How to Play The Castles of Burgundy

The Castles of Burgundy LOOKS like a history lesson, but it's a really enjoyable strategy game with a tiny bit of player interaction, and the competition gets more fierce the more often you play.
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[@WatchItPlayed]

Brilliant, brilliant work. Love the presentation and great narration throughout!

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks again, Rodney!

[@Manny-M]

High praise from the master there... but absolutely well deserved. 👌

[@Fjongus]

At 5:56 when using a ship, a player does NOT throw away goods they do not have room for. They simply leave them behind at the depot on the main gameboard. Apart from that, really Nice work. Really enjoyable to watch, and very instructional. Will be watching more of your videos for sure.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks! You do throw excess goods away, but maybe i could have been clearer about where they end up. You don't throw them away into the box - you throw them away back to the depot where you picked them up. (Honestly, i shot it this way because i like the flippancy of throwing game components around the table, as you'll see in other videos.)

[@Pandiili]

Excellent video and I burst out laughing at the burrito buildings! Thanks for making such a fun and informative video!

[@marcocasati3134]

This is one of the best game tutorials I've ever seen. Succinct, yet you get through everything, and a little humour here and there. Well done. Very good job.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks so much, Marco! i've made a couple more since this one.

[@mgman991]

Love watching the pieces move like its claymation. Great video.

[@pollywave]

Thanks for keeping it concise, I see similar videos with 20+ minutes. Subscribed

[@wugsessed]

This is absolutely awesome! And I'm so very, very glad to have this to show people so I don't have to ever try and explain these rules again. The rulebook does an awful job of conveying the game in a way that helps you understand what the hell you're trying to do.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Hey - thanks, Chris! It's great to know what i'm doing is useful to some ppl.

[@Cosmorth]

Great production/editing! I will definitely check your channel for a how-to-play in the future when learning a new game!

[@beneeta_k]

This was so incredibly helpful. I was only able to play it tonight because of you. Thanks!

[@cokolwiek808]

This is awesome! Very clear, structured and I love the humor 😄

[@gowensbach2998]

Great presentation, narration, video editing, content, and production. High regards for your work!

[@Max-pj9km]

Great!. Hands down, the best how to guides to learn board games titles.

[@Elucidarian]

Wow. I'm really impressed with the composition of this video and will be paying attention to your other offerings. Really, well done! Also, you have corrected a rule I've been doing wrong forever: Bonus points for animals of the same kind placed in the same pasture. I've been playing that you only get those bonus points for each consecutively adjacent tile of the same animal. It's a revelation to how many placement opportunities I've passed up. My winning percentage is pretty competitive, but I wonder how much better it would be if I hadn't been always working around this mistaken restriction. Thank you for steering my plays from here out in a better direction.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

My pleasure! The rule i kept getting wrong my first few plays was the coloured region completion rule. i didn't consider the special boards, so i thought hat if i completed two differently-coloured regions to the tun of 8 tiles, i'd get that huge bonus. i guess i didn't win by nearly as large a margin as i thought i did.

[@AprotimM]

Great explanation - just installed the app on my phone and your video helped much more than the in-game tutorial!

[@Skorrigan]

One of the best tutorial videos of this game if not THE best.

[@catherinetaylor2014]

Thanks for this video. I found the region scoring quite confusing from the manual and this has really clarified it.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks, Catherine!

[@MikeSigsworth]

I had to pause the video after the cows. I was laughing too hard to follow anything. Well done. I haven't seen one of your videos in a while, and they are always a treat!

[@steventrevino]

Great work, Ryan! Would love to see more of these How Tos.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks, Steven! More on the way.

[@PlumpyThimble]

This is perfect. We're gearing up to play our first game tomorrow and this was just what we needed. Thanks!

[@NightsAroundaTable]

i'm excited for you! Let me know how it goes!

[@EskGaming]

Best tutorial I’ve seen on this game so far. Thanks

[@ericmarler9851]

This was fantastic, thank you!

[@foodforthemoon7]

Great job! You are my new favorite "how to play" video maker. One goof I found. You only get one point at the end of the game for every 2 unspent worker tiles.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks! i've got that bit of addendum covered in a card (as of yesterday). Check the little "i" icons at the top of the video to track goofs.

[@Saltoric]

Great video thank you! Funny and super informative, great animations to help bring it to life.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks, Brad!

