Merchants and Marauders Review - with Tom Vasel

[@Shrinekeeper1]

Maybe I'm confused but isn't downtime kind of expected in a board game? To me board gaming is as much about the socialization with friends as it is playing the game. So to me I'm never bored with downtime because we are usually filling the downtime with small talk while we wait for the other player to make their move. We always play with our best friends and even a four hour catan game doesn't feel like four hours and I'm never bored while I wait for my turn. Just my two cents.

[@Kayne20]

I agree with you. But then again, I'm a roleplayer who also happens to like board games, so downtime is something that has always been there and I personally like to see what the other person is doing in their turns.

[@TheK1ngFiasco]

I know this is an ancient post, but what he's talking about is having your turn cause others to have to do something. In games with a lot of downtime, your turn really only impacts you. The other players are not impacted and don't have to do anything. In games with low downtime, things you do on your turn cause other players to also have to do something. Whether it's roll dice, swap cards around, etc. It's more about interacting with the board vs interacting with the players.

[@blind_surgeon]

Maybe if you're super casual. I'm there to play the game not talk about grandma's knee surgery.

[@mehjbmeh]

in the words of Julia Childs, everything in moderation, especially Moderation

[@zutikzutikmakurtugabe.6072]

The key is to choose properly people to share four hours in Caribbean Sea, the rest doesn't matter...

[@Panquernic]

5:00 Pirate bug!

[@AwfulPun]

I don't find the time where it's not your turn to be very boring - in this game you (should) care so much about what other people are doing that you just can't avoid being engaged the whole time.

[@devekut2]

We've not found the "port" actions to be the speedbumps Tom describes; while there are a bunch of things to do in port, usually you only need to do a couple of them and things move along nicely. Plus you can easily lose by not paying attention to what your opponents are doing during their "port" actions!

[@airsoftcolt1911]

I like the fly going across the bottom of the board at 4:56.

[@Seraph_Knight]

@@pimentoloaf1509 lol, it's just a fly, on average there's always a spider 5 feet away from you at all times, meaning there's probably a couple in your house right now 😅

[@matthewharris-levesque5809]

Anyone notice the spider in caraca at 4:58? Goes to Trinidad and disappears.

[@knightonart8886]

I would kill for a Pirates of The Caribbean re-skin of this. You could play as characters from the movies with ships like the Black Pearl, Interceptor, Queen Anne's Revenge etc. The rumor cards could have quests and missions such as lifting the aztec curse and finding the fountain of youth and the Dead Man's Chest. For hostile NPCs there's The Flying Dutchman, the Kraken, East India Trading Company Ships etc. Forgive my geeky rambles I'm a die-hard Pirates of the Caribbean fan🤣

[@Nezbo]

@Maiindeg I noted the same errors. Towards Tom's review: Imo it's an awesome game, and when you've tried the game a few times the port action is not that horrible

[@Maiindeg]

You had some mini errors while explaining the game you said "you set your stats according to the Captain" but you actually set the stats according to your ship. And you also said "you can upgrade your ship up to the man of wars" But actually you can't. You get man of wars in the course of the game by beating and stealing the naval ship that is in war, and there is no "Man of War" model you use Galion ship for it.

[@AlexPavlovUSA]

If it is too long, let' s play until 6 or 7 Glory points, decreasing gold stash to 2-3.

[@Vg88-k]

Is it any good for 2 players??i am really interested!

[@lukehill6084]

Hey Tom, Love what you do. Have you ever considered changing the game-play of this game to a round-based system? All the NPC's would move after everyone plays their turn using only 1 to 2 moves? Each round one of the players could be the "lead Captain" kind of like in San Juan (the Govenor). Then people could Port at the same time possibly, and the actions that effected other players would be taken clockwise... What do you think? Thanks, Luke

[@lldalmatians3923]

Merchants and marauders is the best

[@PhoenixofStarwars]

how much money have you spent on board games

[@stalker777777777]

As for the downtime issue maybe try to play every one doing only 1 move not 3 would be more real time based then and less downtime. I know the video is kinda old but i just got my copy of the game yesterday ;)

[@KennethWhiteakaruckusbringa]

Have you found anyone to play with I have it and expansion but no one to play 😢

[@stalker777777777]

Oh maybe try on tabletop simulator, none of your board game friends want to play in it or You do not have any board friends? That is an issue sometimes, specially in smaller towns :(

[@KennethWhiteakaruckusbringa]

@@stalker777777777 yea i have that too i have played other games in tabletop simulator but i try to play with people i know as sometimes its hard to play with strangers lol

[@mauri1553]

Where is the final seal? I am curious

[@Renjii44]

Little bug running across the board at 5:00 😂😂

[@19Prometheus89]

Not to nitpick but you cant upgrade, per se, to the Man o' War. You would have to capture it. Otherwise, great review. And, i agree. Its only downside is perhaps its pace.

