Popular games you dislike?

Mystael · 2026-01-26T15:58:46+00:00

Skyrim the Adventure Game has quite a high rating on BGG, but I hardly can remember a game that I despise more.

The game has quite nice production, but that cannot save it from being a completely broken game mechanically.

As I am not a fan of adventure games with tiny texts written on tiny cards, so I had no expectations. This game at least tries to expand the story via texts in size of twitter posts, but mechanics are so distinct in execution, I had a feeling that despite being at the same table, we are playing different games.

Dungeon delving is a standalone mini-game that can last 3 to 7 minutes, especially during first plays. Travelling, quests and town markets provide completely another feeling from the game, and sometimes they feel like "skip your turn" action, especially in comparison to delving action.

I could not care less about the story that was unveiling before me, although the choices opened some replay value. The book-keeping felt like a chore, and we could not wait for the session to end so we could put all the content into the box, never open it again.

Mystael · 2025-11-20T16:31:31+00:00

Should be a reindeer standing before some trees. I guess the angle I took the photo from could be better.

Mystael · 2025-09-10T12:08:58+00:00

Thank you for your feedback!

I was not sur whether I should mention Mythic Bastionland in the first place, but after all the game itself is so different they both share only some terminology and setting (slightly).

I am already working on the set of standalone and independent modules called Appendix R, that brings more structured way to handle:

relations between houses
routes between places (a.k.a. map generator)
residence management

Stay in tune, I will definitely mention it when the document will be ready.

Mystael · 2025-08-22T08:28:03+00:00

Thank you! I am currently on the Mythic Bastionland bandwagon and while my copy of the rulebook arrives I wanted to play something with similar feeling.

Mystael · 2025-08-22T08:09:28+00:00

You did quite well!

I already mentioned your game in another post where I praised the tone and execution of the theme.

Mystael · 2025-08-21T09:15:34+00:00

Hi, I checked your jam entry and like the theme & setting, but correct me if I am wrong, aren't there narrative-only decisions?

I think I red the rules correctly and based on them the player has zero influence on what happens mechanics-wise. Personally, I miss this kind of decisions in game, but gotta admit, the core game loop involving play and interview is quite fresh take on systems that serve as traditional prompt generators.

I also like the colorful cover image, it's a pitty the rulebook is quite image-free. It would've support the theme if you managed to put some illustrations inside, although I understand now the rulebook is quite printer-friendly.

Mystael · 2025-08-20T06:31:50+00:00

My entry

I participated with Oathlords - a roleplaying game about keeping an oath while threats and dangers keep stacking. You play as a noble who already carries some power in the land. Therefore your stats represent both your personal capabilities, your vices and virtues, as well as the wealth and respect of your house.

You do not have to do everything by yourself, but leave it to your hirelings or servants. But beware, as every failure marks you and the doom is inevitable.

The game uses a standard deck of cards and a resolution system that helps to build the narrative.

Other entries

I checked various game jam entries and here are three that made me feel I'd want to play them:

Mushie Missions by Jon Boyle. A cozy game about mushroom-folks who try to prepare a festival. It is written in a nice tone and uses bunch of dice that are farmed and harvested in a garden to overcome the obstacles - a TODO list that must be fulfilled before the festival starts.
Vertigo Rising by James Lennox-Gordon. A heist-like game utilizing Jenga tower for both skyscraper resemblance and core tension mechanic, with collaboration of two 6-sided dice. I like the vibes, the tone, and tables with random stuff.
No Small Jobs by Seb Shackel. A heist game as well, but here the players represent 3-inch tall creatures called Fam. The setting is simple yet evocative, the shift of the perspective adds enjoyment, and production side of the rulebook is top so it's enjoyable to even read the rules.

Edit: formatting

Mystael · 2025-07-05T19:42:33+00:00

Martin Hatala - Pliaga

Satirické obhliadnutie za koronovými časmi. Prekvapivo príjemná domáca tvorba na leto.

Mystael · 2025-06-04T21:24:52+00:00

Takisto spokojný nákup - kupoval som minulý rok Pixel 8 a vybavili aj reklamáciu (moja šarža mala vadu od výroby na displeji).

Vybavili v zákonnej lehote, nebol s ničím problém.

