Table Flips Ep. 8 Avalon: The Riven Veil

Ep 7: Packaging your game in a weird-sized box doesn't make your game stand out. And if you put your game in a tin, you're just a jerk.
In-Person: packaging your game in a weird size box doesn't make your game stand out. And if you put your game in a tin, you're just a jerk.
Ep 7: Welcome to Table Flips, a podcast by two grown men who spend more time analyzing game mechanics than their personal life choices. That's okay, right? Right?
In-Person: Welcome to Table Flips, a podcast by two grown men who spend more time analyzing game mechanics than their personal life choices. That's okay, right? Right? Is that how you got that Reiner Kenitsa tattoo? Shh, don't tell me.
Ep 7: Shhh, don't tell anyone. I'm Blake Adams, and with me as always is Travis Bridges. On this week's episode, we'll be talking about the games we've been playing. I'm calling a game that only lasted a short time. Travis is flipping some tables. And then we'll conclude with our featured review, Avalon the Riven Vell, making us wonder, is it okay to just be pretty? Or do you really need a personality?
In-Person: Travis Bridges. On this week's episode, we'll be talking about the games we've been playing. I'm calling the game that only lasted a short time. Travis is flipping some tables. And then we'll conclude with our featured review, Avalon the Riven Bell, making us wonder, is it okay to just be pretty? Or do you really need a personality? So, first, let's talk about Super Auto Pets Card Battle. this is by Nick
Ep 7: first, let's talk about Super Auto Pets Card Battle. This is by Nick
In-Person: Conley, published by PladAc Games in 2026. Super Auto Pets Card Battle is based on a free to play video and mobile game released in 2021. Super Auto Pets Card Battle was released from a Kickstarter in three different small box sets, or you can get them all in one big deluxe battle box.
Ep 7: Auto Pets Card Battle is based on a free-to-play video and mobile game released in 2021. Super Auto Pets Card Battle released from a Kickstarter in three different small box sets, or you can get them all in one big deluxe battle box. In Super Auto Pets Card Battle, you play seven rounds with increasingly better pets available in each round.
In-Person: in Super Auto Pets card battle, you play seven rounds with increasingly better pets available in each round.
Ep 7: And the winner of each auto battle round gets a trophy. And the seventh round is worth two trophies. So that makes it less likely that there's a tie, which you know I hate. round you will buy three cards, which are either new pets or perks. You can only have five pets for each auto battle.
In-Person: And the winner of each auto battle round gets a trophy. And the seventh rounds were two trophies. So that makes it less likely that there's a tie, which you know I hate. each round you will buy three cards, which are either new pets or perks. You can only have five pets for each auto battle.
Ep 7: And pets and perks carry over from round to round. So you'll need to either sell pets for food, trade the pets that have the same hat symbol.
In-Person: And pets and perks carry over from round to round. So you'll need to either sell the pets for food, trade the pets that have the same hat symbol for a pet of a round after the one you're in, so it's like an exclusive upgrade. and you manage your hand of pets, which becomes very interesting after the third round because now you have a whole bunch of pets you have to figure out what combinations you want to keep.
Ep 7: for a pet of a round after the one you're in so it's like an exclusive upgrade. and you manage your hand of pets, which becomes very interesting after the third round because now you have a whole bunch of pets you have figure out what combinations you want to keep. And then you have a battle prep phase where you're gonna range all of your pets in a stack with their food buffs and then auto battle with the other player.
In-Person: And then you have a battle prep phase where you're gonna range all of your pets in a stack with their food buffs and then auto battle with the other player. Blake, what did you think? You see, I came in with low expectations.
Ep 7: Wait, what did you think? You see, I came in with low expectations with this one. I thought it was more of a joke, mass market game, and
In-Person: James.
Ep 7: holy crap, I had fun. Was it very strategic game that I want to play all the time? Definitely not. Did I thoroughly
In-Person: Definitely not. Did I
Ep 7: enjoy myself and want to play again? Definitely. Did I have to hold myself back not to buy the battle pack, which comes with everything totally blinged out? Yep, I did. Would I blame anyone who did buy it? Nope.
In-Person: Definitely. Did I have to hold myself back not to buy the battle pack, which comes with everything totally gleaned out? Yep, I did. But I blame anyone who did buy it. Nope. Because if you really enjoyed it, then go for it. I'll stick with the retail copy though. I got the deluxe. I got the deluxe. It's pretty, it's pretty. I enjoyed reading the abilities of all the animals, and I love how as the game progresses, the animals get cooler abilities.
Ep 7: Because if you really enjoyed it, then go for it. I'll stick with the retail copy though. It's pretty, it's pretty. I enjoyed reading the abilities of all the animals, and I love how as the game progresses the animals get cooler abilities. It was fun trying to outwit my opponent when trying to figure out what order I wanted to place my pets to destroy their pets. The cards are cute.
In-Person: It was fun trying to outwit my opponent when trying to figure out what order I wanted to place my pets to destroy their pets. The cards are cute, there's just enough complexity, but not too much. I felt like it had some good choices to make, and you had a good sense of agency. It's definitely a deceptive
Ep 7: There's just enough complexity, but not too much. I felt like it had some good choices to make and you had a good sense of agency. It's definitely intercepted.
In-Person: game. there's a quite a bit of thought and planning that goes into how you combo the pets together and you have to maximize their value. Making sure that you buy pets with the same hats so that you can trade them in at the right time, especially when they become obsolete. and also understanding what the other player is doing and trying to counter that when you go to buy your pets. this is gonna get comparisons to tag team, I think. I mean the auto battles.
Ep 7: I think. I mean the auto battles.
In-Person: I actually like this more than tag team. tag team's definitely cool and hip, and it's infinitely expandable.
Ep 7: I actually like this more than Tag Team. Tag Team's definitely cool and hip and it's infinitely expandable. but I think the thought that goes into super is at a higher level.
In-Person: but I think the thought that goes into super auto pets is at a higher level.
Ep 7: I completely agree. I mean I enjoyed tag team, but super auto pets, battle, I mean, that really I mean, sunk its teeth into me a little bit. If I'm nitpicky
In-Person: If I knit kicky,
Ep 7: It lasted a little longer than I wanted it to. It kind of overstayed its welcome just a little. Kinda like a guest that you have to hint at one too many times to leave, and then they finally do leave, but you still had a good time. Maybe ten or fifteen minutes too long. That's it. It's not a long game. It's not that big of a critique or a big deal. With more plays, it'll probably get a lot better length for me. I just want to actually try all the other decks now.
In-Person: it lasted a little longer than I wanted it to. It kinda overstayed its welcome just a little. Kinda like a guess that you have to hit that one too many times to leave and then they finally do leave, but we still had a good time. Maybe ten or fifteen minutes too long. That's it. It's not a long game. It's not that big of a critique or a big deal. With more plays it would probably get a lot better link for me. I just want to actually try all the other decks now. I think I think that's the only knock against it. We But you can't really make it shorter. You would lose some of the progression of the game if you were to try and shorten it to five rounds, for instance. I think this is where tag team, you
Ep 7: Definitely
In-Person: know, comes back into the discussion. I I still like tag team a lot because that game really refuses to go more than 30 minutes. but I get much more think out of Super Auto Pets card battle. also I have the deluxe box, and it's awesome.
