Forbidden Island: Wil Wheaton, John Scalzi, Bobak Ferdowsi, and Jason Finn on TableTop SE2E05

[@CassandraHora]

As a ESL (English as a Second Language) reading comprehension lesson I have my students read game instructions and then "teach" me how to play the game depending on their understanding. It also helps with giving instructions and conversation English. It makes for a fun and interesting lesson. Today we are going to play Forbidden Island.

[@CassandraHora]

Is that an Okay with more of a question mark. Like i don't get why you're sharing this type okay. Or an Okay with an exclamation mark. Like it's really cool of me to teach using board games.

[@xx___x]

Oh my god, YES, this is such a good idea!

[@neurohack9038]

Don't you mean "an ESL" not "a ESL"?

[@youknowmesarahb2490]

Oh my gosh. I teach ESL and already have this game. Great idea!

[@Pedrocksdo]

That's an amazing idea! I'll "borrow" this idea from you, hehehe Thank you!

[@TheSlorg]

I don't know if Wil or Felicia still read comments on videos this old, but I have to sincerely thank them both for making TableTop. I have a 10 year old and a 7 year old, and I've been hoping to get them into more advanced games than Monopoly or Sorry etc for a while. I have Settlers of Catan, which is great, but still a little too much for them to effectively strategize with. Watching this video for Forbidden Island made me realize how it would make the perfect 'next step' for them. First, it's a cooperative game which can help really drive home the idea that you don't need to always win or be against each other to have fun with a game. Second, it's so amazingly easy to learn, but can still be quite challenging with an adjustable difficulty. Thanks to watching this video, I went out and immediately bought the game and now have an excellent way to have some family time together without the kids arguing or being overly competitive. Forbidden Desert is next on the list, so thanks again!

[@DocterDabz]

***** Video was posted May 30th, 2013, 2 years does make a video old

[@VladT.Wallachia]

DocterDabz 2 years is a long time

[@Katherine_The_Okay]

TheSlorg other great options we've found for that age group are Carcassone (tile-laying game) and Zooleretto/Aquaretto (games with adorable animals). At 8, my niece could often school adults at these three. I find that, while there are games that are still over her head at 11, for the most part, an eager child can do well at games well over their age recommendations if their adults support them on the first few game-play sessions (ditto with some co-op games for exactly that reason). Kids are smarter than grownups tend to think, and tile and dice games are usually really good fits that get them thinking strategically at early ages. And, once they get their footing with strategic gaming, they tend to advance by leaps and bounds and, with their non-linear thinking, can often making amazing showings against the rest of us with our adult inside-the-box thinking.

[@nanorider426]

King of Tokyo is also a great game to play with children. I've played it with a nine year old girl and she loved it. Especially when the girl rolled punches! ;)

[@skullcrushers1000]

Well now that you have a 12-year-old, can you play any of these games?

[@kirbylee5944]

Bought Forbidden Island today and went back to a friends house with two friends to play. We played one game and IMMEDIATELY set it back up to play again. So so much fun, thanks SO MUCH to Wil Wheaton and TableTop for introducing us to our new favorite game!!!

[@bentravis9383]

"By literally, I mean figuratively." Thanks for making me literally laugh out loud.

[@Frank-Voight-Kampff]

Can I just say huge props to the animation department. These little intermissions explaining the rules are just BRILLIANT. Kudos to you and thank you so much for doing this so exciting and funny. ^^

[@timbimbap]

I love how Wil can't stop nerding out over Bobak being there

[@StoneBeliever]

There was a perfect pun opportunity at the end when Wil said the game "emerged victorious" because one could say it..... submerged victorious.

[@crossproduct42]

I was gonna say that! I'm two months late =/

[@pikkuadi]

"Actual Nasa engineer playing the engineer? We've got this." lol!!

[@Krowphay]

Watching this video made me really interested in Forbidden Island, so I went out and purchased a copy from my local Barnes & Noble. I've played 4 games alongside friends, and we only succeeded once (not counting the game I just played by myself that I won, considering Forbidden Island is specifically for 2-4 players). We all love it - thanks, TableTop, for sharing this gameplay with us!

[@DrDeathpwnsu]

You always win when you play with yourself.

[@Krowphay]

DrDeathpwnsu Did you happen to pay attention to the video, or even watch it? Forbidden Island is a game in which all players, working together, are much more likely to lose than win.

[@LordoftheTabletop]

I played Forbidden Island by myself while drinking by myself. Playing with other people looks like way more fun.

