Everdell: Pearlbrook Review - with Zee Garcia

Zee dives back into the world of Everdell for this expansion to the game!
00:00 - Introduction
01:10 - Game overview
10:00 - Final thoughts
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[@Valcurdra]

You don't discard when going over your hand limit of 8. Your simply not allowed to draw the 9th card in the first place

[@kuroiart4789]

Yeah - that's the only thing I don't really like since you are stuck with sometimes options that don't work for you so actions that allow you to discard cards are so much required then. I don't mind the hand limit yet I would try house-rule the non-draw option. :P

[@ambiej123]

You can go to a place whete you discard, then draw up again later

[@adamholt5395]

Great review! Yay for also going back down the line with your Target system! This feels like a nice expansion that doesn't over complicate the base game. Plus having all of the new animal workers that you can add to the game is definitely a nice touch. However, I would never play over 4 players for this game. 3 is probably the sweet spot for this game. Also, to ensure that the new expansion cards get to see some play, I make sure to shuffle them into the top half of the deck. This guarantees that you will see some of them in the game. The one thing that I would add is that the Ambassador can ONLY go to the locations with the light blue frog print. I wish they could act as an extra worker for all of the other spots, but I understand that that would be too good.

[@Hieronymus-Pseudonymous]

I'm pretty sure he did note that the frog can only go to those spaces.

[@oneanotherstudios]

Hey! Who cut down the tree??? ;-)

[@britishbattleborn]

I see that it has been said in the comments before but I must have not read them at the time, but this review is based on the Collectors Edition and has more meeples, cards and better components than the one you can get in the shops. Super disappointed to be mislead by this review. For the amount this game cost me (£35) I was pissed that I got less content than was shown here.

[@gcygnet8817]

What is missing in the normal box compared to this edition? Im looking to buy it but am not sure

[@britishbattleborn]

@@gcygnet8817 I've since got rid of the game but from the top of my head you don't get: The 4 new creature types (28 less meeples than shown here), you get 2 or 3 less each of the card types and one is completely missing (maybe the event cards). I don't think you get the score pad and finally those really nice looking 3d wonders that really pop on the table? You get rubbish token versions that don't even lay flat on the board because of the new overlay. All of that is fine, I suppose, if that is what you're expecting ... but this review led me to believe that I was going to be getting the things shown here. The lack of 3d wonders is the most disappointing because this game has such a good table presence that the tokens feel like a let down. I hate that I do still recommend this expansion if you can get it cheaply.

[@Arjay82]

That is 100% intentional and scummy.

[@garys4067]

Thanks for the excellent review. I still don't have Everdell, but when I get it, I'll get the expansion with it.

[@adamholt5395]

It definitely is a nice expansion. I would play the base game a few times first to get used to everything. The new expansion adds easy goodies.

[@JN-bz9os]

im so sad i did not do research before buying the RETAIL version of this expansion.. half of the components in the collector's edition is not on the retail version.. it's literally half empty.. so sad.. and I cant seem to find an available Pearlbrook Freshwater Pack to upgrade it to collector's version.. so disappointed..

[@MussoGames]

You’re not allowed to draw over your hand limit, Zee. The rules are pretty adamant about that hahaha but that’s okay I’m sure it doesn’t matter a ton but the haven is mostly important for that reason if you can’t find another tricky way to discard. Feels like not being able to discard freely is somewhat integral to the game.

[@tychay]

You should ave probably emphasized that you are reviewing the collectors edition of Pearlbrook as the retail will be different in some significant ways.

[@knighthawk3749]

Only cosmetically different.

[@sushisushij3504]

This is true, only there are major cosmetic differences. All the meeples are gone except one (not like if you get 3 out of 4, now you get only one ...), no more 3D wonders (I guess there are not so much “wonders” when on paper instead of 3D) and even less cards and so. The pearls is something I would truly qualify as only cosmetic and acceptable. But really I feel there will be missing things in the retail version.

[@Rik77]

@@sushisushij3504 that's disappointing. Good to know.