[@ThomasGiles]

Looks pretty interesting... 4:56 Fly - "glory points? I want glory points! who's got glory points?" 4:58 Fly - "woooo! I'm a pirate!!!!"

[@rodders91166]

have you changed your opinion now on the best pirate game with the expansion release??

[@Dr0111]

At 5:00 is see a giant seamonster (bug) exploring the sea!

[@munari1976]

How does the game play compare to Blackbeard? It reminds me of it, but simpler.

[@agentskazzers3482]

Its Sid Meier's Pirates! Arrrrrgh!!

[@Heli0n91]

DM Reidel Exactly! It's like a board game version of the game! This has even more elements though!..

[@Jaems_Scott]

And, "Pirates! Gold" also by Sid Meier.

[@GrandElemental]

@GrandElemental I am also looking forward to expansions, as I hope they fix some of the issues. When I was a kid, I loved Pirates! to death, and this is as close as any similar game is probably going to get. At the moment, it's standing in my top-5 list, but not quite at the top. There is still room for improvement. =)

[@lukehill6084]

I meant to add, this set up would only be for 3-4 players....

[@KeithBurgun]

Anyone else see the insect walk across the map at about 5:00?

[@jiezhangjzmobee8102]

What are the two thug games on the top left corner of the shelf?

[@Tapewormz]

I love pirates cove. It was my introduction to euro style games and got me into board gaming.

[@thoventhegamer1526]

I think you could easily shorten the game by playing to only 5 or 7 points. That could help, but I've never played the game before

[@MisterNizz]

Yep, the insect headed off to Trinidad, it looked like.

[@GrandElemental]

I absolutely love this game! The down time is a problem, though, so do not overlook it when making a decision between buying or not buying the game. It also is a bit too in-depth for some players, but I never had any problems with that and neither did anyone in my gaming group.

[@ReinhartTR]

Maybe because he is experienced? Games are a large part of Tom's life, his extensive collection and experience playing games makes his opinion valid. I would say that while his reviews aren't as pristine and shiny as say Drakkenstrike's, I still enjoy them. I rarely agree with Tom's opinions, but that doesn't stop his reviews from being informative and relevant to board gamers. Also, he actually says this is the best pirate board game right now, so he doesn't disagree with you.

[@arturbb]

Nice! I really want to buy this game.

[@jean-philippebeaudry1816]

i have been playing this game for a while and i find myself doing marchand all the time becaus it is a whole lot more rewarding....if i play pirate i find it hard to win because everybody whants to kill you and you can't trade anywhere...and every other plater is going to hide frome you in port,and just go from port to port trading...i really wnat to plunder ther ship but cant becaus they are go from port to port...so wee all finish up marchant....

[@Mark-OutWest]

I'd house rule that nonsense out in a heart beat and go and s*** hammer that merchant ship.

[@jasonc2784]

Does this game still hold up to today's expectations?

[@stevedoetsch]

Mod for 'Tabletop Simulator" has simultaneous turns: steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=676636082

[@JediAbsurd]

It's not an insect. It's Kraken.

[@ArchGoodwin]

Maybe just add a chess timer?

[@calebbunch]

My wife and I really like this game but with a two player game it isn't nearly as fun as four players....but with four players it takes forever.

[@Jaems_Scott]

LoL!! Just now seeing this "10 years Later" This is the old video game; Pirates! Gold Turned into a Board Game. That's awesome.

[@JurijFedorov]

So Jamaica is not the best pirate game?

[@munari1976]

@thedicetower Thanks! And, again, thanks to you, there's another game I'm eventually going to have to add to my shelf. :) Keep up the good work :)

[@AbsintheColour]

Do they still make Axis and Allies? I remember getting that game back in the day and it was great! I dont see it at stores. Maybe i should just look and buy it online. ALso, i really liked Stratego. My step dad had an old old version of it which was pretty classicl looking. Now they got futuristic halo looking douches as the player pieces and it looks dumb to me. Anyhoo..lol

[@lextalionis2001]

nausea warning. nice game but the camera made me want to hurl :( thanks for reviewing

[@thedicetower]

@munari1976 Well, it's easier than Blackbeard, and more exciting, frankly. Blackbeard has a few "obvious" choices, while this game feels much more open-ended. Better components, faster gameplay, less complex while still retaining a TON of stuff. A better game all around.

[@Wildhorn666]

I thought it was on my screen and tried to crush it >_

[@TCViper86]

Man your videos are popular but seriously buy a lavalier mic. You won't have so much echo in your audio.

[@jayhl1971]

@keithburgun Welcome to Florida.

[@richhaaaaard]

just got it gonna play today

[@MathieuVIII]

@arturbb I approve 100%

[@AlexTheUruguayan]

@keithburgun That's what he gets for living in Florida.

