Couture Review: What is This, an Auction For Ants?!

Tom Vasel, Zee Garcia, Mike DiLisio, and Chris Yi take a look at an auction game set in the world of fashion, Couture.
Intro 00:00
Overview 1:55
Review 6:33
Hidden Track 17:59
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BGG Link: boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3...

[@nreekm]

Haute couture is not meant to be worn in the streets in the same way an immense amount of art pieces aren't meant to be hanged on the wall of your house. It is literally a piece of art with no other purpose whatsoever than showing the designer's artistic vision or commentaire about some aspect of existence.

[@searose6192]

Fair enough. My problem with the high fashion industry is the enormous amount of abuse and exploitation the is the churning engine of the whole thing. I just can’t stomach appreciating the artwork of people who are so comfortable with participating in such monstrosity. I can’t just ignore all that and look at the art for its own merit.

[@nreekm]

@@searose6192 those things are indeed horrible, but that's not a problem with the art industry, it's a problem with capitalism. Even boardgames rely on abuse exploitation

[@searose6192]

@@EmeraldWaters-uq1jb I take your points, and generally speaking I agree about the ubiquity of exploitation in all our products, but the fashion industry is rife specifically with sexual exploitation of underage girls and while it may be hard to avoid overwatered crops and the exploitation that goes into them, I certainly can avoid lavishing praise on people who are cozy with the most heinous of exploiters. The exploitation in modeling and the fashion industry is so widespread it is near universal. I just can’t morally see past the faces of the models to the piece of art they are wearing and be ok with it.

[@searose6192]

@@nreekm To be clear, I didn’t say “art industry”, I am speaking specifically about modeling and high fashion.

[@kchorst5037]

Chris, you were on fire with this discussion. The zingers and reactions were a blast. Oh, and the game explanation was understandable, too.

[@crosscutgames]

Looks very interesting and I'd never heard of it. I really like the setting up 3 bids at the same time and all in your hand of cards - giving and taking between each. Really cool!

[@KMReviews]

I’m surprised at higher player counts there’s not more cards to bid for instead of just always having 3

[@joewiggins5251]

The original game had only 2 haha. We developed the game to add 33% more cards.

[@CamObscura88]

This does look like fun! Excited for my copy to arrive. Also I greatly appreciate the extra effort to disclose the sponsorship connections and such by Chris. The transparency is great.

[@nathansutterfield]

Great review and glad to see it play well- I backed the 4 and this one was the one I was least excited about. It appears I was wrong in my assumptions. However, next time I would appreciate the insight with this one and other reviews- on all player counts if it was enjoyable or not, flow, pace & feel. It was very apparent it was concern but wasn't addressed via an actual experience.

[@thomasgaudin2725]

Actually Couture just means sewing. « Haute couture » means « High Fashion »

[@searose6192]

Or high sewing ;)

[@acidfloyd2]

Disappointed All Play's shipment did not arrive in time for Gencon. Would have liked to pick this up

[@egancheez]

This game looks fun. The fashion industry theme is unique, and for a "filler" game, introduces that theme in a very accessible and engaging way. As a self-described omni-gamer, I do hope to add this to my collection at some point. As for the review, it was entertaining and insightful to hear what everyone had to say. But I do have one minor complaint. Mr. Tom Vasel, to me, is one of the main reasons I delved deeper into this hobby, as probably is the case for many, many others. But I will say that although he is the godfather of board game reviews and one of the best, if not the best out there, I wish he wouldn't be so quick to rule out a playthrough of a game at the highest player count. Sure, I understand for Tom he has experienced games that play terribly at the highest player counts so he could make that assumption, or he assumed that maybe one of the other DT staff members would playtest at the highest player count. But as the board game review godfather that he is, I would have hoped he'd do a completely thorough review. Don't get me wrong, I still admire the man. But unfortunately for the video, although it may seem slightly trivial, no one did mention it at it's max player count, and it still would have been interesting to hear the dynamic of a six-player game. My assumption is at six players, yes, certain people won't get cards during certain rounds, but with that prior knowledge, how does the play style of six players work when they try to outbid the others for powerful cards in certain cities, or if knowing that the most others would go for those powerful cards, do players aim for the less powerful cards in the other cities, weighing the risk and strategizing that they know they'll at least get a card (or maybe even more). And especially for a "filler" game, sometimes they tend to play at higher player counts, when played at social gatherings or family functions. Sorry for the long spiel. Just my two cents. Again, much appreciated Tom, Mike, Chris, and "Dressed like this" Zee Garcia (as well as the rest of the DT crew).

