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Purple Phoenix Games (2266 KP) rated Valeria: Card Kingdoms in Tabletop Games
Jun 12, 2019
Imagine yourself a Duke/Duchess. You have land that needs to be developed. You have paltry starting resources and access to a Farmer to produce goods and a Knight to protect them. You need to build the greatest Dukedom/Duchy to prosper for generations and fend off the impending monster attack. In typical RPG fashion I ask you, “What. Do. You. Do?”
DISCLAIMER!! This review is for vanilla Valeria: Card Kingdoms. We have plans to add in the expansions in the near future. Once we do, we will add that information to this review or to a new review and link to it from here. -T
Okay, I have to admit, I Kickstarted Villages of Valeria (VoV) and Quests of Valeria (QoV) before picking up Valeria: Card Kingdoms (VCK). Why? Well, because I was wary of shared universe games at the time, so I tried one: Villages of Valeria. Dude, it’s a great game (review to come). When I Kickstart something I usually tend to go all-in. So I have the good stuff. Same with Quest for Valeria (review to come). I simply missed the boat on the first installment because I was late to the game.
Fast forward to me actually buying the game and trying it out. The mechanics felt very familiar (thanks Machi Koro), and the iconography was very familiar too (thanks VoV and QoV). But VCK excelled and rocked my world so much that I just cannot get enough of it.
Without paraphrasing the rulebook and teaching the entire game here, I’ll give a quick rules synopsis. You roll 2d6 on your turn and activate cards based on what you roll. Rolled a 3 and a 5? Ok, activate the 3 card. Also the 5 card. So far it sounds just like Machi Koro right? Here’s where it improves on MK. You also activate the 8 card (because 3+5=8). BUT ALSO EVERYONE ELSE ACTIVATES THEIR 3, 5, and 8 CARDS. Then you take two actions, which could be recruiting more citizen cards to activate when rolled, getting resources, defeating monsters, adding buildings to your Dukedom/Duchy. Most VP at the end of the game wins.
Roll dice, activate cards, take actions, win the game. It’s so simple, but yet so so so much fun. The game looks incredible when setup, there are a ton of card areas, monsters, the dice are big and chunky, game play is super fast, and you are always involved – even on your opponents’ turns. What more could you ask for? I’ll tell you: a super positive Purple Phoenix Games score of 22 / 24. It’s my favorite game of all time, after all.
https://purplephoenixgames.wordpress.com/2019/01/09/valeria-card-kingdoms-review/
DISCLAIMER!! This review is for vanilla Valeria: Card Kingdoms. We have plans to add in the expansions in the near future. Once we do, we will add that information to this review or to a new review and link to it from here. -T
Okay, I have to admit, I Kickstarted Villages of Valeria (VoV) and Quests of Valeria (QoV) before picking up Valeria: Card Kingdoms (VCK). Why? Well, because I was wary of shared universe games at the time, so I tried one: Villages of Valeria. Dude, it’s a great game (review to come). When I Kickstart something I usually tend to go all-in. So I have the good stuff. Same with Quest for Valeria (review to come). I simply missed the boat on the first installment because I was late to the game.
Fast forward to me actually buying the game and trying it out. The mechanics felt very familiar (thanks Machi Koro), and the iconography was very familiar too (thanks VoV and QoV). But VCK excelled and rocked my world so much that I just cannot get enough of it.
Without paraphrasing the rulebook and teaching the entire game here, I’ll give a quick rules synopsis. You roll 2d6 on your turn and activate cards based on what you roll. Rolled a 3 and a 5? Ok, activate the 3 card. Also the 5 card. So far it sounds just like Machi Koro right? Here’s where it improves on MK. You also activate the 8 card (because 3+5=8). BUT ALSO EVERYONE ELSE ACTIVATES THEIR 3, 5, and 8 CARDS. Then you take two actions, which could be recruiting more citizen cards to activate when rolled, getting resources, defeating monsters, adding buildings to your Dukedom/Duchy. Most VP at the end of the game wins.
