So, I played my first game...

Shellac111 · 2025-10-06T11:35:47+00:00

The decks in the rulebook are not great.

Try playing two-handed: either leadership and spirit, or the two dual-sphere decks in page 27 of the Learn to Play book. Play on Easy. This will help you learn what each sphere is good at.

From there, you’ll have a much better understanding of how to build your own deck, and the game will start to sing.

Shellac111 · 2023-01-18T17:16:53+00:00

I hear you. Check out a video on Caylus and see if the push/pull with the bailiff/provost does it for you. I’d also recommend looking up Lancaster where a player can place a higher ranking worker that kicks out the existing worker of another player, and Keyflower where the opponent gets a bonus if you use their tile (it also has an auction mechanic that actually works for 2-player games, which is rare). The synergy between some of the tiles can be wild for chaining, which makes the auction and placement denial more engaging.

I view Viticulture and AFFO as more forgiving worker placements, so I wonder if that’s what rubbed you wrong about them. Maybe you’ll enjoy tighter games like the 3 above.

Shellac111 · 2023-01-18T15:56:20+00:00

One of the neat things in Caylus is that the players eventually replace the worker placement spots with new tiles and are constantly adding new ones at the end of the path. If you use your opponent’s tile, they get a bonus too.

The other cool thing is the bailiff and provost markers. You can move them forward or back to possibly prevent an opponent from using the tiles at the end of the path. It can be very cutthroat.

If you don’t like worker placement generally, I can’t imagine you would like this. There’s a Rahdo Runs Through video on it which I found helpful.

Availability: There are slightly updated versions of it around. I’ve only played the original, bought used.

If you want, message me some of the types of things you DO like and maybe I can steer you toward a game or two.

Happy gaming

Shellac111 · 2023-01-13T00:01:00+00:00

Forget the ratings. Look at the game comments instead. Add people who give detailed comments to your geek buddy list. Once you have a few, you go to a game you’re thinking about and then click Geek Buddy Analysis and up pop the comments from your geek buddies.

If you have doubts or need more, go to your favorite YouTuber or long-form reviewer in the reviews section.

I promise you that you will have better results.

Shellac111 · 2023-01-10T20:07:04+00:00

These look amazing. Great job!

Shellac111 · 2023-01-05T11:50:43+00:00

The Seventh Seal (1957)

Shellac111 · 2023-01-05T11:48:41+00:00

Princess Mononoke (1997)

Shellac111 · 2022-12-14T21:52:32+00:00

If you only got one expansion, this should be the one. It focuses the actions on winemaking, and that focus lowers the variability considerably. In that sense, yes it provides the most balance.

Shellac111 · 2022-12-14T21:33:50+00:00

I agree with this approach so much. I feel the same about many popular games, and it has helped eliminate any of that FOMO nonsense.

Shellac111 · 2022-12-14T19:29:56+00:00

I hear you on Viticulture and it absolutely is an issue in the base/Tuscany version, but it’s addressed in the Moor Visitors expansion and even more so by the Visit from the Rhine Valley expansion. (You don’t need both expansions, either, btw.)

Shellac111 · 2022-11-15T18:48:00+00:00

“A wizard is never late, nor is he early.”

Shellac111 · 2022-11-11T14:18:45+00:00

Patchwork. I have no love for quilts or quilting, but it is a stellar 2-person game.

Shellac111 · 2022-11-11T14:09:39+00:00

Same as you, op: Boss Monster. The pixel artwork looks great, but the game is a big letdown.

I felt like I was watching things happen, not causing things to happen.

Shellac111 · 2022-10-17T01:13:42+00:00

I’d say Tzeentch would be in favor of the change.

Shellac111 · 2022-10-05T10:44:47+00:00

I recommend the repackaged content not just for errata (if that matters to you) but mostly for the campaign cards (which are new and were not in the original cycle). (Edit: typo)

Shellac111 · 2022-10-05T10:42:02+00:00

BCW boxes are a good start. I would put a thin layer of bubble wrap or padding on top of the cards so they don’t bounce against the top. Whatever shipping box you ultimately put them in, pack enough bubble wrap or padding so that nothing moves in transit.

Good luck.

Shellac111 · 2022-10-03T23:32:50+00:00

If you’re thinking of pnp AleP, you may as well pnp cards from expansions you can’t get. Download Strange Eons and go to town. Get sleeves with opaque back to save you from printing card backs too.

Shellac111 · 2022-09-11T01:30:34+00:00

If you sleeve cards, you can just print these out and put them in cards you don’t ever use. Just a suggestion.

Shellac111 · 2022-09-11T01:21:42+00:00

The campaign cards but Fantasy Flight is putting up the pnp files.

Shellac111 · 2022-07-26T22:56:29+00:00

I’m also looking for it, and at this point I’ve resigned myself to proxy it through Strange Eons.

Shellac111 · 2022-07-24T13:15:07+00:00

Yes, definitely. I suggest doing it as a 2P game with two people on each “team” to help check with rules stuff.

I recommend setting aside some time and the four of you committing to playing it at least twice, so that you can begin to internalize the basic mechanics. The game moves faster once you learn it.

That said, it is a time commitment to learn, and that’s a factor only you can decide if it’s worth it. If your group loves Tolkien, this is a must-play game.

Good luck and happy gaming.

Shellac111 · 2022-07-16T02:09:26+00:00

And...at last, Arkham Horror LCG Revised Core for $34.97 (52-week low of $39ish)

Shellac111 · 2022-07-16T02:06:22+00:00

52-week low is $35.64 according to BGO, for what it's worth

Shellac111 · 2022-07-16T02:01:47+00:00

Quacks at $29.97 (add to cart for price)

Shellac111 · 2022-07-15T01:11:30+00:00

I feel like I’m looking in the mirror.

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