Scythe - Why Own It? Mechanics & Theme Board Game Review (feat. Amy's painted miniatures!)
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- Опубліковано 31 лип 2024
- Fight, and then farm! Defend, and push those cubes around! Steal, and try to be nice to make your love hearts soar up the popularity track! Welcome to the wonderful alternative reality of 1920+ Scythe, a place where things are not as they seem - like seeing your straightlaced uncle in combat gear. This game is one of contrasts, a landscape of many angles and one where beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Join us to hear our very different opinions on this Stonemaier classic.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
02:26 Components & Painting
05:00 Theme overview (Themer)
06:10 Mechanics overview (Thinker)
12:18 Themer thoughts
18:08 Thinker thoughts
22:24 Why own it?
Scythe
Designer: Jamey Stegmaier
Artist: Jakub Rozalski
Publisher: Stonemaier Games
Players: 1-5
Play time: 90-115min
For more game info: boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1...
Thanks for stopping by for our mechanics & theme board game review of Scythe. We're Amy & Maggie aka ThinkerThemer. We're an Australian couple with two very different perspectives of what makes a great board game - Amy (Thinker) is all about the mechanics and enjoys tight, competitive games, and Maggie (Themer) is all about the storytelling and the theme of the game, and the 'world' that the designer is trying to create. Subscribe to our channel to hear us talk about these two elements of a game, and how well integrated we feel these are in delivering a cohesive and wonderful game experience.
Are you #teamthinker or #teamthemer? ❤🏳️🌈🇦🇺
Luke on Twitter mentioned that Amy had a question about whether expansions increase player interaction. I designed The Wind Gambit expansion with Kai and the modular board partially for that purpose. In the core game, the board is designed so you *can* interact with opponents (even at lower player counts) as much as you'd like, as you can use tunnels to jump across the board. But if you're having fun simply building your engine, the game doesn't require you to have conflicts with your opponent(s). The same philosophy carries over to the expansions, but the Wind Gambit adds a new unit type that makes it much easier to reach your opponent (without ruining their plans) and the modular board creates a much smaller map for 2 players.
Thank you for the info!
Thank you so much Jamey for taking the time to answer my question (and Luke for passing it on!) This sounds super interesting and we will definitely be checking out the expansions including the Wind Gambit. I've pinned this comment so anyone else can find this easily.
Yes thanks Jamey, this was my exact question after playing this week. I’m going to look into those as well. Especially the modular board for the 2 player aspect. Great job @@ThinkerThemer as always!
I would also add that the much-praised Rise of Fenris expansion has multiple new ways to increase interaction. My friends, who like area control and light war games the most, found this expansion crucial for them to enjoy Scythe long-term!
Umm...can you two start a podcast please??? lol. I can listen to you both all day.
Awww 🥰 are you sure about that? The Australian accent isn't exactly soothing 😂 New plan... how about you guys move to Australia and we'll be besties? Cool? Great, see you soon 🇦🇺🦘😁
@@ThinkerThemer Packing my bags now!
One of the best up and coming channel for board game content. Love it!
Awww! Thank you, that is so kind of you to say and we very much appreciate it! 🥰
Love how you painted the robot miniatures!
Thank you!! ☺
ahh i'm so glad i found your channel! i love how you communicate with each other and your audience and love the way you talk and think about games and gameplay. thanks for your videos!
This is a rarity for me in that I've been seesawing on it for so long, I honestly don't know how much I will like it. Usually I know pretty quickly from reviews/overviews whether or not I think I'll enjoy a game, but with Scythe I first saw it (wow! yes please!), then found out the presentation was misleading (not dudes on a map/area control, booo), then saw the euro engine-building aspect (oooh cool), then heard about the "multiplayer solo" feeling (ehhhh). So this is one game that I'll genuinely have to play it at least twice to figure out where I land.
I have to say, though, using the tokens and painted minis that you guys have would make the experience SO much more satisfying! Your painting skills are really good, Amy!
Thank you for the kind words!! Painting is a new lockdown hobby that will stick because it is just soooo relaxing.