Ep 7: I still like tag team a lot because that game really refuses to go more than thirty minutes. but I get much more think when I super open that's card battle. also I have the deluxe box and it's awesome. It's pretty.
In-Person: knocks about buying any of the the
Ep 7: single sets. especially since you don't really mix the sets together. I played the classic one and the golden one so far, and they're both good and stand on their out you know, their own right. So you just buy one and you're you're pretty sad for a while.
In-Person: single sets. especially since you don't really mix the sets together. I played the classic one and the golden one so far, and they're both good and stand on their out you know, their own right. So you just buy one and you're you're pretty set for a while 'cause it's just it's just a lot of fun right out of the box.
Ep 7: And I'm curious about that magic pack. I want to try that one soon as well.
In-Person: Yeah, I think I think I'm gonna get to that very, very soon. I think my daughter loves playing this game, so we'll we're gonna get to it pretty quick. So that's Super Auto Pets
Ep 7: So that's super autopets.
In-Person: Card Battle, by Nick Conley and published by Plat Hat in twenty twenty six. What's next, Travis?
Ep 7: What's next, Travis?
In-Person: I played Ezra and Nehemiah. This is from Garfield, SJ McDonald, and Shem Phillips in twenty twenty-four. Ezra and Nehemiah is set in the sixth century BC.
Ep 7: Set in the 6th century BC during the reign of Persian Cyrus the Great. If you don't know, Cyrus freed the Jewish people from Babylonian captivity, allowed displaced Jews to return to Zion to be repatriated, towards the kingdom of Judah, and enabled Jewish sovereignty. In Ezra and Nehemiah, you are contributing to rebuilding the Second Temple.
In-Person: during the reign of Persian Cyrus the Great, if you don't know, Cyrus freed the Jewish people from Babylonian captivity, allowed displaced Jews to return to Zion to be repatriated to what was the kingdom of Judah, and enabled Jewish sovereignty. in Nez Ezra Nehemiah, you are contributing to rebuilding the Second Temple
Ep 7: And walls of Jerusalem, you're reteaching the Torah to returning exiles.
In-Person: and Walls of Jerusalem. You're reteaching the Torah to returning exiles.
Ep 7: you also have a personal board that represents your development of the land. there are areas of the main board where you can travel, you can stoke the fires of the altar.
In-Person: you also have a personal board that represents your development of the land. there are areas of the main board where you can travel, you can stoke the fires of the altar.
Ep 7: The game plays over three weeks, and each week you will take six actions representing Sunday to Friday.
In-Person: The game plays over three weeks, and each week you will take six actions representing Sunday to Friday.
Ep 7: Then there's an end of round Sabbath where you will face the prophet's judgment. And there's an interim upkeep and scoring phase. what makes this game cool is the action selection in this game is guided by a hand of four cards dealt from a personal deck of 11 shuffled cards. It's not a deck building game, those are the 11 cards you get for the entire game.
In-Person: Then there's an end of round Sabbath, where he will face the Prophet's judgment. And there's an interim upkeep and scoring phase. what makes this game cool is the action selection in this game is guided by a hand of four cards dealt from a personal deck of 11 shuffled cards. It's not a deck building game. Those are the 11 cards you get for the entire game. And all those are the same between all the players.
Ep 7: And all those are the same between all the players. each of the cards has three banners in the upper left-hand corner, which can come in three colors representing the three main areas of the board. You have the temple, the walls and gates, and the Torah and travel area.
In-Person: each of the cards has three banners in the upper left-hand corner, which can come in three colors representing the three main areas of the board. You have the temple, the walls and gates, and the Torah and travel area. And each day you'll play a card to your personal board, and then we'll choose one of the three areas that take an action. And the strength of the action is the number of visible banners on your played cards. Now, since you only have three spots on your personal board.
Ep 7: And each day you'll play a card to your personal board, and then we'll choose one of the three areas to take an action. And the strength of the action is the number of visible banners on your played cards. Now, since you only have three spots on your personal board, when it gets to Wednesday, you have to cover up one of your previously played cards. So it's constantly changing the number of visible banners you have and the relative strengths of the actions you can take.
In-Person: When it gets to Wednesday, you have to cover up one of your previously played cards. So it's constantly changing the number of visible banners you have and the relative strengths of the actions you can take. I think the planning of this is glorious. And at the end of each round, you have to take one of those cards, such as they show one permanent banner and one end of round scoring condition, and tuck it.
Ep 7: I think the planning of this is glorious. And at the end of each round, you have to take one of those cards, such as they show one permanent banner and one end-of-round scoring condition, and tuck it. Which means you won't have that card available to you for the rest of the game. Each card also has a unique trading ability, so then you lose that trade ability also. So it's a great tightrope to walk trying to figure out.
In-Person: Which means you won't have that card available to you for the rest of the game. each card also has a unique trading ability, so then you lose that trade ability also. So it's a great tightrope to walk trying to figure out what card scores you the most points, but what abilities you're going to lose if you score that card. on previous episodes I've said I'm a Garfield fanboy. And Ezra and Nehemiah is the Garfil team.
Ep 7: What card scores you the most points, but what abilities you're going to lose if you score that previous episodes, I've said I'm a Garfill fanboy. And Ezra and Nehemiah is the Garfield team working on all cylinders. It is the most pinky of their games I have played. Perhaps rivaled by only scholars of the South Tiger setting.
In-Person: Working on all cylinders. It is the most thinky of their games that I have played. perhaps rivaled by only scholars of the South Tigris, I think. if Paladins of the West Kingdom is my Blues Brothers, my favorite movie, Ezra and Nehemiah's 2001 is Space Odyssey. Whereas I think like playing Paladins of the West Kingdom the most out of all their games.
Ep 7: If Paladins of West Kingdom is my Loose Brothers, my favorite movie, Ezra and Anamaya's two thousand one is Space Honesty. Whereas I think like playing Paladins of the West Kingdom the most in other games, I think Ezra will likely be number one on my list for the most complete game in Dark Hill. Wow, did not expect that. it's not a perfect game. It's very abstract.
In-Person: I think Ezra will likely be number one on my list for the most complete game from Garfield that I played. I did not expect that. it's not a perfect game. It's very abstract, and that will turn a lot of people off. The tent track, it's just a track. The blessings tracks, it's more tracks. And when you think about the temple and Torah areas are only thematic if you want them to be so. They're still very, very abstract. Also, the board and the
Ep 7: Tent track, it's just a track. Lessing's tracks, it's more tracks. And when you think about the temple, the Torah areas are only fanatic if you want them to be so. They're still very, very abstract. Also, the board and the box are too small. the board plays really, really busy. That board needs to be 30% bigger to make it better.
In-Person: Box are too small. the board plays really, really busy. That board needs to be 30% bigger to make it better. the whole scale of the game just needs to expand a little bit. Trying to fit everything back in that box is very, very difficult. It yeah, a lot of their small box games
Ep 7: The whole scale of the game just needs to expand a little bit. Trying to fit everything back in a box is very, very difficult. Man, I feel like that's typical with them. It yeah, a lot of other small box games.
In-Person: I'm I'm fine with.
Ep 7: But that one just, it's a big game in a very small box. But what you get is a cohesive, internally consistent puzzle that is not a head-down experience like some of the other Garfield games. This game has, I saw 3,600 ratings in its two years of release, and it's still rated 8.1 on BGG.
