook, you do need to read the 1.5 rulebook it seems (that's where CP is explained) as even though it's new from the 1.0, it's not listed under the updates in the Apoc rulebook so you'll miss stuff like I did if you don't read it.
I played all through the original. My criticisms. I'll admit the story was hard to follow with names and locations appearing without much depth on why. Gameplay was fun but as with most dungeon crawlers was more on the repetitive side in the late game. Especially with limited enemy selections. Choices were really fun but felt like the impact wasn't overall important and we missed items/story by not going down a certain path. That being said i still really enjoyed playing. But we breezed through it even with the difficulty cranked up to 11. The leveling up and upgrade choices were amazing. Best I've had in a board game. For apoc I'm excited still. I'm hoping the growth from story and choices will continue to increase as they said in their dev blogs. As a forever dm I am going to probably homebrew some things in to keep players interested and connect my players more.
If you felt that way about CoD proper then I think you are in for a treat with Apoc. I think I more or less align with you and Apoc really does improve on all the points you listed. Hope you love it!
I haven't gotten Drunagar to the table yet. A friend got deep into the first campaign but fell off when they got stuck on a part, hated that there was no fail forward to the campaign.
Oh I'd definitely pick this. Theme wise it's a lot different and it plays fundamentally different from the rest as well. It'd be a solid addition to that group.
Thanks for the review! Incredibly disappointed that your negatives were exactly what I found miserable about the first game, and it looks like they persisted (unnecessarily convoluted rules, weird narration). I really feel like CGS could use a talented tech writer or someone with actual writing experience.
Yeah. Not all of us are super experienced with boardgames, and the notion that I'm gonna have to put in many hours studying videos and combing through bgg forums is a little bit of a cold feel for me. Why the f-ck can't these designers understand that their sales will be better if people know the rulebook is squared away. It's so fundamental. But I know I'm crying into the wind. Things just don't seem to change. So I'm on the fence. Peace
Thanks a lot for the very in-depth review - as I'm about to get my game, I'm now very excited! One question for you: do you play the expansion with the same characters you played AoD through? Or do you create new characters with instant-levelling?
For Age of Apocalypse stuff like Awakenings is with new characters. Apoc you can eithe ruse new characters or better, use the ones you used in the original campaign :) The expansions for the original campaign all use the same characters.
Asked as someone who is getting everything this time around. In the reviews of the original, many mentioned that the expansions were included at specific points of the campaign, and that if you played them the main campaign became too easy. Is that still the case or have they done anything to fix that for the original campaign?
Despite the cons given, the pros weigh so much more for me. I'm still waiting on my shipping email. I can't wait to start with AoD and into Apocalypse.
Agreed. I think it's telling that the vast majority of my cons have to do with the meta around the game (being a sequel and 2nd campaign in the system and such) more than the actual gameplay itself.
I apologize for placing this comment in the wrong video. It’s a response I’ve been meaning to send you for some time. You have occasionally complained about games with very big rulebooks that you need to find space for on the table. Actually, you do not need to find room for them on the table. What you need, is a music stand. You don’t have to be a musician to own a music stand. they are excellent for holding a rulebook during a game, and you can stand them in any convenient place near the table -Toby
These are the type of games I like to play and also why I dont like those gaming tables. You lose so much table space for the outer raised frame for little gain in my opinion
I call these "lifestyle games". Games which if they were the only one in your collection they make sense and you can sink all your hobby time into the one game. My question is why do people need to have dozens or i know people with literally 50+ of these lifestyle games?
The easy answer? Because they want them and choose to spend their money on them. I'm not in the market for a game like this. And for some, collecting games is their hobby. So they do them.
Something like this is a big commitment, but still a drop in the bucket compared to something like Shadows of Brimstone, where the assembly/prep of the minis and organization of the components is in itself a lifestyle game hahaha
@@terrencemiltner1005I must have 50+ expansions to brimstone still sealed in box, and I’ve already unboxed at least that many. They got card packs, enemy upgrade packs, man, it’s the lifestyle game of all lifestyle games!
