TOP FIVE COIN GAMES / COIN Series by GMT Games

[@Nick-zl5xf]

Good list! Volko is also just a cool dude; you guys should try and have him do a video with you

[@volkoruhnke26]

That would be a pleasure and an honor.

[@LegendaryTactics]

The pleasure and honor would be ours! I will reach out to you over Twitter! Thank you!

[@captainnolan5062]

1. The British Way, 2. Fire in the Lake, 3. Liberty or Death, 4. Colonial Twilight & 5. A Distant Plain

[@LegendaryTactics]

I haven't tried the British Way yet - looking forward to trying it!

[@wmarclocher]

Thanks for posting, Never heard of COIN until now. Unfortunately #2 (Fire in the Lake) and #3 (Colonial Twilight) are the only ones in print right now. I think for our group as an intro we are going to go with Cuba Libre as an introduction for now. It is kind of weird how the designers of the tutorial have you stack the deck with the Echeverria (#27 ) card as the second draw.

[@LegendaryTactics]

Cuba Libre is not a bad place to start. And though some of them might be temporarily out of print, they should be pretty easily found in boardgame stores and online.

[@timk3539]

ADP is my favorite COIN game, too. I find the interplay between factions most interesting. It's arguably more truly four-sided than other COIN games.

[@LegendaryTactics]

Yes, although when you get up to 4 players, some loose alliances will naturally come into play if your faction goals are not diametrically opposed. Andean Abyss is also quite decidedly 4 player, and I think Gandhi is as well.

[@steveoh9285]

Nicely done! Impressive to keep things under 10 minutes. Also, you willingness to mention some COIN negatives provides good balance. No worries on skipping Pendragon, it’s too overwrought.

[@LegendaryTactics]

Yeah, but I'm a completist, so I will probably cave in eventually

[@bushibayushi]

...by the way, I love how you structured this video. A really enjoyable watch!

[@LegendaryTactics]

Glad you enjoyed it! It was fun to put together!

[@pm71241]

Hmm... My experience with COIN is that it most resembles musical chairs. But it might be dominated by playing "Falling Sky". Maybe I should try, say, "All bridges burning".

[@LegendaryTactics]

I think Musical Chairs is an apt comparison, but that is also by design. Insurgencies, as you know, don't have a "front line" with all the soldiers lined up in nice little rows, The whack-a-mole feeling is very different to most wargames, and it takes a bit to get used to.

[@befirmbefair6674]

Problem with most multiplayer games.

[@travisbicklejr]

This video was extremely helpful to me! Thanks!

[@LegendaryTactics]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@russsandbags1967]

Which P500 COIN game are you most looking forward to? Are you interested in any of the ‘irregular conflicts’ games? They seem very COINesque

[@LegendaryTactics]

The P500 I am most looking forward to is Mr. President, which is not a COIN game at all! Of the upcoming COIN games, I have high hopes for People Power, but I am willing to try all of them!

[@FabioSpelta]

This channel is a godsend.

[@LegendaryTactics]

Thank you for saying so! We do our best!

[@geordiem4283]

5. Andean Abyss 4. Gandhi 3. Colonial Twilight 2. Fire in the Lake 1. A Distant Plain

[@LegendaryTactics]

Is that your list as well?

[@geordiem4283]

@@LegendaryTacticsNo, I've only played Gandhi and All Bridges Burning. I just like it when lists are written out. Easier reference.

[@captainnolan5062]

What cards are game braking in Cuba Libre? Do yo think that removing them (or tweaking their effects) can balance the game?

[@135Pandemonium]

Falling Sky is the BOMB.

[@LegendaryTactics]

I liked that one, but didn't love it - it certainly feels very different as a COIN game, and likely I would need the right crowd to play with. What do you like best about it?

[@befirmbefair6674]

I particularly like FS but also think 20 card years might cut down the whack-a-mole feeling.

[@bushibayushi]

I really liked Cuba Libre, but you mentioned exactly the two criticisms of it I have. The green faction is just a bit boring to play really...

[@LegendaryTactics]

The green faction, sadly, typically is a bit boring to play. At least they usually have money and can try to play power broker...

[@justinrrizzo]

Your thoughts on the swingy events in Cubra Libre are the reason I do not enjoy Pax Pamir. One random event card coming out can undo many turns of work. Have you played solo with the Truung bot pack for Fire in the Lake?

[@LegendaryTactics]

I have not had a chance to do that yet. And I didn't realize that about Pax Pamir - I'm beginning to think that "swinginess" is maybe my most disliked attribute of a board game. There's nothing worse than having all your good work undone by the turn of a card

[@biffybeans]

@@LegendaryTacticsswinginess actually happens in war- so I’m ok with it happening in a war simulation/area control type game. I love PP2e. Am learning Fire in the Lake right now. (I have Tr’ung bots as well) Cuba Libre is also on the way.

[@scu11ey]

Enjoyed that. Any update on thoughts for Pendragon or ABB?

[@LegendaryTactics]

I haven't had a chance to play either of them since I made the video - they are on the list though!

