Atiwa: you can have more than 8 cards! But I think you’re right; it seems it will get repetitive. I have done well with few families. You can get a lot of bats with empty houses
You're right! I guess I saw the example in the rulebook showing 2 rows with 4 slots each and I wrongly assumed it was an 8-card limit. Thanks for clarifying!
Congratulations, Carlo! 🎉 I've only played Earth but I didn't find the decisions to be very interesting as it felt like every option gave me loads of points. I really wanted to like it though!
Thank you very much! And yeah, even since filming this my enjoyment of Earth has dipped a bit. It's fine and I still classify it as a "Play It", but that addictive feeling I had to play it again has already faded. - Carlo
Yup, it’s a great idea. We’ve discussed that internally, just haven’t had a chance to make something of a template and stick to it but we will! Thanks for the reminder. ☺️
Earth was my favourite game of 2023. It's just as good solo as it is multiplayer. Yes, the blue and yellow options are generally used less, but they often become essential towards the end of the game. I love the balance of it all.
Congrats Carlo!!! I was interested in wizards of grimore when it was first crowdfunded, but there are just so many great 2p games with only so many chances to play, Caesar! Radlands, battleline, res Arcana, summoner wars, etc. it was hard to justify grabbing another.
Thanks! And yeah, that's exactly it... too much competition in a crowded space. Solid game though, worth trying at least once just to see what it does differently, if nothing else. - Carlo
Had the chance to hangout with these guys at a local boardgame convention this weekend. They were really nice and easy to talk too, but, they suck at Classic Art.
Summarized my thoughts on Atiwa as well. It's a fine game but that's a low bar for Uwe games...I’ve played 8-9 of his big box games and it’s basically the last (or second-to-last) one I’d personally choose to play. Might be a decent one to introduce people to his style of games though? I also found it doesn't seem to have a lot of variability and feels almost too balanced. Also one of the few times I’ve played an Uwe game and felt like it was begging for an expansion or something to make the worker spots more varied and interesting, even something such as having more variety and fluidity with the round markers (the ones that modify the worker spots each round) which I thought was a cool idea but underutilized. Or more variety in the tile cards, or a modification to scoring, etc. It feels like it just needed something, as if it was 90% there. I do really like the strat to try to get as many bats as possible with a relatively small family though by aggressively taking any bat/abandoned house tiles that come out and using that one spot which lets you put a bat in any home that can accommodate it. It's a change of pace from the "max family size" strat.
Good points all around, and I agree, although I'll admit I didn't think straying from a big family size was a viable option, thanks for pointing that out! - Carlo
I think it's definitely going to be a preference thing! Some people will prefer the gameplay loop of Earth, some Ark Nova, some Terraforming Mars. They're all great games, imo. -Dylann
i know earth is popular, and a lot of my buddies love it, but it didnt click for me. i dont know why specifically. just felt like i was doing different things for one point each, but it all felt samey. dont know if that makes sense. lol also congrats on the second baby :)
I definitely felt that way at the start but something about it has become very addicting and I'm really enjoying the puzzle of trying to figure out the best way to earn points each game. -Dylann
Wonderful news, Carlo! We are expecting our first in 6 weeks, all around very exciting! I backed the latest kickstarter for Wizards of the Grimoire. I'm a sucker for 2 player card battle games. Dan at Chairman of the Board gave it high marks; it is one I have been interested in since hearing his takes on it. I have Atiwa on my shelf of shame. I'm looking forward to playing it, but I have heard similar misgivings on its longevity.. Great to see y'all!
Eesh… a smidge harsh on After Us. It’s been a great bang for our buck. The components are nice, up to 6 can simultaneously play, and the insert actually functions. Not a lot of interaction, but you do have to pay attention to your opponents before they get too far ahead. All in all, it’s a fun filler game with light mechanics.
I'm surprised we came across as harsh, as I thought we were very respectful and fair about the game. I mean, a lot of games COULD go up to 6 players, but when everyone is silently doing their own thing I'm more likely to play those kinds of games in smaller groups. If I have 5 or 6 people around the table, generally we want to be interacting more than something like After Us allows. Like we said - it's not a bad game at all, but it definitely fell flat for us and just felt a bit dull, whether playing in person or online. Thanks for watching! - Carlo
Aside of Atiwa i played them all on BGA, then i got a copy of earth because i really liked it. I find After us very repetitive, there is no meaning to what you do in the game, i lost interest very fast. I think i don't really like 2 player battle card games, i tried a bunch and it fell flat for me (radland, gosu x, hero realms etc..). Interesting reviews !
I loved earth but nobody wants to play it with me, solo just like Terraforming Mars is just a race which only goes that far. Didnt like Atiwa so both left the collection. So play for earth and skip on Atiwa
How would you rate these games? What games would you like to see us cover on OPS in the future?
Atiwa: you can have more than 8 cards!
But I think you’re right; it seems it will get repetitive. I have done well with few families. You can get a lot of bats with empty houses
You're right! I guess I saw the example in the rulebook showing 2 rows with 4 slots each and I wrongly assumed it was an 8-card limit. Thanks for clarifying!
Great reviews, guys. Very helpful.
Thanks for reviewing Earth, glad you like it!
Enjoying it so much!
Congratulations, Carlo! 🎉 I've only played Earth but I didn't find the decisions to be very interesting as it felt like every option gave me loads of points. I really wanted to like it though!