24:51 lemme introduce you to a little game called Shadows of Brimstone lol, where your character can have dozens of full size cards on the table at any given time 😀😀😀
LOL whoops! I even took a Tolkien class in college :) Misspoke is all, promise! Then again I'd need to read the series again to recall how it actually goes down. Movies changed a lot but usually for the better. Helm's Deep isn't just Gimli in the caves for instance haha.
What did you mention about no boardgame police!? haha jk Im not that kind of Officer! haha Ya on my "How to Play" video, I had to put this Large on the screen to emphasis that R=CP! because it is so confusing! R=CP is the E=MC2 equivilancy! hahaha
This is far too much. It will be exciting for a month but after a while will just be a drag and a burden. It is such a pain in the butt to set games up when they are like this
@@JR5745 They’ve got their HQ in Montana, but the developers are from Brazil if I’m not mistaken. I’ve got my own board game channel and have spoken with them extensively.
Gameplay wise I think literally everything is improved :D I believe it says a lot that almost all of my negatives are just negatives that tend to come super late into any sprawling campaign game.
All that mess in front of you is enough for me to say “no thx!!”. These games now are just too much. Games that some people, like myself, will never finish.
...about time? To break forth the rhythm and the rhyme? More seriously? That is a big pile of plastic and cardboard. That is just More Game I could ever see getting to the table, ever, anymore. I hope the game gives the buyers the game experience they want. It really is a lifestyle game like a CCG, minis game, or an RPG in that it will reward regular play so you aren't relearning the game every time you play. Thanks for sharing this beast of a game.
That's actually a great clarification - Being a non stand-alone sequel this is really only for people already quite invested or willing to invest in what the game is offering. That is certainly not for everyone.
That's too much. Ok, let's say you're a grown adult. I work and all my friends work full time, 2 have kids. We meet one or twice a month to play different games. How are people expected to finish that. Like, sure, it's ok for people in their 20 or youtubers, but for the people who can naturally afford its just not practical.
Long campaigns certainly depend on having the time for them surly. I just wanted to note real quick that I think your assumption that only young people and youtubers could play this is assuming a bit too much :) I played long games like this before I started UA-cam and still can outside of UA-cam because my family games so I have a built in gaming group. I know plenty of people that play with their spouse and kids and they are the ones typically getting through these long campaigns :D Also old retired folks :D
If I am in my 40s and meet with my main group once a week (I and another one of them have 2 kids) by your definition that means I should be starting a youtube channel soon, right? ;-)
awesome game! for me the biggest issue is the long campaign. just too long for my taste! make it just half as long and double the upgades, so its the same but much better! ;)
So much content but I'm guessing this is one of those dungeon crawlers with a long campaign that once you finish it you're done. That's why I can skip this and play Shadows of Brimstone happily over and over again.. ;)
CP is explained on page 42 of the main 1.5 rulebook.
"calculating commander's health"
Ah so yeah that's why I mentioned this copy is a bit lacking in some things, like the 1.5 update.
That being said, that's still an issue if the "updates" section of Apoc rules don't mention it, meaning I'd have to re-read the entire original campaign rulebook to play Apoc since the updates in the new book still doesn't mention it :(
Love the fair criticism and the enthusiasm was palpable!!! Thanks for the preview King. I got mine in recently but haven’t played yet. Not the all in but about 60% of the content.
60% is probably perfect TBH. It's still a lot of game - I hope you love it!
@@TheKingofAverage me too!
I think that my biggest issue with this has been the cost. I backed at the $99 level and the 2 big boxes that arrived are mostly empty. For $168 after taxes I was expecting more than 4 new heroes and few dozen minis across 2 almost kallax sized boxes.
A review like just demonstrates why you are my favorite person on UA-cam. Keep up the great content.
Thank you sir. Been a while since I did a review like this!
I backed this but held off on the huge horsemen minis, as much as I would enjoy painting them. I just couldn't imagine balancing them on the 3D terrain?
Your setup in the background is looking sharp!
Thank you sir!
Just finished recording and posting my mahoosive Master All-In Pledge Unboxing!!! Phew 😅
Starting to organise - your tips most definitely welcome!
(On the road right now but look forward to watching this vid tonight when I'm properly stopped)
I know there's more storage added and it's fairly open to condensing and is something I still need to do. That should help some! But I'm uncertain how to go about it.
