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Purple Phoenix Games (2266 KP) rated Wicked & Wise in Tabletop Games
Jul 20, 2021
Who here has only thought of dragons as fearsome fire-breathing beasts of flight in fantastical worlds of magic and whimsy? I probably would be among you, if not for the cutey little Leafy Sea Dragons in our own world. That aside, not many would guess that dragons are actually smooth businesscreatures who employ simple, yet very professional, hordes of mice as their personal accountants. I guess you just don’t know what you don’t know. So thank you to designer Fertessa Allyse for cluing us all in on the inner workings of draconic wealth management.
Wicked & Wise is a trick-taking game where players belong to teams of dragon/mouse-kind bent on epic games of cards upon which they wager and win treasures and gold. Think you know Euchre? Well this is Euchre with purpose!
DISCLAIMER: We were provided a prototype copy of this game for the purposes of this review. These are preview copy components, and I do not know for sure if the final components will be any different from these shown. Also, it is not my intention to detail every rule in the game, as there are just too many. You are invited to download the rulebook, back the game through the Kickstarter campaign, or through any retailers stocking it after fulfillment. -T
Setup is different for each play count from two to six players. For this review, we have tackled the two-player version that uses an open-handed ghost-Mouse player. Separate all card types and place them in decks, per the rules. Each Dragon player will receive 10 basic cards for their hands, and the ghost-Mouse player will be dealt five cards face-up between both players. The starting player is determined and given the Lead Token, which in this prototype copy, is a 3d-printed white dragon (amazing). Each player (or team if playing with more players) also chooses their Goal card for the round and a Table Talk card in use for the entire game. There are more rules for setup, but this is the general idea.
Generally speaking, Wicked & Wise is played like a normal trick-taking game with several embellishments. One such is that the leading Dragon will play the first card to set the trump suit, then the other Dragon(s) will play their card to follow. Once all Dragons have played, the Mouse players will play their one card in the same team order the Dragons followed. The Dragons’ cards are all played for the suit and numeric value, as in Euchre, but the Mouse cards are played for their special abilities printed at the bottom of each card. These abilities could include drawing cards and passing them to their Dragon teammate, or choosing to take some Gold, or discarding and redrawing more basic cards. Oh, but here is the kicker – the Dragons now get another card they may play to help tip the odds and win the trick! I am no master of Euchre (or any trick-taking game for that matter), but I know I have never seen this in any game I have ever played. Two opportunities to play a card to win the trick? Excellent.
The round Goal cards are now consulted to see if the teams achieved their chosen Goal for the round. If successful, the team takes the reward printed. If not, they lose half the amount, rounded down. Afterward, the Cleanup actions will reset hand sizes and get the table ready to play the next round. The winning team is they who are able to amass the largest collection of Gold over the course of the three rounds of play. Games can last anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes per my plays, and they get faster with more experience and more focused players.
Components. Again, this is a prototype copy of this game. That said, I am absolutely impressed with how far along this game seems to be at this point. The art is mostly complete and it is simply amazing. Beth Sobel has always received high praise from us here, and never disappoints on anything she touches. I think the cards have a great look to them, and the suits are differentiated not only by color, but also by iconography – a boon for our colorblind gamer friends. I am very excited to see where the components end up at the end of the Kickstarter campaign for sure.
Euchre has always been one of my favorite games, and it is something I can play with any type of teammate or opponent. I learned how to play on a bus in France in college and will always accept an invitation to play it. So to have a themed version of Euchre to play that also adds so many interesting new decisions and teammate roles and physical score-keeping components just hits on every level. The theme and game are not necessarily securely tied together – I think those that are opposed to a fantasy setting can easily enjoy the game or simply re-theme it themselves to almost anything.
This one is a sneaky little game that pulls you in and keeps you interested throughout its entirety, and that is a mark of a great game for me. Once game nights can get back to normal soon (I hope) I can see this coming out to the table quite often. If you are in the market for a swole Euchre replacement (or extremely fun side session for the die-hards), then I recommend you take a look at Wicked & Wise. It adds so many great new ideas to keep an old standard fresh and tasty. Do consider backing it on Kickstarter when it launches in August, and let’s see if we can get Carla to drop an image of the Lead Player Token they are planning.
Wicked & Wise is a trick-taking game where players belong to teams of dragon/mouse-kind bent on epic games of cards upon which they wager and win treasures and gold. Think you know Euchre? Well this is Euchre with purpose!
DISCLAIMER: We were provided a prototype copy of this game for the purposes of this review. These are preview copy components, and I do not know for sure if the final components will be any different from these shown. Also, it is not my intention to detail every rule in the game, as there are just too many. You are invited to download the rulebook, back the game through the Kickstarter campaign, or through any retailers stocking it after fulfillment. -T
Setup is different for each play count from two to six players. For this review, we have tackled the two-player version that uses an open-handed ghost-Mouse player. Separate all card types and place them in decks, per the rules. Each Dragon player will receive 10 basic cards for their hands, and the ghost-Mouse player will be dealt five cards face-up between both players. The starting player is determined and given the Lead Token, which in this prototype copy, is a 3d-printed white dragon (amazing). Each player (or team if playing with more players) also chooses their Goal card for the round and a Table Talk card in use for the entire game. There are more rules for setup, but this is the general idea.
Generally speaking, Wicked & Wise is played like a normal trick-taking game with several embellishments. One such is that the leading Dragon will play the first card to set the trump suit, then the other Dragon(s) will play their card to follow. Once all Dragons have played, the Mouse players will play their one card in the same team order the Dragons followed. The Dragons’ cards are all played for the suit and numeric value, as in Euchre, but the Mouse cards are played for their special abilities printed at the bottom of each card. These abilities could include drawing cards and passing them to their Dragon teammate, or choosing to take some Gold, or discarding and redrawing more basic cards. Oh, but here is the kicker – the Dragons now get another card they may play to help tip the odds and win the trick! I am no master of Euchre (or any trick-taking game for that matter), but I know I have never seen this in any game I have ever played. Two opportunities to play a card to win the trick? Excellent.
