Hey Everyone, Board to Death TV has done a video review of Runewars.

Lots of details in this one, for those who have not played it yet.

http://www.boardtodeath.tv/review/1749

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Enjoy the show!... it's free...

-Board to death Team-

Impossible for me to watch the whole thing after they used the misprinted City token and placed the home realm markers incorrectly.

thorough review.

however as the poster above me mentioned they made a few mistakes they might of affected their experience and opinion of the game.

Gunshy said:

Hello, Thanks for the feedback.

We would like to know our mistakes so we can fix them, it was a long and hard review to make, and because we work in a team some things get mixed up. Please write let us know our mistakes. And if they are really BIG mistakes, we will correct it. We do these for free and as hobby so we can't really spend entire days on these reviews, we just want to give people something to watch to see if they should buy the game or not. We are NOT doing tutorial videos.

Thanks again.

Well Done! I was impressed. I will be using the video to teach those new to the system how to play. Thank you for the support. We board gamers need all the help we can get to add new gamers to the hobby.

blumax1981 said:

Thanks!

We appreciate it

Aow, I feel a bit disappointed. Mostly for two reasons :

- first, this is the first time you make such a looooong video. I know, the game you reviewed is epic, complicated geeky stuff and all, but, well, you use to review hard games before and avoiding too inner-rules-related points... this time, you really explained everything, and I am not really sure that is relevant (that is pure personnal point of view ok ?). I mean, knowing how many hexes far a piece can move and all, is no relevant stuff Id say (that's just an example).

- second, and that has nothing to do with you this time : the game suddenly appeared to me like a whole mix of other games ! And not only because you mentioned it at the end of the vid, but all the mechanics, the drawings, and all... gee, it feels like FFG guys put Descent, Runebound, Chaos in the Old World, Twilight Imperium and Warrior Knights on a table, took out the big basics, the drawings and the pieces, and put them all back into that game... I might be somehow wrong, but not completely, when I tell you all that I feel a bit... cheated. Deceived. I mean, for a 70€ game (that is, more than 90 dollars, **** !) I expect FFG to provide a whole NEW game with lots of surprise and discoveries... I begin to feel a bit annoyed at all these remixes and recoveries of some already-done and sold material. That's annoying. For real ! Budget restrictions, FFG ? Or marketing con ? costs too much to make us dream big time like you use to do ? sorry to sound harsh. I'm just a bit... bah, anyway.

I'll stop here and I'll relax now

Being inspired by other games does not mean that the designers were being lazy. Taking the good parts out of successful games, and integrating them into a new game can make things work well. No need to reinvent the wheel every time. Airplane Manufacturers don't continually rediscover Bernoulli's principle when building stuff, they reuse what works, improve what could be better, and go from there. Bakers aren't continually trying to find new base ingredients when their wheat, eggs, and sugar work well as staples.

That being said:

- Descent, Runebound: Yes, the artwork is similar, and many of the names and flavor comes from the Terrinoth universe. That is part of the draw for some people. Why create a new fantasy universe every time, when you can build a game around one that is already familiar to people? If you don't like the Runebound/Descent feel, though, it's not so integral into this game that you can't see past it. Especially since some of the flavor comes more from Battlemist than Runebound.

- Twilight Imperium. There are SOME similarities in mechanics. But they hardly resemble each other on the table. Knowing strategies for one won't get you very far in the other.

- Chaos in the Old World and Warrior Knights. I don't know these games, so I can't comment on how Runewars feels like them. But from what others have said, it seems that it's similar to my Twilight comment above - there may be specific things that were inspired by the other games, but to say they were just "ripped off" from them seems like a misrepresentation.

While Runewars does share mechanics with some games, it's more the BLEND of mechanics that make this game unique. This game is definitely worth the effort and expense. I can see myself playing this for a long time, because the game has just the right amount of immersion without being overly long, the right amount of skill vs luck, the right amount of a lot of stuff.

Is it perfect? Probably not - I don't know of a single game that is. But it's one of the most enjoyable games I've ever played.

complaining about "the drawings" being used in other games (runebound, descent) is like complaining that a Star Wars game has photos from the movies, or Chaos in the Old world recycles Games Workshop Art... Runewars is SUPPOSED to have stuff from runebound and descent. They share the same world.

I dont think using successful mechanics from prior games is a bad thing, as long as the finished product works out. If you dont like playing Runewars, then it didnt work for you. Cant blame a guy for not liking a game.