I appreciate that you can be critical in a review like this regardless of your work with CGE.
I dropped out and refunded this just after the PM closed. it was costing near on a thousand pounds (UK) with shipping and VAT. I have never regretted it as it was just stupidly expensive for one game (plus enough expansions that most owners will never play)
All that being said I’m pleased folks are happy with what they are getting. But for me it was the campaign that broke my need for mega expensive games.
Is it really worth that much for a dungeon crawler? Even if it’s good. Not for me
But that’s just me …. The. Game did me a huge favour and I’m thankful for that.
My new year resolution is to stop backing games which require a Kallax each going forward. Although I have a fair few yet to arrive to facilitate a trip to ikea 😜
This campaign had the same effect on me, After VAT and shipping the cost get 33% higher, like the 33% of 400€...
+1 for mentioning the board game police!
For me, Drunagor has the best character action system in board gaming. I’ve never played a game that made me feel more like an MMO toon.
what's a "mmo toon"?
@@JasonRedeemedPossibly a MMO team?
Toon=character
And to further clarify, MMO = Massive Multiplayer Online - so something like World of Warcraft :)
@@TheKingofAverage yeah exactly. The Dwarf Warrior from the core set feels just like a Warrior in WoW.
I love this game, too. My GAME OF THE YEAR 2023!
It really is a lot of fun :D
CODA is one of the best dungeon crawl board games ever made! Period.
Does the game overstay its welcome? What I mean by that is, for example, Bardsung would make you traverse dungeons that looked and felt the same. (Not to mention forcing you to replay the same dungeons sometimes.) Did you ever feel like you were getting bored from things being the same?
Also, is there a new rulebook to download or are we supposed to be reading both CoD and Apocalypse when playing only CoD (1st game)?
You play the original Campaign with the Corebox Rulebook. The Apocalypse rulebook contains some rule clarifications, some very minor changes to two rules aspects (minor actions and how cleanse can now also remove negative effects) that you can backport but don't have to and then some new rules and mechanics that do not apply to the corebox campaign at all because they are just not used there.
@@andreasgabel Ah. Thanks for explaining that. I am waiting for the Apocalypse stuff to deliver. I've played some of the original but stopped because I thought Apoc might change the original. Now I wish I had kept playing so I'd be ready for Apoc.
@@timf7354 No Apoc builds on top of the existing. And Awakenings, the Stretch Goals box that comes with Apoc essentially adds another small campaign that you can play where you start with heroes at level 0 just like in the corebox. For apocalypse you will start with prelevelled Heroes as instructed by the storybook.
The actual improvement of the game came with the 1.5 version that was introduced by the gamefound campaign.
I have not. There's so much I have here that the variety is quite nice both narratively and mechanically.
For the rulebook, you do need to read the 1.5 rulebook it seems (that's where CP is explained) as even though it's new from the 1.0, it's not listed under the updates in the Apoc rulebook so you'll miss stuff like I did if you don't read it.
Just started the Awakenings campaign tonight. Finished the first campaign last year (and mostly really enjoyed it).
so which ones is better, Drunagor, Oathsworn or isofarion Guards
OMG, your table looks like my gaming storage unit but organized 😂
Hah! :D
I played all through the original.
My criticisms. I'll admit the story was hard to follow with names and locations appearing without much depth on why. Gameplay was fun but as with most dungeon crawlers was more on the repetitive side in the late game. Especially with limited enemy selections. Choices were really fun but felt like the impact wasn't overall important and we missed items/story by not going down a certain path. That being said i still really enjoyed playing. But we breezed through it even with the difficulty cranked up to 11.
The leveling up and upgrade choices were amazing. Best I've had in a board game.
For apoc I'm excited still. I'm hoping the growth from story and choices will continue to increase as they said in their dev blogs. As a forever dm I am going to probably homebrew some things in to keep players interested and connect my players more.
If you felt that way about CoD proper then I think you are in for a treat with Apoc. I think I more or less align with you and Apoc really does improve on all the points you listed. Hope you love it!
Wow... That's an awesome Review! Thanks for the presentation of Apocalypse, you are The King!