[@knighthawk3749]

@@sushisushij3504 Major or not, they effect game play not at all. So while he should have mentioned the fact that he is showing collectors edition, there is no effect on the game. Not that you really need the other meeples. You are still limited to four players and there is zero difference in play whether you are using hedgehogs (base Everdell), or Otters (base Pearlbrook), or Starlings (KS Pearlbrook). And while 3D Wonders are pretty, they force you to carry around a second box since they will not fit into the base game. The only real difference, as far as can tell is 3 extra adornment cards which will not make a huge difference in game play.

[@sushisushij3504]

I agree with you they don’t affect the game play. However, I feel there is too much exclusive and if you look at the Kickstarter campaign, it’s not written anywhere that there is going to be exclusive material. I know they didn’t even know if there would be a retail version when they ran it, but still it is not written anywhere and a lot of shops are already allowing pre orders for the game and really there is no clear statement of everything that will not be included in the retail version. You have to dig deep on forums or KZbin comments to figure out what will be missing. And although it’s cosmetic, I feel it’s a big amount of stuff and the price is still really steep. I think that this info should be found more clearly everywhere where the game is on sale. Everywhere where they talk about Pearlbrook including here, it’s not clear that the retail version will contain less stuff, there is just nothing stating clearly that the retail version is going to be different to inform people before they buy it. And I think they should have included more, may be 3 out of 4 meeples or something like that and less exclusive.

[@martinchalifoux8115]

I just buy the expansion, not the kickstarter, and their nothing in this box for the price. I'm so disappointed.

[@pierrelabrie99]

The worst price cost to content ratio from any board game or board game expansion ever. I was very disappointed as well. The content is fun, but the price for such an empty box was a huge rip off.

[@naturesfinest2408]

@@pierrelabrie99 what is it missing?

[@GretSeat]

@@naturesfinest2408 They are saying it's a box, but doesn't have a "Lot" to it. Like... the box could be smaller, and have a smaller price tag to it. It's just a board, a handful of cards, some more meeples, and some pearls.

[@knighthawk3749]

Starling Games is having those River cards with different backs reprinted and will replace them once it is done. Meanwhile you can use sleeves with opaque backs.

[@jessegianni3236]

You all prolly dont care but does anyone know of a method to get back into an instagram account?? I was dumb lost my password. I appreciate any tips you can offer me

[@omariwalter3539]

@Jesse Gianni instablaster ;)

[@jessegianni3236]

@Omari Walter Thanks so much for your reply. I got to the site thru google and I'm trying it out now. I see it takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@jessegianni3236]

@Omari Walter it worked and I now got access to my account again. I am so happy:D Thanks so much you saved my ass :D

[@omariwalter3539]

@Jesse Gianni Happy to help xD

[@davidhesson5036]

nice review

[@Clutchfluid]

Hi Zee, please mention in future, that what you are reviewing is a collectors edition, I just bought Pearlbrook for the missus based on the strength of your review. Imagine my disappointment when half the stuff shown in your video is just not included in the 'retail' version. Think about us mere mortals who buy a product (for the msrp I might add) and don't get sent bells and whistles review copies, but 'retail' versions. Thanks, just needed to get that moan off my chest.

[@Jindorek]

This is my biggest gripe with Kickstarter, especially since they will no longer be sending stuff to my country. I would love the gold coins for Everdell but it just isn't affordable.

[@ertai222]

You're not wrong.

[@Jonathan-ei7vp]

It's a nasty bait&switch trick played by the publisher

[@donnieinman8049]

So mad I missed their KS earlier in the year. Hope I can score a copy of the base and expansion once they're released.

[@JasonDay56]

They just launched another KS today with two additional expansions for sale as well as the base game and previous expansion. www.kickstarter.com/projects/starlinggames/everdell-spirecrest-and-bellfaire/description

[@guidodezwaan]

Even tho i have the dutch retail version of everdell, i had to order the english CE edition of Pearlbrook due to the retail version missing a lot of items. I first was in doubt; to get spirecrest which has better reviews. But the weather effects is something we problaby wont like. Pearlbrook looks awesome, i cant wait to get it.

[@MD-et8kz]

Does this make the solo game better or worse

[@cindykee3719]

I also would like to know how Pearlbrook plays for the solo player?

[@quiescent1530]

Worse. Rugwort is extremely difficult and makes the solo not fun.