Android - Chaz Just Played & Reviews

[@martinlarouche4418]

I played this game about 10 times back when i had it. The game is, for me, a typical Kevin Wilson design. I consider the man a genious of game design. He has tons of awesome, great ideas and he's always innovative in his designs. Android is the epitome of this. This is a game you've never seen before. However, i also consider mr. Wilson to be unable to put the final layer of polish to his designs. His games always need a second edition (made by someone else) or an expansion (also made by someone else), for his designs to be ironed out. Android is also a great example of this. Android is deeply flawed. Floyd, for example, is deeply overpoewered compared to the other characters. His story elements are super easy to achieve (easy to put good baggage, extra hard to put bad baggage) and the story is the one thing that gives the most points in the game (negative values avoided add up to the positive gained). His dark cards are also mainly geared to give him trauma... and he's the one character that cannot gain any! (unless he specifically choose a story element and only IF that particular story came up during week one (at week two the game would be over so it matters not)), that is only 1 game out of three. He's also faster to move around, with extra actions and a fast car. His only negative is having to go back twice for maintenance... but i've seen players use that to actually travel faster. Some actions on spaces are also unbalanced. Some giving tons of points for lower efforts required than others. The game requires a complete overhaul. Where i disagree with you Chaz is that hits are incredibly powerful. You need 3 and one player cannot set that up by himself. But some events give one, you can provide one... and suddenly the game changes completely because one character may actually die. The evidence tokens no longer go to him. The player which has this particular character in his hunches changes strategy completely. A third hit on a character that someone went into a lot of trouble to put a lotta tokens on him can eliminate him oit of the race for victory. In the end however, the storytelling is ok... but repetitive with replays. The competitive nature is completely off-balance... so that leaves an innovative, but deeply lacking game in our hands. I will say, however, that the dark cards system this game uses is pretty similar to Dead of Winter's crossroad system. That system, in DoW, was nominated in several places for most innovative design. And Android predates DoW by several years... food for thoughts.

[@GameNightPicks]

Martin, thank you for the fantastic comment! I really appreciate your insights on the game and the video. And I understand what you're saying about the hits. I could them becoming more powerful as I became more familiar with how the game plays. Thanks again for taking the time to write, and contributing to the community. Take care! 🙂👍

[@juanpablozabala4975]

The solo variant is really good to experience at least a side of this game. It´s quite fast and lets you feel all this mechanics work together. I really like this series! Designs from 10 years ago have some rust with today´s view, but also some great stuff that sometimes lacks in todays designs. Once I heard Christian Petersen say that to get an epic feel there is no other way than to invest time and effort. I wouldn´t seek a TI4 experience in any game that promised it in less than 2 hours. I find this type of games are mostly in an yearly rotation, but everytime I play them its great!

[@GameNightPicks]

I hadn't thought of a solo variant for it. I think it would be worth trying Android solo. If the rules for it are done well, it's a game that I think could be really satisfying solo.

[@ChrisKnowlesTube]

I like the idea of the solo variant. Where did you find it on BGG? How long is a solo game on average? Thanks

[@juanpablozabala4975]

Chris Knowles boardgamegeek.com/filepage/110398/simple-easy-solo-variant-using-1-character It take less than 2 hours with setup

[@partstash]

I'm playing it in a couple weeks. I keep my games around 3 people, so downtime isn't going to be as big of an issue. I tend to like older, more fussy games anyways (arkham 2nd is one of my all time favorites) and I definitely prefer deep, engaging narratives, as well as tons of options, over 'streamlining' I don't like the idea that there's some abstraction of a mechanism to make me 'feel' like I'm doing something, I like the fact that you have to put in a lot of effort to go do a thing specifically. It makes that thing more valuable. I guess a way to explain it is in classic WOW, you have to physically walk to the dungeon, make sure your friends do also, and meet up at that point, so you can go run your raid or whatever. In a more 'streamlined' WOW, you just hit a queue button and just start it. I know I'm a weirdo, but if I'm gonna sit down and do something, I want the full experience, and not a streamlined abstraction.

[@GameNightPicks]

I hope you enjoy it, once you get to play it. Be sure to let me know how it goes. Until then, take care. Cheers!