You are very welcome :)
I haven't gotten Drunagar to the table yet. A friend got deep into the first campaign but fell off when they got stuck on a part, hated that there was no fail forward to the campaign.
Ah that's a bummer. There are no board game police however so could always say you won and move on that way. :D
I have a chance to grab this game or Massive Darkness 2. Which would you choose? I already own tanares and CDMD and Marvel Zombies
Oh I'd definitely pick this. Theme wise it's a lot different and it plays fundamentally different from the rest as well. It'd be a solid addition to that group.
@@TheKingofAverage and so the hunt begins
Thanks for the review! Incredibly disappointed that your negatives were exactly what I found miserable about the first game, and it looks like they persisted (unnecessarily convoluted rules, weird narration). I really feel like CGS could use a talented tech writer or someone with actual writing experience.
Yeah. Not all of us are super experienced with boardgames, and the notion that I'm gonna have to put in many hours studying videos and combing through bgg forums is a little bit of a cold feel for me. Why the f-ck can't these designers understand that their sales will be better if people know the rulebook is squared away. It's so fundamental. But I know I'm crying into the wind. Things just don't seem to change. So I'm on the fence. Peace
Thanks for the review brother
Thanks a lot for the very in-depth review - as I'm about to get my game, I'm now very excited!
One question for you: do you play the expansion with the same characters you played AoD through? Or do you create new characters with instant-levelling?
For Age of Apocalypse stuff like Awakenings is with new characters. Apoc you can eithe ruse new characters or better, use the ones you used in the original campaign :) The expansions for the original campaign all use the same characters.
Asked as someone who is getting everything this time around. In the reviews of the original, many mentioned that the expansions were included at specific points of the campaign, and that if you played them the main campaign became too easy. Is that still the case or have they done anything to fix that for the original campaign?
Blows my mind how these game designers tend to not understand that some of us want a decent, straightforward rulebook.
Funny enough, I always start my review writing while reading the rulebook. Quite often I have a few notes already haha
I really look forward to playing this game.
Despite the cons given, the pros weigh so much more for me. I'm still waiting on my shipping email. I can't wait to start with AoD and into Apocalypse.
Agreed. I think it's telling that the vast majority of my cons have to do with the meta around the game (being a sequel and 2nd campaign in the system and such) more than the actual gameplay itself.
I apologize for placing this comment in the wrong video. It’s a response I’ve been meaning to send you for some time. You have occasionally complained about games with very big rulebooks that you need to find space for on the table. Actually, you do not need to find room for them on the table. What you need, is a music stand. You don’t have to be a musician to own a music stand. they are excellent for holding a rulebook during a game, and you can stand them in any convenient place near the table -Toby
that's actually not a bad idea at all! Guess it's time to look into that :D or an attachment to the table
These are the type of games I like to play and also why I dont like those gaming tables. You lose so much table space for the outer raised frame for little gain in my opinion
I call these "lifestyle games". Games which if they were the only one in your collection they make sense and you can sink all your hobby time into the one game.
My question is why do people need to have dozens or i know people with literally 50+ of these lifestyle games?
The easy answer? Because they want them and choose to spend their money on them. I'm not in the market for a game like this. And for some, collecting games is their hobby. So they do them.
Something like this is a big commitment, but still a drop in the bucket compared to something like Shadows of Brimstone, where the assembly/prep of the minis and organization of the components is in itself a lifestyle game hahaha
I play Blood Bowl and other minis games, so I hear what you are saying
@@terrencemiltner1005I must have 50+ expansions to brimstone still sealed in box, and I’ve already unboxed at least that many. They got card packs, enemy upgrade packs, man, it’s the lifestyle game of all lifestyle games!
Glad to hear you are getting some of the content played and have plenty to get played eventually
24:51 lemme introduce you to a little game called Shadows of Brimstone lol, where your character can have dozens of full size cards on the table at any given time 😀😀😀
SoD man... I want to love it but then it has me roll dice to simulate the physics of a thrown object and how it bounces and I lose my mind :D
@@TheKingofAverage 😜 and it’s a hell of a table hog!
Most importantly the game is a lot of fun. I'm very happy with the abundance of everything.