In-Person: But that one just it's a big game in a very small box. but what you get is a cohesive, internally consistent puzzle that is not a head down experience like some of the other Garfield games. this game has I saw thirty six hundred ratings in its two years of release, and it's still rated an eight point one on BGG. So I don't know if it'll crack the top one hundred because of the theme and the barrier to entry, but I think
Ep 7: So I don't know if it'll crack the top 100 because of the theme and the barrier to entry, but I think it should be there. Now, Travis, I I've been hearing recently more about this game, but as you said, it came out in 2024. Is there any reason
In-Person: It should be there.
Ep 7: why I'm starting to hear more about it now? Do they republish it or reprint it? I I don't think so.
In-Person: I I don't think so. I don't I don't know. I think it's it's kind of one of those word of mouth games I think that you just you see it on the shelf and it's like I'm not playing that game. Like I don't I mean there's there's nothing that's gonna draw you to play the game, but if you played other Garfield games, you fall right in into it. I mean it's just the iconography is very familiar.
Ep 7: It's it's kind of one of those word of mouth games I think that you just you see it on the shelf and it's like I'm not playing that game. It's Like I don't I mean there's there's nothing that's gonna draw you to play the game, but if you played other Garfield games, you fall right in into it. I mean it's just the iconography is very familiar. and so even though it's a longer game, you don't feel like it's overly complex.
In-Person: and so even though it's a longer game, you don't feel like it's overly complex. I just think people need to
Ep 7: I just think people need to
In-Person: get get it to the table or get exposed to it and I think eventually it'll start to rise in the the ratings. I really think it's that good.
Ep 7: get get it to the table or I really think it's that good. Well you got me excited about the game and I'll be honest, I didn't realize that it was a Garfield game by Phillips and McDonald.
In-Person: Well you got me excited about the game and I'll be honest, I didn't realize that it was a Garco game by Phillips and McDonald's.
Ep 7: now I have a background in the church and I'm definitely not knocking the church, but when I first heard about a game called Ezra and Nehemiah, I was quickly taken back to my days where Christians would
In-Person: A background in the church, and I'm definitely not knocking the church, but when I first heard about a game called Ezra and Nehemiah, I was quickly taken back to my days where Christians would do their thing and do a Christian version of something, and it was more about teaching a lesson than it was about good gameplay. So I'm glad to hear that this is not the case.
Ep 7: do their thing and do a Christian version of something and it was more about teaching a lesson than it was about good gameplay. So I'm glad to hear that this is not the case. And and I heard your thoughts about this last week. And I gotta say, Travis, actually already have my copy on the way because of this. You're turning me into a Garfield fan as well. I'll say that. You're just a
In-Person: And and I heard your thoughts about this last gotta say, Travis, I actually already have my copy on the way because of this. You're turning me into a Garpo fan as well. I'll say that. You're just a glutton, I think. I I'll tell you, I didn't learn really anything about this game that I didn't read on the internet. So It's it's very abstract. There's not really a whole lot of biblical lessons to pull out of it, but the art is very evocative, and I just I just love how thinky and puzzly the game is. So that's Ezra Nehemiah.
Ep 7: So that's Ezra now.
In-Person: That's from Garfield in 2024. All right, so let's talk about two trick takers that we played. The first one is Can't Win by Taiki Shinzawa.
Ep 7: So let's talk about two trick takers that we played. The first one is Can't Win by Taiki Shinzawa, published by Endgames in 2026. Now, Travis, this was a cute trick taker with art that looks like you're playing a 16-bit fantasy game on Nintendo. Again, it's from Japan with some fun twists, especially the scoring in this game. So this is a typical trick taker where you must follow suit, and there's a set trunk.
In-Person: Published by Endgames in twenty twenty six. Travis, this was a cute trick taker with art that looks like you're playing a sixteen bit fantasy game on Nintendo. Again, it's from Japan with some fun twists, especially the scoring in this game. So this is a typical trick taker where you must follow suit and there's a set trump.
Ep 7: Nothing special there.
In-Person: Nothing special there.
Ep 7: You only play as many rounds as there are players after a hand is dealt and you do deal all the cards, which I do like in this, then you go around doing one of two things. You either make a bid by grabbing these poker-like chips that have symbols of hearts like hit points in a video game. You make a bid of three, you grab three chips. Or you grab a constraint or call it a penalty.
In-Person: You only play as many rounds as there are players. After a hand is dealt and you do deal all the cards, which I do like in this, then you go around doing one of two things. You either make a bid by grabbing these poker-like chips that have symbols of parts like hit points in a video game. You make a bid of three, you grab three tricks. Or you grab a constraint or call it a penalty.
Ep 7: It's a tile that tells you how you cannot
In-Person: It's a tile that tells you how you cannot
Ep 7: win a trick. It might say you can't win when you play this suit or that suit, or you can't win when you play an even number card or an odd number card. So during the game, if you play a card that you have a constraint on, you play it sideways, showing everyone that you can't win this round, and your card is basically ignored. That was fun. Now after each round, you score points for each trick you take.
In-Person: win a trick. It might say you can't win when you play this suit or that suit or you can't win when you play an even number card or an odd number card. So during the game, if you play a card that you have a constraint on, you play it sideways, showing everyone that you can't win this round and your card is basically ignored. That was fun. Now after each round you score points for each trick you take
Ep 7: And then you get points if you make your bid,
In-Person: and then you get points if you make your bid
Ep 7: and you keep those scores separate the whole game. Now, if you go over or under your bid, you don't score points from making your bid at all. At the end of the game, you multiply the points you got from the tricks with the points you got from making your bid, and voila, there's your score. So if you never make your bid, that's a multiplier of zero, and no points for you at the end of the game. That added a lot of fun.
In-Person: And you keep those scores separate the whole game. Now, if you go over or under your bid, you don't score points from making your bid at all. At the end of the game, you multiply the points you got from the tricks with the points you got from making your bid, and voila, there's your score. So if you never make your bid, that's a multiplier of zero and no points for you at the end of the game. That added a lot of fun
Ep 7: pressure of trying to make your bid exactly,
In-Person: pressure of trying to make your bid exactly.
Ep 7: which really revved this game up for me. Travis, I know you enjoyed the game, but was hoping for a little something extra to step it up. looking back at it, I think the game is fine as it is. The the problem I'm
In-Person: Which really wrapped this game up for me. Travis, I know you enjoyed the game, but was hoping for a little something extra to step it up. looking back at it, I think the game is fine as it is. The the problem I was grappling with is that the game from the rules is selling a
Ep 7: Gain from the rules is selling a
In-Person: draft without any cost benefit analysis. I thought it would be like Elysium or other games with that
Ep 7: I thought it be like Elysium or other games with that.
In-Person: mechanic, where you take one
Ep 7: Take one.
In-Person: and then you take the other. And there's a trade-off there. so these rules say you either make a bid or you take a constraint, but there's no trade-off in taking a bid instead of a constraint. So I think the rules should just say everybody takes a constraint, then everybody makes a bid. the constraints were cool because they sort of function in a dual air when you're taking your bid. Knowing you can't win in a certain way informs your bid, but also affects everybody else who might undershoot their bid.
Ep 7: A trade-off there. So these rules say you either make a bid or you take a constraint, but there's no trade-off in taking a bid instead of a constraint. So I think the rules should just say everybody takes a constraint, then everybody makes a bid. The constraints were cool because they sort of function in a dual layer when you're taking your bid. Knowing you can't win in a certain way informs your bid, but also affects everybody else who might undershoot their bid.
