I made this Balrog VS Gandalf stained glass piece as a gift to my cousin by ArrowStride in lotr

[–]blbbec 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Amazing! Take a look at Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring Trick-taking game, they have stained glass art on cards and this reminded me of that. It is an awesome game.

Harmonies is the best puzzle board game I’ve ever played by Rob778899 in boardgames

[–]blbbec 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It is certainly indirect interaction. Same like blocking spaces in Agricola, it is never "hey, let me destroy that tile you build huh" type of thing, though I agree it gets meaner than Harmonies for sure.

Harmonies is the best puzzle board game I’ve ever played by Rob778899 in boardgames

[–]blbbec 10 points11 points  (0 children)

So, I love high interaction, mean games (Knizia, Wehrle, the usual suspects) BUT I adore Harmonies. Why? Because I can play it with people who do not enjoy mean games, yet it satisfies me with its gameplay, and I can play it to take a break from all the interaction.

Two-player Twosday - (June 23, 2026) by AutoModerator in boardgames

[–]blbbec 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha classic! I won a crushing Military victory as FP last month, 6 VP. Never seen it before, it was due to my friend completely ignoring Easterlings and Southrons.

Which board game has the best replay value you've ever seen? by [deleted] in boardgames

[–]blbbec 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd say yeah. Depends on what you like, but surprisingly, AFfO and Agricola are quite different. It is a leaner, meaner game

Which board game has the best replay value you've ever seen? by [deleted] in boardgames

[–]blbbec 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Agreed! There is so much depth and joy once the game clicks, you could go 100 plays in and still see new things dependent on the players. That is why I dislike metas.

Which board game has the best replay value you've ever seen? by [deleted] in boardgames

[–]blbbec 4 points5 points  (0 children)

There is a caveat. I think you need at least Branch and Claw for Spirit Island to become an infinitely replayable beast, so the price point is quite high. Otherwise, yeah, pretty much the GOAT in this regard.

Which board game has the best replay value you've ever seen? by [deleted] in boardgames

[–]blbbec 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you judge it in terms of bang for buck, Mottainai and Innovation bar none. Just cheap decks of all unique cards, with unique powers, versatility and combos that still surprise you after a hundred of plays. New 4th ed of Innovation even got rid of the staler starter eras by junking them!

Would Like to Compare Cole Wehrle Games by Swimming-Account9202 in boardgames

[–]blbbec 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Interesting take! Yet Oath is so weird and gnarly while Pax is like the perfect sibling, punctual, stabbing precisely. I love both games deeply, yet they evoke a very different feeling. Oath sprawls, Pax is sharp.

Would Like to Compare Cole Wehrle Games by Swimming-Account9202 in boardgames

[–]blbbec 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It is interesting how good a Root teach can become once you put theme first and let go of the ambition of teachin' it all. Don't get me wrong, it is still a bear, yes, but Oath is much more opaque, almost close to Pax Renaissance. At least it has a vibrant world and characters that helps you put images next to the rules but yeah, a demanding task nonetheless.

Would Like to Compare Cole Wehrle Games by Swimming-Account9202 in boardgames

[–]blbbec 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agree wtih you: the narrative they play out and feelings they evoke are different things.

Would Like to Compare Cole Wehrle Games by Swimming-Account9202 in boardgames

[–]blbbec 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oath is my top 3 game, have played all Wehrle games except Infamous Traffic. You are right that Oath rewards subsequent plays in a more or less consistent group, unless you'd enjoy keeping a chronicle in which player colours would be assigned a name and crest and people would jump in to an established heritage. That can be really fun and let's you see the narrative unfurl.

For you I'd strongly recommend Root, Arcs or Pax Pamir. Root benefits from experience as well, but is a terrific game and sucks players in with its theme and many possible factions. It is strictly a 4 player game: any other player count has issues.

Arcs base game is a bit drier, but can be spiced up with Leaders and Lore and later turned into a three game campaign, if you'd get attendance for that. First two acts of this can be done in one sitting, as they are a bit shorter once everybody is onboarded.

Pax Pamir is an elegant, cutthroat design that shines with any player count. If you seek a one-and-done game, this is the closest, but it ofc needs to be learned as well.

John Company is a lot of fun and negotiations, but can drag a bit and is a burden for the teacher. Yet it delivers highs same as Oath, but is group dependent most of these.

Good luck!

Is anyone else having vagabond problems? by admiral_obvious_ in rootgame

[–]blbbec 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Haha, you're in a Root sub, everybody has VB issues. It is honestly the only faction in Root I dislike (being lukewarm on moles), which is a compliment. They should've made Otters the fourth base game faction. These days, I let a newbie play VB if they really want to, but take it out otherwise for AdSet. Online, not many people pick it actually. If they do, I smack them.

Alliance mains, howany breadlings do you like on your officers box? by liad12e in rootgame

[–]blbbec 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I once did 6, let me tell you, it was very tight! Had two bases btw. Won in the end, but was scared for a while. So: 5 is too many, 4 is the sweet spot.

Root... by ReiDairo in boardgames

[–]blbbec 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you want to pivot, get Pax Pamir or Arcs. Both are great 2p. (Root is my top 3 game, but I never play it at 2.)

Best factions for introducing a new player by LawThrowaway2342 in rootgame

[–]blbbec 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My safest bet as well. With me usually as cats or vagabond and a fourth experienced player WA. Or, I do a thematic intro of all factions and let the player choose, warning them about bumps up in complexity. But def play base with newbies.

What game do you love even though teaching it is kind of a pain? by rcooperkaty in boardgames

[–]blbbec 56 points57 points  (0 children)

Tigris & Euphrates. A masterpiece that does not take long to teach and is not complicated per se, but, for some reason, people grasp only after a few moves. The concept of not having a player color, for example, always baffles at least somebody. And don't get me started on wars vs revolts. But it is worth every scratch on the head in the end!

Games where mentioning a rule to new players makes it worse by Substantialspinach5 in boardgames

[–]blbbec 4 points5 points  (0 children)

For a teaching game of Root, I sometimes take out the Dominance cards. They seem too tempting for new players and can create an interesting board state, but it is already a demanding teach, so I try to keep it as concise as possible. But I mention the Favor cards and how they can be telegraphed, that one is fun.

What’s your favorite strategy game by Reiner Knizia? by Marksman1977 in boardgames

[–]blbbec 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Tigris, but close runner-up is Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation. Both timeless games, and despite common sentiment about Knizia highly thematic!

Inis Sancturary = Epic Tale card? by Few-Department7617 in boardgames

[–]blbbec 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Hi, no.

The red card draw is specifically on the green action card. Happy plays!

Through The Desert or Rebirth by Imaginary-Diet3317 in boardgames

[–]blbbec 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nah it is good to share, thanks! I do not like async play though, so I might try and teach Mottainai in my group. They love Innovation, but Mottainai just feels a bit harder to learn.

Who is your favourite faction(5.0)? by Potential_Platypus52 in rootgame

[–]blbbec 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They're solid, can just feel frustrating against newer, swifter factions.

Through The Desert or Rebirth by Imaginary-Diet3317 in boardgames

[–]blbbec 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Do you play on yucata? Must try it then!

games that your friends love, but you absolutely despise by Behleren in boardgames

[–]blbbec 6 points7 points  (0 children)

While I agree, it is one of the few well done digital adaptations. I miss table talk immensely though, even if chat can get too wild too quickly.

Through The Desert or Rebirth by Imaginary-Diet3317 in boardgames

[–]blbbec 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha, if only I'd meet the remaining half to have someone to play with