Merlin | Rahdo's Final Thoughts

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A video outlining gameplay for the boardgame Merlin.
For more game info, boardgamegeek....
Part I: Gameplay Runthrough
• Merlin Gameplay Runthr...
• (static cam) Merlin Ga... (Static Camera)
Part II: Final Thoughts
• Merlin | Rahdo's Final...

[@KarthikSetty]

Thank you for accepting my backer request and running through the game, looks like it was a win-win :)

[@donnab6391]

Glad you're back. Seems like you've been gone a long time and I missed seeing new run throughs from you. I missed you, Rahdo!

[@rahdo]

well there was no way you could have kept up with all the vids i was putting out last month, so hopefully catching up on them filled the void :)

[@Killer62Joe]

I feel like just about every game you like I like it, too. This is one of them. Thanks for the play through!!!!!

[@Nain1982]

rahdo so i played this game a couple times but haven't played with the king's favor or whatever it's called. I think based on the runtrhough that it does make the gameplay better as it gives you more power to move your henchmen or give you more victory pts, etc. I think that helps with some of the dice roll issues people have complained about. For me, the major complain more than the rolls has to do with the mission cards. Sometimes you are just stalled in being able to score any, and taking one of your actions to choose the one that lets you switch mission cards seems like a waste. So having powers to move your henchmen allows for the issues I address about the mission cards, as it gives the versatility you need to be able to score missions easier. I played iwth the queenie, and I do l ike it, but you are probably right on that it makes the Environs a place way more appealing to go.

[@GirlyGamer-BoardGameGran]

Thanks again Richard. I love your thoughts on games because I play a lot of games with my partner also. I'm a fan of Queen Games so I'm adding this to my wants based on what you've said. Cheers.

[@cbazler]

Thanks for the run-through. This was not our cup of tea (though we are also a gaming couple who love Feld have similar tastes to you and Jen). Two things that bugged me: 1) it's very difficult to get apples or anything else to manipulate/mitigate the dice; and 2) no one gets blocked, so the other players' decisions really don't matter at all. I think if Feld had added a dice-mitigation mechanic (like "waste a die to get a couple +/- 1 tiles" like in Burgundy), but then made it so that players blocked each other on the rondel, your decision about which dice to use would have become more tense and game play would have been much more interesting. As it is, I don't think the decisions are very interesting, since sometimes it's pretty obvious which spaces are better (and since you're stuck with your rolls, it's pretty quick to min/max it out).

[@Nain1982]

I think blocking would make this very harsh or limit even more your actions.

[@cbazler]

Possibly, but that would be mitigated if you could trash a die in order to change the values of other dice. In my (one) experience of the game, the ability to turn a 5 into a 4 or 6 would have made options much more open and free (which would have then welcomed more tactical blocking opportunities).

[@Nain1982]

mmm but besides apples, you do have other ways to compensate...for ex the orange or brown flag...or if you play with the queenie, than the bonuses on the tiles either get your more apples or resources that you may need to fulfill a given action or mission.

[@Nain1982]

Rahdo, I tried the Arthur variant house rule you proposed! We really enjoyed playing that way. It shortens the game length back to almost the same time frame it takes to play the core game. It also makes the game more engaging. Not only do you have to worry more about what route your opponent is taking but also, sometimes you just have to disregard that and take the most efficient action between the two! There's more ughhhh painful moments (in a good way haha)

[@rahdo]

i don't remember what i suggested. was it "roll all the dice, but choose to activate merlin OR arthur"?

[@Nain1982]

@@rahdo Yes, just that. Playing with that variant dropped back the game below an hour (2p) and we found the game even more fun regardless of the time length! It would be nice to combine the variant with the new expansion as that only gives asymmetric powers to each player.

[@lpporto]

Oh, I wanted this video to be launched last week so badly lol. Anyway, great video. I played 3x with Quenies. I didn't think it unbalances the actions like the Bruges expansion did for the canal.

[@MrKeller13]

I have played 2 games of this to date. The first game was vanilla. No seals. I thought it was okay. Played it the second time with the seals and the Queenie tiles. I honestly think that the seals and the Queenie tiles together are a must. The seals give you more of a direction to go in the game. The tiles aren't over powered. The game I played one in by 20 points and I barely built on the tiles. Yeah some of the upgraded things you get from the tiles are really good but I don't think they swing the game one way or another.

[@rahdo]

so then you're suggesting that the terrain is underpowered without the tiles?

[@NickGotch]

So glad to hear your review. I got mine but haven't played it yet and I was getting concerned from some of the reviews I'd heard. Now I'm looking forward to playing it again! :-)

[@harleygrattan2851]

Maybe you and Jen could play the game tonight. It looks like a must buy game.

[@markoroniomackerole5482]

I'm in complete agreement with you that this is one of his most tactical rather than strategic games, at least to start with. It felt a bit aimless at the start to me and I was wondering if Merlin might be the first Feld I'd played that I actually disliked! Luckily over time the direction starts to come about and you start feeling like you make meaningful decisions. Still no way that this can compete with CoB, Macao or Trajan, but a satisfying game overall :)

[@kathryndowell5165]

Okay, solidified as a future acquisition! Thanks for the analysis Rahdo! It's a shame backers didn't vote Riverboat higher : ( There are NO review videos of Riverboat in English!

