Lands of Galzyr: A Wonder of Design and Adventure

Game provided to the Dungeon Dive as a review copy
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[@SnowdaleDesign]

Thank you for the thoughtful review! I'll definitely add a note to my expansion ideas about character growth / change. Maybe some new more challenging quest lines with clear hints on what they will include, making it really hard to succeed without proper preparations. 😊

[@TheDungeonDive]

That would be perfect!

[@beakerkell]

"A marvel of design and execution." I wholeheartedly agree with that statement

[@mattyjohnsson257]

+1!

[@TheGreypuffin]

Waited for this review and very happy to see your video drop today! I think the secret to enjoying it is to just go with the story and enjoy all the little adventures as you wander around. As you say, masterful design and super accessible. I love the fact that I can enjoy my continuing adventure and my friends can drop in and out anytime. It absolutely isn't for anyone who wants a strongly defined 'Winning condition' with a climactic final scenario. Charming, well-written, with lovely components, Galzyr is just a lovely world to explore. The Book of Adventures being digital may put some people off, but the positive of having so much content outweighs the negatives IMHO. Thanks for posting the video and sharing your thoughts.

[@Naruga]

Haven't had the chance to sit down and listen to you for a while and I am reminded why I love your videos. I can't comment on it much without playing it but it seems like the sort of game I would get into . Adding to my list of definitely want to own.

[@cosmicdeb7576]

Glad you are enjoying this. Re character building, I've found there are multiple opportunities within the game to adjust skills without having to obtain a specific item to do so. However, it's probably up to players to decide whether to specialise in particular skills or not, whether to bribe or steal, it's all very fluid. However theee is one kind of high level in-world status you can earn, usually by obtaining a strong success at some faction related task, and potentially these could influence how your character approaches things. Items come and go and you never seem to have the thing which would present a unique solution to the issue on hand. The whole game just rolls along really, and will repeat, but maybe the same quests will be undertaken in future by different characters with different skills and items, or quite simply the randomness of the dice will present different outcomes.

[@patriziopastore9895]

Agree with you... very enjoyable game, hope that I can play more during the holiday

[@TheGreypuffin]

Regarding the character progression mentioned, when I get the chance to change my skills I use that as a chance to reflect on my adventures and based on what I've done, might change the skills accordingly. This is a form of roleplay I guess...been doing a lot of countryside exploration? I'll move a stat towards the relevant space on my character board. Thanks again for putting the video together.

[@mihancic]

Love this game! The art, the dice, the stories.

[@brianlamison1345]

Wow, this looks like exactly what I’ve been looking for. Definitely need to check this out.

[@mlmattin]

This definitely looks like my type of game! Very charming and I love the artwork. The character issue that you mentioned bothers me a bit because I do love meaningful character progression. However, it looks like a great way to adventure with friends without a lot of prep work.

[@unaigom]

Aghhh you made me buy this!! And I don't have more space on the tables :P Jokes aside thanks for making me discover this one... and many others!!

[@acornsoak8288]

I really enjoy this game. I agree with your comments about character development, or lack of it. What puzzles me is why anyone would wish to play the game competitively, and in what sense, given the prestige earned seems to be pretty random and it's all about the story. Rather like a notion of reading Wind in the Willows competitively?!

[@sebastienvivas9319]

I came very close to backing this. Mmmm, after watching your review, I may have to try to track it down.

[@successfulgeek]

I regret not backing this despite loving Dale of Merchants. I just have soooo many story games I need to finish first though. So I am working on playing through those then I will definitely be looking for Land of Galzyr.

[@chrisdonovan8795]

I was very turned off by the digital book portion, but being able to download it is smart. Also, if it's as big as you say, a book of that size would be cumbersome and add to shipping costs.

[@TheDungeonDive]

It's all upsides with a digital story book. No need to print out errata. If a mistake is found, the designer just needs to change it online, and publish it, and then everyone has the current version. The designer can also stealth release new adventures on the fly. It saves paper. Makes the game less expensive to ship. There's really no downside.

[@michaelspacek8580]

Ordered it from the.publisher based on your videos and then some subsequent reading on BGG.

[@TheDungeonDive]

I hope you enjoy it.

[@DarrinSK]

They should add character quests about issues your character has to deal with personally or which happen to them specifically. Sort of like a personal story arc, maybe somewhat how they did that in Android. Maybe some of these could have given hints about what you will need to accomplish the task through separate keywords that can even be a little nebulous or clue like instead of (YES YOU WILL BE IN A FIGHT). Like, . Maybe that would give you reason to change your setup and character. Kind of a let down you can not keep advancing your character and just rearrange their stats.

[@jonathana6298]

It’s funny you mention Skyrim at the beginning of the video. This actually reminds me of the Skyrim game from Modiphius being fulfilled right now. I’m surprised you didn’t buy into the base game for that. Both this and Skyrim remind me of the FFG Fallout game.

[@TheDungeonDive]

It was too expensive for me at the time, and I wasn’t sold on what I saw. Going to research the game some more now that it’s out and decide on picking it up in the future!