We were the same way with Scythe. And we're a bit divided on our opinion as you wouldve seen - simply because Maggie likes multiplayer solo whereas I prefer more interaction. It's a tricky one because it sits in an interesting hybrid space... 🤔
This review really brings home how much I appreciate your honesty and perspectives with your reviews. Going through the older videos I've missed I'm so impressed how good at being reviewers and communicators you both got so quickly! This is from what about, halfway in the channel's existence?
I'm also not big on multiplayer solitaire so I was a bit lukewarm on this but I still need to play this with real people! I've only played on the Steam version and I though it was good but not great. It gets so much love, I appreciate what it does, and really respect and enjoy Jamey's designs so I think I'm missing something by only playing the digital version! I also appreciate that he took the time to answer your question, it will really help inform me for the future when I have the opportunity to play in person if that expansion is an option.
I'm new to your channel, and I just coincidentally acquired Scythe a few weeks ago. I have really enjoyed getting to know the game both Solo and Multiplayer. First learned using Solo mode, then taught it to my son and his best friend. (I gather this is a preferred method of yours as well, Maggie!) We all love the game, and I look forward to getting to know the various factions more deeply--and eventually to dive into expansions as well. I have to say, this dystopian future theme with Eurogame mechanics is right up my alley (I also acquired Anachrony a few months ago and have come to love that as well...). I like in particular that I am in the same discovery phase for this game as you were when you posted this video. Thanks to you both for your really interesting perspectives--helping me see different aspects of the gaming experience with Scythe and how they compare to my own and my son's. Really loving your videos--thank you!
Hi Timothy! Very glad to have you here and thanks for also checking out this video on Scythe! Glad to hear that it is a favourite in your household and that you can enjoy it with your son. We also own Anachrony, but neither game has a theme that we thought we'd get into yet both have found a home in our collection. Since making this video we've played Scythe more and with different types of players and it has grown on me even more (Amy) - it really is a pleasure to teach and I love seeing how everyone chooses a different strategy to pursue. Thanks for watching and look forward to hearing your thoughts on more games in your collection. :)
Maggie, you sold me on this one! I feel like everything you said about why you weren't interested is exactly how I feel. BUT as a solo gamer and someone who doesn't like conflict (and loves Jamey's other games) I'm really happy to hear your thoughts on this and it seems like we have very similar tastes in games! Thanks for the video!
Thanks for taking the time to comment Sarah! I read this to Maggie and it made her super happy to hear you could relate. She was just saying today that she is looking forward to getting this back to the table. Thanks again! ☺
In our group the potential of conflict made it feel interactive and tense. Loved that. I also love your videos, and look forward to each new one 😊
Thanks so much Lars! Really lovely feedback. I'm glad that you and your game group love this one! ☺
Really good video! It would be great if you made a video about how to paint the miniatures as you did.
Thanks Anna! Appreciate the feedback and I'll start putting together a short video about painting ☺
Great stream. Love Stonemier Games, Scythe being one of my favorites. Amazing miniature paintings. Keep up the awesome job
Thanks so much Rory! They were so fun to paint. Looking forward to more SM games this year! Thanks for taking the time to comment. ☺
Another great review! Well I should admit, I'm only partially through but I wanted to jump and say YES please do a painting tutorial for this! I have paint, I have this game newly acquired and I've never painted a thing! Lol i know the basics from videos but some tips would be soooooo helpful. Looking forward to finishing this video as Scythe has quickly become a favorite around here, we're on mission 6 of the Fenris campaign, having got through the first 5 games in 2 days lol.. we're hooked.. but those beautiful minis need some love. 😊
Thanks Ken! Thanks for commenting about the painting... we might pull together a short video about this in that case. The mechs are an easy place to start painting and then you'll be hooked on that too so we'll have even more to talk about....😁😁😁 we need to check out Fenris! Thanks for commenting as always. ☺
Completely agree with you Thinker (Amy) in the sense that I always feel like Scythe is on rails. The efficiency puzzle always felt pretty clear and, depending on the setup, there really only ever seems to be one optimal route for each faction + mat combination. Killed it for me, but glad to hear it gets table time with your group - that paintwork deserves it!
Very good review as always.
Great job on the painting Amy. Those components are so much better painted... wow! Please do a tutorial on your speed painting technique.