[@rahdo]

well fingers crossed for a director or council vote, becuase yeah, i'd like to see it a lot as well! don't forget to thumb it to push it up higher on the request geeklist: www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/158464/item/5590829#item5590829 :)

[@dddmmm21]

Hi Rahdo... Unrelated question... I know you will never do a review video for Scythe, but have you ever played it? Just curious...

[@rahdo]

nope haven't played it at all...

[@guidohardinsky4875]

Hi Rahdo, great review as always even though there seem to be plenty of dissenters for this one. Have been eagerly awaiting Dragonfire...waiting patiently...no pressure...take your time...please...soon...

[@rahdo]

i still don't have it. publisher didn't send me an advance review copy :(

[@guidohardinsky4875]

That is ridonkulus?!? One of the biggest fans of Shadowrun Crossfire with a devoted following of gamers??? Madness.

[@rahdo]

apparently it's in the mail, so fingers crossed it'll arrive soon

[@theLawb]

The price tag seems to be pretty hefty for it, only thing drawing me back from getting it. Do you find that its worth the 99$ price tag?

[@richardscales9560]

Around 40 quid in the UK it seems. That sounds about right.

[@cbazler]

Queen Games is running another KS for this now, and it's $75 USD for the game + Queenies (includes shipping)

[@richardscales9560]

C Bazler ouch!

[@rahdo]

i've been very happy with the purchase :)

[@mattlowder]

Robbie Hoffman dull game. A shocking Miss from Stefan Feld. Not worth 30 bucks. I'll wait 1 years and get a used copy from Amazon for dirt cheap.

[@bigd7383]

Do you know if there's any chance that those of us in the States will ever be able to get a copy if we didn't back it on KickStarter?

[@rahdo]

not sure, sorry :(

[@littleratblue]

Looks like a decent game, but I still wish that if Feld is going to make a game with a clear theme and all the pages and pages of rules of a thematic game, copious exceptions and all, that he'd make *thematic* interesting mechanisms for the game rather than abstract, mish-mash mechanisms. There's nothing to prevent thematic mechanisms from being just as interesting and puzzly, it would make the rules easier to remember and teach if they made thematic sense, and more people would find the games appealing. It's like putting in all the effort and skill to design and build the Bugatti Veyron and then telling people that they can only drive it by remote control. Why not go those extra few inches and do the job proper?

[@rahdo]

game mechanisms make thematic sense to me: deploy minions to get thematically appropriate bonuses (knights curry favor and root out traitors, lady in waiting increases influence, builder builds) build fortifications in the countryside to claim land magical merlin has access to more opportunities and will help all players to help the realm trading favors and information for resources and vice versa using influence to gather more favors or resources or fame etc. etc. long story short, pretty much every element of the game is thematically solid. just because you roll dice to find out what opportunities are available to you from round to round instead of drawing some card that has flavor text, doesn't make it any less thematically grounded to me :)

[@jerrodwarr9706]

This game is great. I don’t understand the poor and lukewarm reviews others have given this, especially if you like Feld. Feels right up there with his others.

[@rahdo]

i can only assume it comes from folks not playing it with the kings favor module?

[@smoothcriminal28]

niiiiiice.

[@boja70]

Oops. Never disagreed more on yr Opinion of a game than now. This is a dull game. For example: Every round the Cubes go away. Why? The only planning is areacontrol on the other board. And thats even too easy and dull. And really. Just see what you can do with yr roll? Thats pure luck i say. Not really Much strategy or tactical thinking goes into This game. But hey. Its just an opinion. But i almost cant believe yr so positive about Merlin. Al the things you liked from feld games, merlin doesnt give you that...at least iT didnt gave me me that.

[@clumsydad7158]

It's really dice placement, but the placement is out around the circle (in the form of moving your piece). But yes, when Rah mentions it as a possible Top 5 Feld game, I think we all didn't quite buy that.... decent enuff game, but kind of again in that Delphi-Jorvik limbo of pretty good-ish

[@Nain1982]

Jorvik is a great game when you convert it back to the Speicherstadt :)

[@Nain1982]

I've never played Trajan, Luna or Bora Bora, and I'm aware those are considered some of his major hits. But I've played Burgundy Card Game, Bruges (love), Aquasphere and the Speicherstadt and I like all those games a lot. I'd say Merlin (after 3 plays) is a keeper for me as well. I got the Oracle, and it is probably my least favorite of his, but to my surprise, a lot of people of my gaming group like it, and quite often they want to play that than any of the other ones (except maybe Bruges).

[@rahdo]

funnily, i suspect i've never disagreed more with you, so we have parity! :) just to shock you further, this might make my top10 of the year (need to play it a couple more times though to be sure) also, just fyi, the influence cubes get culled only after scoring rounds, not every round (i assume a typo on your part)

[@rahdo]

you've inspired me to check... here's my updated ranking of felds we've kept (preliminary... i need to play merlin a couple more times, including the mini expansion): 14. bruges 13. year of the dragon 12. rialto 11. la isla 10. castles of burgundy card game 09. castles of burgundy dice game 08. aquasphere 07. luna 06. merlin 05. amerigo 04. notre dame 03. macao 02. trajan 01. castles of burgundy