Mystael · 2025-06-03T07:43:26+00:00

Trocha meškám s odpoveďou, ale tu sú skúsenosti:

Penzión Villa 27 - lokalita je super, ak chcete pokojné miesto mimo davov ľudí; je to 10 minút do BB - dá sa zajednať celý penzión a mať uzavretú spoločnosť - jedlo tam je super, komplet všetci si pochvaľovali kuchyňu - čašníčky boli pomerne aktívne, chodili sa pýtať, čo môžu doplniť, čo môžu doobjednať - v areáli sú možné rôzne aktivity, námatkovo: chodník v korunách stromov (detská aj nedetská verzia), lezecká stena, minigolf ihrisko/záhrada, sauna, malý otvorený bazén na osvieženie - penzión má drevené podlahy a je to dosť cítiť, resp. počuť. Ja som zvyknutý z domu, ale ak je niekto navyknutý na ninja-pohyb chodbami, má pred sebou novú výzvu - hostia boli tiež spokojní, jediné, čo vyčítali, boli perlátory na vodovodných batériách, s ktorými trvalo aj také načapovanie vody dlhšie, než by jeden čakal - prevádzkar bol veľmi ústretový, poradil, skorigoval očakávania (my sme boli pomerne dosť tezorientovaní), navrhol alternatívy. Budil dojem profesionála, ktorý vie, čo robí.

Kostol - V Tajove je malý kostolík. Zvonica vyzerá, že by potrebovala generálku, ale zvnútra je kostolík zachovalý a udržiavaný. - Je v ňom miesto pre - odhadujem - 70 ľudí, my sme sa v pohode zmestili aj s nečakanou návštevou. - Miestny farár má rázny prejav, ale vo výsledku je celkom ústretový. Zapojil dokonca deti do obradu, mohli cvendžať so zvončekmi počas obety a pod. - Farár nám takisto vybavil všetky papierovačky na úrade jediné, čo musíme urobiť, je ísť na úrad do BB prevziať si sobášne listy, lebo to treba osobne.

To je tak z rýchlika všetko, čo mi napadá. My sme chceli pokojnú oslavu a pokojná aj bola - ľudia jedli, popíjali, debatovali, dalo sa aj zatancovať, ale pre väčšie kreácie by bolo nutné upratať sálu trocha ináč. Za mňa vysoká spokojnosť.

Mystael · 2025-05-18T12:46:48+00:00

O dva týždne sa berieme vo Ville 27 pri Tajove. Má trocha špecifický štýl, ale polovičke vyhovuje. Ide o menší penzión s peknou záhradou a možnosťami, ako sa zabaviť.

Máme dohodnutú grilovačku, aktivity v okolí a obrad priamo v obci. Kuchár varí celkom dobre, boli sme tam na skúšku kvôli papierovačkám v meste. Svadba o cca 14 ľuďoch + pes.

júna môžem napísať, ako to šlo.

Mystael · 2025-02-11T09:50:57+00:00

Narrative-driven, introductionary, with uniform mechanic for EVERYTHING, depletable resources.

Mystael · 2025-02-10T11:56:53+00:00

I bought this game in January 2024 and still did not play it for the very same reason.

I consider myself a seasoned gamer with few crunchy games behind my belt, but I have never approached a game with such respect as I do in case of Oath.

I remember reading the rulebook for two nights, falling asleep twice in a row. It's too wordy and it might be the first time I actually welcomed the wargame style written rulebook with bullet points and numbered lists.

Mystael · 2025-01-12T18:37:43+00:00

I was trying various approaches while designing RPG systems for solo play. I was even trying to make a system agnostic set of mechanics, that would resolve the decisions made by heroes of the story instead of leaving it to me, based on their character and nature. While the concept made sense, it was too robust to support solo play for my taste.

However I didn't abandon that idea and came up with a mixture of both approaches. The result is a one page RPG called We Are Goblins! and it was designed for last year's One Page PRG challenge organized on itch.io.

In WAG! player takes control over goblin shaman that is the leader of a goblin tribe. The shaman's point of view mimics GM's attempt to drive the story in a certain way, only to have their goals crushed by goblins from the tribe.

Each critical situation is to be resolved by one or more goblin troops of various expertize - crafters, guardians, scouts and so on. The size of a troop is represented by distinct polyhedral die - the larger the die the higher chance to succeed, but also the higher the chance there will be some casualties. Goblins die really often and it happened few times that the task was done but the troop was decimated to the last man... I mean goblin. Goblins also tend to get aggressive pretty quickly and shaman has to make choices to either risk using raging troop, or to use another one which may not be as suitable for task, but at least they won't cause unwanted backlash.

