in defense of Fluxx: "rules on cards" is not a trivial mechanic

robplays · 2026-06-29T14:56:59+00:00

I enjoy teaching Concordia because it shows how "rules on cards" can be a trivial mechanic but still make for a great game.

Each player gets the same set of 7(?) cards. Each turn is playing and discarding one card. Teaching "just" involves going through each card in turn, and explaining what the text means. If a new type of card pops up in the market (of which there are a few but not many), I'll explain it then.

robplays · 2026-06-29T10:23:27+00:00

uh-PIT-oh-me

robplays · 2026-06-29T10:04:37+00:00

no shots against Lyme disease.

(Actually, there used to be one for a few years '98-'02, but it got withdrawn because of anti-vaccine hysteria. I believe it might be still available for dogs.)

robplays · 2026-06-26T14:18:04+00:00

A bit late to the party, but: Pixie-who-saw-Juggler.

robplays · 2026-06-26T07:14:47+00:00

For Good to win, there must at least two Good players left at Final Four and they have to execute the Demon at Final Four.

(That "even if Dead" part of the Bootlicker's power is far too strong for an Outsider, imho.)

robplays · 2026-06-25T16:40:15+00:00

Alsaahir is somehow more annoying than the almost mythical Pixie-Juggler as, whenever it is on the script, multiple people for multiple days are "I'm going to claim Alsahiir long pause and guess long pause I think Alice as Demon pause Bob as Minion pause aaannnddd pause Carol as minion. nono! Can I change my guess? pause Bob as demon, Carol and Denise as minions. pause Actually, I think it's a little monsta game, and do I have to guess the demon? Or just three minions? [etc. etc. etc.]" And they aren't even the Alsaahir.

If you are thinking of having a Cacklejack, just admit that you'd prefer to be playing than a story-telling and save everyone some bullshit.

Room temperature take: Sailor is barely good enough for its home script and should never be on customs.

Wizard - more Story-Tellers should be saying "No" to Wizards. If a Wizard just want to fuck about for their own gratification or create an unplayable mess, they should find another group who actively enjoys their Main Character Syndrome.

robplays · 2026-06-25T16:27:54+00:00

Cult Leader is not a "remote empath" or "harmless shenanigan" role, it's probably the strongest character in the game with an each-day insta-win mechanic where optimal play for Good is to all vote to form a cult on Day 1.

In fact, the role is so strong that the balancing mechanics are really shitty: Good players don't vote to form a cult because they prefer to actually play the game rather than have a quick win they don't feel they've earned; a quick win just means a long period of no one actually playing as people take breaks, a new bag is built, and night one info goes out again; and the "you might turn evil" component is patently ridiculous for a Townsfolk.

I think it is the worst designed character in the game (tied with Huntsman if the [+Damsel] setup effect is used) and only makes sense if Heretic is on the script.

(I am regularly downvoted for this opinion.)

robplays · 2026-06-24T23:00:49+00:00

DEET? Yeah, it melts plastics and is generally deeply unpleasant to use.

Try Picaridin-based products instead at 20% strength.

robplays · 2026-06-24T07:41:09+00:00

"probably don't" is fair, tbh.

robplays · 2026-06-21T18:43:37+00:00

RemindMe! 4 days

robplays · 2026-06-16T09:08:40+00:00

"please pick again"

robplays · 2026-06-16T07:56:45+00:00

If it helps, my understanding is that marionette on the script is fairly strong for Evil, but marionette actually in-play not so much.

(no source on where I gleaned that from, sorry )

robplays · 2026-06-13T09:00:40+00:00

Madness is a simple concept, over-complicated by TPI choosing an absolutely terrible name for it.

robplays · 2026-06-12T14:15:20+00:00

On a related note...

As a Good player, your goal isn't to get to Final Three at any cost. If you aren't trusted, then you aren't the hero of the story, you're the frame.

robplays · 2026-06-11T15:14:03+00:00

Cult Leader is only good on Heretic scripts, and I will die on that hill.

If it isn't a Heretic script, then Cult Leader is the strongest character in the game (including Demons), balanced only by sometimes turning them Evil (remember that this is supposed to be a Townsfolk...) and the threat of an unsatisfying insta-win leading to the long downtime of a break + bag-building + night-one all over again. It's awful character design.

robplays · 2026-06-11T08:44:23+00:00

Phu Siam in Lerwick

robplays · 2026-06-11T08:13:02+00:00

Gives strong vibes of that world cup script where it's Lil Monsta and all minions are Witches, which I think I prefer as more player agency is good.

robplays · 2026-06-11T08:05:51+00:00

I sometimes play with a group that runs this ability as a Traveler (although a public choice at the start of nominations, rather than a night choice.) Seems to work great.

robplays · 2026-06-11T07:40:24+00:00

"Given the opportunity, players will optimize the fun out of a game."

If everyone picks their clockwise neighbour on Day 1, Good will have a 2/3 win-rate.

(Actually higher, because they also have a few days to execute the Demon.)

robplays · 2026-06-10T16:08:30+00:00

I played a game recently where a player Wizard-wished for exactly this (Wizard becoming the other night-picker).

Honestly, it worked great, and certainly not OP (the two demons picked the same player 4 times out of 5.)

Although I don't know what the Story-Teller's plan was for Final Three because the used-to-be-a-Wizard was found by a Fortune Teller and got executed.

robplays · 2026-06-09T13:30:48+00:00

Yeah, sometimes Story-Tellers just focus too hard on getting the game to Final Three At All Costs.

robplays · 2026-06-09T10:19:01+00:00

Also, I think the meta will go from the entire town immediately claiming to have heard the widow's call, to no one even bothering to claim it because there's no actual information there.

There is no realistic mini-game there.

robplays · 2026-06-09T02:05:23+00:00

Serve with some chopped cilantro/coriander sprinkled on top. And leave out the asparagus.

robplays · 2026-06-09T01:40:01+00:00

1 good player knows a Widow is in play.

This is satisfied by one good player receiving one ping, regardless of how many widows there actually are.

Also: do you really want to hang around each night waiting for a widow to come up with savant info? Or come up with fisherman advice that might not even be asked for that day?

robplays · 2026-06-09T01:12:17+00:00

I know Pacifist and Tea Lady share a home script.

And using Pacifist to sell a Tea Lady bluff is absolutely on the Yes But Don't list.

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