Thanks so much Pierre! I appreciate the feedback, and will definitely post something... as soon as we get through out backlog of reviews 😅😅😅😅 Appreciate your continued support of our channel 😊
Loving the high quality content from you guys! Had this game for a bit but need to play it more as it's a bit heavy for my casual group but not Euro enough for my hardcore group 😅 have enjoyed it solo though.
Might have to push my casual group a bit harder 🤔😆
Thanks so much for this lovely feedback Daniel ☺ Mmm we were surprised at how much lighter it is than it appears. Makes for a super easy teach but yes agree that it might not scratch the itch enough for truly heavy gamers. Maggie loves it solo too! Thanks for taking the time to comment!
love how you explain this game and review! my partner always is focused on fighting me and every game is surprised when I destroy him with my popularity, I have to explain it each time hahaha but we both love this game, even though we are playing different games lol 😂 I so enjoy all the encounters
Lol!!! It is sooo true that you can feel like you are playing completely different games. You've got your eyes on the prize ❤👀 thanks for the lovely feedback and taking the time to comment Kim!
Another great video! Love this game - probably my favourite Stonemaier game. I often use images as my computer background wallpaper. The expansions are great too, we have the airships and Rise of Fenris (with a cool campaign and ways to play the game coop!)
I too enjoyed painting the minis and I too am far from a pro. my goal for painting is "not grey"! I would love to know your speed method! We don't have the fancy coins or resources but would like to try them.
Thank you so much Mick! Great idea about the artwork - it is truly stunning and I love the lengths that Jamie goes to for his games and the experience. Thanks for the notes about the expansions and the interest in painting too. "not grey" is the minimum I aim for too and anything above that is a bonus 😆 I finished the mechs very quickly with mostly dry brushing. I'll put together a short video. Thanks again and glad you love this game!
Was doing some digging into games to add to my collection and this video popped up! Unfortunately, it didn't help as much as I would have liked..... because I'm right between both of your opinions! When this game first came out, I got to play it with all the cool bits and it became a grail game to chase down. I failed, but then played it at a friend's house without all the cool bits. Suddenly my enthusiasm cooled. A couple years pass and I get to play again, this time with my daughter and others and she loved it. But do I love the game? I don't know. So thanks for showing me that being on the fence with Scythe isn't a bad thing years later and thank you also for doing a review of a game that many might consider "old news". Greatly appreciated!
Thank you for taking the time to write this Jon!! I (Amy) am still quite "middling" on the game although I do enjoy it when I play. Maggie still loves it. Interesting that you had a similar experience with you and your daughter! Thanks for watching, even if it wasn't that useful to your quest lol...! ☺
Great review found via Jamey on Twitter. Subscribed. Great to have another Aussie BG channel to follow. You may have inspired me to finally paint the minis for Scythe. Looks like you may have just based coated and dry brushed for the mechs? (besides some metal parts)
Thanks for the sub Richard, great to have you here ☺ yes you should definitely paint the mechs! A quick dry brush is exactly right, plus a wash and a bit of detail. Worth the effort 👌 Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Really enjoyed the video! I'd also love to learn more about how you painted the minis! I'm thinking about getting into mini painting, and I love the way yours came out! 🤩
Thank you so much for the lovely feedback and eeeeeek yes I need to get onto my painting video!! I'm not artistic at all but I've found such a peaceful place painting during this awful year, it is so mindful but then you also get the benefit of playing with them afterwards! There's a great Reaper Bones learn to paint kit that is really good to learn the fundamentals and comes with everything you need to get started 😊 thanks again for taking the time to comment.
Thank you for the reply, and I'll definitely have to look into that paint kit! :) I could certainly use an outlet for relaxation and mindfulness these days, so painting minis sounds like a great option, assuming I don't just spend the whole time stressing about whether I'm doing a good job, lol. Thanks again! 😊
Nice review! And yes, I would be interested in this speed painting technique. Just discovered your channel and I really like it. I admit that your lovely Australian accents motivated me to follow you :-)
By the way, I don't own Scythe but I have played my friend's copy. He has all expansions. Most of them are cool and recommended, but I found the one with the flying ships the least interesting and usually the one we skip when adding everything else. I haven't played the campaign either. As a guy who is terrible at area control games with high interaction and conflict, I welcome this style that leans more onto the Euro side.
