Viscounts of the West Kingdom Review - Best In The Trilogy?

Viscounts of the West Kingdom Review - Best In The Trilogy? - The Broken Meeple

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Күн бұрын

The West Kingdom trilogy which brought us Architects and Paladins both of which are hugely popular games, now concludes with the highly anticipated Viscounts of the West Kingdom.
Where does it sit in the new trilogy? Will it a new benchmark in medium weight Euro games or will it put to the wayside like some of the lesser known North Sea games?
00:00 - Introduction
01:08 - Overview
04:19 - Duration
05:52 - Ease of Play
08:08 - Tactics & Strategy
12:59 - Aesthetics
14:29 - Immersion
15:55 - Longevity
20:25 - Summary & Final Verdict
22:22 - Channel Promo - Board Room Gamer
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Пікірлер: 67

@TheHexyBeast 3 жыл бұрын

interestingly enough i was going to liken the castle to the pyramid in teotihuacan in our game yesterday Great Review man! Stay Hexy!

@VuNguyen-uc7xe 3 жыл бұрын

Totally agree with all your points! Played 5 straight solo games, amazing!!!

@MystiqWisdom 3 жыл бұрын

Been a while since I've seen one of your videos, Luke. I've gotta say that you've turned up the graphics to 11... and I like it 🤟 Holy crap, the breakdown spells DETAILS Mind blown 😍

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

Ha ha that's the idea! 😄

@richardhancock1505 3 жыл бұрын

Good review Luke, I’ve played this SOLO loads since I received it recently. I agree the solo version is great - especially as there are different types of focus for each AI. I would welcome thicker player boards - something indented like Scythe would be ideal.

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

OH yeah I mean a dual layer board for this would be amazing, but as the board is mainly a reference sheet I'm not too fussed.

@JMS1138 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the review, I really like your review style thank you, and Merry Xmas

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, you too!

@dansioui9819 3 жыл бұрын

I got this game a week ago and have played it 5x. Once multiplayer and the others solo. It is incredible. Here are some quotes from the player who played it for their first time with me: “First half of the game I had no idea what I was doing, but in the second half it all comes together!” “Holy crap, that was the fastest 2 hours ever!” Our game ended 94 - 93.

@gs24-xor 3 жыл бұрын

As always an excellent honest review, thanks for the review Luke. I'll be waiting for your Praga Caput Regni and Bonfire review, I want to see if you crush or love them! :D

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

I don't think I'll ever play bonfire. Praga hasn't had the UK release yet officially. I got chronicles, kingdom rush and Hallertau on list for now

@gs24-xor 3 жыл бұрын

@@TheBrokenMeeple spoileeer! bu i like it. Chronicles original game was a blast on my group. Kingdom Rush dont know what to think about it and Hallertau lets see what you say about it, it's on my wishlist but I want to see if it survives the hype

@joshbain8032 3 жыл бұрын

Love architects and love paladins even more. So I know we are going to have a blast with viscounts

@boardgamebeacon 3 жыл бұрын

My brother gave me a home made voucher for Christmas saying that he'd get me a game of my choice - after re-watching this review I'm definitely going for Viscounts! Thanks Luke!

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

Cash that voucher in!! 👍

@andrewkeane9077 3 жыл бұрын

Great review. I also think the solo is one of the best I’ve seen.

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

It really is!

@JonoNZBoardGamer 3 жыл бұрын

I usually only play solo modes to get a feel for the game/'scratch the itch' to get a new game played. But WOW this solo mode got me hooked immediately. I have played this solo about 10 times now (the first 5 in the first week of owning!) and it's sooo great. Unfortunately this one is a bit heavy for my wife (the main person I play games with) so it's a good thing the solo is that fun. Also we were discussing the other day about why she prefers Architects and the thematic immersion is a big part of it. The methodical mechanical nature in viscounts is fun, however architects is easier to digest and the ebb and flow of the game is smoother

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

Not sure I'd call Architects thematically immersive but I do prefer Architects slightly.