[@deedd4401]

gotta admit - you got a little chuckle out of me for those "cowditions" :D

[@Sanderus]

Excellent presentation! FINALLY I should be able to take this game out of the shelf of shame. One time I was even attempting to sell it, unsuccessfully, as it was too complicated for me to grasp even though I play some games with higher bgg weight, like barrage. The Burgundy has always been a convoluted mess for me. This video helps to clear things up.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

i’m so glad! It’s a very, very good game, and well worth your time.

[@Tumpkin2]

Awesome video, very clear and to the point!

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks, Josh!

[@rooseveltcooper]

I gotta say. I started playing this game on Board Game Arena and I was utterly confused. I watched a video on KZbin and I got even more confused. Your video finally game me some clarity on how to play the game.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

i’m so glad! It’s a terrific game, and well worth the effort to learn.

[@crimsonrose]

Thank you! Very well presented! I also like the stop motion. :)

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks!

[@invisibleswede]

You have become my favorite board game tutorial channel. One minor rule correction to add. In final scoring, you earn 1 victory point for every 2 worker tiles. (11:22) Keep rockin' the board game vids. Muppets in Concordia is my favorite reference so far. Awesome!

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks Jason! i added the correction in the Klingon cc track, and i'll further put a callout card to note the error. i have also self-flagellated in atonement.

[@RowantarotBlogspot]

This is so wonderful. Please do a few for the COB expansions as well. I really appreciate how much work went into this. It's awesome -- and I've never seen those tiles so large! Some of them are actually kinda pretty!

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks, Carla! i was actually *this close* to buying the expansions yesterday - my FLGS just got them back in stock - but they didn't have all of them. Some weird instinct told me to pass... and then i came home to discover they're releasing a deluxe edition with all the expansions bundled. Phew! What a close call.

[@carlatate7678]

@@NightsAroundaTable But the new edition is so unlovely! Have you seen it yet?

[@NightsAroundaTable]

@@carlatate7678 You're right. i wrote that message before i had seen the update. It's very saturated. If i was mean about it, i might say "garish."

[@aronleniger]

Omg I watched so many videos and yours is by faaar the best in a fun way to explain this great game.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks, Aron! Make sure you check the errata - there's one crucial goof during the scoring section.

[@aronleniger]

@@NightsAroundaTable thx I'll check it out right away

[@stonehorsegaming]

Really well done how to play, thanks!

[@NightsAroundaTable]

My pleasure!

[@saratippey769]

Dude, I'm so glad you have a video of this! One of my friends just got the game and I wanted to give her a good htp video of it, expecting the best to be How To Play. But then whose lovely bearded face should I see but yours, showing off exactly the goods I wanted!

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Wait! Wait! i know this one! i bet it was MY lovely bearded face!!

[@saratippey769]

@@NightsAroundaTable :O How did you know???

[@NightsAroundaTable]

@@saratippey769 i'm not just a pretty bearded face! My eyes... are up HERE, Sara.

[@saratippey769]

@@NightsAroundaTable Oh I'm sorry, were you saying something? I was only paying attention for the bearded eye candy.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

@@saratippey769 Sigh. i mean, if that's what gets me the numbers, who am i to argue?

[@dennisbasyrov7113]

Great! I love your style, definitely =)

[@nickhayes1626]

I bought the anniversary edition of this right before Covid hit. Haven’t gotten to play anything but the solo game yet, but I love it. Thanks for this video!

[@NightsAroundaTable]

This game is pure, solid gold!

[@viktorijabalsys-spencer4131]

I thought it was 2-4 players. You can play solo???

[@nickhayes1626]

@@viktorijabalsys-spencer4131 The anniversary edition included a new solo player board and instructions. I believe it’s available on BGG as a print and play option if you have the original version of the game.

[@catherinetaylor2014]

“Kinda like Tinkerbell” Woh that took a dark turn. Good thing I liked and subscribed or I wouldn’t be sleeping tonight 😂

[@jumpbox92]

hes a tinkerbell alright.

[@rahafarabi2791]

The best explanation ever 👏 👌 😜

[@fuyulee]

Very well done! I recommend Agricola next! That game needs a good rules video like this!

[@catherinetaylor2014]

fuyulee seconded

[@maxduro]

Late to the party and the hobby in general but hey! Excellent video!! thanks!

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks, Vincenzo! You picked a great game to start with!

[@Paul-ro6py]

Nice overview

[@joehuiras4955]

What a great video!

[@NightsAroundaTable]

What a great compliment!

[@andrewcrowe6834]

Love it thanks

[@ganztaOne]

Ok. Good stuff. Subscribed!

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thank you!