Accents, what accents? 😁 😁 thanks for taking the time to comment to tell us about your expansion experience! The flying ships caught my eye because of the minis but thanks for the warning maybe I will look deeper into the others. 🤔 The painting of the mechs was very easy just a couple of layers of dry brushing and then metallic touches. I might put together a video once we've caught up on all our game reviews! Glad to have you here at our channel Mirko and thanks again for the lovely feedback ☺
I adore this game. Certainly one of my favorites of all time. Like Maggie, I quite adore efficiency puzzles, so the fact that player interaction is somewhat limited/discouraged doesn't really bother me, especially given the fact that I have other games in my collection to fill that void. With that being said, I think the key to player interaction is player count. If you want a straight-up efficiency puzzle with little to no interaction 2 to 3 players will be your sweet spot. If you are looking for a more tense area control puzzle, 4+ players (assuming you have the expansion content) will certainly fit that bill as there will be more players on the board seeking to control areas that yield the resources they need in order to be efficient. Even at higher player counts, I still enjoy the puzzle offered here. As you both stated, this is not a game that rewards 'take that'. If someone is battling you, what you have has to be more valuable than the popularity they stand to lose. Great review ladies!
Awesome paint job.
Thank you!! ☺
This video makes me want to buy Scythe and learn how to paint the minis 😂 Thanks for a great and enjoyable review. 💯
Do it!!!! Hehehe if I can do it seriously anyone can 🥰 it's so relaxing and then you have a personalised game 😊
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!
Great review! Wish I could play with you both. I played this once then bought EVERYTHING. I may have a problem lol
Lol!! Well, we know that feeling but this is a safe space 😁😁😁😁 have you played everything??? Any expansions recommendations?
@@ThinkerThemer hah, nope just played the base. I'm just the type who needs to have all the game if possible/feasible. Thank goodness it's safe here!
More impressive painting - never thought about doing that for this game. I play it solo , but my wife has shown some interest so maybe over the Holiday we'll play it.
Thank you!!! You should definitely try painting... very relaxing and rewarding when you get to play with it after ☺
Fun fact for the Themer :-). There is (at least) one character in this game which is based on authentic figure. Polania player card has "Anna and Wojtek" as leaders. And the authentic one is not Anna. It's Wojtek. The soldier bear officially listed into Polish Army. He took part in capturing Monte Cassino. After the war he shared the tragic fate of Polish soldiers. They died feeling betrayed in exile, he died feeling betrayed in a zoo in UK.
Thank you so much for sharing this Sanderus !! I just read it out to Maggie and she was most intrigued. I wonder how many of the characters have this kind of link to history.... these kinds of details are what make Jamey such a wonderful designer. ☺💕 thank you again!
Another fine overview, and once again very much in line with my feelings about the game. Scythe is a very pretty game, and no doubt much enhanced by painted minis and premium bits (I've only ever played the "normal" version), but its multi-player solitaire nature belies its title, doesn't it? I mean, a name like Scythe would seem to imply at least one of the Four Horsemen personified, Death itself sweeping across the landscape, armies being reaped left and right, leaving devastation in their stead. Instead, as Amy points out, what you have is primarily an economic optimization puzzle with rare and mostly delayed until the last few rounds conflict for final area control and point scoring. Coming from an ex-grognard's wargaming background, not really my cup of tea. A game like Dominant Species or Tigris & Euphrates is much more to my liking. Speaking of which, do look into DS: Marine; I'm really keen to hear what you think of it, both at 4- and 2-player counts.
Hah! Couldn't help but notice Tzolkin in the background. Such a clever WP design!
Cheers!
Awesome! Can't wait to play this myself. I'm currently painting the miniatures and I refuse to play until they are finished hahaha.
Also, which should I get if I can only get 1....Robinson Caruso or Great Western Trail
So glad you are a fellow painter!! ☺ And we would caveat our answer your question with two points --> 1. There are very few games we would ever choose over GWT, and 2. We are not huge lovers of coop games. So for those reasons GWT wins hands down for us but they are such different experiences - RC is a very very challenging solo experience if that's what you're looking for! Thanks for commenting and watching as always ☺
Oh, great, I missed a sale on this game and now I regret even more :( amazing content, love the separation for theme and mechanics and the in-depth analysis provided for each :3
Oh no! Next time! Thank you for taking the time to write this lovely feedback Caré! Happy new year. ☺
Happy new year 😊
Maggie talking about dating, you could see how uncomfortable it made Amy. So cute 😍.
