Not long ago, the Corona Virus Pandemic reached a point in the United States that has required many to stay at home. Proper practices of social distancing for public health reasons has meant that gaming groups like the ones I'm involved in can't meet in person. The gaming group I host each week has started using an online virtual gaming platform to meet online and play some of our favorite games as well as learn new ones. The Main Players There are two main players in this new virtual tabletop gaming world: Tabletop Simulator and Tabletopia. Both are available online from their a web app and/or on Steam for PCs. Both have a 3D simulated gaming environment and interface for players to virtually experience a game together ... and both provide tools and the ability to create your own online virtual board game for use in prototyping, play testing and publishing. The two platforms have different financial models. Tabletop Simulator uses a purchase model while Tabletopia is a subscription model, though both have ways to play for free. I have only had the chance to use Tabletopia. After looking at both options, it made the most sense for me and my friends. My thoughts and comments will center on my experiences with the Tabletopia online virtual gaming platform. The promotional video below gives an idea of what the Tabletopia platform can do. This video was published in 2016 and there have been many updates and games added since. Thoughts About Tabletopia In general, I'm very pleased with using this platform to play tabletop games with friends online. It truly has that sense of playing a board game with friends. It's not simply an online video game. Trust me, nearly nothing is automated. Users/players must pick up their pieces, select cards, keep score, move items, etc... just as you would in a tabletop setting. The game doesn't do it for you. One of the things that got me more interested in Tabletopia is the recent release of the IOS version for the iPad. Though the games are more limited, the functionality is much the same. As long as the game is originated and hosted from an iPad, even PC users can join in. The same is NOT true of the other direction. When PC users utilizing the browser-based app or Steam host games, iPad users cannot join. There is some kind of resolution and screen dimension issue that causes issues. There is supposed to be an Android version coming out soon and as with most apps, I expect they'll make many improvements and fix issues over time. I played Architects of the West Kingdom using my iPad while friends Nikki and Jeff played from PCs. It worked fairly well. A couple minor glitches, however we got in a full game and had fun doing so. The last two weeks our weekly gaming group has gone completely online using Tabletopia for the gaming platform and Discord for voice chat. Currently, Tabletopia does not offer in-game voice chat, though their site and videos state they are working toward adding it. Discord has worked well for us once we all downloaded the app and got over the initial learning-curve hurdles. The first week was a small group with just three of us. This past week we had too many players for one game so we split into two virtual tables and played two different games. I set up my Discord server with two voice chat channels which allowed all of us to start in a conversation together and determine whom was playing what, then split off into two voice channels so that each game table was in a separate voice chat. While playing, individuals could pop into the other voice channel to check in on the other game or ask rule questions etc... It worked quite well. After one of the games ended, a couple players jumped into our game as observers and were able to chat with us as we finished. Using this virtual platform has actually made it more convenient for some who live further away or who normally wouldn't be able to make it to a game night. There are benefits beyond being forced to separate due to the COVID-19 social distancing mandates. This opens up doors to playing with friends and family members in other cities, states, and countries. The following is a more in-depth video explaining different benefits and features of the Tabletopia platform. I found this helpful in understanding what it looks like and a bit about how it works. Final Thoughts
My friends and I have enjoyed getting a chance to play board games even while in voluntary captivity. We may not be able to physically come over to each others' homes and play board games, however with Tabletopia we have the next best thing. I think this pandemic has opened many of our eyes to new opportunities and news ways to interact with others. I will continue to use Tabletopia even after the health crisis has subsided. If you'd like to check out the Tabletopia website click here. To learn more about Discord click here. Have you played board games using an online/virtual option? Leave your comments below. If you haven't, I encourage you to check out the options mentioned above. Keep watching for more updates on what games my group is playing on Tabletopia and ... Game on!