[@AbeBSea]

I like the Duel of Ages tie!! But why does he have a rape whistle?

[@Commandasaurus]

AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGH! A Game for me it is!

[@canisgraffias199]

I agree, pirates cove looks more fun.

[@Phlip45]

Begone haters! lol, great review tom.

[@Stevok4]

Port Royal :D

[@Throku]

It's a good game and all, but it's chunky, it feels like a game in early Beta at best. There's not much progress through the game as much as leaps and bounds. It's actually so flawed that I doubt that it'll reach our table top anytime soon. And that's with my gaming group loving the pirate aspect and perhaps even more the backstabbing possibilities. The problem here is that combat, just plain does not work in this game and with that falls a lot of other things.

[@dillionmcdyver7943]

I'm offended by the term "Ameritrash" and since there is actually a term called Eurotrash that refers to 'sleasy european' (men) for the most part, you could simply use the term: Ameritrash and Eurotrash. Not "Euro-style". If that were the case then it is more properly Ameri-style. Since that is a European prejudice and they embody the Eurotrash as a person when it came to boardgames they thought why not call American style something we don't like about ourselves as Europeans. Nope, sorry you either call it Eurotrash or Ameristyle. Since Eurostyle just means a money/trading/diplomacy game it seems that the game is also geared toward faster play. To me that means Eurostyle players (And Europeans) have less patience and aptitude and perhaps don't like 'war-games' in general but perhaps because of after WWII they really did become increasingly dependent on America that Eurostyle reflects that newly emergent mentality. Since it often seems less complex to me, it represents the 'less capable' gamer. I can play eurostyle just fine but it is like a second tier game. Ok, so I have a game solely based on one main concept: gaining VP or money via worker placement or placing your little trains. To put it another way, it seems like an elitist attitude by Europeans but in reality it means they are actually just loving less complex games because mentally they 'need' that and thus can't handle the full throttle games. On the up side, they are quicker games, but that again, appeals to the attentively-challenged gamer. Focus your attention for more than 2 hours is a real challenge for you. That is the modern European gamer and so the game designers knowing their audience thought why not make games that appeal to their challenged mentality. Before you think 'oh Dillion your just being an A-hole. No, here is the definition of 'Eurostyle': Eurostyle games focus on creating "tight mechanics" that function like a well-oiled machine. These mechanics are usually within a small, self-contained system, and are GENERALLY SIMPLER AND EASIER TO LEARN........(and I add) for people who have less attention, less mental focus and ability, and generally are not as capable of handling more complex games. So if your American and love "Eurostyle". That includes you too. Congradulations. There are top tier gamers and then there is you and all your fellow Eurostyle gamers. How's that for elitist attiude. No matter how much you don't like it that would not make it less valid of a statement. So hate on haters.

[@SykoLiu]

+Dillion McDyver I'm assuming that the pulp you're currently beating used to be a horse.

[@mmuthig13]

Dillion McDyver no one would doubt that an arkham horror is more difficult than say blood rage (to name a euro style game u might even know) or madeira (to name one u don't) but gameplay wise they tend to leave players in the open where what I decide to do usually does not determine the outcome that much (using a ton of dice and random event draws) making ameritrash games exactly that. An awful pile of overly complex rules with no actually functioning gameplay. eurostyle thereby is considered a compliment in gaming terms and ameritrash is not. designwise one might even say, that ameritrash requires a less refined work, since the targeted group is up learning a lot of convoluted rules for the sake of it. congratulations. that included u. greetings from Germany

[@mmuthig13]

Dillion McDyver er. and by the way. I learned arkham horror and a ton of other American games and than played them very successfully. in the end they turned out to be not very challenging gameplay wise so I ended up selling them. most true gamers out there understand

[@B0rghalRantipole]

That's totally against the spirit. The correct Ameritrash subversive way to handle it would be to accept and embrace the 'trash! I mean, the reason this term caught on in the first place was that the fans embraced it (Fortress Ameritrash anyone?)! Let AT thrive! Although the trend nowadays is to combine the approaches, so perhaps 10 years from now we'll be looking at this dichotomy exclusively from a historical perspective.

[@DJRoksor]

Most real gamers actually prefer (heavy weight) eurogames. Seems like you don't even know what eurogames are and it seems like you only played the light stuff if you think eurogames are light games. What most real gamers hate is the random outcomes of dice rolls, top decking, etc., these are all ameritrash elements (and the reason it's called trash). If you like random outcomes to determine the outcome of your game you should go play snakes and ladders or bingo. Furtheremore a good ameritrash game is easier to make than a good eurogame. For a good eurogame you need to come up with good unique mechanisms that work well together and are fun to play, for an ameritrash game you pick a theme and slap a lot of dice rolls on it.

[@jayhl1971]

@keithburgun Welcome to Florida.