😳😳😳😳😳
“Do you have to be such a bastard?….which was quite nice.” Lol
Just started watching your channel yesterday (I LOVE the back and forth between the two of you). I have seen this video today and was wondering if you revisited the game with the expansions as Jamey suggested. If so, did it change your opinion regarding interaction? And: Is this Anachrony in the back? When is a review coming for that? :)
Hi Bastian and welcome to the channel! It's great to have you here 😊 we haven't had a chance to try any of the expansions for scythe but we have played much more of it since filming this. We are always playing so many games these days that expansions are a rare luxury in our household! Anachrony is definitely one we should do a review of... along with many of them you can see on our shelves!! 😬 do you own it?
Thank you for the very kind words about our videos... I (Amy) look forward to chatting about more games with you in the comments !
@@ThinkerThemer thank you :) No I don't own Anachrony (yet) but I was thinking about it. Could you recommend it?
Scythe is also still sitting here unplayed. I always thought it should be played with 3 or 4 players. Maybe I just give it a try, although I'm also not the multi-player solitaire type of player.
Wow! If this is speed painting, I am curious what your painted minis look like when painted with time and attention.
Feel like diving into this game. Still haven't touched it. Maybe because it was hyped so much. Same with Wingspan.
They look incomplete is how they look *blood rage pressure building* 😬
With this one I find it a bit too low interaction to want to get it out but Maggie loves that about it...!
Haha guess I'm also the "Amy" and will be the one painting the minis. Scythe has been on my wishlist for a while but I've been worried about buying it as most of my games play well with 2 (since it's mostly me and my partner) and she doesn't enjoy fiddly or heavy games. Thought Scythe would make a great gateway into something "heavier" for our collection. Everdell and Viticulture are some of our favourite worker placements atm.
Mmm interesting! It is a little fiddly from my perspective but playing it 2 or 5 players made not too much difference aside from the area control. The game is designed to be low interaction and I don't think it is as heavy as the theme makes it appear. Another one that we like at two players is Nusfjord but it is a shorter game with easy set up and pack away with a euro feel which is what we enjoy about it. It is hard to surpass viticulture for a midweight worker placement game, are you playing with Tuscany? Snowdonia also works well at 2 and is lighter. I think an interesting side step but certainly a step up in difficulty would be Great Western Trail perhaps? But maybe some more gradual steps :) Glad to hear that you paint as well!!
@@ThinkerThemer I think I'd want to pick up the modular board for Scythe as well just to vary the layouts and have the map a bit tighter for two. I will take a look into Nusfjord. With Great Western Trail, I had dismissed it initially due to the game length and complexity (she's AP prone as it is). Thanks for the ideas, really appreciate it.
Yep we're playing with the Tuscany Expansion.
Thanks so much for this. I'm like you in that I had no interest in this theme as I prefer euros. But you've piqued my interest in this. I knew it was very popular but I think I can see why now.
Glad to hear it was useful. It has grown on me more too (Amy) as I've played it more and more. Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment!
Just curious..wud u recommend this just for 2 players, just me n hubby here ? It's Hard to gather more pple where I am (even bfor covid). Thx
Hi Lynn! I would say yes because the experience doesn't change that much with more players... I (Amy) won a game with 4 without engaging much with anyone. I guess with player count the OPTION for interaction increases but ultimately it is about generating resources and efficiently achieving the public objectives faster than the other person... so it feels fairly similar at 2 !! ☺
Ah ok. BTW.. if I play this..it'll be at ur house 😜.. wow w the painted mini's + deluxe tokens .. what a way to enhance not just the theme but also play. Amy - impressive you did them so quickly to boot. Ur so modest bout ur painting skills
@@lynnburke2266 haha well if you're ever in Melbourne Australia you're both welcome to join us for a game!! Thank you for the kind words... I only started painting during lockdown and found it to be incredibly relaxing, but also the first semi *arty* thing I've ever done in my life so a bit of a steep learning curve lol.