In-Person: Nothing is more satisfying than making somebody take tricks they weren't counting on because you can't win them. It just the game will not let you win that trick and somebody has to take it.
Ep 7: Nothing is more satisfying than making somebody take tricks they weren't counting on. Because you can't win them. It just the game will not let you win that trick and somebody has to take it. I thought the scoring was great too, so you kept that tension to the end of the game. I I was very bad in the first couple rounds. But in that third round I had a good chance to come back because I had taken tricks in the first two rounds, and if I could make my bid, my multiplier would have been such that I
In-Person: I thought the scoring was great too, so you kept that tension to the end of the game. I I was very bad in the first couple of rounds. But in that third round, I had a good chance to come back because I had taken tricks in the first two rounds, and if I could make my bid, my multiplier would have been such that I
Ep 7: could win the game. I guess I just wish that that trade-off was built in. Like only certain bids are available in a given round.
In-Person: Could have won that game. I guess I just wish that that trade off was built in. Like only certain bids are available in a given round or something. So you might be enticed to bid first and conceal your constraint until later. the constraints give players a lot of control. I just wish that there was a reason to take a bid first. It also might be interesting if two people could take the same constraint, but only if you took a bid first. I don't know. It just was missing something.
Ep 7: Something so you might be enticed to bid first and conceal your constraint until later. the constraints give players a lot of control. I just wish that there was a reason to take a bid first. It also might be interesting if two people could take the same constraint. But only if you took a bid first. I don't know. It just was missing something to raise it to the next level for me. But I think it plays fine out of the box. It was fun. Yeah. Awesome.
In-Person: to raise it to the next level for me. But I think it plays fine out of the box. It was fun. and I would play it again. let's talk about the bottle imp by Gunter Cornet, published by Grail Games. The original version was from 1995. I don't
Ep 7: let's talk about the bottle imp by Gunther Cornet, published by Grail Games. The original version was from 1995. I don't
In-Person: remember even who the original publisher was.
Ep 7: Now this game it had a fun mechanic. I
In-Person: This game had a fun mechanic.
Ep 7: really enjoyed it, this one. The dreaded bottle. This is a normal lead and follow trick taker with no trump. Well, technically no trump. You get points by the number of coins that are on each card and the tricks that you win. Nothing special so far. So here's where the craziness comes. You don't want to be stuck with the bottle imp at the end of the game. At the beginning of the game,
In-Person: The dreaded bottle. This is a normal lead and follow trick taker with no trunk. Well, technically no trunk. You get points by the number of coins that are on each card in the tricks that you win. Nothing special so far. So here's where the craziness comes. You don't want to be stuck with the bottle imp at the end of the game. At the beginning of the game,
Ep 7: Everyone seeds the imp.
In-Person: everyone sees the imp.
Ep 7: You know, I don't know if that's like a derogatory term for genie or not, but it just sounds a little I don't know. We all give it a card face down, and the coins on these cards will be negative points for the person who ends up with the imp. The bottle imp also sits on a card with the big number 19 on it. This is important to remember because that number will haunt you later on. Then the round starts.
In-Person: You know, I don't know if that's like a derogatory term for genie or not, but it just sounds a little I don't know. We all give it a card face down, and the coins on these cards will be negative points for the person who ends up with the imp. The bottle imp also sits on a card with the big number 19 on it. This is important to remember because that number will haunt you later on. Then the round starts. The person who leaves plays a card, you must follow suit.
Ep 7: Person who leads plays a card, you must follow suit. If you can't, just play any color card you want. Now listen to this. If all the numbers on the cards played are higher than the 19 that the bottle imp sits on, then the highest card wins. If everyone plays a card in the 20s and one person plays in 18, one less than the number the bottle imp has, well, you win the trick, but you also win the bottle imp. If you get the imp,
In-Person: If you can't, just play any color card you want. Now listen to this. If all the numbers on the cards played are higher than the 19 that the bottle end sits on, then the highest card wins. If everyone plays a card in the 20s and one person plays in 18, one less than the number the bottle and has, well, you win the trick, but you also win the bottle end. If you get the n, then the cards you won the trip with sits.
Ep 7: Then the cards you won the trick with sits under the imp in front of you and you continue play. You hope someone plays a lower card to win a future trick to take the imp from you. So by the time the whole round ends and everyone is out of cards, you don't have the imp. If you are left with it, you get negative points and everyone else counts up their coins on the tricks they took. That was fun and very anxiety-producing the whole time, and I sucked at that.
In-Person: under the nth in front of you and you continue playing. You hope someone plays a lower card to win a future trick to take the n from you so by the time the whole round ends and everyone is out of cards, you don't have the imp. If you are left with it, you get negative points and everyone else counts up their points on the tricks they took. That was fun and very anxiety producing the whole time and I sucked at that.
Ep 7: I loved the tension. I also loved how if you play below the bottle imp,
In-Person: I loved the tension. Also loved how if you play below the bottle n
Ep 7: a card with a number lower than the number the imp sits on, then it's the highest card that's closest to the number that wins. For example, I know that sounds confusing. Say the imp is on 11. If someone plays a 7 and then someone else plays a 10, the 10 will win the trick because it's below the imp, but the closest number to the imp.
In-Person: A card with a number lower than the number the n sits on, then it's the highest card that's closest to the number that wins. For example, I know that sounds confusing. Say the n is on 11. If someone plays a 7 and then someone else plays a 10, the 10 will win the trick because it's below the n, but the closest number to the n.
Ep 7: So it's not always the lowest card wins.
In-Person: So it's not always the lowest card wins.
Ep 7: That is also how you can get rid of some of your low cards so you don't get stuck with the imp at the end of the round. Ha ha. Give me my SSRI, please.
In-Person: That is also how you can get rid of some of your low cards so you don't get stuck with the imp at the end of the round. Ha! Give me my SSRI, please. Yeah, I think I like bottle imp a lot because I don't know if there's an expert level. I'm not sure there's a tried and true way to play certain types of hands. The other players have their own strategies that can leave you shaking your head. So it's all about.
Ep 7: The other players have their own strategies that can leave you shaking your head. So it's all about counting of cards, adapting to the situation you are in, pressing your luck, and just knowing when to bail. The the tension is so ratcheted up to 11 on this one. I it it's a very enjoyable game. Only thing it suffers from to me is that there was truly no ending. If they tied it up in a little bow with a good end gamer scenario, or said you only play a certain amount of rounds.
In-Person: Counting of cards, adapting to the situation you're in, pressing your luck and just knowing when to bail. The the tension is so ratcheted up to eleven in this one. I it it's a very enjoyable game. Only thing it suffers from to me is that there was truly no ending. If they tied it up with a little bow with a good end gamer scenario, or I said you only play a certain amount of rounds,
Ep 7: You can easily house rule it, but
In-Person: you can easily house rule it, but
Ep 7: the open-endedness kind of annoyed me. I know you can play to like a certain number of points, but you have a great trick taker with no absolute finish. You know what I'm saying there? Yeah, I don't I don't think this is abnormal for trick taking either. Very true. you don't want the game to
In-Person: The open endedness kind of annoyed me. I know you could play to like a certain number of points, but you have a great trick taker with no absolute finish. You know what I'm saying there? Yeah, I don't I don't think this is abnormal for trick taking games. you don't want the game to outstay its welcome, but the welcome is different depending on who is playing. trick takers, unlike most hobby games,
Ep 7: Most carby games
In-Person: like end up being family comfort games.