[@jonathana6298]

@@TheDungeonDive Yeah, it’s relatively expensive. It also uses a wide 4-panel board. If you like it, if you want an expansion that just adds more variety of loot, monsters, & quests, you want to get the From the Ashes expansion. You only need the Dawnguard expansion if you’re fully exhausted the base game campaign content. Dawnguard is an additional campaign. From the Ashes is more stuff.

[@saviloic]

Looks amazing! Any preference between this and Freelancers? Thank you!

[@TheDungeonDive]

Hard to say. Maybe this?

[@geoffdenham5063]

How would you compare this to paupers ladder? I tracked that one down but it lacked the sort of darkness I look for

[@TheDungeonDive]

If you're looking for darkness, stay far away from this and Pauper's Ladder.

[@johnberry5296]

Looks good, is there a win condition or do you just end the game?

[@TheDungeonDive]

Each game session lasts for a number of days. At the end of that time there is an "ending," and then you start another session. But it's not really about winning or losing, and the ultimate goal is just to play the game.

[@aonline_abridged]

You had me all-in until the part about character progression. I heard a hint of your misgivings during your first impressions videos so I was waiting for the review to hear more. For me, the draw of campaign games with a progressive narrative is first and foremost character growth and development, second priority is world growth and development, then third is the actual main story progression and permanence. I was so looking forward to getting this for solo play as it seems like a relaxing fun time, but indeed I need a strong connection to my character in order to immerse myself in headcannon and roleplaying, and a big part of that connection is seeing my character significantly and meaningfully modified by my adventures and my choices. I still love the art and the universe and I have the other games in this world.

[@TheDungeonDive]

The designer is taking a look at some of the issues I raised, so stay tuned maybe for something in an upcoming expansion.

[@aonline_abridged]

@@TheDungeonDive For sure, I am subscribed on Kickstarter anyways so will find out if he launches anything.

[@someguyynick]

where can one buy this game right now? is it only available via gamefound?

[@TheDungeonDive]

It’s available via the publishers web site. Just google the name of the game and you’ll find it.

[@dio1122able]

Are the quest mechanics just dice skill checks? Or are there other underlying mechanics?

[@TheDungeonDive]

Dice checks, narrative choices and keywords.

[@thedalewardens9106]

Are any items expendibles ? Can you lose things?

[@TheDungeonDive]

There are single use items. Not sure if you can lose things.

[@danacoleman4007]

Holy crap! I'm getting an ad every 3 minutes. I hope you're making a lot of money.

[@TheDungeonDive]

I'm not! Less than minimum wage in my state. KZbin seems to have upped the adds lately. Between Patreon and KZbin, I make about $9 an hour :) I pay for KZbin Premium because it is my main form of video entertainment, so I don't see the ads. Best money I spend each month.

[@TheDungeonDive]

I went in and delete about 1/2 the adds they added, so hopefully that helps! Thanks.

[@danacoleman4007]

@@TheDungeonDive Right on. Thanks for the reply!

[@TheDungeonDive]

@@danacoleman4007 It's usually about 2-3 adds per 1/2 hour that they add automatically, for some reason this one had 6! I'm not sure why.

[@Thebrewgeek1]

The game looks cool but the world just doesn’t do it for me. Anthropomorphism just doesn’t work for me, not sure why but I can’t get past that.

[@TheDungeonDive]

I love beast epics so it works for me. I grew up on stuff like Usagi Yojimbo, TMNT, Watership Down, Wind in the Willows, Book of the Dun Cow, After the Bomb, and Secret of Nihm. But you can’t force yourself to like a theme! So it works or it doesn’t.

[@Thebrewgeek1]

@@TheDungeonDive I love TMNT and Secret of Nijmegen just not a fan it in a boardgame and as controlled characters.

[@TheDungeonDive]

@@Thebrewgeek1 Curios. So when you play TMNT / After the Bomb, do you usually play one of the human characters going against the mutant animals?

[@Thebrewgeek1]

@@TheDungeonDive I haven’t played TMNT in years so I’m not sure. Also TMNT is an IP I grew up with so I don’t feel like I’m playing as turtles. I feel like I’m Donatello…from the cartoon. Lol

[@TheDungeonDive]

@@Thebrewgeek1the cartoon? ;). It’s all about the original comic books and RPG! :)

[@Stefan-yz5lr]

Man this looks awesome, just way too "charming" and optimistic for me. I need the dark fantasy version of this.

[@alejotm000]

Yeah I'm on the same boat. Cool mechanics, can't get over how cute it is.

[@fbarbirato]

Same thing for me, while playing Sleeping Gods I remember thinking a this a great game but I wished it was reskinned as Dungeon Degenerates haha. Reskin all the games as DD and I'll be happy forever.

[@chrisdonovan8795]

I'm sure the advancements in this game will be seen in future games.

[@TheDungeonDive]

There's way too much negativity and darkness in this world already. We need more charming and optimistic things to spend our time with.

[@brianknouse5164]

@@TheDungeonDive agreed, I love a charming game once in awhile to get lost into. Love it!