Octopus Overlords

Cold feet, after looking at the Cave Painting expansion module. Adding an "and-write" mechanic took the shine off, frankly.

Just got my boxes of Altar Quest. Sheesh, that's about 25 pounds worth of gaming.

I'm regretting not backing Altar Quest now; typical KS remorse when people start getting their goodies. I'm consoling myself by diving heavily back into Street Masters.

YellowKing wrote: ↑Mon Nov 16, 2020 12:50 pm I'm regretting not backing Altar Quest now; typical KS remorse when people start getting their goodies. I'm consoling myself by diving heavily back into Street Masters.

I guess it is too late to redirect the delivery. I'm not saying I am not excited about the game, but I played Marvel Splendor yesterday and I am starting to think I just like my games a little bit less complicated. I watched a little bit of an Altar Quest play through and there's just so much going on. It's the Sadler bros playing and they are stumbling though some bits.

I'm teaching myself now and there's definitely a lot going on. I'm having a hard time imagining playing this with more than 2 people, but as a solo game it feels really good (so far). The Arkenspire expansion is much shorter and more tactical in application than the core game (which is weird - it's like a different, shorter game). But the KS stretch goal box doesn't even feel fair for the amount of stuff inside - it's an insane number of figures/cards/scenery/whatever.

Anyway, yes, it does feel bulkier than Street Masters, but the game play loop is more enjoyable than Brook City (for me). From what I understand Hour of Need is going to be more like Street Masters in terms of weight and speed. It's nice they have a variety, at least.

In reading the rules, am i correct in stating that they moved the threat phase out of the individual hero turn and made it something everyone does AFTER all players have performed their 3 actions? If I understand that correctly, that's pretty big in terms of making the game flow a bit faster.

I need to unload my copy of Brook City at some point. I really don't see myself playing it again.

hepcat wrote: ↑Mon Nov 16, 2020 1:31 pm In reading the rules, am i correct in stating that they moved the threat phase out of the individual hero turn and made it something everyone does AFTER all players have performed their 3 actions? If I understand that correctly, that's pretty big in terms of making the game flow a bit faster.

Correct - and in any order the players choose, meaning you pick a player and resolve all of their threat, then pick the next player, etc... This would allow some strategizing with reaction cards or abilities. I'm going to try to do a limited AAR in the solo thread.

I need to unload my copy of Brook City at some point. I really don't see myself playing it again.

I was thinking of doing the same but then I saw in one of their videos they are considering doing an update (2nd edition?) to the game in response to the criticisms regarding the game play. They didn't offer a specific time table but it sounded like upgrading the existing game would be supported. I still love the art and the theme and had considered looking into the fan-created smaller component options (game board, printing standees) as a way to make it feel like less of a giant, sprawling nightmare.

After I get home tonight, put on my back brace and then move the boxes from my car to my dining room, I'll probably start the long process of unpacking and organizing the game. I'm trying to get a game together with one or two other players for this Saturday. But I also want to be a conscientious Covid team player, so we'll see. Definitely playing solo over the Thanksgiving vacation though.

Etherfields was delivered this morning and I think it must contain bits of a neutron star. The box isn't terrible large, but it's surprisingly heavy. I'm seeing mixed reports on game play, but the components all look excellent. I think I'm going to experiment with a "sun drop" technique on the miniatures and see how that works out. After seeing the official versions, I'm a little sad I didn't splurge and pay for it. They seem to have come a long way with mass-producing the sun drop paint jobs and look to be quite good.

YellowKing wrote: ↑Mon Nov 16, 2020 12:50 pm I'm regretting not backing Altar Quest now; typical KS remorse when people start getting their goodies.

Hell, I'd just love to stop watching people getting their goodies for stuff that I did back! I've developed a talent for placing orders that result in being in the last group shipped.

For instance, I've got one project that I backed that started shipping two months ago. People who ordered the same thing I ordered were the first out the door and have been playing with their toys for a month! Unless they ordered any add-ons, in which case they were last and haven't even gotten an ETA yet.

I added a single $4 item.

Well, I unpacked and organized my copy of Altar Quest, the stretch rewards and the Four Heroes expansion. Couldn’t possibly get them all in one box so I used both the core box and the stretch rewards box. All nice and tidy. I’m not touching the Ruins of Arkenspire for now though.

By the way, I thought Ruins included a new hero? I saw no sign of such though.

