Best explanation of this game’s convoluted Automa movement

Thank you for this. It's exactly what I needed. I find it helpful to have read the instructions and the Automata instructions prior to watching. Makes a lot more sense.

i really liked the video, nice and fast paced. i noticed a few errors too but still really enjoyed watching. thanks.

Thank you for the video. It really cleared up a couple of mistakes that I had made in my first playthrough.

Thanks for this - I got so majorly confused reading through the rules and trying to play!

Thank you for this! Jamey posted it in the Scythe group.

Something to clarify: AT 8:56 you state there is nothing the automa can do this turn. This is technically not correct in that the automa moving to it's current hex is considered a valid move(automa rules page 4). So you would pick up the automa and "move" it to the valid hex closest to enemy units, which is the same hex it began on. Same would apply to the worker move at 13:00. On the example card, it doesn't make a difference, but in some cases this is important. For example, a card with a Mech non-combat move followed by a worker move. The mech could move to the same hex it began in as a valid move, and therefore the Worker move action will not be performed. At 16:10, the mech should move to the lake to the left of the tunnel because the tie breaker is closest to the factory. At 17:20, it is actually in the neighborhood of 4 automa units (3 automa controlled hexes). At 18:40, worker should move to the hex with the mech. It is in the neighborhood of 4 units (1 mech, 1 player marker, and 2 workers). The lake near the factory would also be a valid hex in the neighborhood of only 3 automa units. At 21:20, you can't actually enlist because you don't control the 2 food that you left on the farm near your base when you used your mech to move across the river. Sorry to sound nit-picky, but I made many similar mistakes and spent a lot of time reading and posting on BGG to clarify some of these things, and want to help others learn the automa (I think it's great once you learn it but can be intimidating).

This is so nice!!!

good review. thanks for sharing.

very nice

Woot! Glad to see this!! Thanks, Tom.

Ooh, I thought they would perform every action between the (/). So it’s just one, from left to right. Thank you!

Excellent video! One thing worth mentioning is when you trade, which I noticed right in the beginning, you don't have to do 2 of the same resources. You may give a worker 1 food and 1 oil, for example. They do not have to be the same but in the video you say 2 of the same. But yah, awesome video and thanks for making them!

21:24 How did you spend 4 food when you only control territories with 2 food? The other hex you are pulling food resources from is not one you currently control.

I know that I am late in the comment section but I just found out that this game is actually solo capable, and this is the first video I chose to watch with a solo play through. I just have to say that I think it is so nice to hear people that have their own board game channels to mention other channels that is in the same genre, in this case you mentioned Rodney Smith. This is something I have noticed about the board gaming community, especially online videos. Thank you for that and a very informative and entertaining video.

When you move your worker out at 18:40, isnt there a hex to the left of that that is equidistant from the factory? And because of reading order would go there? At 19:28, don’t you count the home base when calculating neighbourhood? So that worker would end up in the square right next to its base as this space is in the neighbourhood of 3 ?

The Nordic Kingdoms Workers do have riverwalk don't they?!

18:37 shouldn’t the worker be placed on the Hex on the LEFT side of your Mech ? because he has even more automa players adjacent to this hex and he would be closer to the factory ? Any Automa model can be standing on seas as if they would be land.

17:13 It's neighboring 4 automa units, isn't it?

Hey Tom, nice video. However correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think you can use ressources on territories you don't control therefore you can't enlist at 21:16

Wonderful video! I wish you had slowed down when explaining the Automa movements which are poorly explained in the rulebook. Thank you

17:18 , the automa is moving in the destination hex with most automa units in the neighbourhood.I think it will move in that particular hex because in the neighbourhood there are four automa unit not three.If I am wrong please rectify.

How does one know when the automa card says to move a worker that you take one from the home base or whether you're supposed to move one that is already on the board?

Your video was extremely clear. Unfortunately, I found a couple errors in your play (one or two other people may have already mentioned one or two of these comments): 2:05 You're starting with 8 coins when you should only be starting with 6. 16:05 I believe the Nordic Character would move to the Lake territory immediately to the left of the Territory you moved it to. The lake is the same distance away from the Crimean Mech but comes first in reading order. Did you forget that once the Automa can cross rivers, it can also move onto lake hexes? 18:40 I believe the Nordic Worker would move to the territory containing the Nordic Mech that's 2 spaces away from the factory. 19:30 Same comment as for 18:40. 20:14 You placed the 2 food in a territory that does not contain a worker (and also, you no longer control that territory). 21:25 As previously mentioned, you don't technically own 4 food because you don't control the space where the food is. When you moved your mech and your worker to the tundra territory a couple turns back, you should have taken your food with you. 22:11 The Nordic Mech should move to the territory immediately to the right of the factory. That territory is also 2 spaces away from the Crimean Mech, but it's also closer to the factory than the territory you moved the mech to. 23:41 Now the Nordic Mech should move to the Lake territory immediately to the northwest of where you moved it to. Once again, that hex is equally close to one of the Crimean combat units, but it's also closer to the factory.

16:04 wouldn’t it be right to move the Mech on the Hex on the LEFT side of your main character ? Since it has the same distance to the factory as the Hex you chose and because of that you have to check out the „reading direction“ I am new to this game and the automa movement is the most complicated part ... that’s why I am asking.. Great video though!!

20:10 doesnt there need to be workers present on that hex to trade?? The card shows "trade w/meeple, 2 resource". You moved the meeple away with your mech, that hex only had food on it and you added more food from the trade but with no meeple on it. Am I wrong?

All benefits from encounter cards is gained to same hex as character is, and not where u want

Shouldn't the character on the player mat in the very beginning?

Thank you for this.. I am watching it now after the Automa beat me in my first experimental game. I think you've made an error though, as far I can tell so far. The "Move a Worker" action for the Automa at 18:31 it should have gone to the lake hex to the left of its mech. You've already unlocked its river ability on its track. Also worth noting, the Automa is playing the Nordic faction, and its ability is for the workers to swim, so they could have gone beyond their home territory had you drawn more worker movement cards.

Perhaps I've been playing wrong, but at 20:33 should the automa have gained a star for getting all its workers out?

Great video and I like the way you show and explain everything. But as you know too many mistakes with automa movement. Would be nice with at new video and If you have the wind gambit as well :)

Thanks for making this video, I haven't tried the Automa yet. I think you made an error at 7:33. You're not allowed to trade if all your workers are on your home base.

My gut would be much happier with a static cam.

What is the back of the game board for?? Its only half of the regular board? Is that for like a focused 2 player game or something??

At 19:35 why doesn't the worker move to the hex beside the mech in the front. Doesn't that hex have 3? The character, the worker, and the mech

I recommend purchasing the (unofficial) app. You can input units and the app will move for you. It has problems but overall it takes care of putting things in the right place.

9.35 you produce two workers and a food. have I muss understood. I thought produce could only produce two resources. is it actually just two hexes. And yiu produce however many workers on the hex ?

12:51 - The move you made is correct but the explanation given is wrong. The left most action (worker move) is valid, It is doing "0 Move". Thus the second action (mech move) shall not come into consideration, as first move is valid.

Pay two combat lmao. Great video though

Will a video be made incorporating all the changes? As someone who doesn't know how to use automa anyway I should probably not even watch this.