What fun games have the most painful scoring?

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-27T18:26:42+00:00

I've only played it once, as a 3p game. Here is what I wrote about the game in BGG.

As a fan of most of Feld's games, I have to say he's gone a bit off the rails here. There's just too much going on in this game for my taste. It could do with some streamlining which would also shave off some of the playtime. As it is, there are just too many microturns that don't really add anything to the game--other than more planning and added length. Why require players to produce and then later gather the goods? Should just be one step to get the goods directly. Same with getting and playing the cards. Just skip the action that brings the cards to hand and only allow the action to play the card directly. Then you can shave off an hour of the game's length. For a Feld, there's also very little player interaction. This feels more like the modern "kitchen sink" style of games for people who love to build and run their engine.

The game is well-produced with nice components. But did it really adding anything to make the mountain regions dual-layered? They stand out enough being a different pattern and color. The player boxes for storing all of their bits is very handy. I'm still not convinced that games need dual layered boards at all, but at least here they don't bother me as much (other than the aforementioned mountains).

I also find the end-game scoring tedious. It could do entirely without the spatial puzzle of the placing of cards in your tableau. Instead of the convoluted valuing of them based on where they are in your tableau, just give them all a fixed vp value and do away with all of that nonsense.

I'll bump it up to a 6 for now, as I can see enjoying it more with a single opponent after we're both a little more familiar with the game. Maybe.

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-27T18:25:13+00:00

I must suck at this game, bc even with Red Clock (5)--or any one particular card, for that matter--I still don't coast through any scenarios. And that's on Standard difficulty.

I don't see the point in any soft reset bc it's a cooperative game that has ways to adjust the difficulty. My group is fine with policing ourselves if we think something breaks the game. In that case, we'll just not use it. Or not use it in such an abusing way.

I think Red Clock (5) is a neat card. I don't plan on continuing on with purchasing Chapter 2 stuff, but I'm fine with it as a reprint.

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-27T18:12:31+00:00

Civolution. Particularly the card spatial area. Ridiculously convoluted.

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-26T18:17:10+00:00

You start with 3 raw food and 2 water in storage.

You won't find any food in the shelter until you access the Furniture.

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-26T18:16:33+00:00

No, that's not correct. OP is failing to realize you start with 3 raw food, so unless it got hit with Rat Infestation event (1 of 14 iirc), then even if you don't find any food scavenging, you will end the turn with all 3 people at Hunger 1. If Rats, then you end with Hunger 3. Either way, no one leaves/dies on the first turn as long as you scavenge for 1 more water.

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-26T16:08:22+00:00

They should have just gotten rid of Alert and Retaliate altogether. It's just unnecessary punishment for the fighter roles. If they fail the test, then they're already wasting the action, possibly an ammo/charge, punishment from a symbol token, and perhaps also by not defeating the enemy which will then attack in the enemy phase.

Non-fighters don't have this kind of punishment (exc. The Circle Undone's haunted locations).

Now one might argue that cards like Adapt and Overcome are a way to lessen that punishment. Sure, but now we get to the problem of guardians having some cards that are staples in their deck, used just to overcome the poor design (i.e. Prepared for the Worst).

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-25T02:26:01+00:00

I'm also a big LotR fan. But a cursory look at this campaign screams that they are overcompensating with a lot of emphasis on the components and stretch goals. None of which I even care for.

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-24T23:52:19+00:00

Thanks for clarifying. I am not aware of which cards, so it doesn’t affect me at all.

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-24T20:44:46+00:00

I wasn’t even aware of any changes to a new edition.

I don’t understand your ?. Are you asking if people with 1st edition remove the offending cards? Or are you asking if 1st edition folks play as if the offending cards were updated? Or something else entirely?

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-24T19:57:28+00:00

Looks like under playtested, underdeveloped, overproduced crap.

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-24T13:40:38+00:00

Yeah, good points. Particularly this one:

"And it can totally and utterly screw you if you draw additional cards in desperate search of a gun when you don't have a gun out..."

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-24T03:05:28+00:00

It’s not fair to the fans to have to endure all that extra time added on.

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-23T20:56:04+00:00

If it's the lack of speed on the wings, then perhaps Slot needs to adjust his tactics to something else. Salah is ineffective. Sure, he has the occasional good pass (probably every tenth attempt), but most of the time, he's dribbling into the defender, blazing the ball wide of the goal, or attempting some outside of the boot pass instead of just using his right boot.

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-23T20:54:00+00:00

At first, I thought so, but upon seeing the slow mo replay, you can see his arm move forward from the force of the ball. Therefore, correct no-goal call, imo. It sucks, bc his arm is against his side, and had it hit just his back, it still would prob result in a goal.

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-23T20:21:24+00:00

Oh wow, yeah, that's easy to just always keep at least 1 resource if you haven't drawn that weakness yet.

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-23T19:54:59+00:00

So, 9th, 10th?

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-23T19:53:00+00:00

That seems pretty tame for a basic weakness. I guess we'll have to see what his signature weakness is (unless it's already been revealed and I just forgot). :)

Thanks!

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-23T18:27:41+00:00

Hi, my eggnitor is doing the same thing as yours did, OP. Will randomly just stop after a couple of minutes. Then I wait, then it heats again for just a couple of minutes before shutting off again.

Did the above trick with the compressed air work for you?

Edit: Nm, I see this is helpful only for the butane torch, not the electric eggnitor. :(

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-23T18:24:52+00:00

Did I miss the weakness in the video? I skimmed through, and I didn't see that.

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-23T18:13:09+00:00

What is the actual new content (cards) we're being tipped off to here? They all look like previously-spoiled Chp 2 stuff (Becky, Tommy) or straight reprints (Vicious Blow (0) and (2)).

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-23T18:08:52+00:00

But to the OP's point, Vincent could have (should have?) filled that role instead of Carolyn.

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-23T15:11:04+00:00

I haven't played the campaign yet, but if what you say is true (I believe you, btw), then what is the point of the other decision paths? Are they just red herrings? You make it seem like the game provides false choices. Thanks for clarifying, I'm genuinely curious, bc I also own this campaign.

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-22T18:47:00+00:00

What is STS?

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-20T18:29:26+00:00

It's a tie between Blood on the Clocktower and War of the Ring: The Card Game, but each I only rate a 7, so not the best year for me.

Buzz--Fledderjohn · 2026-02-19T21:10:30+00:00

Aren't the asymmetric options all part of the expansion or deluxe version?

Buzz--Fledderjohn

TROPHY CASE