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This past month I played Unearth. This card and dice game surprised me in a good way. I'll explain and share more about my thoughts on Unearth. Overview of Unearth A quick overview of Unearth. A row of 5 ruins cards is placed on the board along with wonders hexes and cards. Each player is armed with a set of dice (delvers) in their color. A players dice set consists of three 6-sided dice (d6), one d8 and one d4. In turn, players indicate which ruins card they are exploring and roll dice to "delve" at that location. High rolls make it more likely to claim the card while low rolls earn stones from the location. Players collect sets of various colors of ruins cards for additional victory points. The stones collected from cards are hex-shaped and are placed in the tableau area in front of each player. As players' stone formations create enclosed hex circles of six stones they can then discover "Wonders" which are placed in the center. If the colors of the encircling hex stones meet the requirements of certain unique wonder cards the player may choose to claim it. These wonder cards provide special bonuses during gameplay. Once the ruins cards are exhausted, the game ends and points are tallied. Comments & Thoughts I have to admit... I didn't think I would care much for this game. I saw people playing Unearth at Gen Con the last couple of years and just couldn't get into it. I admired the nicely illustrated cards, however I thought that the gameplay may not appeal to me. Well... I was wrong. After having a chance to play this game, I can say that I enjoyed it. It's certainly not a deep or long game, however it fits nicely into the category of shorter games with a medium-to-light difficulty and strategy. Unearth reminds me a lot of a couple different games: Roll for It and Century: Spice Road. This game takes some of the mechanisms from the two and creates a new game of its own. Unearth utilizes a process of assigning dice rolls to specific cards in a "market" area on the board and competing for acquisition of the card with other players. Though there are some modifications, it reminds me of Roll for It. The set collection and meeting requirements to attain specific wonders cards is similar to gameplay in Century: Spice Road. The weight of this game is probably classified as medium. The rules and mechanisms are within the grasp of all different types of gamers, yet offers all an opportunity for some strategy. I found the game enjoyable for what it is. It's too deep and a little long to be considered a "filler game". I would suggest that it's a lighter medium-weight game for those times you aren't in the mood to slog through a 3-hour gaming session OR if your group likes to play a game a couple times in a row to really get the feel of it. It does lack a game board which for me is usually a turn off. For some reason, I prefer the graphic nature of a game surface. It may have been one of the reasons I didn't think I'd like it, though this is not a big deal and certainly wasn't an issue while playing. If you've played either of the other two games mentioned and like them, then you definitely need to check out Unearth for a bit of a twist on those mechanisms. I would recommend Unearth for everyone to try. I can see a wide range of people finding something of interest in this game. If you'd like to read more on the publisher's site, including a gameplay video click here. To see the Board Game Geek page click here.
I hope you found my description, thoughts and comments about Unearth helpful. Keep checking the King's GameNight Gaming Blog for more articles about tabletop gaming and follow the King's GameNight Facebook page. Game on! I got a chance to play the new game Wacky Races at my friend's house a few weeks ago. This game by CMON is based on an old TV cartoon show that I used to watch as a kid. Below is the YouTube video intro to that TV show. If you've just watched the YouTube video above, you've been introduced to all the characters and their vehicles in Wacky Races. This is the same cast of characters found in this fun new tabletop game of the same name. Overview In this short racing game, players select from their favorite racers/vehicles from the cartoon TV show. The race course is made up of terrain tiles arranged in sequence on the table. players begin on the starting strip with no more than two vehicles aligned on either side of a tile. Each player has a small hand of terrain cards in which they may play on their turn to advance on the track, skipping over those spaces that are fully occupied. Each character has its own unique special abilities. These abilities can typically be used once, then must be turned over. Dick Dastardly, who is the villain, is always the last to go and advances down the center of the terrain tiles. He attempts to sabotage the racers along the way. Play proceeds along the track/tiles including a few special tiles with specific additional rules until one of the racers crosses the finish line first and is the winner. Comments and Thoughts
Wacky Races is a lighthearted and family-friendly game. The pieces and components in this Deluxe Version of the game are terrific. The painted miniatures are accurate representations of the original TV cartoon. The game is quickly taught, easy to learn and takes only about 20 minutes to play. A quick and fun game for families and friends. The game does a good job capturing the zany antics of each of race team's personalities within the TV show. I had a good time playing a couple games of Wacky Races, though it wasn't the weight and complexity of game I typically prefer. For me, this was more of a "filler game" – a good option for in-between games or when waiting for others to show up, etc... I think my favorite part of the game was the feeling of nostalgia it gave me. As I played the game and looked at the miniatures, I attempted to conjure up memories of the show. Something about having things that remind you of your childhood adds to the enjoyment of a game. For those who never saw the show or are too young to remember it, it's still a fun little racing game just without the benefit of nostalgia to help boost the enjoyment. I hope you enjoyed my overview and comments about Wacky Races. If you're curious and would like to find out more by click here to go to the Board Game Geek page. More information about the game is available on the publisher's website click here. Continue to follow the King's GameNight blog and Facebook page, and... Game on! I recently received a copy of Heropath: Dragon Roar and its two expansions from Unique Board Games LTD (UBG)*. This adventure boardgame for up to six players with both expansions was a great option for the King's Game Night weekly group to try. We played two consecutive weeks to get a good feel for the game. I'll give a review of Heropath and pass along thoughts from myself and the group. King's GameNight Ratings and Review I normally give brief overviews and thoughts on games I've played. In this case, I have created a more thorough ratings and review process which includes others in my weekly gaming group. Here I will give an overview on components, artwork and gameplay. At the end of the article I'll share the