[@drewkennewell4267]

Did you try FitL with the official Trung bot update? It uses the same card driven system found in Ghandi

[@LegendaryTactics]

I have yet to try that. I would love to give it a go, as anything would be better than the 1st edition flowchart!

[@justnord2010]

I'm curious how you would update this list with new titles that have come out add expansions that have been released for some of the titles mentioned here

[@LegendaryTactics]

Yes, I'm curious as well! I haven't tried the new ones other than the sequel to Fire in the Lake. I need to get on that!

[@jjschm20]

The only COIN game I own is Pendragon and I love it

[@LegendaryTactics]

That's great! I really need to give that one a try!

[@jamesbrazeal3847]

Great work on an interesting list

[@LegendaryTactics]

Thank you!!

[@andraslibal]

I liked the Cuba Libre I think it was the simplest easiest of them all, I also liked the Falling Sky I though it was quite interesting with the Germans and the Senate, I own and played Liberty or Death it is just hard to find interested players in Europe ... and I agree with you the best was a distant plain but maybe because I won :)

[@LegendaryTactics]

Yes, they are all good and fun games - but some I found to be better than others... :)

[@madman2096]

Do any of these assessments include the update kits which have been produced over the recent years? I ask as I have all that applied to the games I have but haven't opened them yet.

[@LegendaryTactics]

I didn't include them in here. There has been an update kit for Andean Abyss (which I have, and will feature on the channel at some point - but it isn't a massive upgrade, mainly improving on the bots that I thought were already great). I'm not sure which other COIN games got an update kit?

[@madman2096]

@@LegendaryTactics I have updates on Andean Abyss, Cuba Libre and a Distant Plain. I have only played CL a few times and not with the expansions, which apparently only bring older mechanics up to date.

[@confused_coryphee4241]

Fire in the Lake has the Trung bot pack now, that means the bots can be played with a card system similar to Gandhi

[@stuarts7188]

What would you recommend as the entry that will stick around for a while? The top two are not great entry level games?

[@captainnolan5062]

Does the list change with the additional COIN titles that have come out and that you may have played more since this video (including The British Way)?

[@LegendaryTactics]

I have yet to try them - as far as I know, there has only been the British Way released since? Has People Power come out yet?

[@captainnolan5062]

@@LegendaryTactics Not yet, but you did not include Pendragon and All Bridges Burning either.

[@jjschm20]

Did Trung change your view of Fire in the Lake?

[@LegendaryTactics]

I haven't tried it yet, but I imagine it would. Certainly, the solitaire system works very well in Gandhi, and I believe it is pretty similar

[@mrsamtheman80]

I really enjoy Liberty or Death, but play primarily Solo, so no French issue. I would think that at 2-3 the American side should also probably play the French. I have not tried playing as the Natives, but will give that a shot! ADP was my first COIN, played shortly after returning home from a tour in Afghanistan, and extremely well done! These two tie for my top spot.

[@LegendaryTactics]

Thank you for your service! And for watching! It must have been interesting to see how ADP mirrored real life (or not). Liberty or Death is a great game, and certainly a great solo game!

[@mrsamtheman80]

@@LegendaryTactics You’re welcome! Thank you for all you do as well! I remember wondering if there would be an upgrade pack or expansion for ADP with major events since development. IIRC Bin Laden never dies in ADP, among other things, due to the game already being near the end of development (or perhaps even production) when the event occurred. Now, though, knowing the conclusion, I am perfectly fine with no expansion! It does model things pretty well from a strategic view, with the semi-overlapping motives but ultimately you are on your own. I find it brilliantly executed! The next COIN on my list is Pendragon. I own it, but need to refresh on it. I have pulled it out a couple of times but never actually done a full solo game yet. But I have Mr President coming this week (hopefully) so it will probably have to wait until after that.

[@Haxxin10]

LOD IS AWESOME

[@LegendaryTactics]

Yes, it is an excellent game! What faction do you like to play best?

[@minch25]

Is Root a COIN game?

[@LegendaryTactics]

Root was inspired by COIN games, at least in part.

[@titanuranus3095]

"Myntspel"?

[@LegendaryTactics]

Entschuldigung, es muss ein Problem mit Google Translate sein. COIN bedeutet in diesem Fall Aufstandsbekämpfung

[@Kivalt]

These games should have digital versions. Their rules are way too complicated otherwise, as far as I'm concerned.

[@LegendaryTactics]

I can see what you mean - the funny thing is that the early COIN games have only 5 pages of rules (both sides). The complexity comes from the interaction of the factions and the available decisions.

[@goranstosic3106]

You just cant do a list if you did not play pendragon. Pendragon is the best by far.

[@LegendaryTactics]

I know! It's one that I really have to try.... So many games, so little time

[@cleftturnip7774]

the game Root was based on these

[@LegendaryTactics]

Yes, that's what I understand, but Root is really its own thing.

[@Mark-hp2ko]

Inspired I would say.

[@cleftturnip7774]

@@Mark-hp2ko same thing