Personally, I love a lot of things from Chaos in the Old world, like the dials, (what a great idea! just like Battlestar galactica... why dont more games have this), unique sides with different objectives and units (another awesome idea that keeps the game fresh as you have to play the different factions differently), blind bidding for titles and rewards (like Game of Thrones and shogun/ Samurai Swords... the old Gamemaster series classic) and overarching effects of season cards (Chaos in the old world and Game of Thrones both use this, and I like it a lot. I actually like it even more in Runewars because there is a little more predictability ie every summer has questing, every winter has unit limits). In game of thrones, you might get stuck not being able to build more units just by the luck of the draw.

I think that this game is a successful blend of a lot of mechanics that I enjoy from a lot of different games. It takes all my favorite parts of other games and puts it in one superb game.

You never mentioned if you like PLAYING the game? I guess that is the most important thing.

Hem said:

Hey Hem,

Thanks fror the feedback, but we get mixed emails, some what more details, and others just want a rating...

So we don't really know what to do but to make everyone happy. I feel like it was a long video, but we wanted to make sure people knew what they were buying. If it was a 29.99 dollar game, we would not have put so much work into it. We are doing this for you guys I hope you keep watching, subscribe to our newsletter and support us for future Reviews. FFG is the ONLY BIG company who have a really hard time sending us copies, and we have to find other ways of getting the games. (Which sucks).

Anyways, thanks for the comment and you're right, it's one big remix!

Some of you guys write really good reviews about the games. If you have any you would like to add to our site, that would be a great help to our cause.

You can also rate the games using the STAR rating. Can't wait to see what some of you will write in the "Review Section".

Thanks again for the input and support.

broken said:

It would be nice if you actually explained the mistake.

Thanks!

You placed them with 3 spaces between them instead of 4.

broken said:

Read the rules again buddy... you're allowed if you have to.

The second one you placed was 3 away as well. Read the rules again buddy, and look at the example image on page 9.

broken said:

With the map on our video, we didn't really have much of a choice did we? Also, we we're not doing a Tutorial video, so these little things don't bother anyone ... except guys like you of course. But thanks for letting us know!

With the map on your video you could have built it where only one tile was 3 away and the others were 4. Also you don't get to be snide and then when proven wrong say it doesn't matter. If it doesn't matter, start with that. And I'm glad you are representing your site in such a reasonable and professional manner.

I think one major point is, if you are going to promote a review of a game, and then play the game incorrectly, it's hard to take that review seriously.

I'll want to see the video myself sometime just to see how the review itself is, but blunt or not, broken's point is valid.

Sigma and Mateo, thanks for the feedback and the explanations about the mechanics. I'll keep on watching that game, that's for sure. If you say it is that great and takes the best from our previous games, ok, I'll keep that in mind.

It was't very useful though to try to discuss about re-using drawings, because what I meant, is that it is GREAT to keep the world of Terinoth and all, but seeing the same **** frakin face of Silhouette in several games turns out to be annoying ! See what I mean ? Keep the charas, but change the drawings ! Draw her in another manner, differently dressed... you know, to give the feeling Terinoth is a living world, so we can enjoy it more. I don't get really immersed in a world that covers 3 or 4 games when the pictures are ALL the same, that's what I meant.

And get me well : i'm not spitting on anything : me loves FFG

Mateo, were you talking to me or BTDtv for your last sentence ? Sorry, didn't get it :r if it was me, well, no, obviously not, i never played Runewars... yet I'm sure I'm wrong and you were talking about something else to someone else !

Luca : don't worry, it's not because I complain about SOMETHING from FFG that I will stop loving them FIRST PLACE in my heart ! so same for BoardtoDeath : it's not because I thought your vid was too long and mentioned too much irrelevant points that I'll stop loving your reviews I'm a member of BtD.tv, come on ! Cheers !

despite the (to me) silly rule arguments and mistakes this review really was awesome! Nice for people who are thinking of bying. And I completely agree with the argument that for such an expensive game a more in-depth review would fall in place more nicely if people don't want to read through the rules (which is kinda excessive).

Also one small note. The last order (#8) is not "choose and do one". You can do each of the 3 different things during the same order

Board to Death TV said:

i really didn't have a problem with it i was just pointing it out. i thought the video review was very nice and well done and serves its purpose perfectly. as you said its not a tutorial and it shows off the game very well especially for people who haven't played the game.

I liked the video for the most part, with one exception. The accent the girl has makes it hard to understand if she's saying 'rooted' or 'routed' units. I don't have the game, but want to get it it. Is there a difference, or just one of the two in the game?

Well, I personnaly am very glad of Felicia (and Michaela) as they are ! - seen too many reviews with ugly geeks...

Wish they'd bring back Michaela. She's much hotter IMHO.