Finspan: My Favorite Mechanism

[@MakeTimeForGames]

I love to play board games and I love to fish so I’m definitely excited to get this to the table and play. So far I have enjoyed playing both Wingspan and Wrynspan so I’m confident that I will enjoy this as well. Thanks for producing wonderful games!

[@jacobsanchez770]

My wife and I are so excited for this game! Wingspan is our favorite game and we love fishing so this is the perfect combo.

[@NickMaasDvorak]

I love the idea of the schools! It seems like moving around the resources will feel intentional and impactful

[@raymondyang858]

love the span series! I like how you change & twist the mechanism to fit the theme - so that each span game is different and unique, but somehow you manage to conserve the core elements that make span the way they are. Jokes aside, I dont mind other span games in the future like insect themed or other animals! if anything, I want to see how you can incorporate these themes with new mechanism!

[@jameystegmaier]

Thank you, Raymond!

[@markespiridion5314]

I'm super excited to get this game. Can't wait for it. :D

[@andysiegel725]

Just played for the first time yesterday! One of my favorite mechanisms is something I haven’t heard anyone mention: fish cards with brown power (when activated) abilities that trigger for the individual have dive site restriction (e.g. must be played in blue, purple or green column). However, fish cards with brown power abilities that activate for ALL player do not have dive site restriction (e.g. can be played in any of three column). The one exception are brown powers that move young/schools - these have no site restriction. This is an interesting wrinkle to the Span strategy of trying create an engine in one row (or column) that gives benefits other than what that row (or column) gives by default. For example, in Wingspan, a great strategy is to play birds in forest that give you eggs and cards, so that when you take action in forest, you gain those resources in addition to food. The site restrictions in Finspan make it so that brown powers that give just you cards, eggs or hatching must be played in blue (cards), purple (eggs) or green (hatching/moving), respectively. But, if you want to pursue diversification of resource benefits in a dive site, you can play a brown power that activates for all players, creating an intriguing decision-making space - do you provide more flexibility to your dive site abilities at the cost of helping opponents? Such a simple, but well-executed gameplay tweak that intertwines engine building and player interaction in a satisfying manner.

[@jameystegmaier]

That's a really clever observation! Thanks for highlighting it. :)

[@andysiegel725]

Thanks Jamey! Looking forward to playing Finspan more and exploring its gameplay intricacies!

[@CheeseDud]

Every single one of these mechanisms makes me even more excited for Finspan! The upgrading tiles reminds me of a Feast for Odin and I LOVE positive player interaction

[@Stormlight8700]

I like the positive player interaction. I suppose I'm not a highly competitive player. This game seems like, after a few games, I'll be able to play it very quickly. That makes me think of 7 Wonders, where my group of friends knew it so well we could set up, play, and pack away within 25 minutes. I'm sure Finspan won't be quite that quick, but I imagine it may fill a similar need in my gaming sessions 😊

[@jameystegmaier]

I agree that 25 minutes might be a bit ambitious, but 45 is definitely achievable. :)

[@owl9813]

Hope there will be a freshwater expansion?

[@jameystegmaier]

I think that’s likely! :)

[@DarkTerrex]

I posted this on another video but I'll do it here too. I have a very dumb phobia of octopuses and squids, are there any cards with them on it? I like the idea of all players getting to do "all player" actions always. It makes you think more about what you want to do with your turn and your placement of things. It also makes things more engaging with each other in a game where you're in a way just playing by yourself. It'll actually make the game more competitive in the end.

[@jameystegmaier]

Thanks! I replied on that video too: There are no octopuses or squids in the core game. :)

[@DarkTerrex]

@@jameystegmaier Oh for some reason KZbin didn't notify me about the reply. Thank you, as silly as it is it makes a difference for me lol. I'll look forward to the game.

[@Jasonwolf1495]

All players abilities never feel good IMO unless the effect is hugely powerful for me and weak for them. I think its good to have more interaction, but everybody gets free stuff is detrimental. It doesn't come off as friendly even since its mandetory. Skipping or using effects that help everyone felt tactical and interesting. It's likely if possible, I will be instituting that homerule when I get that game.

[@jameystegmaier]

Please at least play the way the game was designed and heavily playtested before implementing house rules. I think you're missing a number of nuances that make these abilities relevant and balanced as designed.

[@mikezulu6720]

I don’t like the all player abilities. These cards are mostly really week and nobody wants to play them. Also the private discard pile makes the decision which card to discard less important, which i also don’t like. I play more competitive, so maybe this game is not for me. But i like the theme a lot ❤

[@jameystegmaier]

"nobody wants to play them" I haven't found that to be my experience in many plays of Finspan. Are you referring to another game that has similar abilities, or have you played Finspan already somehow?

[@Hrysicos]

I'm guessing he's referring to the All player cards from Wingspan? Which I get, I sometimes avoid using them because I don't want to give my opponents any benefits. But it really depends on the situation