1. I think there are two factions much better than others when it comes to fighting: Saxony and Polonia. The former is good at it because it can gain all its stars through combat, making combat a viable method of resource gathering (because there is less opportunity cost). The latter is good because one of its mech techs is to not lose popularity after driving off enemy workers. I also think that direct player interaction increases with the number of players.
2. The "Invaders from Afar" expansion doesn't necessarily increase player interaction, but I don't even consider it an expansion. The two factions that come with it already have home territories on the base game map. It does increase potential player count to 7, which can lead to more combat since there will be more persons competing for the same number of spaces. However, if you are playing with 7 players, *everybody* needs to be familiar with the game, otherwise it will bog down and take forever.
3. The "Wind Gambit" expansion can increase player interaction because the airship makes it much easier to get around the map.
4. If you are into the visuals of the game, MeepleForge on Etsy makes faction-specific buildings that can be painted up to replace the wooden ones.
Thank you so much Han for sharing all of these points!!! I have actually copied it all to share with Maggie as she will be very interested to read this too. Appreciate you taking the time to write it out. I did actually find at 5 players that interaction increased but mostly amongst everyone else while I just slowly snuck around and then ultimately won 🤣 I am definitely interested in getting the Invaders from Afar expansion if not only to paint the minis.... ☺ we found our 5 player game to be quite swift, often our turns came around before we'd decided what to do but 7 might get long as you mention.
Sounds like a favourite game of yours? Thanks so much again! ☺
This is only partly true Han.With a balanced group saxony needs to win his battles to get the stars.
So he also needs to keep his power and combat cards up.
Experienced players are gonna stay away from the tunnels once you have the -2 mech.
And they are going to kick you when you are low on power or cards.
Polania is ok but this one thing;not losing popularity isn’t that big of a thing since this is not really a combat heavy game.
We are playing this a lot with all expansions.
Still getting a good faction with a nice matching board helps you more.
And like the ladies said maximize your turns and look real close at your strenghts.
Crimea should almost always start getting combat cards fast to use as resources and enlist all 4 before even considering to leave home territory.
I hope you enjoy the game as we all do in Holland and have fun its a game after all.
Greetz,
Paul
How does it play at 2? What is your favorite player count? Do you plan to get Rise of Ferris? I like Scythe. I have yet to paint mine. Thanks ladies.
Great question James... for me (Amy) I prefer higher player count as it at least gives me a greater level of restriction on the board and becomes more difficult for area control. I'm not sure Maggie would agree as she is so happy doing her own thing... she's also really enjoying it solo too. Fenris has been mentioned a few times and is on my radar! Would you recommend? Thanks for watching and commenting as always! ☺
@@ThinkerThemer I have not played ferris but pretty much everone who likes Scythe likes it.
Off on a rabbit hole with my morning coffee 👋 thanks James !
Is this the Deluxe version of Scythe ?
For me Scythe is a strictly 4-5 player (or solo) game. It needs the tightness that comes with more players. I was a bit lukewarm after my first game, but each experience with Scythe after that has been better and better. I really like how you have to pick your battles closely, as it is very costly to fight, and how the possibility of combat often adds more tension than combat itself. What I don't really like is the sudden death ending. It feels out of place and more often than not leaves people sour. Gotta experiment more with the alternative game modes from Wind Gambit expansion to alleviate that.
Yes definitely agree that the tightness and paranoia increased at 5. We also found the game to be a bit of a creeper.... we found ourselves thinking about it after we had stopped playing (especially Maggie who became obsessed with strategy). The ending does happen quickly but I hadn't thought about that 🤔 I think for me (Amy) the race for objectives is the part that makes it fun and so the ending is one of my favourite parts... the final sprint to maximise.... ☺ Thank you for sharing your thoughts and taking the time to comment Sami!
@@ThinkerThemer It always catches me by surprise how fast someone grabs those three missing stars, whereas getting the first three takes such a long time. Maybe that's the reason I dislike the ending. You really want that one more turn. Moreso, because a common pattern at the end of the game is for everyone to spread out as much as possible. And if you miss that, it can really hurt your score, and it sucks and is somewhat anticlimactic as well.
That is very true!!! Although I do like that at the end I know exactly the stars I want and how I'm going to get them before anyone even realises I'm close to the end 🤣 🤣 thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on the game Sami!