[@capefury8731]

This is really great I hope you get traction

[@salmanqaisar7377]

I really do detest when round/phase/turn are used in ambiguous ways in many games. Surely in this game, it would make more sense to label it opposite: 5 rounds, each with 5 phases. Great video as usual, Ryan :)

[@NightsAroundaTable]

If we ran the world…!

[@NightsAroundaTable]

i was just playing Trickerion last night, and that rulebook infamously uses the word "Turn" instead of "Round." Gah!

[@catladycatlady7359]

Funny, engaging content. Game sounds overwhelmingly complicated 😵 but appreciate your tutorial.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks! The game is supergreat, among the myriad board game options available. It's well worth learning. You can play it for free here: boardgamearena.com/gamepanel?game=castlesofburgundy

[@antoniskelesidis4602]

One question because I can't figure it out. How can we turn a 1 to 6 and vice versa, by spending olny one wokrer? If someone roles 1 and wants a 6, shouldn't he spend 5 worker tiles?

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Just imagine those numbers are on a wheel, or a dial. 1 is next to 6. So you only have to pay a single worker to "wrap around" in either direction.

[@antoniskelesidis4602]

@@NightsAroundaTable Ah alright. Still feel stupid for not getting it earlier. hahah Thanks a lot either way, lovely video all in all. :)

[@dave0754]

Can you please play Imperial 2030 and make a how to play video of it? I can't find any good quality learn to play video of it...

[@NightsAroundaTable]

i’ll look into it for you!

[@bleble6666]

There is an error at 11:22. At the end of the game, you get 1 point for every 2 unspent worker tiles.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks, Filip. That error was already noted in the errata for the video, and linked with a card (look for the little "i" in the top right corner around that timestamp).

[@kenrickdavis5355]

I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a rules video so much

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Aw - thanks, Kenrick!

[@Absydion]

I think the addition of humour (both in script and visual gags) undermines clarity, which is all I want in tutorial videos. The highlighting of the board spaces with white outlines was a very nice, clarifying touch.

[@ClarkPotter]

It did undermine the clarity, but was worth it and my fav aspect of his presentation style.

[@seniscram7958]

Awesome

[@TawanWorapol]

You should do top 10 game of all time. That’s would be cool.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

What if slots 1-6 were all Uno? Then what would you think?

[@TawanWorapol]

Nights Around a Table Then it’s mean that I have to go play UNO !!

[@NightsAroundaTable]

@@TawanWorapol Ha! i wouldn't do that to you.

[@TawanWorapol]

Nights Around a Table Hahaha , Then I’ll Wait for the top 10 clip.

[@nybzak]

Prune juice is a warrior's drink!

[@AlexNguyen]

Nice job!

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks Alex! Any opinions on the redesign?

[@AlexNguyen]

@@NightsAroundaTable Say what now...? 🙂 Didn't realize there's a redesign...

[@NightsAroundaTable]

@@AlexNguyen Yep! Check it out: cf.geekdo-images.com/camo/2efe0abafd744783c8178184f256d94195ecb882/68747470733a2f2f692e696d6775722e636f6d2f4d3964485767492e6a7067

[@DavoBrawn]

7:22 at least you made up for COWndition by thanking the cows 🐮

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Play him out, Keyboard Cat!

[@leeclements323]

Excellent thorough explanation of the game. So close to being hilarious but not quite. : /

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Nights Around a Table: near-hilarity every time.

[@veerchasm1]

Can you do a spit take on the game with the wine 🍷? That would be epic

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Sure! Ship me a copy!

[@Thesussysuscat]

The goods actually go back to the board.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Come again?

[@MarioNintendoh]

At the end of the game, it's 1 point per PAIR of workers

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Right you are! We'll have our Rules Officiant executed.

[@killemalljustice]

Nights Around a Table lol

[@MartinK1988]

Thank you for this video, the manual is trash, so much so that without your explainer our group of 4 (all of whom happily work through multiple days of Twilight Imperium and any other big unwieldly board game you care to name) would have stuck this one back in the box after fifteen minutes of struggling through the manual. Instead, we had a blast, even though the hex art is ludicrously undersized and indistinguishable

[@NightsAroundaTable]

My pleasure! We’re you playing the first or second edition? (This video depicts the first)

[@MartinK1988]

@@NightsAroundaTable second, slight differences all round but we worked it out

[@It9LpBFS37]

7:25 those cows sound like children of satan

[@NightsAroundaTable]

They're just misunderstood!

[@filiplazov5895]

Tinkerbell lol

[@rocksrahul8264]

The only gripe for me is it looks very boring..

