I think I basically agree with all of your points.
I’ve always enjoyed collecting things (even in video games), but not to that level. TBh, I’ve never enjoyed collecting actual “collectables” because I rarely see the value. It’s why I had to drop MtG; I could never justify the cost for many of the cards I wanted for decks.
It’s unfortunate as it does keep a large number of people from getting into the game past a certain level (if you want to be competitive), but I can understand that from a business side, it makes more sense for them than the LCG model (which they have been pretty upfront about). I think that also impacts their stance on it, as they are gamers but also business owners.
As I said, I think we’re essentially on the same page for everything.
I am curious what will happen with F&B; will it become a mainstay like MtG and Pokemon, or is it going to crash in a few months, a year, whatever? Obviously impossible to say now.
Yeah, I would be on board with collectible games if they stayed true to the principles. The idea of everyone having different decks because everyone has different rare cards and it’s nigh on impossible to get a full set is really neat. In practice, players buy an obscene number of packs and buy 3 copies of each card as singles for the one or two character/faction they want. So there’s no gameplay value in rarity and collectability. It’s purely pretense. Card distributions only shine in blind pack gameplay when everyone is on the same level for number of packs sourced for a deck.
I think FaB’s biggest value is its location in New Zealand. Who would have thought they’d set up in the one country that can still run tournaments?! As long as it has an audience in NZ, I can see it distributing worldwide. I think if it was a US company, it would be much more of a float or sink competitive market. It still won’t be easy, but it gives a little more opportunity to settle in and survive.
Presumably Keyforge changes this – as I understand it the standard tournament format is effectively blind pack (which you have to buy, so you’ll still end up with a whole pile of cards if you play seriously). Or if you can bring your own deck, I guess you have to buy a lot of them in order to get a good one…
I have visceral objections to buying a pig in a poke so I don’t do CCGs.
Ish! There’s still an objective superiority of card metas developing, allowing players to rate decks, and there are still people buying umpteen packs to get a deck that is deemed worthy. Which then takes it back to needing a blind tournament to stop people buying until they get the nearest to a perfect combination.
It’s the players who always ruin it for themselves! There are always enough people who just want to win at any cost, that it’s impossible to guard against people mathing it out in some way. Meta ruins everything.
And of course, the games love it as much as they pretend not to. It’s primarily people buying so much product that breaks the game.
Amazon.ca had The Quest for El Dorado the Golden Temples on for just over $32 Canadian, which is the best price I’ve seen it for, so I finally grabbed it.
It may have dropped more if I waited, but it also could have sold out or shot back up for $45 or so like it did last time, lol.
One of the 2 Knizia’s still on my wishlist (Babylonia being the other). Excited to get this one to the table and in to out weeknight rotation!
This wins for “most thematic packaging” as, suitably for a game about shelving books in a mystic library, there was a load of dust inside the box (I assume shed by the punchboards). I’ve been sneezing on and off for the last hour
I know this is coming from something amusing (if unfortunate. Sorry, @bruitist! ), but this really should be a category, I think. Some games go out of their way to make “the opening” a part of the experience and I, for one, always appreciate that.
Making an allowance for my no spend year(s) after a game got bumped. Sidereal Confluence (new edition) was a close cut from my grail list due to the player count, but it was available and I needed a little consolation.
Empires of the Void II made it home, looking forward o punch it tonight. It is a good thing it comes with baggies, but I don’t know if there are enough of them…
Castles of Mad King Ludwig, Deluxe edition is on kickstarter and I backed it. My wife’s favourite game, and one of mine. Not getting the giant version though- it’s just impractical! I have a pretty big table, and it’s not big enough for that!
I received a late Christmas present on Monday, Hansa Teutonica Big Box finally made it through Calais.
Is it worth trying with 2 players? Would it work over Zoom, or are there secret cards to hold?
We have also rebought (I didn’t buy it, the family did, 2021 goal is still intact) The King’s Dilemma. The family loved this during the Spring and we want to play it again with different houses)
Two players is a bit boring as there’s little incentive to bump other players off routes but works fine. The original print was 2-5 players on the box.
There’s no hidden information so would work well over your favourite video conferencing software.
The mail carrier deposited a new beautiful thing in my mailbox yesterday. My copy of Canvas has arrived and I have to admit all of my concerns about the components are quelled. A beautiful box that literally has a picture hanger hole in the back, the deluxe components are lovely (though the cardboard chits would have been fine). The easels are a bit much but I’m sure they will improve visibility during play.
However, I have a new complaint: I can’t fit all of the components in the box without causing the picture a.k.a. cardboard sleeve to bulge. I could throw away the punchboards with the cardboard chits (and keep only the wooden tokens), but I am always hesitant to throw away the undeluxe version of tokens when I have deluxe versions.
I think soon I shall have a boardgame hanging on my wall near my game shelves, and not just because it saves space on my shelves!
pillbox’s 2021 Purchase Tracker as of 2021-01-20: 0
Got my copy a couple of days ago, and yes, this also frustrated me. I bagged the original tokens and put them in a drawer, which helps a bit. Theres no way the deluxe easels will fit.
), but this really should be a category, I think. Some games go out of their way to make “the opening” a part of the experience and I, for one, always appreciate that.