Edit: never mind. It’s there. Just not immediately available, if you catch my drift.

hepcat wrote: ↑Mon Nov 16, 2020 9:30 pmBy the way, I thought Ruins included a new hero? I saw no sign of such though.

I want to say they put the character in the stretch goal box instead of the optional expansion as they didn't feel right forcing people to buy the whole expansion just to get a single character.

I updated my reply while you were answering.

To summarize: it’s in the arkenspire box.

Hmmm, ok. I do really have a fuzzy memory about them saying something related to trying to make sure they weren't "content locking" elements behind optional expansions. Maybe it was more of a mechanical thing and not a character thing. Everything is melding together.

Considering that one of the expansions is just 4 more heroes, I’m not sure how closely they’re sticking to that.

Dammit. Now I can't remember exactly what they said. Maybe it was making sure that content from one optional expansion wasn't necessary to play something in another optional expansion. I can't remember exactly what the issue is, but I just make sure to buy everything.

Like for example, I'm looking at the "all in" Core Space pledge right now and thinking...sure, that looks terrific.

By the way, there are four lurker cards with the keyword Rival on them. Those are just for one quest, so don’t mix them in with the rest of the lurker cards. I’ve been reading up on the specifics of what goes with what as their games can sometimes gloss over such things.

Nice catch! I think if you leave them in it just makes the game harder. The other thing that's mentioned but I almost missed is the leveled-up skill cards each character has in their deck - they have a gold bar instead of a grey one; I believe each character has 8.

Be aware guys, I was sleeving my Altar Quest cards and noticed that I got a duplicate pack of Rowen and the pig people but am missing the pack that has two quests and two of my villains (the vampire woman and the pig guy). So I put in a request with Customer Service (who knows how long that will take). I am thankful, however, that I am not missing required elements, as I can still play with other quests and villains until those arrive.

Here’s a handy component list to help figure out what you have and what you might be missing.

I’m a little concerned because I’ve now come across about a half dozen tales of missing stuff. I think I’m okay as I organized everything last night and don’t recall anything missing when I was putting cards behind their dividers, but I’m still going to double check.

Two other things to note: there is no divider for the search cards, and due to a manufacturer defect all the merc figures are light blue.

Just bumped my pledge for Core Space: First Born to the All In Level. I know I would end up buying everything else at retail levels, may as well buy in now and save a few bucks.

It’s been a rough few months with Kickstarter. It’s kind of like after I bought the gaming table my brain just says “Well hell, this is a fraction of that cost!”

One other change I REALLY like with Altar Quest is making one of the 6 attributes the determiner for number of dice to use when performing attacks, skill tests, etc.. For example: using a bow you roll a number of dice equal to your agility. Now, the range isn't great (so far I see 1 to 3 as the widest attribute range...but I haven't looked at all the characters), but it's much more thematic for this type of game than just having a card that normally reads "attack with two dice" like Street Masters (although since the cards themselves are the attacks in SM, it doesn't bother me when I'm playing at all).

I think either tomorrow or Thursday I'll set up a solo try to get the rules down. Hopefully Saturday I'll play a two or three player game.

It looks like you can still late pledge for Etherfields. Anyone have any thoughts about that? I am regretting not jumping on.

baelthazar wrote: ↑Wed Nov 18, 2020 3:34 pm It looks like you can still late pledge for Etherfields. Anyone have any thoughts about that? I am regretting not jumping on.

My copy arrived the other day and I'm going to try to get it to the table this weekend (after I finish a game of Altar Quest) so I can decide if picking up the W2 expansions are worth it. I've seen quite a few reviews suggesting it's absolutely stellar (with a few minor complaints) so I'm definitely going to prioritize playing.

Received an email about Etherfields on Monday stating my order has been "Placed and Paid" no idea what that means but it sounds like a step up from "Ready for Shipping" so I am excited.

I didn't pay for split shipping. Sad panda.

I would only go with the Core and the minis, so stick with purely Wave 1 stuff. That said, I have Tainted Grail sitting here and I wonder if it is a different enough game to justify owning both.

Sold my Altar Quest stuff yesterday, still in shrink. Got my money back. I got excited when my son was into Gloomhaven but then he wandered away and now I don't have much use for the more complicated co-ops. Same reason Aventuria went away last weekend. On the plus side I have LOTS of shelf space now.