[@NightsAroundaTable]

It does! But the new vajazzled version looks a bit too hype.

[@avatterott1]

This is a great video and I hope you keep making these, but I have a couple issues: 1. When the cows talk back, it's funny, but the volume jump was agony on my ears. 2. The "slave pit" joke was not necessary (although overall the humor in these videos are good). 3. Too loud when you yell "YOU GET NOTHING" when talking about region completion. Appreciate the video and commentary.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks for your feedback. This was one of the very first videos i made (no lighting, no backdrop, no microphone - could you tell?) Give one of my newer videos a whirl and i think you'll find i've ironed out most of these technical issues. Maybe watch this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKbde4hjpMungdk (As for the jokes i choose to tell, humour is subjective, so take 'em or leave 'em!)

[@avatterott1]

@@NightsAroundaTable About the jokes -- You don't want to come off as ignorant about how some commentary makes people feel. As an example -- please look at how SU&SD comments on slavery and race in their Archipelago review -- the comment only about 45 seconds long so you don't need to watch the whole video-- kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZarhp6jmcSHZ9U. Anyway I have subscribed and I'm looking forward to the other vids. Take care.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

@@avatterott1 Ok... now try my video for Puerto Rico: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpbIaZmYhriKarM If you're judging my position on slavery and colonialism by one off-handed comment using the word "slave" in a game where slavery isn't part of the theme, you're not getting the whole picture.

[@avatterott1]

I'm not sure why people take 'raising awareness about how something might make people feel' as a personal attack or criticism. You made a joke -- I don't see where you think I was "judging your position on slavery", haha. Anyway, my comment was not about you, friend! I just want the board game community to be open, friendly, and inclusive -- and in my experience gamers are friendly and THINK they are open-minded but then when asked to adjust a behavior in order to be more inclusive they are likely to get all defensive. I know plenty of women and non-white friends who enjoy gaming but steer clear of gaming communities because of micro-aggressions and jokes that make them feel unwelcome. And it doesn't matter whether you meant to make them feel unwelcome. It has an impact. You can't know what that impact is unless 1) someone speaks up, and 2) you listen. So I'm just doing the first part. You are welcome to listen. Or you can ignore me. But pushing back is unnecessary and even more problematic than the joke itself because it shows you are refusing to listen. All you need to do is listen. I've made my point. I'll try your other video because I know you mean no harm. I hope you consider what I've said and then move on.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

@@avatterott1 If you come across a board game KZbinr who's brazenly pro-slavery, definitely consider not watching that person! i do take issue with the term "micro-aggression" because it implies intent. If you're suggesting that my intent (however small or "micro") in using the hyperbolic term "slave-pit" as a snarky aside was to alienate (i'm just guessing) black American viewers, that's quite a stretch. Likewise, i find the word "problematic" problematic. i subscribe to the "safe scare" theory of humour, which is where laughter comes from being put in what would otherwise be a dangerous situation, in a paradoxically safe place. The word "slave" is dangerous and scary. Hopefully you watched the video from a safe place, where the term might provoke laughter. But i concede that if you don't fully feel safe from slavery, the juxtaposition might not exist, and there'd be nothing funny about the comment. There's a balance to be struck... i'd be willing to wager (or desperately hope?) that most of the people watching these videos feel sufficiently safe or removed from slavery to not fear the word, and to experience that safe scare laughter effect. YMMV, and if it does, i'm sorry that's your current situation. That sucks.

[@Diabolik771]

Some errors in this explanation

[@NightsAroundaTable]

If you see any that i haven’t already indicated with cards linking to the addenda section on the NAaT website, let me know.

[@Diabolik771]

@@NightsAroundaTable Not going to some website, just edit your video

[@NightsAroundaTable]

@@Diabolik771 You might want to do a little more research about how KZbin works before glibly making recommendations.

[@Diabolik771]

@@NightsAroundaTable We want accuracy. If you can't do an accurate rules how to, perhaps you should do something else.

[@LarryActionGlass]

I wish people who taught how to play board games would stop trying to be funny...it's never actually funny.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

You're absolutely correct, fellow robot. Board games aren't really all that fun, so we should make these videos as straight-laced and humourless as possible, and not even TRY to entertain viewers, because we might fail in our efforts. And since humour is objective, anyone trying to be funny should simply consult Herodotus's Humour Index and select the appropriate number of "zingers" and "knee-slappers" guaranteed to suit all tastes.

[@bmrigs]

You must be the life of a party.