@micjames9352 3 жыл бұрын

Great vid Luke..on my list... Just a heads-up... The wrong link to the board room gamer in the description...

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

Oh thanks! Updated!

@RulebooksForYou 3 жыл бұрын

Nice! I feel the same about Paladins; looks like I need to get this!

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

You should!

@RulebooksForYou 3 жыл бұрын

@@TheBrokenMeeple I ordered it, thanks for the Rec!

@cecilworthington4624 3 жыл бұрын

Ah Luke your back on form a great spot on review. I agree with your thoughts on Viscounts and Architects but disagree with you on Paladins but no worries can't agree on everything.

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

"Back" on form? :P

@cecilworthington4624 3 жыл бұрын

@@TheBrokenMeeple Meant in jest over your "see saw" comments on Paladins which I love but would probably agree with you it will rank just behind the other 2 in the trilogy

@jakep9215 3 жыл бұрын

I've been waiting for this review since I love the West Kingdom and Raiders as well. I love this game and for me it ranks a hair above Architects, but they are both 10/10. I think I would give the edge to this one solely because of the rondel board. I'm not much of a solo gamer, but I will play Garphill games solo as the AI is very well done and a challenge to beat. I will say, my favorite solo mode in any of their games is Circadians. Have you played/reviewed that one?

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

No that one I didn't look at.

@IanJN 3 жыл бұрын

I was initially put off by what seemed like a grab bag of mechanics, but most of them have a kind of.. circular/cyclical theme to them. Which is neat. Architects has multipliers. Paladins has combinatorials. Viscounts has cycles.

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

It is essentially a bag of mechanics, but how they are woven together is so cool and neat. Compare to something like Trajan which is a pick 'n' mix of mechanics just shoved together with no rhyme or reason.

@rickadam6051 Жыл бұрын

I watch a lot of board game reviews, this is the first one I've watched where I agreed with everything you said. Just a tad below Architects, rate both a ten, Paladins is my least favorite, agree with all your positives and everything you mentioned. Definitely gonna be watching more of your videos!

@TheBrokenMeeple Жыл бұрын

Great to hear my friend, welcome aboard!

@muhabwahby 3 жыл бұрын

I'm with you Luke! I've been searching for a good solo game for the past year because of lockdown and my oh my did Viscounts deliver. Surprisingly, this is my first garphill game ever. I'm in awe of the decision making and gameplay of this game. Luckily i backed paladins too, but have a feeling it will be a knock down in variability as you point out. So eyeing Circadians and Raiders of Scythia right now but what are your other favourite AI bots out there?

@muhabwahby 3 жыл бұрын

Ive watched your top solo games vid and gathered Anachrony might be a good one, but a bit of a table hog i see. Any other clever, simple AI opponents that you think are on par with Viscount's builder/noble/cleric and flipper AI? So so clever of them!

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

Well Architects of WK is also good for solo and multiplayer. Isle of Cats was nice and easy.

@muhabwahby 3 жыл бұрын

@@TheBrokenMeeple checking out isle of cats solo right now. Thank you!

@teypan 3 жыл бұрын

Hi, thank you for this review, I was looking for a good 2p euro to play with my partner. How does this compare to Crown of Emara?

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

I much prefer this to Crown, there's nothing particularly unique about Crown, a very generic Euro

@teypan 3 жыл бұрын

@@TheBrokenMeeple great, thank you for replying!

@chuckm1961 3 жыл бұрын

“Castle pinball mechanic” is not thematic? My impression was the opposite. Each segment or arc represents a different aspect of the royal administration. Multiple people jostle for power, jostle to move up in the ranks, jostled to switch offices if they can move up in the ranks. Seems very thematic to me.

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

I'd love to correlate today with the designer to see if that's what he intended. Nothing at all comes out in the gameplay though.

