The NEW New Boardgames Thread

[Tamas]

So, Nevsky is pretty cool. Unlike Volko's COIN design, this doesn't feel abstract at all. It's a medieval operational game and it feels like it. As Calendale pointed out in his Youtube review, unlike in COIN, your decision making doesn't feel detached from the simulation the game tries to be. I am making tough and interesting decisions about logistics, how much supplies to bring, how, and how much time to spend acquiring them in the first place. How to keep the feudal lords on the field, etc.

It all flows very smoothly too, although you only realise that once you start playing. As it's not a traditional wargame, reading the rulebook feels like there's a lot of complicated things to keep in mind  (the rulebook itself is reasonably well written) but once you do a turn or two you realise it's actually pretty straightforward.

There's an interesting narrative to the game, even playing solitaire. The way activation works (you assemble a deck of sequential command cards for each turn, so there's a fixed order to which Lords activate in which order) means you can't always make the perfect reaction to an enemy move.

Battles are fairly involved but due to how decisive they can be (and fairly rare), I think that suits.

In terms of replayability, there's probably enough, but I do feel like the game's start is a bit of a 1941 situation, in the sense that the first couple of turns the Teutons have a definitive advantage in offensive power and they should try to make the best of it. However, I don't think the pendulum ever swings too much to Novgorod's favour. About halfway into the campaign game, the Russian player will be able to bring in his two best Lords. Russians also have space to trade, with Capability cards they can make their cheapo militias do pack at least some punch, and due to the Novgorod treasury they have a bit of an easier time keeping Lords in service.

However, it's not that clear-cut: trading space means letting Teutons devastate your countryside which means permanent VPs, and the loss of ability to forage (although for both, obviously). Also, trying to push the war into Livonia and Estonia is no easy feat - the Catholic fortresses are formidable.

There's a lot to the game and the system, it's going to be great for other pre-industrial conflicts as well. 

[Habbaku]

I've definitely enjoyed the 3 campaigns and handful of scenarios of it I've played. I'm looking forward to further iterations in the system as well--the next is due to be in El Cid's time and will have some pretty...massive forces arrayed compared to the quantities involved during the Nevsky campaigns.

Why you'd watch Calendale though is beyond me. 

[Tamas]

I've definitely enjoyed the 3 campaigns and handful of scenarios of it I've played. I'm looking forward to further iterations in the system as well--the next is due to be in El Cid's time and will have some pretty...massive forces arrayed compared to the quantities involved during the Nevsky campaigns.

Why you'd watch Calendale though is beyond me. 

He is definitely going crazier but I sometimes enjoy his ramblings.

[Tamas]

Oh and I only ever watch his reviews. Not really interested in him playing and reading the rules for hours.

Also I wish he didn't do railroad games. A lot of games can be properly evaluated and reviewed playing solitaire. Railroad games are not one of those.

[Habbaku]

I can't stand any of his videos. He doesn't even get the rules right half the time, so I can't trust his "reviews" either. That and I have no interest in watching him puff a pipe or dress like a babushka for three hours.

Dude seems to "review" every game under the sun, too. I have no idea how he has the time or money to do that.

[Tamas]

Mostly he seem to review obscure shit like some moon railroad game prototype. Yeah I am not bothering with that.

Still his reviews are good background noise. As he plays shit solo like I do, they can be relevant.

To be fair though, I can't remember making a single purchase decision based solely on his reviews, always checked out some more coherent people. 

[Oexmelin]

Whose reviews do you all watch / trust?

[The Brain]

Is there any porn star who reviews boardgames?

[Habbaku]

Whose reviews do you all watch / trust?

Shut Up and Sit Down (usually), but mostly just word of mouth. Tom Chick's reviews are usually in-line with my own thoughts on games as well.

[Tamas]

Whose reviews do you all watch / trust?

Shut Up and Sit Down (usually), but mostly just word of mouth. Tom Chick's reviews are usually in-line with my own thoughts on games as well.

Agreed on Chick except for Nevsky, I am totally not seeing the confusion over the map colours he is saying.

Shut Up and Sit Down is excellent but they don't deal with wargames.

[Oexmelin]

I quite like SU&SD. For a different take, I watch Three Minute Boardgames, who puts all those rambling never-ending reviewers to shame.

[11B4V]

I had my 6-monthly boardgame buying fever set on me, the results are:

Arriving today:

Conflict of Heroes Storm of Steel 3rd edition - it sounds quite elegant and almost as importantly looks gorgeous.

Nevsky - unique period, unique system, sounds cool

Arriving at some later date once both are in stock:

Hearts and Minds (newest edition) VASSAL-ed the heck out of Fire in the Lake, it was cool but want a Vietnam coverage with a slightly lighter touch of meeples

Illusions of Glory - Tested this as well virtually years ago. It is admittedly the least awesome of the ..of Glory trilogy, but still nice and very thematic, and there was a deal on it so whatever.

Nice. Despite my best efforts I've been rather loose on game purchases over last few months.

Th Fulda Gap
Arkham lcg stuff
S&T Panzer Battles
Panzer Commander
Eldrich Horror stuff
SPI Invasion America
Down in Flames: Locked-on
Holland 44
Ardennes 44
Dungeon

[Tamas]

Noice!

[Habbaku]

Whose reviews do you all watch / trust?

Shut Up and Sit Down (usually), but mostly just word of mouth. Tom Chick's reviews are usually in-line with my own thoughts on games as well.

Agreed on Chick except for Nevsky, I am totally not seeing the confusion over the map colours he is saying.

Shut Up and Sit Down is excellent but they don't deal with wargames.

Tom didn't review Nevsky. That was Bruce Geryk.

[11B4V]

Clipping the counters for the first scenario in CSS Fulda