Board Game Reviews Ep

[@zachm638]

Of all my games, this is the one with the simplest rules that's the hardest to explain beforehand.

[@WarIsNoMoreCold]

Go entered the chat

[@rickpgriffin]

I had this same experience. I think the issue is that it's trying to explain the mechanics of the game and the strategy you need to employ at the same time. Both of these concepts should be explained separately.

[@Uuugggg]

I can attest to that, since the first time I had it explained to me was very wrong. Break it down into layers: 1. Give 3 clues for the indicated 3 target words. Your team needs to answer with the right target words. Do that 10 times without fail. 2. Sounds too easy? It is! There is an enemy team that hears your clues and can try to guess the answers. 3. But they don't hear the target words -- only each clue's correct number. So it's not easy for them. 4. So how do they guess the number for a new clue? Well, once they hear enough clue-number combos, they might be able to pick up on similarities and crack the code. Do that twice to win! So, your clues must be Good Enough for your team to guess the target word, but also Different Enough From Previous Clues, so that the enemy team can't tell they're for the same target. (Oh and since giving clues isn't actually easy anymore, your team gets one free fail)

[@Polar007]

I like the duality of decrypto and codenames. In codenames, you try to find one clue to define many words. In deceypto, you try to find many clues to define one word. I would also say that in decrypto, you are way less passive because you are always trying to guess the opponent's code and clues, so you are always involved. But yeah, sometimes it's tough to get them to understand the rules. The best way in my opinion is to make them play a very quick tutorial game of like 2 or 3 rounds just so that they get the flow of it.

[@SuperInkLink]

I play this one with my family quite often; it’s a blast! The mind games at play here are really well implemented, plus figuring out the other team’s word is a great “Aha” moment.

[@drgnrave]

Thanks for covering this! I love Decrypto, and love how both teams are engaged at all times. You care about your clues but also the other teams clues. And you care about what your team said before so its not too obvious. Would also recommend the expansion to the game. Adds constraints by trying to be on theme but also another way to break your opponent by guessing one of their words.

[@dumbledoresnape656]

This is one of my favorite board games. Glad to see it covered; I have so many fun memories playing this with my friends. The layers of references we would make is insane

[@GDFear]

I bought this game because it looked interesting and wasn't too expensive and I have had tons of fun with it. But yeah, teaching it to new people can certainly be a challenge

[@Zilong09]

Decrypto is simply amazing. Before Blood on the Clocktower it held #1 on Party games for a long time and with good reason.

[@myohel0]

I've had a lot of fun with Decrypto. Like Codenames, it'll also be a puzzle of wondering how the Encryptor thinks about specific words while also not having access to Google (I once had an Encrpytor give a French clue). I've played Decrypto at a board game club/meetup... which leads to an unfortunate situation of when all of the slips of paper that come with the game have been used up because it's been played so much lol

[@Crispman_777]

I feel like sheets like that are intended as a reference or supposed to be photocopied. Hell, even the code words could be reproduced and added to.

[@RobinBaggett]

Had this game on my shelf for a while. This video has encouraged me to bring it out next game night!

[@vv6152]

i love this game i got it wayyy back before it topped bgg charts, it always comes out at family gatherings for the older kids and adults now

[@Crispman_777]

1. Gather players into 2 Teams of at least 2 people (Team Black & Team White). Each round each team decides on 1 allied player to be The Encoder. 2. Shuffle, draw and assemble 4 Code Words into each Decoder Tray. Teams may only see their own Decoder Trays. Rounds have 2 phases: "Phase 1 - Decryption" and "Phase 2 - Interception". 3. In Phase 1 The Encoders each draw an Encryption Card. Each Encryption Card has 3 Encryption Numbers that correspond to 3 Code Words, making 1 Code Phrase. Using a Clue Sheet (or paper), The Encoders must write one-word Decryption Clues for each Code Word, as dictated by their Encryption Card. Their allies must then guess which Code Words are being referenced by writing down the Encryption Numbers they think are correct next to the clues. The Encoders then write the correct Encryption Numbers beside them. 4. In Phase 2 the Teams swap all information written on the Clue Sheets. Each team must then guess the opposing team's Code Words if possible. Each Code Word can be guessed once per round. 5. Two correctly "Intercepted" Code Words result in a victory. Two incorrectly "Decrypted" Code Phrases result in a forfeit.

[@Uuugggg]

To be clear, in (4) the enemy team doesn't guess Code WORDS, just the Encryption Numbers. So in (5) they need all 3 numbers for the interception. They might never know the actual words - but guessing the words correctly is a tie breaker.