[@Hermes4939]

I really enjoy these videos. Great idea for a series. Especially for a game like this. Explaining that it is an experience was helpful and also reminding everyone that it is a 10 year old game. It sounds really interesting but it is good to know you have a 20 - 30 min downtime between turns. Thanks for the insight!

[@GameNightPicks]

I'm glad my notes about the game were helpful, Steven. Thanks for taking the time to share your comment. :)

[@partstash]

It's worth noting that the downtime was due to 5 players, and it sounds like they were all learning.

[@mmarcatili]

Totally with you on this one. I think this one was the first modern game I ever bought way back when, so it has a permanent place on the shelf and introduced me to so much more. But will I play it again? Back then I thought 4hr games of constant downtime were just how games work. How little I knew. But boy does this game sucks you into its theme! I think this one will have to forever remain on the shelf as a game I will have fond memories of and not one that would stand up to scrutiny today.

[@Wh0isTh3D0ct0r]

This game is completely misunderstood. People keep trying to "figure out the winning strategy," but that's not what this game is. It's a board game-flavored shell with a gooey RPG center. I wish I could find people who are interested in playing it, because I have a copy on my shelf that has been collecting dust for years.

[@spiderfingers86]

Android is a great game, but would benefit from a revised edition with updated and streamlined rules.

[@GameNightPicks]

I agree. I'd like to see what FFG could do with a second edition, revised version of it. If Mansions Of Madness is any indicator, it would be really interesting to see!

[@Marinealver]

Replace the frame job with an actual set of suspects that could have one that is actually guilty.

[@richardsaunders9214]

Okay, my you tube is open and I’m just waiting for the next Pair of Dice video... Seriously, great overview and description of the experience. I feel like I understand the game (ish) without having to spend the entire day. The pizza story was my favorite.

[@GameNightPicks]

Thanks for the note, Richard. On the bright side, it turned out to be really good pizza. 🍕😀

[@CaptainGamer347]

Great series, Chaz! Thanks so much!!

[@GameNightPicks]

You're welcome, Christopher. I'm glad you're enjoying the series! :)

[@amandamorao]

Love this series Chaz, a fresh 1 play overview and thoughts really shows what's with the game, the group, your expectations, et al. As for the game, not for me, but I'd like to see some designers take the challenge and do some "slice of epic" games. Take games like Android, Warrior Knights, for example, and streamline, take stuff out, try to create new cogs to give that kind of feeling in a 2.5, 3 hours length. Not with the intent of replacing, but as an alternative for the state of the hobby today (less time, A LOT more games coming out). I think there's a huge design space for this. Thanks!

[@GameNightPicks]

Thanks so much, Lucas! I'm going to see if I can make this series a more regular thing. 😀

[@cyndanetierney6449]

I bought the game when it was new because I love that theme, as one could see by perusing my bookshelf. It hit the table once with my group of friends. We all liked it, but in future get togethers we never brought it back out because of that two hour requirement to teach people the game. The game really feels like it was ahead of its time with all these interesting mechanics and options, but that's not a good thing for it. Given a few years for game development to progress, I think we could have had a similar game without all the bulk. I'm still waiting for that Android 2.0 game, whether it be Android in name or not, to come out and satisfy my desire for a sci fi detective game. In the meantime, it sits on my shelf of games with interesting ideas that had serious flaws, along with Code of Nine, Zombicide, Clue, and others.

[@GameNightPicks]

I agree that there's room for Android 2.0. This game definitely does something unique. It would be great to see a revised, streamlined version that's a bit more accessible.

[@snethss]

I was with him until he complained it would take 3 rounds to put a hit on someone. Well yeah, imagine if it was easier to do that....

[@hanasvobodova6538]

I bought this game secondhand thinking it looked really interesting, the theme the investigation, the story etc. First thing we did was to look up instructional videos as we found the rule book impossible to navigate and comprehend. There are literally no good instructional videos on line, a few have attempted but with dreadful results ( probably not their fault since the game is so pact full of ideas and concepts). Failing that, we again went to the rule book and set this game up determined to at least play a few rounds, we did and enjoyed it but if we did try to finish it we would likely spend a whole day on it as well. The other thing we didn't quite notice when purchasing is that it is 3 and up players game, there is usually only two of us playing most games, but we have been known to 'modify' the rules to be able to play with two. This really doesn't work in this game and we have been struggling to bring this game to the table again because od this. Still hoping to take it off the shelf and play with full count but i dread explaining the rules to others. I wish there was a good soul out there that really knows the game who would create a good instructional video for this game. I think even though the game is old and clunky with terrible rule book it deserves love.