[@AngeldustPictures57]

Same. And I lost horribly. 😂

[@soulofmen]

I love that you can see the treasures on the shelves behind them. Awesome touch to the Episode :D

[@cloudsteele1989]

Will we sink, or Will we swim... Or Wil Whea-ton?

[@marquisewilliams3904]

booooo

[@twitchster77]

_/crickets_

[@ProjjectDelta.]

*claps and laughs*

[@TJTrickster]

I see what you did there

[@bbblackwell]

I know Forbidden Desert is better, but the presentation on this game is just so gorgeous, it ranks higher for me. If I'm going to spend a half hour or more staring at something, I'd rather see art than beige X's.

[@1simo93521]

Got too agree out of all my games (about thirty) forbbiden island is one of the best looking ones. Will should play Black Fleet it's a really nice looking game too.

[@therearenohandlesleft1]

I just wish it looked more like an island on the table!

[@Ch1oeW]

this is exactly why I chose Forbidden Island over Desert!

[@impivaarajones]

About the INTRO: A fantastic idea in the beginning of the episode to get viewers exited about the story and theme! In my opinion this would be a great way to start every single episode. Wheaton already explains the game mechanics on camera so this is a refreshing change. I hope it wasn't just for this episode! Thank you for a great show!

[@sleepdeprivedrat9119]

"and by literally I mean figuratively" - Scalzi that was a beautiful and hilarious save

[@thinusconradie4297]

Forbidden Island was the first modern designed game I bought, based on this video. Since then, I have became addicted to modern board games. You guys changed my life for the better. Thanks!

[@VestinVestin]

29:23 - I think the Forbidden Island actually SUBmerged victorious ;)...

[@not2shabby]

Well played.

[@tree_fingers]

I brought it camping last weekend and it worked out great. Easy to learn and quick to play, and the randomness and difficulty keeps up the playability.

[@GeekandSundry]

Awesome to hear this!

[@abVoicesTV]

I was hoping for this episode! Forbidden Island is a brilliant game for the family. I usually play with two people, but it's nice to see that it's just as challenging for four. THANKS Mr. Wheaton for pulling this one out of your hat. AWESOME stuff!

[@leafcooper7140]

I once played a game where fool's landing sank on the very first turn...

[@somebodywithaname8718]

Sunk or flooded?

[@avivlab]

I guess he meant what he said - it sank. It can happen if it is flooded when the game starts (it is among the six flooded tiles), then you draw a "waters rise" card on your first turn, and then it can sink. Ouch.

[@CriswellKOL]

@@avivlab Yeah, it can happen - Fool's Landing flooded before turn 1, Waters Rise reshuffle, Fool's Landing again and no opportunity to shore it up.

[@minuteman7897]

Oh hell no

[@boardsandstuff5008]

Doesn’t make much sense as what every card comes out must be sent to the discard pile. So you never draw same card twice in a round unless a water rising card comes out having you shuffle the discard flood pile and put it on top of the deck which really messes with you b

[@GetsLonely]

I love playing this game. And it feels a little simpler than pandemic while still feeling strategic

[@ScaryWombat]

"And successfully escape from... The Scary Door."

[@jesussoosramirez4638]

its a magic river that's how

[@bobbylow175]

AllannaXD Futurama reference.

[@darkminstrel2041]

I've been looking at this game for a while now and my little one is old enough to enjoy the mechanics. We finished our first game about 10 minutes ago...and we WON. We were both so happy. It was a close one though. A lucky draw of Helicopter Lift cards ensured that a cut-off tile wasn't going to sink us completely. Thanks Wil for making us take the leap and pick up the game.

[@twincast2005]

22:50 Will: "A 3 in 14 chance of success is better than a 1 in 14 chance of success." Well, yeah, but that probability's chance of catastrophe, not chance of success, so nope.

[@texasbelliott]

I'm really enjoying these Table Top episodes. Great job Wil & co. Thanks for making table top games fun and more accessible!

[@samvestal9878]

They still had a helicopter card, which states in the rules that it can be played on another player's turn. They could have survived longer.

[@chocoboblue99]

Yeah, they had a helicopter lift card. When the Engineer said, "I physical cannot get there guys." The Pilot should had screamed something like, I can have a lift card, you move there and you save that thing! lol They already knew that tile was going to sink because mathematically, they had already flipped 4 cards from the last round and it wasn't that tile. So, on the Engineer's turn, it has to come up, even if another water raise card came up.

[@morriscolautti9822]

Gee, thanks for the spoiler!!! (I'm kidding!!!....😡)

[@JordanDButler]

chocoboblue99 Engineers cant travel by water or air though...

