Category: Syndicated

I probably won’t refuse to teach anything, as I run an open boardgame, but I would feel queasy if I would have to teach a war game of the more complex kind (like allmost anything by Richard Berg for example 😉 ). The gigantic number of rules alone would make it a big pain.

For more complex games (and actually often even with simpler ones), I usually do a first “open play” of the game. Everyone has everything on the table and I run them through the motions, choosing different strategies (if available in the game) for different players. Works like a charm, people get to touch the components, handle them, and just learn by playing and being played.

Well, I probabably wouldn’t like to teach Mage Knight, because that is a game where I allways forget some rules when I play solo.

The Gallerist, on the other hand, is quite easy to teach how to play. The number of actions available is quite limited, for a game of that complexity, and most of them are thematically grounded, which I think allways helps with teaching. Sure enough, just knowing HOW to play the game doesn’t tell you how to play the game WELL. And even if you know how to play, mechanically, you will sit there, staring at the board, not knowing what to do at all in your first moves.

I probably won’t refuse to teach anything, as I run an open boardgame, but I would feel queasy if I would have to teach a war game of the more complex kind (like allmost anything by Richard Berg for example 😉 ). The gigantic number of rules alone would make it a big pain.

For more complex games (and actually often even with simpler ones), I usually do a first “open play” of the game. Everyone has everything on the table and I run them through the motions, choosing different strategies (if available in the game) for different players. Works like a charm, people get to touch the components, handle them, and just learn by playing and being played.

Well, I probabably wouldn’t like to teach Mage Knight, because that is a game where I allways forget some rules when I play solo.

The Gallerist, on the other hand, is quite easy to teach how to play. The number of actions available is quite limited, for a game of that complexity, and most of them are thematically grounded, which I think allways helps with teaching. Sure enough, just knowing HOW to play the game doesn’t tell you how to play the game WELL. And even if you know how to play, mechanically, you will sit there, staring at the board, not knowing what to do at all in your first moves.

It is quite expensive (at least at the higher levels), I think, for what they distribute – just cards. But on the other hand, I really like the Star Realms engine, despite it’s flaws, and this looks like it provides a much better solo experience and gives a 1-vs-many option, too.

I guess I stay in and see what they come up with for stretch goals, to take away the pain of the price a bit. But again, I really like the random-market deck builder engines and the Star Realm one has allways been a favorite with me, so probably they just found a way into my wallet already.

It is quite expensive (at least at the higher levels), I think, for what they distribute – just cards. But on the other hand, I really like the Star Realms engine, despite it’s flaws, and this looks like it provides a much better solo experience and gives a 1-vs-many option, too.

I guess I stay in and see what they come up with for stretch goals, to take away the pain of the price a bit. But again, I really like the random-market deck builder engines and the Star Realm one has allways been a favorite with me, so probably they just found a way into my wallet already.

I only see “play as the alien queen” and get interested. Hopefully no silly competoop, though, but a real coop against pesky humans.