i got as far as page 137 and had to run to UA-cam for help. The book definitely puts the cart before the horse in MANY instances. I'm glad to hear it all gets explained later on. I absolutely love the setting. I've never seen an RPG with such a setting before.
We're playing this game now, and I gotta say, this is one of the most satisfying RPGs Ive ever played. We all had experience from playing Scum & Villainy first, so we were primed for the system. We had a few frustrations with the writing, finding specific information. The most engaging part of this game to me is creating a cast of characters in Rookies & Soldier. Every week, half the group gets a chance to play a one-off character. Playing someone you're not committed to longterm has meant that we're taking more risks with the Rookies which as ended in some really epic performances and memorable characters we can't wait to see again.
I am currently trying to read this book and find it absolutely maddening the way it halfway explains everything, only to explain it the rest of the way hundreds of pages later. No idea why you would write a book this way. Cool concept mostly cribbed from the Glenn Cook Black Company books so I will keep slogging through but I have a feeling I may use the general idea of the thing but just run it with a more comprehendable system like Black Hack or Savage Worlds.
Yeah, organization of info is a major issue here. Also redundancy. I’d rather the rules and concepts all be told in one spot instead of 1.5 spots in two different places. Making big, complex RPGs is not easy, though.
About being the first-of a three-part epic story, Stras talked about two other campaign which will continue the story; it seems they've already designed two more Chosen and Broken (which will be retroactive, so that you can so that you can theoretically play the first Campaign with them), and they are thinking to introduce Mercies and Alchemists as playable characters. I love Forged in the Dark games, so I can't wait these campaigns to be available!
@@DaveThaumavore To be honest, I wasn't sure about writing his surname out of memory without mistakes, so I used his first name as a failsafe. But yes, looking at how active he's on the Blades in the Dark Community, often answering questions and giving helps, he seems quite friendly
I don't usually comment on stuff but I'm always so excited when you upload. I'm a system nerd and I love seeing what else is out there, and I get that discovery every time you upload. just wanted to say thanks and to keep doing what you do, at the very least you know that I'll be watching. speaking of neat system discoveries, I recently read through golden sky stories and its expansion twilight tales, it's interesting to see a diceless wholesome system from japan, maybe you'll find it neat. carry on and love the stuff
Love your channel! Think I've gone through all your reviews by this point and your concisely structured way of breaking down the aspects of a system, is a pleasure to listen to. Keep up the good work! :)
Great review. Thanks for giving your opinion in addition to a general overview. I'm a fan of BITD, but when I paged through Band of Blades at my local store I was turned off by the amount of content and the fact that it's a linear experience. I'll probably pick up the PDF now and give it a second chance.
Incomplete story is defiantly a pro. Once you play through and have a solid hold of the rules and setting, GMs can craft the second and third "novels" of a trilogy, or adapt it for ongoing campaign.
Glad I stumbled upon your channel. Its really exposed me to systems outside of the big names. If you take suggestions, AMP may be good. Its x-men with people just trying to live with the survivability of Cyberpunk of Call of Cuthullu
I'm running a Torchbearer game with a villain very similar to the Cinder King located in the Dry Lands (basically the afterlife). I'm tempted to try and hack this to be a successor campaign, where they actually fight their way through the land of the dead.
This sounds really cool, as do every forged in the dark game, but it always seems like the second the game starts to sound complete, they add another mechanic, and then another, and then another. Seems like a lot to keep track of. I think I would really enjoy playing this game if it was run by an experienced GM, but I doubt I'd enjoy running it.
Out of pure curiosity. Is there a game where you control factions? Empires, kingdoms and such. Or at least a multiple games other than Legacy life among ruins?
Ah yes, the "I can't believe it's not the 'Myth: The Fallen Lords'/'Myth 2: Soul-Blighter' RPG" game 😅 But seriously, I was strongly considering combining this with some of the material from the official "Myth" supplement for GURPS to do an over arching campaign, but I could never get it organised... the dream lives on, of course 😉 As of the review - very concise yet comprehensive; well done! 👍
I very much enjoyed this review. One potential problem or complaint I see from players is the railroad nature of the adventure. In your review, did you get to sit down with a few people and playout a few session and is it as railroad as presented? Also, your background music. What is it? It's great.
Near the beginning of the book there is a small section called touchstones where the creators listed Books, film, TV, and music to draw inspiration from. Game of thrones and The Black Company series are both listed along with stuff like Battle Star Galactica and the anime Full Metal Alchemist.
my group reskinned it into the GW 40K universe as a guard unit fighting off Nurgle cultists. worked very well.
Great idea
i got as far as page 137 and had to run to UA-cam for help. The book definitely puts the cart before the horse in MANY instances. I'm glad to hear it all gets explained later on. I absolutely love the setting. I've never seen an RPG with such a setting before.
We're playing this game now, and I gotta say, this is one of the most satisfying RPGs Ive ever played. We all had experience from playing Scum & Villainy first, so we were primed for the system. We had a few frustrations with the writing, finding specific information.
The most engaging part of this game to me is creating a cast of characters in Rookies & Soldier. Every week, half the group gets a chance to play a one-off character. Playing someone you're not committed to longterm has meant that we're taking more risks with the Rookies which as ended in some really epic performances and memorable characters we can't wait to see again.
