Finally a worthy reprint/reedition. Being a huge fan of original, played almost 1k games of it, still loving easier, streamlined new version, mainly because of characters and removal of money (implemented into workers). Original was my top1 game in hundreds of them, and new version is also in TOP. Great game, thoughful changes, highly recommended. Tom, I am pleasantly surprised with your review as well, you did justice to the game no doubt.

I've been waiting a couple of years for this reprint. Great addition to our worker placement collection.

Game looks beautiful, love the art style! Might have to pick this one up thanks Tom!

i did not expect the excellent rating

wow the art is amazing I wanna play !!!

Just don’t see enough to replace the original and agree with others that the favors being diminished would seem to detract. Also, like having the governor to dictate the rounds and end of game is lost. And I like the mean guy on the front in the original.

Big fan of the original game.

I have to admit that I get a bit provoked when people complain about how mean Caylus is. To me Caylus has about the minimum amount of player interaction to be interesting. The only thing positive I can say about multiplayer solitaire games is that they usually scale more easily with player count from 2-3. ... but that's it.

Sounds like a fun and interesting game to spur some fun player interactions.

Hmm, I don't tend to buy brand new games, but I did for this one. Glad Tom likes it, especially an excellent rating =)

Thanks for the review, I think I'm gonna get it for a friend :-) Since you found it to be excellent, I'm curious about top 10 stuff: since a 2019 game, does that mean there is absolutely no chance of appearing in a top 10 video at the end of 2020 ?

I always thought the favor table was a bit broken and gave an enormous advantage to players who had more experience, so I'm happy they removed that convoluted system for a more modern asymmetric power system.

I never tried the original. I am intrigued by the new one. Nice review.

While the streamlining seems like a definite improvement I'm not sure how I feel about how favours work now. Favours played a very big role in the original and it seems like their value has been greatly diminished in the update.

Judging from the review, it seems like I would rather continue playing the original version. The streamlining makes sense in some places (workers instead of money for example), but it just sounds like they removed a lot of the things that made the game fun for us - which mostly had to do with the different favor tracks, doing combo moves with buildings that let you build other buildings, etc. Also, I am not a big fan of asymmetric starting powers in Eurostyle games, so those are another detractor for me. Add to that the facts that some new things irk me (stealing of the special powers as an added "take that" mechanism, fixed game length of 9 rounds) and this update definitely doesn't seem to be the way to go for me.

Not sold on thwat one. Original Caylus had several things, which made it stand apart from the rest. The paying of workers and the eng game trigger by the provost. We have a gazillion of resource to VP converting games with variable player powers and fixed number of rounds. Now it seems, we have a gazillion and one. Still, I probably will try it, if I have the opportunity, but it looks to me, the character of the game was "streamlined" away, to make it rather generic.

Tom, you’re the best

looking to by this game and came here to see what Tom's opinion is about it. as I've already heard is a solid WP game. and it retails at a very low price tag! it's a win win.

Tom, would you therefore say it’s better than Caylus Magna Carta as well? I like the portability of MC which has been given up here.

I have enjoyed building 🏰 as alternative to building diff spots so I wonder if it would feel less of a game because of that. I didn't liked original edition as much so I am really curious how it goes with this one.

Go, Caylus Commando!

I love the original Caylus and was still teaching it to new players, as recently as a couple months ago. I finally played the new version last week and found it fun, but some of the tension of the original was missing. The end game is a lot different, and a lot less climactic in my opinion. We're trading big last second point swings for hidden scores we reveal at the end. The jury is out for me on the favors and the overall game. I'll be playing it again now that I have a handle on the changes.

Fear the Provost!

Take a shot every time Tom says "building". I dare you.

I respect you for Dating someone that is not kaira

Tom reviews, I like. 2nd.

So they done away with the money? Interesting.

Certainly is no longer ugly though still no theme but that Provost.........drove me nuts in the old game, and you can easily see why no one has replicated that mechanic, I fear it will simply annoy me here too.

Couldn't disagree more. The first game is leagues better than this water downed flower child version. Such a shame.

First comment

Extremely disagree. They've streamlined it so much it's lost much of the game. Favors, castle, money has been removed. Why is everyone trying to americanize euro games? Asimetrical, easier, nicer graphics... Caylus, agricola with lots of food (hello Caverna), what now? Puerto Rico with all roles available every round?

Unnecessary streamlining is unnecessary. You play this dumbed-down version, I'll keep enjoying the original (2011, new cover edition, that is).