So the reviews are coming in for Galactic Renaissance, the “sequel” to Inis.
BGG is coming in at 7.5, which, given modern rating inflation and the bias granted expensive Kickstarters you already have, is alarming. Space-Biff trashed it.
Most of the other reviews are from prototypes, and during the campaign the designer/publisher were very communicative about changes made in response to critiques. And it sounded like they were being smart about it.
I haven’t had a chance to play it, but I was optimistic based on the unboxing and manual (and, of course, pedigree). Well, if it doesn’t work out it will be a chunk of change and a big spot on the shelf reclaimed. Oh well.
That was my hope! But the collective rating on BGG tends more toward consensus. And Thurot was very articulate in his criticisms, which spoke to fundamental design rather than taste. He put it in front of both veterans of Inis and newcomers - the newcomers didn’t react as strongly as the Inis vets but still, reportedly, came away lukewarm.
But yeah, I’ll get to form my own opinion one of these days. I think I’ll have to two hand it first.
I’m very keen on this and Cyclades: SUPER DELUXIFIED EDITION. One thing that starts to form is that I now prefer instant victory that Inis does - which I hope GR does too. And now dislike VP-based area controls like Root and Kemet. El Grande seem to avoid this as the scoring is always so dynamic.
GalRen has standard scoring up to 20. 30 to win, but you have to get your last 10 points all in one turn. If you land anywhere in the 20’s, your score is reset to 20.
It’s a good idea. A little less sudden than Inis can be, but still requires a planning and coordination for one big killshot.
We played this today. I’m quite surprised that people have such strong opinions - I thought it was fine. I think I prefer Inis because it feels a bit more interactive but I’d definitely play GR again.
There’s no drafting after the beginning, and to begin with you can’t do a lot. The end of the game came down to which one of us could cycle through our decks fastest to reach the scoring card.
Received my Allplay Trick Taker bundle, Tricktakers and Haggis from PCG, and Huang + expansions from Phalanx. All I’m missing is Through the Desert and co from Allplay. I’ve seen UKers receiving it so ETA must be very soon
Remaining:
Guards of Atlantis “more characters” expansions
Age of Rails
Innovation 11
Railways of Lost Atlas
Allplay/Bitewings - Through the Desert/Cascadero
Pax Illuminaten / Pax Maleficium
String Railway
Old King’s Crown
Forks 2nd ed
Ur 1830 BC from All Aboard Games
This actually looks fine - with 7 of them being new items. I’ll add in Feudum 7th Anniversary upgrades soon. Indonesia will have to be retail.
Kickstarters I expect to be incoming within the „month“ (or so):
Unsettled (via Crowdfinder… should be on the way soonish… probably while we‘re traveling)
Through the Desert, Zoo Vadis + Trailblazers expansion will be 1 big one
Gloomhaven Baby Edition ? I feel like it should be arriving soonish, but I haven‘t checked EU distribution timelines.
Kickstarters I expect around SPIEL:
Clank! Legacy 2
Terraforming Mars Prelude 2 and the playmats
Cyclades Legendary
Innovation Ultimate
Unconscious Mind
Arcs
Obsession Characters Expansion
„The Lid“ (Planet Unknown Supermoon)
Paperback Anniversary & Typewriter (very very delayed… but Fowers tends to be at SPIEL with new stuff so…) having just noticed I might be burned out on Hardback or maybe word games… not quite so excited
Stuff that‘s been badly delayed and I didn‘t check further updates:
Wonderland‘s War „The I am never backing localized games again“ Deluxe edition that is apparently driving the publisher nuts because the retailers have their localized editions and all the backers are annoyed because theirs are still stuck somewhere. I‘ve quit being annoyed as long as it arrives at some point. I feel sorry for him. (I refrain from reading too much about it atm… I have enough other stuff to be anxious and annoyed about, so please nobody tell me if they know any more negative stuff about this. I don‘t want to know.)
Beyond SPIEL:
Bebop—backed just recently
Hispania—backed just recently
Defenders of the Wild—no idea really when this one will hit, there were production photos
The backlog is shrinking and the worrisome complicated things are resolving one after another. All the stuff I expect to arrive with SPIEL I should probably have waited for retail. It will all be there. As will I… I am learning.
I like it. It has it’s quirks and can fall down in expectation if someone does a blocking no actions. Less applicable in 4 player than 3 player. That being said I think working around that blocking is fun. The semi programming is fun for each turn. It’s quite strategic with some tactical wiggle room and room to change tack. It also gets bonus points for being unique even after all this time.
There are downsides to it that may be bigger or not depending on your tastes and situation. It’s a lot of learning, it’s not overly complicated but there’s a lot of it. After the learning it’s clean but all players need to be willing to get over that hump. There’s also a lot of stuff you can do so it can be AP inducing or overwhelming for those who struggle with lots of options. Plus side is all games can be played radically differently. Lastly, it’s long. Personally I like it being long as you can really develop your strats and schemes and have time to mess with other people for larks.
Biggest plus side for me is the singular art style and presentation. I really like the whole Robert Crumb and Psychedelic vibes having spent a lot of time listening to 60s psychedelic music.
Forks 2
The Old Kings Crown
GOA2
My Favourite Things
Waiting to be fulfilled. After the customs fee we got stung by on the Tricktakers/ Haggis but I’m even more wary of Kickstarters; I don’t think it will ever be cheaper for UK buyers than retail any more so I think I’ll only back stuff that I’m close to certain I won’t be able to get from now on.
Age of Rail and Cyclades are tempting, but I imagine they’ll both be affordable in the UK shops sooner rather than later.
I’m very out of touch with the latest board game hubbub but I wont be surprised if they find it very divisive. It’s that kind of Lacerda complexity but Wyvern and I find it very fun to play because it’s very dynamic. The decisions on the map changes the map and the guilds. Decisions on the guild changes the guilds and the map.
The art is very pretty but with terrible UX. They seem to make some corrections to that now.
Innovation Ultimate was supposed to arrive in June. They just quietly haven’t said anything. Update today was “we’ve finished proofing.” So… not June. I guess they are just hoping we aren’t keeping track.
Lords of Vegas is the worst campaign I’ve ever been a part of. They are done printing - next is packing and shipping and there’s not really a question of delivery. But I’d estimate September earliest, after originally claiming delivery by last December. What I hate is every update is the same:
Everything is going as planned
Things are coming up, but we expected all of them. This is how we knew it would go.
Schedule has slipped a month since last month, btw.
And all of this is after taking two years to “launch” a campaign for a game that is already developed.
The box size reduction from TTR size to QE size is significant! The criticisms about the box being TOO small with all the expansions is valid, but I manage to close the box with no box lift. Hooray!
So apparently Formosa Tea was just reprinted through kickstarter?? They continued to advertise after the campaign was closed so I heard about it 2 days late.
I have my copy, but would have liked the new content and expansions. And I know about 5 people who would have jumped on it.
I guess a heads up for anyone to watch for a late pledge, or hope for retail on 2025.