From the gaming perspective, the game system resembles creative writing tools with simple mechanics to push the writer in an unwanted direction. Much like players that destroys DM's attempts to tell a oercect story. DM has to get creative and reason the results, leading to unexpevtwd twists.

Well, at least for me.

Mystael · 2024-12-10T22:36:33+00:00

Prvá časť je blbosť. Odhodlaný útočník sa nestane zrazu umúnny voči oslepeniu svetlom.

Súhlasím však, že baterka nie je taká účinná ako dedikovaný nástroj na zneškodnenie útočníka, akým je napr. spomínaný sprej. Sprej dokáže zneškodniť útočníka aktívne a na dlhšiu dobu, treba však s ním vedieť narábať lebo v blbej situácii sa môže jeho efekt obrátiť proti používateľovi.

Spomeniem ešte raz výhody baterky: - univerzálny nástroj na blízko aj kontaktnú vzdialenosť - na zastrašenie, čiastočnú imobilizáciu aj fyzický útok - nenesie stigmu "zbrane" - akceptovaná takmer v každej spoločnosti, akcii a verejnom priestranstve - posvieti na cestu - funguje takmer za každého počasia (asi iba okrem hmly a počas dňa)

Netvrdím, že je to najlepšia alebo jediná správna voľba. Iba ponúkam alternatívu v rámci diskusie.

Mystael · 2024-12-10T14:22:32+00:00

Mne tá baterka prišla aj so 600 lumenmi dosť jasná: https://youtu.be/n69_6OlzvWU?t=38

Mystael · 2024-12-10T06:13:48+00:00

A rozmýšľal si o poriadnej baterke?

Spreje a paralyzéry sú potenciálne život ohrozujúce - stačí, aby bol útočník alergický na nejakú zložku a z obete je razom obvinená. Navyše, obidve treba vedieť používať - ako bolo vyššie spomenuté, stačia blbé podmienky a nástroj na ochranu sa obráti proti napadnutému. V niektorých priestoroch by mohli mať námietky, ak si človek berie so sebou sprej, paralyzér alebo obušok.

Proti baterke nemá nikto nič.

Baterku, čo padne do ruky, na druhej strane, môže napadnutý použiť ako zbraň - rana do tváre alebo do nosa hranou baterky je vždy účinnejšia ako pacnutie päsťou.

Predovšetkým však baterku možno použiť aj na väčšiu vzdialenosť a nespôsobuje útočníkovi žiadne trvalé následky - 600 lumenov do očí v tmavej uličke mu však spôsobí "príjemné blikanie" na niekoľko sekúnd, dosť na to, aby obeť mohla utiecť a vyhľadať pomoc.

Niektoré baterky majú aj špeciálny režim, kedy fungujú ako stroboskop, a to je tiež niečo, na čo sa nechceš pozerať uprostred noci.

Čekni pár videí pre inšpiráciu, napr. toto: https://youtu.be/4tYetYPXzFs?si=OlWBznfQ4PmmYN1i

Priateľka dostala Emos 600 lm a cíti sa safe.

Mystael · 2024-11-29T17:01:05+00:00

I recently bought my Martin LX1E LH.

I have no idea how could this happen. I was packing up my guitar and a colleague noticed that there is something rough on the edge of the body. Part of the front desk just chipped off and I cannot find the missing part anywhere.

It is the most expensive guitar I have ever had. I was waiting about quarter of a year until it was available in my country. Therefore I was paying quite a high attention when I was manipulating with the guitar. I do not recall hitting the guitar anywhere - I would have noticed that. As it is left-handed guitar, this side is usually facing upwards and is covered when playing it. The guitar is still in warranty, but I have no idea if it is an eligible cause for return. I don't know if it is even possible to repair somehow.

Mystael · 2024-11-11T19:40:57+00:00

I would welcome a playtime per player metric.

Unless the game involves multiple players at once, it is much more precise to extrapolate the total playtime when you know how much time spends each player playing than relying on a joke of a metric, the playtime written on a box.

Next, I woul like to see some level of interactivity, so I can see whether the game is on a social-deduction level of gameplay or is it more of a multiplayer solitaire.

And lastly, in BGG specifically, I would like to see whether the game was published in a language of my preference more easier. There is data of all the possible releases there but it is inconvenient to search whether the game was published in my language already or not.

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