Roll dice, activate cards, take actions, win the game. It’s so simple, but yet so so so much fun. The game looks incredible when setup, there are a ton of card areas, monsters, the dice are big and chunky, game play is super fast, and you are always involved – even on your opponents’ turns. What more could you ask for? I’ll tell you: a super positive Purple Phoenix Games score of 22 / 24. It’s my favorite game of all time, after all.
https://purplephoenixgames.wordpress.com/2019/01/09/valeria-card-kingdoms-review/
Midge (525 KP) rated The Twelve Dice of Christmas in Books
Dec 10, 2018
I adore a new book, and if it’s part of a series, that's great, as it means more books for me to read!
Welcome to Serenity Cove, a peaceful Southern community where the residents like to play dice, and when there is a dark mystery, play detective.
With Christmas fast approaching, Kate McCall and her retired friends get into the holiday spirit by agreeing to help the elderly Eula Mae Snow decorate her home, even when it means sorting through many of the older woman’s belongings. Intent on doing a good deed and uncovering a bright collection of seasonal decorations, Kate is stopped dead in her tracks when instead she discovers the skeleton of a man showing clear signs of foul play.
Many in Serenity Cove thought that Waylon Snow had run off and left town and his wife, Eula Mae, more than two decades earlier. But with the appearance of his skeleton and a whole host of clues pointing to Eula Mae as the murderer, Kate will have to put her sleuthing skills to work to figure out who could have committed the evil deed.
Kate and her retired friends, known as The Bunco Babes, are feeling festive and they are planning a cookie exchange and ugly sweater contest for their last dice game session of the season. As they plan their holidays, they decide to help their friend decorate her house for the annual charity Christmas Home Tour. The Bunco Babes get cracking, and in the process of hunting for the Christmas decorations, Kate discovers the skeleton in the root cellar. Kate now has a twenty-five-year-old mystery to contend with. Can she solve it?
This is my first novel by Gail Oust and I really enjoyed it. I love that it is an old mystery set in Christmastime. Although this is the fourth book in a mystery series, you do not need to have read the previous books in sequence to be able to follow the story properly.
I found many of the characters very funny and easy to relate to, particularly Kate herself, but also Eula Mae's granddaughter, Tammy Lynn and Bill Lewis, Kate's "significant other". Many of the other characters in the book were extremely amusing and unusual. Kate and the Town Sheriff, Sheriff Wiggins have history, Although he is not in Kate's fan club, can she use her powers of persuasion on him to allow the Bunco Babes into the house in time for it to be decorated for the Christmas Home Tour?
You’ll treasure this sweet Christmas mystery, as I did!
Thanks to Netgalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for a copy of this book.
Welcome to Serenity Cove, a peaceful Southern community where the residents like to play dice, and when there is a dark mystery, play detective.
With Christmas fast approaching, Kate McCall and her retired friends get into the holiday spirit by agreeing to help the elderly Eula Mae Snow decorate her home, even when it means sorting through many of the older woman’s belongings. Intent on doing a good deed and uncovering a bright collection of seasonal decorations, Kate is stopped dead in her tracks when instead she discovers the skeleton of a man showing clear signs of foul play.
Many in Serenity Cove thought that Waylon Snow had run off and left town and his wife, Eula Mae, more than two decades earlier. But with the appearance of his skeleton and a whole host of clues pointing to Eula Mae as the murderer, Kate will have to put her sleuthing skills to work to figure out who could have committed the evil deed.
Kate and her retired friends, known as The Bunco Babes, are feeling festive and they are planning a cookie exchange and ugly sweater contest for their last dice game session of the season. As they plan their holidays, they decide to help their friend decorate her house for the annual charity Christmas Home Tour. The Bunco Babes get cracking, and in the process of hunting for the Christmas decorations, Kate discovers the skeleton in the root cellar. Kate now has a twenty-five-year-old mystery to contend with. Can she solve it?