Ep 7: Like I've known people who play trick takers and they never keep score. Or they keep a running score and play for the same game for decades. I think a session in terms of deal, like for bottoming, have the old rules and the new rules say two deals per player. And I think that's fine. playing to a score is good too, but what that level is has to kind of be developed by the group. Is it 150 points? Is it 200 points?
In-Person: Like I have known people who play trick takers and they never keep score. Or they keep a running score and play the same game for decades. I think a session in terms of deal, like for bottle imp and the old rules and the new rules say two deals per player, and I think that's fine. playing to a score is good too, but what that level is has to kind of be developed by the group. Is it 150 points? Is it 200 points? I don't know, but it's okay to play it enough to figure that out, I think.
Ep 7: It's okay to play it enough to figure that out, I think. I'm definitely excited to play it again. Yeah, that's this is a favorite. So that's Bottle Imp by Guncher Cordet, originally from 1995.
In-Person: Yeah, this is this is a favorite. So that's Bottle Imp by Gunter Cornet, originally from nineteen ninety-five. Okay.
Ep 7: So let's get to our Call of the Week. This is Night at the Zoo by Tomash Holek, produced by Capstone Games. Lake.
In-Person: So let's get to our call of the week. This is Night at the Zoo by Tomas Holek, produced by Capstone Games. Blake, why are you getting rid of this game? So yes, Night of the Zoo did not
Ep 7: So, yes, Night at the Zoo did not last long. Well, last week you mentioned Karuba by Rudiger Dorn when I talked about my play of Night at the Zoo. I was skeptical because it's a HABA game and I thought it would be too light, too easy, a throwaway game that my kids won't even find interesting. Last week you pulled it out and we played it. It plays quick, 30 minutes with setup and rules teach. Now that's nice.
In-Person: Of Night of the Zoo. I was skeptical because it's a HAPA game and I thought it would be too light, too easy, a throwaway game that my kids won't even find interesting. Last week you pulled it out and we played it. It plays quick, 30 minutes, with setup and rules teach. Now that's nice.
Ep 7: So simple, so fun, yet it had a nice crunch. You basically have a grid on your board, just like night at the zoo. You're trying to get your four different colored
In-Person: So simple, so fun, yet it had a nice crunch. You basically have a grid on your board, just like Night of the Zoo. You're trying to get your four different Colored meeple explored to their colored temples, which are randomly placed on opposite sides of the grid. There are 36 tiles with paths, numbered 1 through 6. One is randomly drawn by a player, the number tile is called out, everyone else grabs that number tile.
Ep 7: meeple explorers to their colored temples, which are randomly placed on opposite sides of the grid. There are 36 tiles with paths numbered one through six. One is randomly drawn by a player, the number tile is called out, everyone else grabs that number tile.
In-Person: You either play that tile to create a path or discard the tile to move a meeple. They move depending on how many path exits are on the tile and discard.
Ep 7: You either play that tile to create a path or discard the tile to move a meeple. They move depending on how many path exits are on the tile you discard. That's it. Sounds simple. But you can easily block yourself if you're not paying attention. You might be creating a path only to find out that you threw away the only tile that will now connect you to your temple. You really have to watch out for the paths you want to remain in play and which ones you're okay with getting rid of.
In-Person: That's it. Sounds simple. But you can easily block yourself if you're not paying attention. You might be creating a path only to find out that you threw away the only tile that will now connect you to your temple. You really have to watch out for the paths you want to remain in play and which ones you're okay with getting rid of. Tricky, tricky, and right after my first play, I knew without a doubt that
Ep 7: Tricky tricky and and right after my first play, I knew without a doubt that Night at the Zoo had to go. They are similar games, but Karuba for me does it better, less complicated, but still had some crunch, a good family weight game that gamers can also enjoy. With Night at the Zoo, there's almost too much unnecessary crunch that it feels more like a multiplayer solitaire game.
In-Person: zoo had to go. They are similar games, but Karuba for me does it better, less complicated, but still has some crunch, a good family weight game that gamers can also enjoy. With Night of the Zoo, there's almost too much unnecessary crunch that it feels more like a multiplayer solitaire game.
Ep 7: Now Karuba can feel like that too, but the crunch was different, where I wanted to keep track of what the other players were doing so I could get my meeples to their temples first. You get there first, you get more points.
In-Person: Now Karuba can feel like that too, but the crunch was different where I wanted to keep track of what the other players were doing so I could get my meat equals to their temples first. You get there first, you get more points.
Ep 7: Night at the zoo. It's it's cute. It's fun, it's definitely not a bad game, and and people will enjoy it. But a classic that's a lot older, does it better and faster, in my opinion. Well,
In-Person: Night at the zoo. It's it's cute. It's fun. It's definitely not a bad game and and people will enjoy it. But a classic that's a lot older, does it better and faster in my opinion? Well,
Ep 7: I don't have room for both, so night at the zoo is going. Travis, here's what I'm actually really excited about. I got two copies of Karuba cheap, like ten bucks on BGG. The game only plays up to four, but
In-Person: I don't have room for both, so Night of the Zoo is going. Travis, here's what I'm actually really excited about. I got two copies of Karuba Cheap, like ten bucks on VGG. The game only plays up to four but I'm going to combine the games to where I can play with eight. Make it kind of a crunchy party type game. It's like a roll and write. As long as you have the extra components, adding more players doesn't make it longer.
Ep 7: I'm going to combine the games to where I can play it with eight. Make it kind of a crunchy party type game. It's like a roll and write. As long as you have the extra components, adding more players doesn't make it longer. I can see this being so fun having eight people play this game at once racing for the temple would be pretty intense. I can also combine it all in one box, so it won't take up much space. So bye bye, night at the zoo.
In-Person: I can see this being so fun. Having eight people play this game at once racing for the temple would be pretty intense. And I can also combine it all in one box. So it won't take up much space. So bye and by Knight of the Zoom.
Ep 7: We had a short run, but I'm sure you're gonna find a good home. So interesting you just called one game.
In-Person: So what you're saying is you called one game and added two in its place.
Ep 7: But same box size, so I save some room, maybe?
In-Person: That's just what a glutton would say. Like I said last week, I I just don't think Tomash Holeck
Ep 7: Like I said last week, I I just don't think too much of a way.
In-Person: has figured out quite yet what swim lane his games are occupying. I mean he's mastered that 85% level with me. Like he's he's got the basics there. So I really want to see what he's going to do in the future. I just think Nine of the Zoo just doesn't fit any group. Whereas Karuba knows what it is. It's got a Haba stamp.
Ep 7: He's mastered that 85% level of me. He's got the basics there. So I really want to see what he's going to do in the future. I just think Knight of the Zoo just doesn't fit any Karuba. Whereas Karuba knows what it is. It's got a Hava stamp. So gamers know that it's perhaps quite fair. But it'll have some sort of simple twist and it'll just deliver on its promise.
