Inventions: Evolution of Ideas - A Lacerda Civ?

This one's a doozy, so let's get into it!
We love Vital Lacerda's games, but what do we think of this one? Join Brad and Toph at the table as we discuss Inventions: Evolution of Ideas, the 2024 game designed by Vital Lacerda with artwork by Ian O"Toole and published by Eagle-Gryphon Games. We'll talk about our thoughts, our ratings, what we think of the value, and more.
Have you played it? What do you think? We'd love to know your thoughts!
contact us at [e-mail]
00:00 - Start
00:49 - Designer & Publisher
00:56 - Theme
02:02 - Mechanics
03:31 - Player Count: Best/Solo
05:30 - Time to Play
06:43 - Round and Overview
12:17 - What makes it a tight game?
13:09 - Pros
14:11 - Pro #2
14:27 - Con
16:13 - Further clarification of tableau
16:56 - The engine never opens up
17:16 - Pro
18:27 - Brad calls out Toph
18:50 - Marker 15
19:31 - Con - My biggest issue
21:15 - More from Toph
22:21 - And More Talking
23:15 - Suppose to Play Co-op?
24:27 - Number of Turns
25:01 - Weight Rating
25:51 - Marker 22
27:21 - BGG Rating VS Other Lacerda Games
28:43 - Brad's BGG Rating
29:27 - Toph's BGG Rating
30:08 - Who is this for?
31:14 - I thought it would be better than Kanban
31:47 - Toph's biggest con
32:17 - What do you think?

[@willtally]

This is probably my new favorite Lacerda. It has so many interesting (and different) decisions each time I’ve played it. Optimizing turns can be difficult, but I found that getting one aspiration tile per turn made a big difference in scoring.

[@BadatBoardgames]

There are SO many decisions, something I normally like. I need more plays. I want to like this game SO much. But, I just can't wrap my head around understanding the flow, mainly because I don't feel like I understand the chaining and that distracts me from everything else. Agreed on the aspiration tiles, though. I feel like I can focus on that and build up a bit of an engine, if you will, and make that work with some other areas. This is going to be a challenge, and it's one I want to figure out. I need to clear my diningroom table and just get to solo plays until my brain gets it. What's your favorite thing about this game? What makes you choose it over another option?

[@willtally]

@@BadatBoardgames Honeslty there’s something about the chain actions and figuring out how to best utilize them that scratches an itch. This isn’t a game that I understood on the first or second play. It took multiple plays for it to really click, but it was worth it. One thing that helped me when learning the game was simply looking around the board, including my own board and inventions, and finding the action I wanted to accomplish. I then tried to find a way to get there using a chain(s) instead of using a pillar to do it, especially when it was one of the main four actions. That’s not always possible, but when accomplished, it’s very satisfying. It’s up there with On Mars for me in terms of enjoyment.

[@justinandmaxgames5472]

Mainly with this one is to NOT DO THE OBVIOUS move. Find ways to get to link moves together. If you want to invent something, perhaps on your turn it's better to move citizens to a location that has the invent icon - therefore you've done 2 things on a turn rather than one. For us it was maxing out turns to do the most things in them. It's a puzzle and I like it - just found it had a 'ceiling' to it after about 7 or 8 games where we were each getting around 100+ points and tons of stuff on our player boards.

[@BadatBoardgames]

I need to consider this. To look to make actions based on the auxiliary action, not just the primary action. See, I was thinking the other way, let the aux action be the benefit. Hmm.... Was going to pull this out to solo this past weekend, but didn't get the chance to. Hopefully next weekend if I have a bit of time. Thanks for the insight!

[@stormburns]

This is my first Lacerada. Played half a game as a learning game. Loved it all the way! The solo has a second automa - more human like but not admin heavy in comparison to Turci's or On Mars Probably the best Lacerda for solo

[@BadatBoardgames]

Impressive for you first LaCerda!

[@ryantobin1007]

Just ordered it! Our game group is loving Lacerdas rn. Played Kanban EV last night, On Mars last week, The Gallerist and Lisboa in the weeks before. We're hoping this is another gem.

[@BadatBoardgames]

Ya our group likes the others as well 😁

[@topherferguson1]

If I can add to Brad's comment... Take his advice, play together until you all learn it. I think that really will help with understanding this beast of a game. Hope it's a rockstar for your group. Such good games... Kanban EV, the Gallerist, Lisboa, On Mars 🤩

[@lozinho333]

Very curious to see if Solo changes things, heard this is one of the best Lacerda solo modes

[@BadatBoardgames]

I've heard that, too. I am hoping to get a few solo games in. I (Toph) may very well be way off on this game and how to play it. More plays always will be good, and hopefully soloing it will change my mind. Would you want to see another video just on soloing Inventions (if my thoughts change from what they were in this video)?

[@lozinho333]

@@BadatBoardgames I’d say combine with more plays and only film if opinion changes overall

[@stormburns]

​@@BadatBoardgamesyes would be very much interested

[@TheLordquast]

i feel the same way as you guys on Inventions.... it's right at a 7 for me.... I like it slightly less that Weather Machine.... really love to see your thoughts on Weather Machine. But still my to three Lacerda ones; Kansan EV, On Mars and Lisboa

[@BadatBoardgames]

Weather machine is next but Toph is getting his masters so it’s a slow go at the moment.

[@CharacterFormationCoaching]

Big box Lacerda's are my favorite games, this is easy on par with my favorite of them all: On Mars. As I listen to your review, I agree with you both that you really dont "get" the game yet. Definitely tinker around in SOLO as it is incredible once you get it. Once you score 160 or more in SOLO, this game feels like such an incredible experience. By the last action you will have filled (or almost fill) every slot on your board, and have all (or most) of your specialists out.

[@BadatBoardgames]

Cool

[@BadatBoardgames]

Challenge accepted. Hopefully we can do an updated review. I want to like this game so much!

[@CharacterFormationCoaching]

@BadatBoardgames This game is taking my wife way more time to "get" than all other Lacerda games too, so you not alone in your struggle. It's just such a fun, rich gem of a game if and when it "clicks." I have a multi player game with my wife where we take 1 or two games a day next to our bed and I am doing a SOLO on Tabletopia at the same time as I am enjoying it so much!

[@jasonpmathew]

Another great video! Are either of you driving up to ReCon this weekend in Kernersville?

[@BadatBoardgames]

Thanks for always being so positive! We are not going I think Toph has to travel for a work conference and I have other plans this time.

[@mrbovinejoni569]

I saw the playthrough before it went to KS and, like you guys, I just didn't get it. I felt like the chaining was too much and seemed complex just to be complex. I passed on it and I have no regrets. Weather Machine is very good; it's in my collection along with KEV and Lisboa.

[@BadatBoardgames]

We are looking forward to breaking out weather machine next!

[@elqord.1118]

Wow, never seen you guys struggle so hard to stay engaged during a review. What a dud this must have been for you. Damn!

[@BadatBoardgames]

Ya this one was a struggle and not in a fun way for us.

[@brianl6151]

This is one been looking forward to it :) 8 hours of fun lol

[@BadatBoardgames]

Been there. Used to crave those long games. Not sure I'm up to it at the moment. I must be getting old or losing my mind/patience/emotional stability/etc. 😂

[@BadatBoardgames]

That was toph’s comment fyi lol

[@majkus]

Pedantic request: stop pronouncing 'Automa' as 'Autonoma'.