Well... actually it was not Helm's Deep - it was in the mines of Moria. For sure someone else pointed this out but this rang huge nerd alert ;-)
LOL whoops! I even took a Tolkien class in college :) Misspoke is all, promise!
Then again I'd need to read the series again to recall how it actually goes down. Movies changed a lot but usually for the better. Helm's Deep isn't just Gimli in the caves for instance haha.
What did you mention about no boardgame police!? haha jk Im not that kind of Officer! haha
Ya on my "How to Play" video, I had to put this Large on the screen to emphasis that R=CP! because it is so confusing! R=CP is the E=MC2 equivilancy! hahaha
Hah! :D
R = CP = 3 + (2X + P) unless it equals something else :P
It's just basic math! :P
@@TheKingofAverage haha right!? I do love this game, one of my favorites for sure, but it is not without its faults! Haha
This is far too much. It will be exciting for a month but after a while will just be a drag and a burden. It is such a pain in the butt to set games up when they are like this
I'm curious to see a nova aetas renaissance review
Thank u for the video
You are very welcome :)
No. It's not coming. You're messing with me.
So much stuff, I feel tired already just by thinking about setting it up or putting it away.
Dang, what does CP - R mean again? 😅
40:11 I don’t think CGS are native English speakers; I wonder if that contributes to this issue?
They are based in the U.S .
@@JR5745 They’ve got their HQ in Montana, but the developers are from Brazil if I’m not mistaken. I’ve got my own board game channel and have spoken with them extensively.
Yeah not being native english speakers and most parts of the game being developed in portuguese and then translated is definitely adding some issues.
@@andreasgabel it’s all good, still an incredible game
CoD doesn't take any table space, that is all FAKE NEWS! Jokes a side, we appreciate the feedback, the video and we are listening to improve, always!
Gameplay wise I think literally everything is improved :D I believe it says a lot that almost all of my negatives are just negatives that tend to come super late into any sprawling campaign game.
@@TheKingofAverage That is great new for us and the community!
Big question. Is this game harder then the original.
The original was incredibly easy.
All that mess in front of you is enough for me to say “no thx!!”.
These games now are just too much. Games that some people, like myself, will never finish.
Too much stuff. That's crazy. Storage of this must be insane.
It's a couple shelves for sure :D
...about time? To break forth the rhythm and the rhyme?
More seriously? That is a big pile of plastic and cardboard. That is just More Game I could ever see getting to the table, ever, anymore. I hope the game gives the buyers the game experience they want. It really is a lifestyle game like a CCG, minis game, or an RPG in that it will reward regular play so you aren't relearning the game every time you play. Thanks for sharing this beast of a game.
That's actually a great clarification - Being a non stand-alone sequel this is really only for people already quite invested or willing to invest in what the game is offering. That is certainly not for everyone.
That's too much. Ok, let's say you're a grown adult. I work and all my friends work full time, 2 have kids. We meet one or twice a month to play different games. How are people expected to finish that. Like, sure, it's ok for people in their 20 or youtubers, but for the people who can naturally afford its just not practical.
Long campaigns certainly depend on having the time for them surly. I just wanted to note real quick that I think your assumption that only young people and youtubers could play this is assuming a bit too much :) I played long games like this before I started UA-cam and still can outside of UA-cam because my family games so I have a built in gaming group. I know plenty of people that play with their spouse and kids and they are the ones typically getting through these long campaigns :D Also old retired folks :D
If I am in my 40s and meet with my main group once a week (I and another one of them have 2 kids) by your definition that means I should be starting a youtube channel soon, right? ;-)
I’m 50 years old and we play with me wife and son…It’s an excellent family activity. We are really excited with CoD..
awesome game! for me the biggest issue is the long campaign. just too long for my taste! make it just half as long and double the upgades, so its the same but much better! ;)
So much content but I'm guessing this is one of those dungeon crawlers with a long campaign that once you finish it you're done. That's why I can skip this and play Shadows of Brimstone happily over and over again.. ;)
Out of Drunagor since I got the original Beta version... 🤷 Can't stand it to get a game that constantly has to fix the basic rules.
WORD