In-Person: So gamers know that it's perhaps light fair, but it'll have some sort of simple twist and it'll just deliver on its promise. I I've always liked call and place bingo type games. Like I don't know if you played Take It Easy or Take It to the Limit. I'm a one of the few fans of Martin F Cities. even Rise of Augustus. I just like that mechanic. It's just very satisfying.
Ep 7: I I've always liked call and place bingo type games. Like I don't know if you play Take It Easy or Take It to the Limit. I'm a one of the few fans of Martin F Cities. even Rise of Augustus. I just like that mechanic. It's very satisfying. and it all fits inside of a 30 minute game than anything that Night and the Zoo can offer. So
In-Person: when it and it all fits inside of a thirty minute game than anything the ninth is who can offer. So good good pick on the call. you're still a glutton.
Ep 7: Good good pick on the call. you're still a button. So that was our call of the week, Night at the Zoo by Thomas Hollock. Now on to what's flipping our table. So Travis, this week what has gotten you riled up? What is making you want to flip some tables? My table flip this week is the sizing of game boxes. Hoohoo, good one. I had two incidents this week that made me think about this.
In-Person: My table flip this week is the sizing of game boxes. I had two incidents this week that made me think about this. First was the setup and play of Ezra and Nehemiah, which we talked about. That is a very big game in a small box that just needs to be bigger. But the second was I was trying to get some games set aside to sell, and then taking the games that weren't on my shelf and trying to fill those empty spaces.
Ep 7: First was the setup and play of Ezra Nehemiah, which we talked about. I can see that. But the second was I was trying to get some games set aside to sell, and then taking the games that weren't on my shelf and trying to fill those empty spaces and failing miserably. and other areas of distributed media or collector hobbies, companies don't have this problem traditionally.
In-Person: And failing miserably. in other areas of distributed media or collector hobbies, companies don't have this problem traditionally. If you bought a CD in the nineties, it came in a long box or no long box. It had a j a jewel case, and all jewel cases were the same. It was a standard for the industry. Didn't matter what company published the music, DVDs all came in more or less the same packaging format. Books.
Ep 7: If you bought a CD in the 90s, it came in a long box or no long box. It had a j a jewel case and all jewel cases were the same. It was a standard for the industry. Didn't matter what company you published music. DVDs all came in more or less the same packaging format. Books. Books come in different sizes, but they're generally small and they all store the same way, spying out.
In-Person: Books come in different sizes, but they're generally small and they all store the same way, spying out.
Ep 7: This makes me want to pull out my CD collection. I used the binder method.
In-Person: Okay. Alright, I'm talking about old stuff. But anyway, when do we get to a point where publishers just try to occupy
Ep 7: I'm talking about old stuff. But anyway, when do we get to a point where publishers just try to occupy
In-Person: four or five different box sizes as a standard? Perhaps following the Aleia Ravensburger model. You have your card game, your small box, your bookshelf, your twelve by twelve by three square box, and then you have the medium-sized pet coffin size box.
Ep 7: Perhaps following the Aleya Ravensburger model. You have your card game, your small box, your bookshelf, your 12x12 by 3 square box, and then you have the medium-sized pet coffin size box. Especially since most gamers are rolling with some variation of the Calic shelf as their storage solution. For instance, I have five calic shelves of various sizes. But I have at least fifty different game box sizes being represented. Arranging them is no small nightmare.
In-Person: Especially since most gamers are rolling with some variation of the calic shelf as their storage solution. For instance, I have five calic shelves to various sizes, but I have at least fifty different game box sizes being reset represented. Arranging them is no small nightmare.
Ep 7: my gosh, Travis, have you seen my small box bookcase? It's a nightmare. I I don't care how many times I organize it. It sucks and it looks crappy. It's like a a crappy version of Tetris with all these little small box games stacked together, about to fall no matter what. I just I throw my
In-Person: I just I throw mine in like a cabinet in just in a pile. I know, it's because you're a glutton. I d I'm I like c companies that have instituted this in some form. Like we did talk about Garfield. They have put most of their games in this small box. Sometimes that works for Ezra and Maya. It does not work. but they either choose that size box or they give you a big box
Ep 7: I want to see mine. I want to see them. I know it's because you're a glutton. I do I like cut companies that have instituted this in some form. Like we did talk about Garfield. They have put most of their games in this small box. Sometimes that works. Rosario and Maia, it does not work. but they either choose that size box or they give you a big box for
In-Person: For that game and all the expansions. You don't see five different sizes of boxes.
Ep 7: that game and all these mansions. You don't see five different sizes of boxes.
In-Person: Days of Wonder. Like all those Days of Wonder games came in the same twelve inch square box. Avalon Hill, GMT. If you go to a wargamer's house, everything looks neat. They have GMT and Columbia games. They're all the same size. It looks like they have a library. Why can't we have that? Everything is in the same box and it's tidy.
Ep 7: Days of Wonder. Like all those Days of Wonder games came in the same twelve inch square box. Avalon Hill, GMT. If you go to a wargamer's house, everything looks neat. They have GMT and Columbia games. They're all the same size. It looks like they have a library. Why can't we have that? Everything is in the same box and it's tidy. my gosh, Travis, my GMT games, they look so pretty. I just need to get them played more often. I I I just
In-Person: I I I just I I I want I want that. I want pretty. Some companies did this for a while prior to Kickstarter, like Queen Games. They used to have all queen games in just some very standard box sizes. Now it's all over the place. packaging your game in a weird size box doesn't make your game stand out. And if you put your game in a tin, you're just a jerk. Now I realize Kickstarter has changed all standards.
Ep 7: One pretty. Some companies did this for a while prior to the Kickstarter, like Queen Games. They used to have all Queen Games in just some very standard box sizes. Now it's all over place. Packaging your game in a weird-sized box doesn't make your game stand out. And if you put your game in a tin, you're just a jerk. Now I realize Kickstarter has changed all standards, but even in deluxe games.
In-Person: But even in deluxe games, it should be a Calyx fitting standard. I have games in big boxes that are hanging outside of my Calyx. Why are we doing this? I would like to think this is due to some sort of sourcing of game box production, but I'm very skeptical. I think this is game companies and it's a conspiracy.
Ep 7: It should be a Calyx fitting standard. I have games in big boxes that are hanging outside of my Calyx. Why are we doing this? I would like to think this is due to some sort of sourcing of game box production, but I'm very skeptical. I think this is game companies and it's a conspiracy. So come on game companies. We buy the games. Help us store them. I can't buy more games if I can't store them.
In-Person: Yeah, is having any sort of consistency just im an impossible dream, Why can't we do that? Alright, so I'm done. I'm flipping. That's our table flip for this week.
Ep 7: Is having any sort of consistency just an impossible dream? why can't we do that? Alright, so I'm done. And that's our table flip for this week. Now on to our featured review. That's Avalon.
In-Person: Now on to our featured review. That's Avalon the Rivenvale by Jamie Jolly, produced by Shadowborn Games. This company loves big boxes and nice
Ep 7: By Shadowborn Games. This company loves big boxes, and they stuck with that theme for this one, Travis. from the creators of Oathbringers comes the next big box spectacular bomb. Not wanting to put the cart before the horse, but I have to. I love the theme. Mystical Arthurian legends, play as Arthur, Merlin, Morgoth. I'll admit the miniatures, they're beautiful. The two-tone is nice, and the weapons are.