Thank you very much! And yeah, even since filming this my enjoyment of Earth has dipped a bit. It's fine and I still classify it as a "Play It", but that addictive feeling I had to play it again has already faded.
- Carlo
Congrats Carlo! 🎉 Could you please put some kind of super on screen in front of each of you noting what you decided on O, P, or S.
Yup, it’s a great idea. We’ve discussed that internally, just haven’t had a chance to make something of a template and stick to it but we will! Thanks for the reminder. ☺️
Earth was my favourite game of 2023.
It's just as good solo as it is multiplayer.
Yes, the blue and yellow options are generally used less, but they often become essential towards the end of the game.
I love the balance of it all.
You're certainly not alone there! I know it was really popular and the #1 game of 2023 for a lot of people.
Woowhoo! Congrats, Carlo. That's awesome.
Also good video.
Congrats Carlo!!!
I was interested in wizards of grimore when it was first crowdfunded, but there are just so many great 2p games with only so many chances to play, Caesar! Radlands, battleline, res Arcana, summoner wars, etc. it was hard to justify grabbing another.
Thanks! And yeah, that's exactly it... too much competition in a crowded space. Solid game though, worth trying at least once just to see what it does differently, if nothing else.
- Carlo
Congratulations, Carlos!!!! And great video guys!
Had the chance to hangout with these guys at a local boardgame convention this weekend. They were really nice and easy to talk too, but, they suck at Classic Art.
You're just mad because you missed out on Taquitos.
@@AllYouCanBoard :#
Summarized my thoughts on Atiwa as well. It's a fine game but that's a low bar for Uwe games...I’ve played 8-9 of his big box games and it’s basically the last (or second-to-last) one I’d personally choose to play. Might be a decent one to introduce people to his style of games though?
I also found it doesn't seem to have a lot of variability and feels almost too balanced. Also one of the few times I’ve played an Uwe game and felt like it was begging for an expansion or something to make the worker spots more varied and interesting, even something such as having more variety and fluidity with the round markers (the ones that modify the worker spots each round) which I thought was a cool idea but underutilized. Or more variety in the tile cards, or a modification to scoring, etc. It feels like it just needed something, as if it was 90% there. I do really like the strat to try to get as many bats as possible with a relatively small family though by aggressively taking any bat/abandoned house tiles that come out and using that one spot which lets you put a bat in any home that can accommodate it. It's a change of pace from the "max family size" strat.
Good points all around, and I agree, although I'll admit I didn't think straying from a big family size was a viable option, thanks for pointing that out!
- Carlo
I just realized I misplayed After Us.. I thought the token determined which monkey card you had to buy!
I think it does! I need to review the rules, because we play that it’s the monkey you get, as well.
Good to see you back. A HUGE congrats on the impending addition to your family, Carlo!
Thank you!
Enjoyed playing Earth, but it's definitely not an own it for me. I preferred Ark Nova, which is also not really an own it for me, but is much closer.
I think it's definitely going to be a preference thing! Some people will prefer the gameplay loop of Earth, some Ark Nova, some Terraforming Mars. They're all great games, imo.
-Dylann
i know earth is popular, and a lot of my buddies love it, but it didnt click for me. i dont know why specifically. just felt like i was doing different things for one point each, but it all felt samey. dont know if that makes sense. lol
also congrats on the second baby :)
I definitely felt that way at the start but something about it has become very addicting and I'm really enjoying the puzzle of trying to figure out the best way to earn points each game.
-Dylann
Wonderful news, Carlo! We are expecting our first in 6 weeks, all around very exciting!
I backed the latest kickstarter for Wizards of the Grimoire. I'm a sucker for 2 player card battle games. Dan at Chairman of the Board gave it high marks; it is one I have been interested in since hearing his takes on it. I have Atiwa on my shelf of shame. I'm looking forward to playing it, but I have heard similar misgivings on its longevity..
Great to see y'all!
Carlo! Four average games, one good reviewer.
How does Wizards of the Grimmoire compare to something like Mage Wars?
Not sure, none of us have tried Mage Wars. Sorry!
Eesh… a smidge harsh on After Us. It’s been a great bang for our buck. The components are nice, up to 6 can simultaneously play, and the insert actually functions. Not a lot of interaction, but you do have to pay attention to your opponents before they get too far ahead. All in all, it’s a fun filler game with light mechanics.
I'm surprised we came across as harsh, as I thought we were very respectful and fair about the game. I mean, a lot of games COULD go up to 6 players, but when everyone is silently doing their own thing I'm more likely to play those kinds of games in smaller groups. If I have 5 or 6 people around the table, generally we want to be interacting more than something like After Us allows.
Like we said - it's not a bad game at all, but it definitely fell flat for us and just felt a bit dull, whether playing in person or online. Thanks for watching!
- Carlo
You gotta wear the puffy shirt
BUT I DON'T WANNA BE A PIRATE
Aside of Atiwa i played them all on BGA, then i got a copy of earth because i really liked it. I find After us very repetitive, there is no meaning to what you do in the game, i lost interest very fast. I think i don't really like 2 player battle card games, i tried a bunch and it fell flat for me (radland, gosu x, hero realms etc..). Interesting reviews !
I loved earth but nobody wants to play it with me, solo just like Terraforming Mars is just a race which only goes that far. Didnt like Atiwa so both left the collection. So play for earth and skip on Atiwa