[@BenjaminoBest]

@@chocoboblue99 That would have bought them more time but then the problem would've been getting the Engineer back and he doesn't have enough cards yet to get the treasure so the diver might have been able to meet him over there perhaps. Then pilot would have to come get him? idk

[@FatherKarl]

Tabletop is the only reason I watch the channel. Love this stuff!

[@Sumtinrandom]

[SPOILERS] "You don't care that you won, you're a BOX!"

[@SirLibran]

The Art Direction, Editing, Sound, and all the little added "play by play" graphics with outlines and arrows is pretty amazing. You guys are really building something high end!

[@VeronicaVenatrix]

That intro sounded like a mix of Rod Serling and Comic Book Guy.

[@RatioHatesTheGame]

Or we could just admit that, as awesome as Rod Serling is, he sounds a little like Comic Book Guy.

[@Bomber848480015]

GREAT Guests Will! Big fan of Scalzi really enjoyed Locked In. I also really liked your reading of if for the audio version. Never have seen Bobak outside of NASA very cool, all great guest. It looked like it was very fun.

[@xanfolf]

Why has Jim Parsons never been on table top? XD I feel this needs to happen some day.

[@thewpbard]

So far, we've had Kevin Sussman (Stuart), Bill Prady (co-creator) and John Ross Bowie (Kripkie), so it's only a matter of time before we get Jim along for the ride.

[@Wolfie1262]

no

[@zackwall9355]

Crusader Templar I was going to make the same comment

[@christopherweishaar637]

My son and I love this game and play quite often. Some wins, some losses, always a great time.

[@sjormasklin]

I've bought the game after I saw it here..... love it.... coop games are great

[@jonathanwhiting3318]

Forbidden desert is better you should check it out!

[@genes1s1mperfect]

sjormasklin Will said it may be the next episode.

[@Harkadenn]

GlassBonez You should give a shot to "The Sealed Ark", its a very fun yet short coop game.

[@genes1s1mperfect]

Harkadenn I'm going to have to give it a shot. Thanks

[@pinkus42]

Just played it for the first time! Sooo much fun, almost couldn't stop! Thanks Tabletop!

[@rah_sollest]

You guys should do Forbidden Desert next, which is even more relentlessly hard then Forbidden Island. XD

[@martinodelazzari6373]

The drummer of one of my favorite band ever and one of my favorite board game ever on the same video???? This format is really awesome I like it a lot.

[@NashiaCC]

Didn't the pilot still have a helicopter card?? He could've used it to move the engineer to the cave and flip it that turn!

[@megarandomplayer]

I now have to look up all of these people. They were all fun to watch.

[@SappyNoypi]

While Wil is geeking out over Bobak, I was thinking: Bobak is pretty hot. :3

[@eliasnunez5986]

Alvin John Agulto I was thinking the same thing when I first saw him.

[@TheAuthorOfOZ]

I've owned this game for a few years and love it! I'm glad it got played on my favorite KZbin show. P.S., I also heard Bobak on NPR's "Wait...Wait...Don't Tell Me." You sir are keeping NASA and space travel AWESOME.

[@Chuukun1]

haha You can't judge a book by it's cover. If you had shown me these three guest and asked which one was which just based on there profession and looks I would have been shamefully wrong. I would have said Jason Finn is the sci-fi writer, John Scalzi is the space engineer and Bobak Ferdowsi was the drummer from the presidents LMAO.

[@imaloony8]

Well, based on their appearance I think it should be fairly obvious that Bobak is the NASA engineer. I mean, he has the word "NASA" shaved into the side of his head.

[@danatronics9039]

Yeah, the guy with the NASA JPL haircut is the drummer... ;p

[@lohenbrau]

We bought this game because of this video, and it was just as much fun to play as it was to watch! Thanks so much for this great series!

[@crimsonfirecat]

Is the opening narrated by Comic Book Guy??

[@lukejalove1187]

No, Rod Sterling.

[@crimsonfirecat]

Ah of course

[@FaeryBat]

J. Badger no it's narrated by wil with a voice filter

[@lukejalove1187]

Lily Smith NO! REALLY?! I NEVER KNEW DAT! WOOOW! I GESS U LURN SOMETHING EVRY DAE!

[@FaeryBat]

J. Badger i think you need to learn to spell

[@irisx]

Wow, so glad you played this. We played it last year and this is what got us onto your show! Pandemic is now another favourite, kinda in the same vein of this game with co-op.