group's average ratings and comments. An Overview of Components and Artwork Heropath: Dragon Roar is at its core an American-style game. It sports miniatures on a map, dice rolling, adventuring and combat. The game board is essentially a map divided into numerous spaces/regions marked by either white or black outlines. Players have character boards with spaces for equipment, companions, magic, abilities and wearable armor & items. Player cards also include counters for a number of character attributes. Enemies (monsters) are depicted by tokens initially placed face-down on the board. Locations called "Place-Sites" are indicated by an illustration on the board. When the location is revealed the place-site triangular standee is placed on the board. Components also include plastic miniatures of each of the player/characters and of the primary foe, the dragon. The transparent dice are printed with custom emblems representing the number of "hits" on each side. Clear plastic markers are provided for marking the different levels for each character's attributes. Gold and food are represented by wooden pieces. All of the components are fairly standard to above average in quality. There are plenty of bits and pieces to manage, however none of it seemed to be too much. You are given the components needed to successfully manage the game. The rules seemed to be a bit lengthy and I found that the translation to English had some inconsistencies and awkwardness. For the most part, the rules explained the game and its general gameplay just fine. The game designers also included multiple variants for gameplay. Options for playing cooperatively, in teams, solo, as well as with varying levels of difficulty. It seems that the designer/publisher wanted to give players the options to modify the game to best suit everyone's favorite way to play. In my opinion, the artwork and illustrations in the game are average. Keeping in mind that taste in artwork is subjective, I feel the art meets the needs however isn't as appealing to me as that in other games. The graphic design is generally well done and type is for the most part legible, though the cards have relatively small text and can be a little difficult to read. Many player aids in the form of reference boards and tables in the rule book are provided. I wish more publishers would include similar reference cards. Two expansions are available. With both some additional content is added as well as the ability to play with up to six different characters. The components and quality of the expansions matches that of the base game. All work well together. Gameplay Overview In the standard game, players place their character figures in the starting location on the board. Players each receive four actions per turn in which they can move, battle, visit (place-sites), encounter (other players) or rest. The gameplay is fairly open. players move around the map trying to "power up" by increasing attributes, fighting enemies and encountering other players. The primary goal is to make your character powerful enough to face the dragon. The player who is able to defeat the dragon wins the game. During the game players use their character boards to keep track of everything. This is where much attention is focused. Players decide in which areas they need to improve or add strength. Using the reference cards and viewing the state of the game board the player decides where to go next. It is very much an adventure game. You can choose how you want to improve your character. Luck comes in the form of available of current cards, dice rolls and other circumstances (ex. weather event) that may influence gameplay. The characters all start with slightly different attribute, food & gold. That is essentially the only difference. Abilities, magic, companions, equipment etc... can be used by everyone, however the starting attributes might give certain characters a head start in being able to use certain cards. Many cards have minimum attribute requirements. Players without enough power points in a specific attribute can't use the associated card(s). They can gain those points by visiting specific place-sites and performing actions. Taking turns, the players continue to adventure around the game board (map) revealing new place-sites when stopping in locations with the site illustration. A random location is drawn out of a bag to bring out a place-site marker onto the board. As the game goes on, more and more place-sites are populated. Enemies (monsters) are occasionally added to the game as well. Players may choose to battle the enemies to gain a fortune and experience. Fortune cards give the player an item, magic, or some other ability that can be used immediately, saved in your supply area or equipped for use. When a number of enemies surpassing the number of players has been defeated the scale of evil is moved up. This gradually increases the enemies' power. Each time the scale moves up it also activates the dragon. The dragon is awakened and flies around the map damaging those characters on specified areas on the board (die roll). The active player then selects which of three mountain tops (dragon rocks) for which the dragon will land. Whichever location is chosen activates the corresponding flare spaces around the dragon and causing additional damage to those who land in the flare locations. This provides additional protection making it a little more difficult to get near and defeat the dragon. The dragon starts with a base power of 15. To increase the game's difficulty, players may choose a higher difficulty level before starting the game. This adds additional power points for the dragon. The game is won by one of the players defeating the mighty dragon. Ratings, Review and Comments In order to provide a thorough review of Heropath: Dragon Roar I enlisted the help of the entire weekly game night crew. I have created a checklist for game reviews that includes five categories and an overall rating with final thoughts. Nikki, Jeff, Jennie, Dave and Chris all submitted their ratings and some comments. I have compiled the information creating an average rating from 1 to 10 in each category as well as some comments from the group. Ratings and comments are based two games played and using the standard rules. Theme Rating – 9 Comments
Artwork & Graphic Design Rating – 7 Comments
Components (quality) Rating – 8 Comments
Gameplay Rating – 7 Comments
Rules/Rulebook Rating – 5.5 Comments
Overall & Final Thoughts Rating – 7.25 Comments
Heropath: Dragon Roar provides an adventure-style game with dice rolling, character building and light battle. My weekly game night group enjoyed learning it, playing it and contributing to the ratings and review. I hope you like the expanded overview, review and ratings format. Please post your comments and thoughts.
If you'd like to learn more about Heropath: Dragon Roar you can click here for a link to the Unique Board Games site. If you want to see what the board-gaming community is saying about Heropath, click here for the page on Board Game Geek. To purchase Heropath: Dragon Roar on Amazon.com click here. *A free copy of the game was provided to King's GameNight for review. Game on! |
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