In-Person: creators of Oathbringers comes the next big box spectacular bomb. Not wanting to put the cart before the horse, but I have to. I love the theme. Mystical Arthurian Legends, play as Arthur, Merlin, Morgoth. I'll admit the miniatures, they're beautiful. The two tone is nice and the weapons
Ep 7: Are the see-through plastic pretty perty?
In-Person: are this see-through plastic. Pretty pretty.
Ep 7: This is a airy majority battle game where you get points through winning battles and locations and picking up legendary items, finding the holy grail, and bonding with creatures that can fight for you. Don't you just love bonding with animals, Travis? I give a creature
In-Person: This is a air majority battle game where you get points through winning battles and locations and picking up legendary items, binding the holy grail, and that can fight for you. Don't you just love bonding with animals, Travis? I gave up creature husbandry for Lint. I just I'm just kidding. I have I'm a heathen, I have no idea what Lint is.
Ep 7: So when you first play this game, you have to decide how you want to play it. It's kind of like a mini game. You have to choose your own adventure. Do I want a long game or a short game? Do I want to add a catch-up mechanic? Do I want push your luck battle mechanic? Or do I want it to be more deterministic? do I want to add player powers as well? You need a flipping flow sheet just to decide how you want to play this game.
In-Person: Mechanic. Do I want pusher left battle mechanic, or be more do I want to add player powers as well? You need a flipping flow sheet just to decide how you to play this game. And you get a player eight just for that, Travis. Yep, strike one. A designer
Ep 7: And you get a player aid just for that, Travis. Yep, strike one. A designer
In-Person: and production company should know the game and how it should be played and leave everything else for variance.
Ep 7: Amen.
In-Person: What if the players choose a way to play the game that is a poor experience? You just set them up for failure. You don't even give them a chance to like it. Although there isn't really much here to
Ep 7: You just set them up for failure. You don't even give them a chance to it. Although there isn't really much anyway.
In-Person: like anyway.
Ep 7: And speaking of player aids, Travis, I guess they blew their budget on miniatures because I believe you only get two in this game. So we decided to play the normal length, which is two seasons. The long version is three seasons. We chose to use player powers with the push your luck battle mechanic. Each season you have three preparation phases.
In-Person: game. So we decided to play the normal length, which is two seasons. The long version is three seasons. We chose to use player powers with a push your luck battle mechanic. Each season we have three preparation phases
Ep 7: Followed by war.
In-Person: followed by war.
Ep 7: So three times you're going to be playing cards to get your miniatures on the map, move to locations you want, and maybe add a stronghold or two. There are four different decks where you get your cards from, and each deck special specializes in different types of cards. One deck focuses on deploying your peeps, another helps you move your peeps around, one focuses on battles, and the last helps you build strongholds. During the prep
In-Person: So three times you're going to be playing cards to get your miniatures on the map, move to locations you want, and maybe add a stronghold or two. There are four different decks where you get your cards from, and each deck specializes in different types of cards. One deck focuses on deploying your keeps, another helps you move your keeps around, one focuses on battles, and the last helps you build strongholds. During the prep
Ep 7: Phase.
In-Person: phase,
Ep 7: You might run into a fun creature that you quote, bond with. Everything stops and all the players bid for the creatures with their cards.
In-Person: You might run into a fun creature that you quote bond with. Everything stops and all the players bid for the creatures with their cards. Strike two. Never interrupt the flow of your crappy game with an unbalanced blind bid for a game breaking item. This is this was the biggest
Ep 7: This this was the biggest
In-Person: wet blanket when you're playing this game. Let's stop in the middle of the game and make this game longer in a completely unbalanced fashion. Yikes.
Ep 7: Let's stop in the middle of the game and make this game longer completely unbalanced Thanks. So you have a random assortment of cards from which you choose a card, pay for it with
In-Person: Pay for
Ep 7: other cards, and then do the action. You do this three times, and then you move into the battle phase where you go through all the locations and fight it out. Whoever has the highest strength in a location through adding up your miniatures, strongholds, and creatures and battle cards wins the area and the fun goodies that are inside of it. Now when you fight it out,
In-Person: You do this three times and then you move into the battle phase where you go through all the locations and fight it out. Whoever has the highest strength in the location through adding up your miniature strongholds and creatures and battle cards wins the area and the fun goodies that are inside of it. Now when you fight it out, you're gonna also select a battle card that'll give you strength from maybe three to seven. You can then boost the strength with additional cards if you want.
Ep 7: You're gonna also select a battle card that'll give you strength from maybe three to seven. You can then boost the strength with additional cards if you want. This doesn't mean that you immediately add the strength to that area where you're fighting. No. Now everyone who chose to play a battle card blindly draws one at a time from any of the four decks. Each card that you're drawing has a random initiative number on it from like one to three, I believe.
In-Person: This doesn't mean that you immediately add the strength to that area where you're fighting. No. Now everyone who chose to play a battle card blindly draws one at a time from any of the four decks. Each card that you're drawing has a random initiative number on it, from like one to three, I believe.
Ep 7: You try to get as close as you can to the strength of your battle card without ever going over. Draw as many cards as you like.
In-Person: You try to get as close as you can to the strength of your battle card without ever going over. Draw as many cards as you like.
Ep 7: If you don't go over, once everyone is done, you get to add that strength to the battle and you get to do the action on the battle card. If you bust, then you get Nada. Fast right three. Don't tie success in your game to a weak, blind push your luck battle mechanic. Or conversely, don't bother with a push-your-luck battle mechanic.
In-Person: If you don't go over, once everyone is done, you get to add that strength to the battle, and you get to do the action on the battle card. If you bust, then you get knocked. strike three. Don't tie success in your game to a weak blind push-your-luck battle mechanic. Or conversely, don't bother with the push-your-luck battle mechanic when the starting strength of the enemy combatants varies wildly. From like three to thirty.
Ep 7: When the starting strength of the enemy combatants varies wildly, like three to thirty. So true. If you're battling and the score is thirty to twenty-six, doesn't does a pushy look battle mechanic matter? Should the battles just be deterministic? I mean, if if you choose that way and they are deterministic, you don't have any card play to change that between the battle rounds. You only get to play three cards. It's obnoxious.
In-Person: If you're battling and the score is thirty to twenty six, doesn't does a pusher luck battle mechanic matter? Should the battles just be deterministic? I mean, if if you choose that way and they are deterministic, you don't have any card play to change that between the battle rounds. You only get to play three cards. It's obnoxious.
Ep 7: You do this for however many seasons
In-Person: Using
Ep 7: you're playing, and that's basically the game. I got a lot
In-Person: Yeah.
Ep 7: of annoyances with this game, Travis. random card draws from four big decks. You know I hate big deck games, and I wouldn't say that this is one, but it's close. All these cards are different, and you never know what you're gonna get. It's more of a tactical game and not very strategic.
In-Person: four big decks. You know I hate big deck games and I wouldn't say that this is one, but it's close. All these cards are different and you never know what you're gonna get. It's more of a tactical game and not very strategic.
Ep 7: All the card actions are basically unique, and some even break
In-Person: All the card actions are basically unique, and some even break basic rules about where you can deploy. So pray to the gaming gods that you get an action you need or actions that break the rules, making the game easier for you. Because if you don't, your opponent probably did. This also makes it harder to prepare and defend because your opponent can almost do anything if they get the right cards. There are basic actions you can take if you don't like the actions on the card.