[@TheRatedOniChannel]

Now there is a filler and a heavy euro fashion industry games.

[@OriginalNuckChorris]

This is the one I backed. Yay!

[@SimHB]

So this is a Nidavellir re-upholstery job ? Edit : ah, Mike saw it as well

[@DTChrisYi]

If Mike hadn't made the comparison, I would have said it could have been called Nidavellir the Card Game.

[@e-manr.486]

Couldn't you increase the cards in the middle pile to deal with larger player counts?

[@joewiggins5251]

No, because there is cards equal to rounds. The original Japanese game we adapted this from only used 2 cards in each section. We developed the game to include 33% more cards.

[@isaacdavis4108]

The avengers of the dice tower

[@SarahHadley162]

You've reviewed Chomp, Sail, and Couture...will you be reviewing Mind Space for the full set? I really want to know how that is, especially as a solo experience. It looks calming and pleasant but the theme is a little odd.

[@salmonblox]

I know you asked The Dice Tower, but I’ll put my two cents in and say Mind Space is a very well-made, if somewhat by-the-numbers roll and write. It plays like a combination of Silver & Gold and Cartographers; you’re trying to fill out your board with polyominos, but each color you select has a unique way of scoring. It’s a little mind-bending at first, juggling all the different variables, but it’s fun! The production is beautiful, especially the deluxe brain dice

[@eVanDiesel]

Maybe you should have refillmed that 1st segment? 😂

[@nerdyjawsh]

Dang this is the only one I didn't pre-order. I pre-ordered the other 3. Theme didn't pull me in for this one. Looks like I messed up.

[@CamObscura88]

I sort of did just because the all-in with deluxe components was such a steal, but otherwise wouldn’t have. Looks like it was a happy accident!

[@tullnfloyd]

I came for Zoolander!! Lol

[@ShuffleUpandDeal32]

Pretty sure BGG says its 3-5 players not 6.

[@vast3394]

toms rant about fashion culture was misguided misinformed but entertaining. 7/10

[@ODDin17]

8:27 "and it's not hoity toity", well, of course not, Hoity Toity is a different game. :)

[@ilqrd.6608]

Tom and Fashion. Two things that shouldn’t exist in the same sentence

[@RulebooksForYou]

It's made by the Dr.! Oh wait, no it isn't 😂😂😂

[@jessicaw2137]

This looks really good, but I wish that there would be a two player mode

[@matthew.strout]

Wow, I did not love this one as much as you guys did 4/10

[@darbyl3872]

Now a Yuri Wong reference? Nice :-) (He's just a dude, sampling a dude, dressed up like... not many dudes.)

[@darbyl3872]

And Chris: You done messed up. 😂😂😂 (It's you, I know it.)

[@anttmann6123]

LOL fixes his hat. I dont care, I hate it! LOL

[@borreholic7238]

Absolutely shameless plugging of Spobo by the DiLisio fellow, now on multiple occasions, and I will not stand for it. /s

[@SwampWater]

Came here to ask about it. I'm out of the loop... 😅

[@bev542]

Were you out of Seals of Excellence? Why did you not award it to the game? Not even an approval?

[@thedicetower]

It has a seal of excellence

[@searose6192]

I don’t like the theme much, the artwork is not particularly appealing and the game seems meh.....so I’ll pass on this.