This is my first novel by Gail Oust and I really enjoyed it. I love that it is an old mystery set in Christmastime. Although this is the fourth book in a mystery series, you do not need to have read the previous books in sequence to be able to follow the story properly.
I found many of the characters very funny and easy to relate to, particularly Kate herself, but also Eula Mae's granddaughter, Tammy Lynn and Bill Lewis, Kate's "significant other". Many of the other characters in the book were extremely amusing and unusual. Kate and the Town Sheriff, Sheriff Wiggins have history, Although he is not in Kate's fan club, can she use her powers of persuasion on him to allow the Bunco Babes into the house in time for it to be decorated for the Christmas Home Tour?
You’ll treasure this sweet Christmas mystery, as I did!
Thanks to Netgalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for a copy of this book.
Alhambra
8.1
Rate It
Tabletop Game
Granada, 1278. At the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, one of the most exciting and interesting...
Boardgames ModernClassics TonsofExpansions
Peter Shephard (2822 KP) rated Call to Adventure in Tabletop Games
Jun 4, 2019
Different, in a very good way
This is unlike any game I have played before. It is totally possible to create a whole life story in one game, and with a little leap of imagination, the created character could be the Big Bad (or Main Support) for just about any fantasy role playing game.
The game uses a standard format for abilities (strength etc) but "casting runes" instead of rolling dice is quick to work out and able to be done quickly.
Having set "story points" which you need to advance your story, but being able to decide whether you take the positive/noble, or negative/shady path gradually builds to give a really developed character.
From one of the games I played, I was an acolyte; I went to war, but was greatly disillusioned by what I saw, so ended up leaving the faith and joining with the thieves. I encountered a childhood sweetheart, and we stayed together for ages. Finally, during my battle with a demon, to complete my return to favour with the diety I had abandoned, my sweetheart was murdered by the demons followers. Although I succeeded, it was at a huge cost....
This was all determined from the cards played; it's very varied and really well thought out.
Highly, highly recommended
The game uses a standard format for abilities (strength etc) but "casting runes" instead of rolling dice is quick to work out and able to be done quickly.
Having set "story points" which you need to advance your story, but being able to decide whether you take the positive/noble, or negative/shady path gradually builds to give a really developed character.
From one of the games I played, I was an acolyte; I went to war, but was greatly disillusioned by what I saw, so ended up leaving the faith and joining with the thieves. I encountered a childhood sweetheart, and we stayed together for ages. Finally, during my battle with a demon, to complete my return to favour with the diety I had abandoned, my sweetheart was murdered by the demons followers. Although I succeeded, it was at a huge cost....
This was all determined from the cards played; it's very varied and really well thought out.
Highly, highly recommended
Lumos (380 KP) rated Betrayal at House on the Hill in Tabletop Games
Mar 21, 2018 (Updated Apr 5, 2018)
I love Betrayal at House on the Hill. It is similar to the game Elder Sign in that you are trying to complete a mission but rolling dice to defeat obstacles, but this game throws a twist at you… after a little while, one of your party members turns on you and suddenly it becomes everyone against them!
I like the way the items and events that occur throughout the game are very well thought out and work thematically with what happened and in what room (for example: it makes sense that you might find a spooky book in the library or a rotting corpse in the graveyard). I do like that one player becomes the enemy (although it causes me anxiety every time that that will be me and I will mess it up). I think this gives the game a unique spin and causes members (that aren’t involved in the haunt) to work together to defeat them. Each game is different and follows a different haunting. There are different books to read depending on if you are the evil player or not, Both sides have a different goal that the other doesn't know about. There is some common knowledge but it almost becomes two separate games against each other. A very well thought out game that is fun and challenging with a high replay level.