[@xXSakuraTearsXx]

Best. Intro. Ever.

[@clolton]

i look forward to tabletop every week. thanks for keeping it up!

[@youknowinhindsight]

The first time I played this game, I lost on the first turn.

[@miraprime474]

After watching this video, many moons ago, I bought the game and was surprised to learn that it sells for about $16-$17 US. For those who have not played it and cannot tell from the video. Forbidden Island is a lot of game for less than $20. It is one of my favorite games, and I have yet to beat it on legendary.

[@DevilboyScooby]

Did they get Comic Book Guy for the intro? XD

[@DonWhitaker]

Table full of awesome. Jason Finn was a a great surprise

[@katilynndenos8430]

Even when he's not guest staring on the Big Bang Theory, Will Wheaton is still harassing Sheldon Cooper. Yes, the character, not Jim Parsons. Because of the Moon Pie reference..... Agh, I give up.

[@BabsScriven]

I'm so glad you played this on the show! I played it years ago, and it was one of the things that really got me into board games!

[@AlchemicOwl]

Did ho seriously throw in a big bang theory reference

[@percygryce722]

"And by 'literally,' I mean figuratively."--John Scalzi. Well played.

[@MadHatter8432442]

did he say moon pie weres Sheldon when you need him

[@Unreeld]

+Austin Vanhout (Ardramelch) They should get that actor on the show!

[@sammyrick1078]

'Thumbs Up' for the opening sequence alone. Well done, Mr. Wheaton. Well done.

[@cyanmanta]

This game is too much like Pandemic for me. You only need one or the other; the mechanics are almost identical.

[@MiscName]

Yeah I have this, Pandemic and Forbidden Desert -- Pandemic is by far the best of the 3.

[@Staypoof21]

I have both and Pandemic is the better but this one is easier to teach to people that are not used to co op board games.

[@Gemcitygoddess]

I think this is less than half the price of pandemic.

[@bbblackwell]

Honestly, Forbidden Island and Pandemic are almost nothing alike. They have that one mechanism in common where you reshuffle the discard pile before drawing new trouble spots, but that's about it. There's no way that one game makes the other obsolete; presentation, game length, and complexity differentiate these two games quite a bit. I play this with my 4 year old -- Pandemic isn't going to serve this purpose.

[@MiscName]

Also you're collecting the same suit of card to cure the disease / collect the treasure, and moving around the board taking off cubes / flipping over tiles. They're not the same game but they play very similarly ...

[@Databyter]

That was fun. I think the difficult starting position made it even more interesting. Kudos to the hist for not faking a different shuffle and for his Rod Serling. Bravo to ethics and art.

[@Eshajori]

More like it SUBmerged victorious! AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHhh'll let myself out.

[@ForgeMaciejewski]

Just the intro did it for me. Awesome job you guys. Keep up the great work!!

[@Aeroxima]

For co-op games, I feel like if everyone is helping decide each others' turn, it may as well be single player. It just feels like something is lost, like you're not really "working together with other people" but all debating on what buttons to push on a single player game. I think the magic of it lies in people independently making their own choices and being their own people, who happen to be on the same team, rather than all more or less "playing the same guy". What's weird though is that in RTS games when you've actually got 2 or more people playing the same player/side, it actually feels a lot more cooperative, even though you're rather literally "playing the same guy." There's no congress or "I think we should do X," everyone is making their own choices independently (despite controlling the same set of units). It ends up feeling more like you're working with other people, because they're their own person doing their own thing. tl;dr: There's no cooperation between one unit, it just feels empty. (I wish I could say it better, but whatever.)

[@cmgeorge12]

Of course he is. That was one of Wil's lines from his first appearance on The Big Bang Theory, in the episode "The Creepy Candy Coating Corollary." He originally said it to Sheldon when Wil beat him at "Mystic Warlords of Ka'a."

[@meesterDave]

Is it just me or is this basically 'Pandemic' with another story/setting...?

[@RockKrumpli]

not exactly but it has similarities: but in this case the map itself is sinking and not a virus expands on it

[@shadowmon4]

Dave Alfaro Ponce Most Tabletop games in general are very similar with some borderline parallel to each other.

[@michaelberry1746]

I just bought this game for this very reason - it's essentially a simpler version of Pandemic. For people who aren't hardcore board gamers, Pandemic can be very overwhelming with all of the rules. As a huge fan and proud owner of Pandemic, I bought this game as a sort of "gateway game" for my friends and family who still think Monopoly is a real board game.