Ah that's a really cool feature, the increased risk-taking. I hadn't thought of that.
Your production value is extremely high, love your reviews, you really deserve more subscribers. Keep the good work man!
I am currently trying to read this book and find it absolutely maddening the way it halfway explains everything, only to explain it the rest of the way hundreds of pages later. No idea why you would write a book this way. Cool concept mostly cribbed from the Glenn Cook Black Company books so I will keep slogging through but I have a feeling I may use the general idea of the thing but just run it with a more comprehendable system like Black Hack or Savage Worlds.
Yeah, organization of info is a major issue here. Also redundancy. I’d rather the rules and concepts all be told in one spot instead of 1.5 spots in two different places.
Making big, complex RPGs is not easy, though.
About being the first-of a three-part epic story, Stras talked about two other campaign which will continue the story; it seems they've already designed two more Chosen and Broken (which will be retroactive, so that you can so that you can theoretically play the first Campaign with them), and they are thinking to introduce Mercies and Alchemists as playable characters. I love Forged in the Dark games, so I can't wait these campaigns to be available!
Stras must be a very approachable, friendly, available person because everyone’s on a first-name basis with the guy!
@@DaveThaumavore To be honest, I wasn't sure about writing his surname out of memory without mistakes, so I used his first name as a failsafe. But yes, looking at how active he's on the Blades in the Dark Community, often answering questions and giving helps, he seems quite friendly
Feels like a great way to play through an experience like The Chain of Dogs in the Malazan series.
It reminds me a lot of The Banner Saga in terms of theme and campaign progression.
I don't usually comment on stuff but I'm always so excited when you upload. I'm a system nerd and I love seeing what else is out there, and I get that discovery every time you upload. just wanted to say thanks and to keep doing what you do, at the very least you know that I'll be watching.
speaking of neat system discoveries, I recently read through golden sky stories and its expansion twilight tales, it's interesting to see a diceless wholesome system from japan, maybe you'll find it neat. carry on and love the stuff
Thanks for the encouragement. I’ll check out Golden Sky Stories!
Love your channel! Think I've gone through all your reviews by this point and your concisely structured way of breaking down the aspects of a system, is a pleasure to listen to. Keep up the good work! :)
Wow, that's a very interesting game. Great review as always.
This was super helpful, thanks for the review!
Great review. Thanks for giving your opinion in addition to a general overview. I'm a fan of BITD, but when I paged through Band of Blades at my local store I was turned off by the amount of content and the fact that it's a linear experience. I'll probably pick up the PDF now and give it a second chance.
Incomplete story is defiantly a pro. Once you play through and have a solid hold of the rules and setting, GMs can craft the second and third "novels" of a trilogy, or adapt it for ongoing campaign.
Glad I stumbled upon your channel. Its really exposed me to systems outside of the big names. If you take suggestions, AMP may be good. Its x-men with people just trying to live with the survivability of Cyberpunk of Call of Cuthullu
Awesome review!
I'm running a Torchbearer game with a villain very similar to the Cinder King located in the Dry Lands (basically the afterlife). I'm tempted to try and hack this to be a successor campaign, where they actually fight their way through the land of the dead.
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This sounds really cool, as do every forged in the dark game, but it always seems like the second the game starts to sound complete, they add another mechanic, and then another, and then another. Seems like a lot to keep track of. I think I would really enjoy playing this game if it was run by an experienced GM, but I doubt I'd enjoy running it.
Out of pure curiosity. Is there a game where you control factions? Empires, kingdoms and such. Or at least a multiple games other than Legacy life among ruins?
Another awesome video, Dave! You are an RPG reviewing commander - thanks for doing the heavy lifting, I know it was a big book-lol
Yeah, it was one of those door stoppers. lol. Next review will be a zine!
i started playing it and we have free play its great to know other player and backstory or iether have a bunch of enemies
Ah yes, the "I can't believe it's not the 'Myth: The Fallen Lords'/'Myth 2: Soul-Blighter' RPG" game 😅 But seriously, I was strongly considering combining this with some of the material from the official "Myth" supplement for GURPS to do an over arching campaign, but I could never get it organised... the dream lives on, of course 😉
As of the review - very concise yet comprehensive; well done! 👍
I feel it's playing X-Com 2 in Myth/Black Company books setting :P.
Thanks for the video. Would you say it is possible (and have good moments) playing it solo?
Really good. Nice one.
8:50 you should read The Black Company by Glen Cook, definitely inspired a lot of this game
I very much enjoyed this review. One potential problem or complaint I see from players is the railroad nature of the adventure. In your review, did you get to sit down with a few people and playout a few session and is it as railroad as presented?
Also, your background music. What is it? It's great.
Love Band of Blades it would be great to pick up an extension
Thats Like the Black Company novels
Best game to try if you want to have your table try something that ISNT another dungeon crawler
Was this inspired by "Myth: The Fallen" by chance?
@@DaveThaumavore Or you could ask Acimovic and LeBoeuf-Little.
Nice
This sounds neat, but I have to admit that at this point "undead horde" is a big turn off.
Game of thrones?
Near the beginning of the book there is a small section called touchstones where the creators listed Books, film, TV, and music to draw inspiration from. Game of thrones and The Black Company series are both listed along with stuff like Battle Star Galactica and the anime Full Metal Alchemist.