I like the way the items and events that occur throughout the game are very well thought out and work thematically with what happened and in what room (for example: it makes sense that you might find a spooky book in the library or a rotting corpse in the graveyard). I do like that one player becomes the enemy (although it causes me anxiety every time that that will be me and I will mess it up). I think this gives the game a unique spin and causes members (that aren’t involved in the haunt) to work together to defeat them. Each game is different and follows a different haunting. There are different books to read depending on if you are the evil player or not, Both sides have a different goal that the other doesn't know about. There is some common knowledge but it almost becomes two separate games against each other. A very well thought out game that is fun and challenging with a high replay level.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Sequence in Tabletop Games
May 31, 2018
Addictive
If you hate card games and strategy games then I’m afraid Sequence really isn’t for you. However if like me you love both types, then Sequence is a highly entertaining and addictive game.
It works a little like Connect 4 with cards, but with a lot more detail and thinking involved. And like games like Monopoly, the cards you get are based solely on luck (of the draw/dice) and your strategy is what helps you win. But unlike most strategy games, Sequence is a fairly short one. It doesn’t drag on for hours (unless you spend a long time picking where to place pieces), and it doesn’t get boring. It can get a little frustrating at times, especially when you know you can have nothing to prevent your opponent from winning, but that’s all part of the game.
The only criticism is that despite stating it is for 2-12 players, it’s actually only for 3 players or 3 teams, as there’s only 3 different colours of chips. Whilst I understand that you can’t have a huge amount of players, surely 4 would’ve been a better and more appropriate number of players/teams/colours?
Despite this, it’s still a hugely addictive and fun game to play, I can’t see it getting old any time soon!
It works a little like Connect 4 with cards, but with a lot more detail and thinking involved. And like games like Monopoly, the cards you get are based solely on luck (of the draw/dice) and your strategy is what helps you win. But unlike most strategy games, Sequence is a fairly short one. It doesn’t drag on for hours (unless you spend a long time picking where to place pieces), and it doesn’t get boring. It can get a little frustrating at times, especially when you know you can have nothing to prevent your opponent from winning, but that’s all part of the game.
The only criticism is that despite stating it is for 2-12 players, it’s actually only for 3 players or 3 teams, as there’s only 3 different colours of chips. Whilst I understand that you can’t have a huge amount of players, surely 4 would’ve been a better and more appropriate number of players/teams/colours?
Despite this, it’s still a hugely addictive and fun game to play, I can’t see it getting old any time soon!
The Marinated Meeple (1848 KP) rated Broom Service: The Card Game in Tabletop Games
Aug 6, 2018
This is a very simple game, very short, not much depth
There is a risk to being brave, if someone else is also brave with the same potion, you get nothing.... Without knowing the full game, this makes no sense whatsoever. The full game has light depth and interesting choices and planning, this game is really just a taking that small deduction part of the game of what people are holding and if you want to risk it.
To me this is like taking settlers of catan and just distilling it down to rolling the dice and collectiing resources, and at the end of the 4 rounds you get points for having the larger sets of brick than someone else. Without the map and building things there isn't strategy.
This game might be good for kids, but I think it send the wrong message, so I even discount that. This feels like a money grab trying to capitalize on the name of Broom Service, and making a small version that costs less. But you don't get the game, so therefore even less of a cost feels like a ripoff. I'm trying not to hold a grudge against this game, but I'm not happy with this as a game.
Do yourself the favor to pay the extra 10 dollars for the full version, and skip this.
To me this is like taking settlers of catan and just distilling it down to rolling the dice and collectiing resources, and at the end of the 4 rounds you get points for having the larger sets of brick than someone else. Without the map and building things there isn't strategy.
This game might be good for kids, but I think it send the wrong message, so I even discount that. This feels like a money grab trying to capitalize on the name of Broom Service, and making a small version that costs less. But you don't get the game, so therefore even less of a cost feels like a ripoff. I'm trying not to hold a grudge against this game, but I'm not happy with this as a game.
Do yourself the favor to pay the extra 10 dollars for the full version, and skip this.
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