@johnpanagos5835 3 жыл бұрын

Luke will you do a top 10 for the best games of 2020?

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

Oh certainly, though this year will be a harder list then ever before as its not been a great year! Expect in the lead up to Xmas.

@alexandertufano8462 3 жыл бұрын

I’ve put all 3 West Kingdom games on my 10x10 challenge for next year to see how they really shake out for me, but I have a hunch Viscounts will be my favorite. Especially solo, it’s just so good and every game I’ve walked away highly satisfied.

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

I'd struggle with 10 more games of Paladins, but the other 2, not a problem!

@RolandsBriedis Жыл бұрын

Would You play it 2 players + bot, to improve 2 player experience? Becaise sweetspot is 3 players fo this.

@TheBrokenMeeple Жыл бұрын

I like it fine at 2 players honestly, but I don't see why you couldn't add the bot for your preference.

@Fighterfan69 3 жыл бұрын

The fact that the AI has 4 different boards on what they focus on, sold it for me. I still enjoy Paladins more but this one is getting very close. I'm opposite obviously on the ranking of the series though. Architects was good and the expansion made it better. It sill below some of the other games I have from Garphill games. Paladins > Viscounts > Raiders > Architects etc. Thanks for the review.

@CK-mi3sd 3 жыл бұрын

I don't actually think Architect works well in solo or two-player. I remembered playing two players and each of us tried to put opponents' workers to prison and then trigger black market resets. Also, the variety of things you can do in Architect wanes down after you have tried them. Viscounts is what the West Kingdom Trilogy shines.

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

Architects I won't usually play in 2 player but I don't play 2 player much of anything really. Architects is still great in solo mode though.

@CK-mi3sd 3 жыл бұрын

@@TheBrokenMeeple Should I get Teotihuacan or Viscounts for solo play? My friends thought that these games are too difficult and thus I can only play by myself. They only play Codenames and Santorini. I even think Star Realm as too brain-burning.

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

Viscounts definitely and it won't be anywhere near as difficult as Teoti will be

@CK-mi3sd 3 жыл бұрын

@@TheBrokenMeeple When are you going to try Tomesaga? Rahdo's wife thinks that it is one of her most favourite coop games.

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

@@CK-mi3sd I won't be. I got rid of Paladins as that quickly fell flat for me.

@jamielehn6926 3 жыл бұрын

Paladins is awesome

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

3rd favourite of the trilogy!

@jamielehn6926 3 жыл бұрын

@@TheBrokenMeeple I know - I saw your review. Can’t agree with you on that lol - it’s the best!

@jamielehn6926 3 жыл бұрын

I have two games of viscounts and one solo down, I like it - still waiting for it to to pop with me. Love the series!

@gidiyaniv82 15 күн бұрын

Still 10/10? :)

@TheBrokenMeeple 15 күн бұрын

At least a 9, I still love it.

@mikolajwitkowski8093 3 жыл бұрын

Sleeving? Blasthemy... Most people will never play enough to see any damage and even if, that won't affect the gameplay. 😉

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

Ha ha it won't affect it, but I noticed some fading occuring on the townsfolk cards.

@mikolajwitkowski8093 3 жыл бұрын

@@TheBrokenMeeple fading? That is interesting, not what I expected. BTW Thanks for the review, I love the fact that you always make it clear how well each player count works.

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

It's just that the cards will scuff a little after frequent use so I recommend the big cards are sleeved

@windyhillbomber 3 жыл бұрын

“10 out of 10...not perfect”. OK

@TheBrokenMeeple 3 жыл бұрын

Because nothing is ever perfect. If any reviewer says a game has no flaws then they are frankly lying and doing a disservice. It's a case of how minor those flaws are or whether they impact enough on a game to detract from your enjoyment overall. In this case the issues I have are so minimal that the rest of the good stuff overrules it. My favourite game ever is a ten for me obviously but even I acknowledge it has a steep learning curve for handling it. Perfection is a term that doesn't exist.