Steampunk Rally Fusion should be shipping soon. I've played the original a few times so I am more confident on that one, though I am not sure the family will be up for it.

I did the same thing with Massive Darkness...but because it was TOO simple. Feels good when you get your money back, that's for sure.

hentzau wrote: ↑Tue Nov 17, 2020 11:07 am Just bumped my pledge for Core Space: First Born to the All In Level. I know I would end up buying everything else at retail levels, may as well buy in now and save a few bucks.

It’s been a rough few months with Kickstarter. It’s kind of like after I bought the gaming table my brain just says “Well hell, this is a fraction of that cost!”

Decided to sneak in under the wire and go all in for First Born too. The setting itself isn’t the most exciting for me and I was actually going to pass but all the add ons were really cool and now they’re throwing in a shuttle so I completely crumbled.

I think melding the old and the new stuff should make for some good games though and you get more Trader crews to play around with. Looking forward to some First Ones going up against some Purge as my crew just tiptoes around them with a sack full of booty...

baelthazar wrote: ↑Wed Nov 18, 2020 5:37 pm I would only go with the Core and the minis, so stick with purely Wave 1 stuff. That said, I have Tainted Grail sitting here and I wonder if it is a different enough game to justify owning both.

Early impressions seem to lean towards them being very different games. Differences seem to be:

Tainted Grail works best as a solo game or one other player max due to the amount of combat downtime.
Etherfields is a little more accommodating for more players.
Tainted Grail has slightly better writing and a more cohesive story.
Etherfields has more diverse gameplay with each "mission" playing quite a bit differently.
Tainted Grail is a bit grindy.
Etherfields is slightly easier.

I'm leaning towards Etherfields being the better game for my group.

hepcat wrote: ↑Thu Nov 19, 2020 2:03 pm I did the same thing with Massive Darkness...but because it was TOO simple. Feels good when you get your money back, that's for sure.

Same. FWIW, Altar Quest seem much more exciting that MD, thankfully.

I've been going back and forth on First Born. I 100% want it, but it's tied to a big number that I can't really do right now. Still, I was trying to convince myself to stay in with a base pledge because Core Space.

I just found out that two friends backed me an all-in for Christmas (these are the same two guys who backed Gotham City Chronicles for me as a surprise.)

baelthazar wrote: ↑Thu Nov 19, 2020 3:33 pm

hepcat wrote: ↑Thu Nov 19, 2020 2:03 pm I did the same thing with Massive Darkness...but because it was TOO simple. Feels good when you get your money back, that's for sure.

Same. FWIW, Altar Quest seem much more exciting that MD, thankfully.

I lost my first solo attempt today on the tutorial quest. So much for my concern it might be too easy.

One thing I noticed is that I wasn’t using too many cards. However, that might be why I lost.

Had a blast though. Looking forward to starting a campaign over the holiday.

AWS260 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 10, 2020 12:52 pm

I do like games about obscure historical events. And mid-weight worker placement Euros.

I just played this for the first time on TTS. It's really impressive - as you develop towns, farms, and other sites along the rail line, combos start emerging left and right. I'm very happy to have backed it.

Nemo's War remains one of my favourite solo games, so I'll be backing the Journey's End expansion for sure (and would highly recommend grabbing the 'Ultimate Edition' for those who have otherwise missed out):

Nemo’s War: Journey’s End Expansion & Ultimate Edition

Yep, that was in insta-back for me. I already have all the other expansions so $29 was a cheap date for the best pure solo game I own.

I've probably mentioned this before, but when I went to GenCon for the first time I was looking for Nemo's War in particular as I had heard so many good things. We're walking past the Victory Point booth and I saw a guy demoing it and ran up and exclaimed, "I WANT THIS GAME!" He looked a bit shocked/amused and directed me to where I could pay for it along with a bunch of other promo items. We talked to him for a few minutes about the game and then went about our way.

It wasn't until I got home and was looking up gameplay videos that I realized the guy I had talked to and bought the game from was the designer, Alan Emmerich.

I love Nemo's War -- so much that I have no desire to get any expansions. The core game is wonderful, I don't need more!

AWS260 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:34 pm I love Nemo's War -- so much that I have no desire to get any expansions. The core game is wonderful, I don't need more!

You're not doing 'fear of missing out' right.

I made up for it by ordering cosmetic tchotchkes for my Glorantha: Gods War pledge.