The round Goal cards are now consulted to see if the teams achieved their chosen Goal for the round. If successful, the team takes the reward printed. If not, they lose half the amount, rounded down. Afterward, the Cleanup actions will reset hand sizes and get the table ready to play the next round. The winning team is they who are able to amass the largest collection of Gold over the course of the three rounds of play. Games can last anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes per my plays, and they get faster with more experience and more focused players.
Components. Again, this is a prototype copy of this game. That said, I am absolutely impressed with how far along this game seems to be at this point. The art is mostly complete and it is simply amazing. Beth Sobel has always received high praise from us here, and never disappoints on anything she touches. I think the cards have a great look to them, and the suits are differentiated not only by color, but also by iconography – a boon for our colorblind gamer friends. I am very excited to see where the components end up at the end of the Kickstarter campaign for sure.
Euchre has always been one of my favorite games, and it is something I can play with any type of teammate or opponent. I learned how to play on a bus in France in college and will always accept an invitation to play it. So to have a themed version of Euchre to play that also adds so many interesting new decisions and teammate roles and physical score-keeping components just hits on every level. The theme and game are not necessarily securely tied together – I think those that are opposed to a fantasy setting can easily enjoy the game or simply re-theme it themselves to almost anything.
This one is a sneaky little game that pulls you in and keeps you interested throughout its entirety, and that is a mark of a great game for me. Once game nights can get back to normal soon (I hope) I can see this coming out to the table quite often. If you are in the market for a swole Euchre replacement (or extremely fun side session for the die-hards), then I recommend you take a look at Wicked & Wise. It adds so many great new ideas to keep an old standard fresh and tasty. Do consider backing it on Kickstarter when it launches in August, and let’s see if we can get Carla to drop an image of the Lead Player Token they are planning.
Nikki Massey (8 KP) rated How to Train Your Dragon (2010) in Movies
Feb 12, 2019
I'm watching this film franchise in the wrong order, last first then this one, but better late to the party than never?!
The film took a little while to get going, a bit of a slow start, but then it started ramping up from there.
I guess knowing some of the future tales I tried to second guess what was about to happen, but was still surprised by a few twists and turns.
The Vikings battled dragons as they stole their livestock but then one boy turned his back on what he was expected to do and befriended a dragon. What will the other villagers think and can he, with the help of his friends, open their eyes to the truth.
A lovely feel good family film with some great morals on being kind to others and not judging a book by its cover. Well worth a watch.
The film took a little while to get going, a bit of a slow start, but then it started ramping up from there.
I guess knowing some of the future tales I tried to second guess what was about to happen, but was still surprised by a few twists and turns.
The Vikings battled dragons as they stole their livestock but then one boy turned his back on what he was expected to do and befriended a dragon. What will the other villagers think and can he, with the help of his friends, open their eyes to the truth.
A lovely feel good family film with some great morals on being kind to others and not judging a book by its cover. Well worth a watch.
Fench Fletcher (5 KP) rated DRAGON QUEST III in Apps
Apr 29, 2019
This is probably my favorite game of all time, I played it first on the Gameboy Color when I was a kid. It has great story telling, interesting monsters, and a diverse set of character types you can have in your team. Its very challenging unless you overlevel your characters before moving to a new area. That being said, leveling up can get tedeous, and even a little boring (you can only beat up slimes so many times before it becomes mind numbingly repetitive). When you are in an area that is your level, or even slightly higher, it can be very rewarding to beat a tough enemy. Its also a fairly long game, especially for a game that started on the NES. I highly recommend this game, if you only play one Dragon Quest game, this is the one you should pick up.
Neon's Nerd Nexus (360 KP) rated Only God Forgives (2013) in Movies
May 13, 2019
Wana fight
Number 5 in my #top10 favourite films is 'Only God Forgives'
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Very misunderstood and dripping in style from head to toe #OnlyGodForgives is such a stunningly #crafted film that i get #goosebumps from watching it every time. There may not be much dialog but every characters personality and past pain can flawlessly be seen and felt in facial expressions and acting alone. This combine with #beautiful cinematography and an intimidating/hostile atmosphere make for one of the most visually interesting, extremely rewarding and highly #depressing films I've ever seen. #Nicholaswindingrefn although #hated by many is my #favourite director of all time, his sheer ability to make me #feel a #deep #emotional connection using visuals and music alone is something I find absolutely #fascinating, #disturbing and extremely intoxicating. His films really are my favourite #drug.
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#nwr #taiboxing #fight #martialarts #ryangosling #horror #ufc #neon #dragon #violence #mondaymotivation #sundayfunday
------------------------------------------
Very misunderstood and dripping in style from head to toe #OnlyGodForgives is such a stunningly #crafted film that i get #goosebumps from watching it every time. There may not be much dialog but every characters personality and past pain can flawlessly be seen and felt in facial expressions and acting alone. This combine with #beautiful cinematography and an intimidating/hostile atmosphere make for one of the most visually interesting, extremely rewarding and highly #depressing films I've ever seen. #Nicholaswindingrefn although #hated by many is my #favourite director of all time, his sheer ability to make me #feel a #deep #emotional connection using visuals and music alone is something I find absolutely #fascinating, #disturbing and extremely intoxicating. His films really are my favourite #drug.
------------------------------------------------
#nwr #taiboxing #fight #martialarts #ryangosling #horror #ufc #neon #dragon #violence #mondaymotivation #sundayfunday
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