OO Solo Board Gamers Guild

[hepcat]

Did I say I finished chapter 1 in Isofarian Guards? I did not, it seems. What I thought was the end of the chapter was actually the game just opening up a bit more and telling me to navigate to the bottom of the map. I've got another hour or two ahead of me, it seems. Which is fine by me. I've started leveling up and I'm about to start my first field event, I believe.

Edit: And NOW I’m done with chapter 1. Wow, the game really opens up after that. I was not expecting a little worker placement system (as minimal as it is) in my adventure game. I printed out all the save sheets and put them in a little binder so I have them all in one place. I know I’m gonna need that considering the three different books I normally would mark up otherwise.

[AWS260]

Red Dust Rebellion, the new COIN game, has an excellent (though unofficial) app to run non-player factions. It uses the same solo system as the physical game, it just saves you the trouble of checking tables and priority lists.

I set up the app to play a learning game, but accidentally forgot to select a human faction. So the app was running all four factions against each other while I followed its orders, flipping cards and moving pieces around the map. It was probably for the best: since I didn't have to focus on making decisions, I could better observe how the different factions operate and interact.

Very nifty, since the solo system would otherwise be too burdensome for my taste.

[hepcat]

I'm back to Isofarian Guard after a brief side try at Dungeons of Infinity. Let's just say I have issues with DoI that I'm not sure can be overcome (at least by me). And I'm getting too old to just keep trying to enjoy something more than a few times.

Isofarian Guard though? That's pure grinding goodness. I'm just now getting into the swing of things in Chapter 2 and I can easily see myself spending hours grinding away for gold and materials for the much needed crafting of weapons and armor. Of course, now the enemies are starting to kick my precious behind, so it's not an easy path I'm on right now.

It's so weird to me though that they made this a two player only game at most.

[Fardaza]

I'm back to Isofarian Guard after a brief side try at Dungeons of Infinity. Let's just say I have issues with DoI that I'm not sure can be overcome (at least by me). And I'm getting too old to just keep trying to enjoy something more than a few times.

I just finished the third (and last) dungeon of chapter 1 in Dungeons of Infinity last night. It was interesting, but a little unfulfilling. I'm having a hard time enjoying the wild swings of fate. The dungeon lord went into a blind rage two turns in a row and ran away from my heroes. This allowed me to easily escape the dungeon. If he had moved as normal into the tile with my heroes, it could have been very ugly. However, the story of the campaign is just starting to be told, and I don't really want to put it away.

On the other hand, my BGG Secret Santa's gift arrived yesterday. Spirit Island is now staring at me! DoI may be moving to the shelf for awhile.

[hepcat]

My issue with DoI is that it seems...well...underbaked. You can tell it was a first time game designer's pilot attempt to create a game after playing his first real board game (Mistfall). But you'd think he'd have made some changes to the rules set after all these years when creating this new printing.

He's a nice enough guy, and I feel badly for knocking the game. But when most of your "fixes" for the game on its facebook and BGG pages are "oh, that shouldn't be that way in hindsight, here's how it actually works" it's a bit discouraging.

Isofarian Guard, on the other hand, apparently underwent quite a few updates since the first printing after feedback from the community. I mean, they can't remove the grind from the game as that's an essential part of it (and part of the reason I like it), but they did add a bunch of things for quality of life improvements. They also made it tougher after numerous complaints that the first printing was too easy. I'm getting my butt kicked left and right in my game as I'm learning the intricacies of the bag management, using my abilities and how to build your character. But I see a light at the end of the tunnel. With DoI, I just didn't see that light.

[hepcat]

Two games of Undaunted 2200 this past weekend. I lost the first game to Turczi's solo AI, but won the second after realizing what I was doing wrong...well...realizing ONE of the things I was doing wrong. The third scenario introduced some fun new mechanics (traps I had to clear for my mechs, for one) that I enjoyed figuring out how to handle. I've been slightly obsessed with the Undaunted series for a few months now, after getting a copy of Stalingrad for my birthday last year. Such a fantastic series of games.

[tylertoo]

Over the holidays I bought a used copy (local, meetup) of Dungeon Degenerates, 4th printing (5th is the latest but the only difference is some fixed errata). With four expansions and a homemade insert/organizer, for $100. Love the aesthetic and the mechanics so far.

[wonderpug]

Over the holidays I bought a used copy (local, meetup) of Dungeon Degenerates, 4th printing (5th is the latest but the only difference is some fixed errata). With four expansions and a homemade insert/organizer, for $100. Love the aesthetic and the mechanics so far.

Please give updates on your impressions! I've been on the fence about getting a copy for a while.

[TheMix]

I enjoyed the few times my copy has made it to the table. But it's not for the color-blind.

The biggest problem I have is keeping track of the colors. Border colors on roads, regions, etc. matter.

Reminds me that I do want to get back into it one of these days for the campaign.

Maybe when we finish up Mechs vs. Minions.

[tylertoo]

The biggest problem I have is keeping track of the colors. Border colors on roads, regions, etc. matter.

You're right, but I printed out a player-made map guide that helps immeasurably.
https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/194436/dungeon-overground-map

Please give updates on your impressions! I've been on the fence about getting a copy for a while.

Will do!

[Smoove_B]

The biggest problem I have is keeping track of the colors. Border colors on roads, regions, etc. matter.

Try keeping this handy:



(click to embiggen)

[TheMix]

Yeah. That's fantastic!

[hepcat]

I had it and played a bit, but ultimately it wasn’t for me. The combat just didn’t appeal to me. I sold it off eventually.