[@ChrysalisUganda]

We did not experience the downtime you mention. In fact some full days were complete in less than ten minutes. What we did struggle with was the complexities of the rules and the 48-page rulebook not including everything. Much you had to draw a conclusion with on the cards and certain words used on the cards which referred to words on other cards. We enjoyed playing the game, as far as we got (Turn 8) and I hope we get it to the table again, when I think it will run a lot more smoothly. I still have not figured out the ways the plots work.

[@coyotemoon722]

Omg Chaz the pizza story was amazing. Thank you for that

[@RaphaelCarmo]

I found the best way to play this game is with 2 people. It's more enganging, downtime decreases a lot and both players can have fun reading the flavor texts and trying to win. Even if the box doenst say 2 players there are some fan rules and the game works perfectly.

[@Sweetestsadist]

First time we tried to play it, we set it up and me and my group decided that that was enough and put it away. Set up is a pain unless you completely memorize it in advance. The second time, we actually played it and it was okay, but we didn't like how the feel of some parts of the game felt wrong. It felt more like you were trying to frame someone for the crime, rather than trying to solve a crime. Also, playing cards that hurt your opponents rose your spirits while solving your cards lowered it. The third time we made some changes to the rules to fix the theme, mostly inversing the theme and scoring, and the game worked fairly well and was more intuitive. Oddly enough, even though this game has so much, I don't think this game would be that hard to fix and reprint. Just a few rules changes, a couple streamlines and lower component count to trim the cost (If it were reprinted as is, it would probably cost $80 minimum. Even with the rules fix I don't think the game should be more than $50) and I would buy it again. But then again, I like big, busy games that sometimes feel like filling out a corporate tax form...

[@Clevider]

This game and Firefly are the two that I most want to be good; I love the themes (especially Android) and the styles of game play they claim to offer. Sadly, I've yet to try either because of the crippling flaws they're reputed to have (mostly game length and down time).

[@maryyeo4039]

Great video!

[@rodyburg9720]

MORE OF THESE PLEASE

[@GameNightPicks]

Thanks for letting me know you're enjoying this series, Rody. More "Just Played" episodes are in the works! :)

[@zachmckinney2497]

I think android I rotate it in my play group when I can and I think it's a great game. I do think that android and middle earth quest really need 2nd editions since they are both great games that kind of fill the role playing board game adventure but they just need some cleaning up and modernizing. The body and frame is good just clean up and improve the engine and you have a solid 8 to 10 game with new car smell

[@timd4524]

Pool table required but not included.

[@GameNightPicks]

The table we played on definitely could have used a few more feet of table to accommodate the game.

[@mikejonesnoreally]

0.0 So much for another "grail" (to play, not own) game. Well, on the Brightside that just makes me even *more* able to focus on the Horus Heresy! Played a great Sci-Fi game myself recently. Also took a couple of "hours" but they went by like "minutes" (at last the use of temporal question marks is explained! "Time" isn't just relative, it's downright *snarky!*) The game also gave birth to the great exchange of: "Awright! I just got a promotion." "Nifty. Too bad you were attacking." :3 The only "downside" if you could call it that was we're moving on to Chapter 2 which means we forgo Legendary again. I think I'll have to start suggesting Legendary as an "appetizer." Maybe a "palate cleanser?" Or perhaps I should just have lunch....

[@GameNightPicks]

Ooh, Horus Heresy is one that's on my own list to try some day. If I get a chance to play it, we'll have to compare notes. 👍

[@fraterzigmund]

FFG should do a 2nd Edition with an app

[@jshradnick]

Firefly please!!

[@Marinealver]

So there is no whodunit, it is just how many tags can you place on your chosen suspect. No wonder it is felt like a frame job instead of a deduction case.

[@torq21]

I feel like too many people give age as an excuse for the major flaws in this game but in 2008 there were already plenty of amazing games with complex mechanics. This game is a perfect example of Fantasy Flight's signature "Lets include everything but the kitchen sink" style game design. Arkham Horror anybody? Barf.