How is the Thinker the one who does the painting?!!! This changes everything! (They look great by the way!)
🤣 Yes that is strange but actually it is the first slightly creative hobby that I've ever done.... I find it so relaxing!! Thanks for the lovely words and taking the time to comment James! ☺
@@ThinkerThemer Maybe you've got a hidden talent! I'm the same - this is my only creative outlet, but yours actually look good! Thanks for the videos; I binged way too many after hearing about you guys on Before You Play.
Hahaha I think we are always our toughest critic... if painting brings you joy and personalises your game then that is all that matters ☺ Very glad to have you here (we were so surprised about Monique & Naveen's video!!!) and hope you didn't binge too far back.... we are quite new to this and we have evolved our style a lot 😅😅😅 look forward to chatting about more games!!
How free are you, do you personally feel, to tweek rules, or multipliers in this or any given game?
Lol.. I totally relate w Maggie.. I prefer games that "essentially" do Solo Mode Play in a multi-player setting like Paladins of the West Maybe u cud do a top 10 list of games like that?
Oh then you will definitely like this one Lynn!! Maggie would have to champion that list.. she loves playing without me with me Lol 🤣
LOL.. . with you but really without you.. Chuckled.. cuz honestly that's my favorite way to play .. when I hear oh u have ur "own" player board/mat.. my ears perk up. So I'm w Maggie there.. definitely can relate w her!
@@lynnburke2266 Honeybuzz is another recent one that is quite peaceful at 2 players! Likewise we love Calico for a smaller box game :) definitely sounds like you have preferences like Maggie hehe 😊
Just started the Rise of Fenris campaign with my daughter this morning and thought I would check out your review and what you thought of Scythe. We both enjoy Scythe, we enjoy the engine building component of the game. We both are not really fans of player combat in games (we mostly play 2 player) as we don't like fighting each other and as you mentioned Scythe combat is fairly limited.
Ohhh good! Look out for all of our reviews where Maggie is really delighted and I'm saying "sigh, multiplayer solitaire" then - lol... Maggie really enjoys Scythe and I dont mind playing it but prefer a bit more player interaction in general. Thanks for stopping by the review to mention the expansion and your thoughts on the game... I'm really glad to hear you and your daughter are enjoying Rise of Fenris!
I played a couple of live games of this and it was OK. Then I played the app and it really highlighted the issues Amy raised. It's so much a solo optimisation puzzle where conflict, and so interaction, is best avoided that I very quickly lost interest. The combinations of board define your best set of actions so once you know these it's just iterating to try to improve your efficiency and of course you can play a lot of games quickly on the app to get there. So not really fight then farm more hide and industrialise.
Root works much better for me for this sort of game and even there conflict has to be assessed in an engine building context.
Thanks for taking the time to write this Jonathan! Yes I am very much for interaction in games so this leaves me a bit wanting... the more I've played it though it has warmed on me but this comes from getting better at optimising the puzzle. Maggie still loves it and so do many of our friends, and I dont mind playing it and it is a nice relatively easy teach for such a big game. I find it so interesting how games resonate so differently between different gamers. So I really enjoyed reading about your experiences, thank you! ☺
Give me Saxony and I’ll show you player interaction.😉
Lol sounds like Maggie's worst nightmare!!!
I appreciate that you weren't paid for this review. But that's not entirely true, is it, considering that you were provided a copy of the deluxe version of the game which is valued at approx $100? So while true that Stonemaier Games didn't technically pay you for your review, you did receive compensation worth $100. Now if they had asked for the copy of the game to be returned to them, that'd be a different story.
That's a fair perspective, but no $100 game is worth 5-6 hours of filming and editing. Lol. We both have jobs outside of the hobby. In this particular case Stonemaier Games do not watch their reviews and I clearly say that it's not really a game for me. All publishers know we are not paid reviewers and send games after agreeing to the fact that we will always be authentic in our reviews, which is a drop in the ocean compared to what we spend on games, KS campaigns and equipment for this channel. But I understand your point and that's why we mention it, so you can assess for yourself our degree of impartiality. Have a lovely week 😊
@@ThinkerThemer A classy, well presented reply. Thanks!