[@hardbathsalts3143]

Michael Berry hahaha I use Monopoly as the go-to negative game when trying to describe the board games I like. I always say "if I say board game and you think Monopoly, then we are in delifferent dimensions"

[@MartezG]

Thanks for getting me into board/card games. I've lost track of them for a long time. Keep it up! LOVE the show.

[@malikrath9503]

Shoulder have had Geordi as the Engineer, instead of Blowback lol

[@MetalSmasherGaming]

I love watching co-op games on this show, especially when the game wins.

[@voteZDLR]

Wil: "I'm not a table captain" *proceeds to be the table captain anyway* lollll

[@fredo1070]

Why hasn't this show been picked up for TV? This is the best watching paint dry show since Watercolour Challenge. It shouldn't work, but it is so addictive. More fun than watching poker or chess on the TV. Perfect late night after the pub fare. And the quality of the guests has been outstanding. Perfect for Quest or here in the UK Dave.

[@KungPowza]

This was a great episode with great players. Good job guys!

[@IntrinsicEmpress]

This, at least to me, is probably the best co-op game i've seen them play. I want it.

[@letters_from_paradise]

Bobak has NASA shaved into his hair, that's some dedication to your work!

[@mark_midmark]

Great production and a great way to learn a game that has some nuances that may be complicated!

[@greenechri]

The football coach metaphor was the best I've heard today. Well done.

[@Borgimperator]

JOHN SCALZI! One of my all-time favorite SciFi-authors :') ...finished Redshirts yesterday...amazing book(like all the others)!

[@shumanstudios]

Love the introduction team! If making it caused a lot of extra work, let me tell you that it was definitely worth it. Thanks!

[@AsmrAmurana]

That reply was just from the first glance at the lineup. I've just noticed who else was playing today. Seriously, PoUSA are

[@JD-lu8jb]

I love these videos table top is one of the best things on youtube, thank you Will Wheaton!

[@haydenblackthorn]

Wonderful Rod Serling impression! Love it!

[@AngelavengerL]

Oh i love table top and the guests are just fantastic. Jason Finn had me cracking up multiple times.

[@jacob-ki9vl]

The amount of games I bought, played, and enjoyed is incredible.

[@qdHazen]

Got this for Christmas. One of the best gifts this year. :)

[@Uejji]

Same here. We were literally one or two turns away from winning when that last Water Rises came out. We started on Novice, though.

[@AbsoluteApril]

picked up this game due to the show, it's great fun! keep up the good work TableTop

[@Darkkent775]

I love these co-op games. Great show!

[@josephnegron4179]

Fun episode! Love my copy of Forbidden Island.

[@halabackatchya]

That is fantastic. I love the idea of you and your friends hating on and playing against a game. It is all about solidarity and uniting against a common enemy you can trash talk which can't trash talk back. Great stuff.

[@SageSavage]

Right? This show is the absolute best kind of commercial. In that it's not a commercial at all, but it just happens to involve a thing that we could potentially buy. Then Wil and the players all have so much fun that we all can't help but want to join in. It's beautiful because it's not masked or manipulative at all. It just shows people playing great games and lets us watch and realize how great the games are.

[@casmx7300]

I really wish they'd do an Arkham Horror episode, but it'd either have to be a 2+ hour show or split into 4ish parts. Arkham Horror is by far my favorite co-op board game of all time! So fun!

[@flyerton99]

Ahh. The good old Water rises card. Matt Leacock, You ALWAYS put that EPIDEMIC (Pandemic) WATER RISES (This game) IN THE DECKS. AND I LOVE YOU FOR IT!

[@sophier1399]

I wish I had come to this channel earlier. This was awesome!

[@rambem115]

My family played this for the first time last night with a very similar set-up, but no pilot or diver. It was a terrible loss. Can't wait to try it again.

[@Nanderone]

Tabletop is really awesome, keep doing this Will and Felicia!

[@valhersa29]

I miss these.

[@quecuentas3]

I love how they are very much into the game!

[@Belphcrew]

Binge watching tabletop.....the mirror animations for the intro has shattered my joviality

[@McGregorMX]

Wow, the beginning commentary sounds like a game I played back in the day called "Shivers"

[@kerorogunsou78]

OMG!! Jason Finn!! PUSA is my all-time favorite band of ALL-TIME!!! That makes this my favorite Tabletop!

[@jessicaclement8689]

Best. Intro. EVER. Loved the Twilight Zone nod, and considering the terrible set-up at the start, you all did well to keep the game going that long. The Island really had it in for you!