Ep 7: basic rules about where you can deploy. So pray to the gaming gods that you get an action you need or actions that break the rules, making the game easier for you. Cause if you don't, your opponent probably did. This also makes it harder to prepare and defend because your opponent can almost do anything if they get the right cards. There are basic actions you can take if you don't like the actions on the card, but they are definitely subpar. And if I remember correctly,
In-Person: But they are definitely subpar, and if I remember
Ep 7: Costly as well.
In-Person: correctly, costly This is why I am the way I am. If if there are two things I detest in all the devotions
Ep 7: There are two things I detest in all the devotions
In-Person: of the average gamer, it is one the love of Martin Wallace. We know this. I hate Martin Wallace games. And the second would be the love of dudes on
Ep 7: The second would be the blood of dudes.
In-Person: a map games. These two things sometimes intersect in the Venn diagram of hobby gaming. Martin Wallace has his dudes on the map games, and they're the worst games ever. Why gamers hang their hats on games that are nearly 100% tactical and are decided by the whims of players who they may not be acting in their own self-interest. I that's beyond me. Like I don't understand why people continue to play these games. I just deplore long games that have no strategy.
Ep 7: Two things sometimes intersect in the Venn diagram of hobby gaming. Martin Wallace has his dudes on the map games, and they're the worst games ever. Why gamers hang their hats on games that are nearly 100% tactical and are decided by the whims of players who they may not be acting in their own self-interest. That's beyond me. Like I don't understand why people continue to play these games. I just deplore long games that have no strategy. And it's my hatred for all.
In-Person: Hence my hatred for all Martin Wallace games, but one. We all know I like one Martin Wallace game. Which one's that? Hit
Ep 7: Which one's that? In zero.
In-Person: zeroed. Anyway, I hate even more games that delude hobby gamers with the illusion of strategy, all the while knowing that the game will be decided in a very table random tactical way. You haven't even mentioned that nearly the entire board gets reset between seasons. Basically telling you not to bother thinking you can plan towards anything but your personal board and the character power that's on it. What
Ep 7: Anyway, I hate even more games that delude hobby gamers with the illusion of strategy, all the while knowing that the game will be decided in a very table random tactical way. You haven't even mentioned that nearly the entire board gets reset between seasons. So true. Basically telling you not to bother thinking you can plan towards anything but your personal board and the character power that's on it. What Is draw with these games, I don't get it. Is it the plastic? Is it the plastic lake? I mean, do you miss the days of playing with Toy Soldiers? I don't I don't get it.
In-Person: Is the draw with these games, I don't get it. Is it the plastic? Is it the plastic Blake? I mean, y do you miss the days of playing with Toy Soldiers? I I don't I don't get it.
Ep 7: So there are some okay mechanics like racing up the face track to get Excalibur. That was cute. Which you can then equip on a hero. That was okay. I forgot to mention that there are prophecies that you can try to achieve each season for more points, but that kind of just felt
In-Person: So that kinda just felt
Ep 7: Tacked on with a little bit more bloat. I did like the thought they put into the personal player boards on the asymmetric side.
In-Person: I did like the dot they put into the personal player boards on the asymmetric side.
Ep 7: Sadly, Travis, that was the most fun part of the game and actually felt like the game for me. I played Merlin and trying to figure out how to best use him, unlock all of my magical stone pieces, which granted me different abilities, that was fun. It was tricky and chunky because every character has their own special
In-Person: Sadly, Travis, that was the most fun part of the game, and actually felt like the game for me. I played Merlin and trying to figure out how to best use him unlocked all of my magical stone pieces, which granted me different abilities, that was fun. It was tricky and chunky because every character has their own special
Ep 7: overpower ability that you can unlock and if you unlock it you get a game breaking power. In our game the winner was the only person who unlocked theirs. They played Morgoth and during the battle phase their character could hop to another after they battled in a different area. Pretty overpowerful in that game. So sadly I had more fun interacting with my own player board
In-Person: overpower ability that you can unlock, and if you unlock it, you get a game-breaking power. In our game, the winner was the only person who unlocked theirs. They played one. And during the battle phase, their character could hop to another after they battled in a overpowered. Powerful. Yeah. Pretty overpowerful in that game. So sadly I had more fun interacting with my own player board
Ep 7: than I did with my fellow players or the actual game board. Strike.
In-Person: than I did with my fellow players or the actual game board. Strike what number am I up to? I don't know. I I think I've struck out the side
Ep 7: I think I've struck up the side.
In-Person: by this point. I was Guinevere. in our game. And I can tell you that unlocking that player power would have been nearly impossible in the long game with three players. And like I I can assume only worse with four players. It's just another game in a long line of dudes on the map games where I think the designers had one or two loose ideas that they thought were cool and then tried to tie the rest together by holding the players to the table responsible for
Ep 7: assume only worse than four players. It's just another game in a long line of dudes on a map games where I think the designers had one or two loose ideas that they thought were cool and then tried to tie the rest together by holding the players at the table responsible for keeping the game engaging. In my opinion, games need to be consistent first. It should not be the player's responsibility to make your game work.
In-Person: Keeping the game engaging. In my opinion, games need to be consistent first. It should not be the player's responsibility to make your game work through king making, negotiation, or making the game fun by trying to find some shreds of intrigue. There's no intrigue here. There's there's not anything. It's it's just a bleak entry for dudes on a map games,
Ep 7: King making, negotiation, making game fun by trying to find some shreds of intrigue. There's no intrigue here. There's there's not anything. It's it's just a bleak entry for dudes on that games.
In-Person: in my opinion.
Ep 7: So okay, the game is pretty. But Travis, just like in my dating prime, I was always told pretty isn't enough and it's not enough in games these days. You have a dating prime.
In-Person: You had a dating prime?
Ep 7: And this is a a long game. We played two seasons and it was easily three hours with Teach. I think the game deserves to be played with three seasons, but not by me.
In-Person: We played two seasons and it was easily three hours with Teach. I think the game deserves to be played with three seasons, but not by me.
Ep 7: I got the same feels playing Avalon by playing Blood Rage and Blood Rage did it better with faster gameplay and faster setup. Just like my Call of the Week. If you do it better with faster setup and gameplay, then you're the winner my book.
In-Person: I got the same heels playing Avalon by playing Blood Rage, and Blood Rage did it better with faster gameplay and faster setup. Just like my Cola the Week. If you do it better with faster setup and gameplay, then you're the winner of my book. Well, I don't like Blood Rage either, but I just look to rising sun or scythe, games where your tactical decisions and your strategic
Ep 7: And your strategic
In-Person: planning matter. And the battles are just secondary to your main game goals.
Ep 7: secondary to your main game goals. You can still rope
In-Person: You can still grope all the miniatures you want. I just hold games to a higher standard. Standards do include how a game looks, but that's further down the list than deciding your own destiny. So this game just doesn't pass that test
Ep 7: I just hold beams to a higher standard. Standards do include how a beam looks. That's further down the list than deciding your own destiny. So this game just doesn't pass that test first.
In-Person: first.
Ep 7: Yeah, we need to break out rising sun. We really do. So that's our review of Avalon the Riven Bell. You can't just be pretty. You have to have a personality as well. Thank you for joining us on TableFlips.
In-Person: Thank you for joining us on Tableclips
Ep 7: And get out there and play some games. Bye.
In-Person: and get out there and play some games. Bye! Bye!