[@Crispman_777]

@@Uuugggg Oh, yes you're right. Eh, that honestly seems less fun. I guess it's maybe easier? I was more aiming to prove it's not that difficult to write short instructions.

[@Uuugggg]

@@Crispman_777 well somehow , this is how I was taught the game. It changes the dynamic incredibly and honestly breaks the game and makes it stupid. When they need the exact word to get a point, the clue giver can just repeat something similar to previous clues but not really about the code word. Your team will get the number, and the enemy won’t get closer to the actual word. But with the actual rules this is a very bad idea - clues similar to previous clues mean enemies know exactly what number to guess. So the clues have to be different every time, but still about that word.

[@Crispman_777]

@@Uuugggg Oh right. Well it was far more interesting to learn that than what I was initially aiming for.

[@rujon288]

Played this yesterday crazy that your review just popped up

[@chilean_seabass]

Great game and great review. I agree that the worst thing about the game is trying to explain it since it is such a simple game but the wording is "complicated".

[@ironici]

I have played this exactly once. It was another family's game so it was a four-a-side Family Feud situation. It was fun!

[@noahclark7603]

Hey SungWon thanks for reviewing this one.

[@hayeonkim7838]

처음 보는 유형의 보드 게임이라 흥미롭긴 하네요

[@brucelau2023]

Like Codenames, it'll also be a puzzle of wondering how the Encryptor thinks about specific words while also not having access to Google (I once had an Encrpytor give a French clue).

[@alixx_legenddark_xx2819]

Did you just copy another comment?

[@SteFun009]

I also have the game but I struggled to explain it to friends of mine who were kind of impatient with the concept. You really have to experience it for yourself.

[@Mr_Casey12]

Whoa I actually just learned this game on Sunday! I agree that its a pain to learn, but if everyone already knows the game its so easy to pick up and play. One of my favorite of this genre

[@keanus9871]

Very confused why this was being reviewed until he said it was a 5 year anniversary addition. Great game regardless

[@donaldshults8957]

It’s a fantastic game. You are right that it’s intimidating for new players to sit through the rules. Especially because the book keeping FEELS complicated when you aren’t the one doing it.

[@holybovine]

I kinda want to see you do a review done as King Dragon….rapping of course

[@ezraclark7904]

Decrypto, Letter Jam, and Codenames are my favorite word games, usually not a big fan of the genre.

[@vustvaleo8068]

it is a team game played while mid-drunk.

[@HachetteBoardgamesUSA]

Ah yeah, Decrypto!!

[@the_picard]

Shout out to the 314!

[@lukeholbrook204]

Agree that this is an excellent game. With reference to “giving clues, but don’t make them too obvious,” how do you like this compared to others like Just One and Dixit?

[@Etienne.6329]

this is an EXCELLENT game.

[@Quarter_Turn]

I second this recommendation!

[@spookyaction3236]

I loved the concept of this game when I bought it, but I found it to be a bit too advanced for my non-gaming family members who only like impress the judge and simpler word games.

[@PJWALKER440]

It can be made a bit conceptually simpler if you remove the ‘interleaving’ of messages: 1. Start the game with Team A sending codes, and Team B intercepting. 2. You have 2 ‘lives’. if your team A drops a message, or team B intercepts it, you lose a life. 3. When you run out of lives, swap roles. Now Team B gets new code words, and team A is now trying to intercept. 4. To win, team B must receive more messages than team A did, before running out of lives.

[@spookyaction3236]

@@PJWALKER440 Thanks! I like that variation for teaching this the first time.

[@JMPT]

Very Nice 🖤

[@Benny_Shoga]

This game is great.

[@lias8006]

I just started voice acting and wonder if you have any videos on Voice acting tips ? Hiw do you enunciate so well and not sound monotone ? Even when I try to smile when I talk or use hand gestures my recordings come out so ~couldn't care less gen z vibe~ lol I find when I practice new lines sometimes it feels like I have a lisp all of a sudden or have a hard time pronouncing "s" , "x" or "th" sounds

[@benjaminshoultz9657]

Does anyone that know anything about KZbin want to coach me on how to comment on videos so that it helps the algorithm? Like, is there a word limit or can I just comment "comment" and it does the trick ?

[@justinbaier]

This one looks fun. The only real problem I have with the concept is that the odds of simply guessing the code with no information is 1 in 24.

[@Alloniya]

I played it recently 2vs2 was kinda fun