Miami Dice: Lords of Hellas

[@juanpablozabala4975]

Congratulations Awaken Realms! Great review from Miami Dice and a great timming to your current Nemesis campaign. Keep up the good work!

[@thomasromanelli2561]

Very good game from AR. Can't wait for all of the expansion material (5-6 player count, new gods, new monsters, artifacts, etc.). Thanks for this review.

[@jakehowling2371]

Cant wait to get my copy in the mail. Glad to see Sam and Tom liked it so much. Definitely ramps up my anticipation.

[@Nabocleese]

Glad to see your review guys. I went all in on this one. 1st kickstarter I ever backed!

[@anthony-pinkston]

Wow, this game looks fun. It's gonna go on the wishlist. Thanks guys for doing what you do.

[@moshesaricov8650]

Can't wait to get the game!!! went all-in including the sundrop, and it seems I made the right choice :-)

[@channingjones]

Looks like this is my kind of game. I somehow missed the KS. Nice explanation, thanks Tom & Sam!

[@quasistellar]

Aww man I was soooooo debating kickstarting this but ended up not doing it. How would you say it compares to something like Cry Havoc that has built in asymmetric factions and diceless combat? I have that game and love it and it’s my current dudes on a map itch scratcher. And while I’m thinking about it, are you guys going to review the Cry Havoc expansion?

[@RedEyedGhost1]

I debated this so much when it was on kickstarter and decided against it because of the techno-gods element. I did end up getting annoyed that I skipped it and ending up late pledging it in September. Very excited to receive it! ... but I also was cheap and elected to have it sent in one shipment, so I won't get mine until wave 2, in another 4-6 months. I seem to make even wrong decision with this game LOL. However, I did upgrade to the sundrop minis, and I'm really looking forward to those!

[@trepanator6]

RedEyedGhost ... and how about this game after a few months of playing?

[@Polovene]

Hey Tom, Sam, You guys just recently reviewed.. and played? Heroes of Lands Air and Sea. Seeing as these two games will be out more or less at the same time and are kind of similar; Will you make a comparison, mostly so you remark what is more to your liking and what is better in which game?

[@thomasgrnbek119]

Let that be the last and only hat you wear Tom. Cause it’s awesome.

[@hardbathsalts3143]

You dont like a red fedora or a purple trilby? What presumably straight, asult male doesn't like a red fedora or a purple trilby?

[@sheagillbanks6022]

Glad you mentioned "shades of Blood Rage", How would you say this stacks up compared to Blood Rage?

[@giannisc.5254]

The only reason i know this game is because it popped up in the e-shop list of my local FLGS, but i dismissed it. Now that i have an idea of the gameplay and the look of the game, it's on my to buy list ! Thanks for the review guys !

[@jonnypablo83]

can't wait for this one! Great review, as always... Wish I had the game already, ab and people to play it with...

[@BassForever]

That feel when you pulled out last minute from the ks cause you were concerned the game wouldn’t be good :(

[@Neadric]

did the same thing :(

[@quasistellar]

Patrick White I did the same for 7th continent, but tbh I don’t regret it much. I just wouldn’t have time for it and I had to be honest with myself. I still don’t understand why it’s Kickstarter only, though. Gloomhaven and KD:M I get, but 7th continent is mostly just cards. . .

[@Zarfin]

same here + switched to zombicide green horde

[@jeffclark7745]

I'm still in for $1 so could upgrade to a pledge, but how does it compare to Rising Sun which should arrive any day for me?!

[@caseyclark2265]

Jeff Clark if you’re in the pledge manager and don’t want to use your pledge I would love to have this game. Let me know if you would be willing. Thanks!

[@SeerMagicX]

My favorite game of 2017. The expansions look insane for this game. 5-6 players will make this so epic with many gods going on.

[@WillUleimi]

I think 5 sounds pretty intense, but 6! Oh my, that just seems like too much. I will be happy to find out for myself with my pledge arrives ^_^

[@SeerMagicX]

6 you get to play with all the toys at once.

[@SeerMagicX]

Their new game is on KS now, Nemesis. I've played it and it's fantastic. Alien the movie mixed with Dead of Winter ish shady goals.

[@gamera2351]

Dustin Crenshaw I'm backing that one. I missed out of Hellas I'm not sleeping on Nemesis! 👍

[@Mark-OutWest]

I hope another game company will take Nemesis and make it a better game. I won't back it because I don't like semi co ops.

[@SeerMagicX]

I don't like semi coops either, but this one works as you can all win together. Also first stretch goals is a full coop mode...

[@TheLimestoneCowboy]

So like... a CMON game with Scythe’s Alternate History and Scythe’s mix-and-match faction/industry boards?

[@OmegaViper]

Hope to see a review like this on GKR: Heavy Hitters soon!

[@Crabbok]

Absolutely! GKR looks to be super fun!

[@bricelory9534]

Slightly sad I didn't back this, but I am far more excited for Heroes of Land, Air, and Sea, which was the one that kicked this one out of my budget. This has some neat ideas, but while it does look good, I just find it less appealing than others.

[@doggosplosion]

I did back the LoH and only got to play it a couple of times so far. There is one aspect we encountered I would call it a genrica 'meta of this type of game' you still need to be wary of. With 3 players this can descend into "the balloon popping game", with either one player being untouched or one player deciding the winner by the actions of the 3rd player. But that is not due to this being a bad game by any stretch of the imagination. It is sort of an implied meta that is outside the game, but yet part of these types of games. The other thing I like is there comes a point where you can see where everyone can get to a victory condition very quickly and the next 2 turns are the best and most tense of the game....if you planned accordingly. If you spread your capability, heroes, and hoplites far and wide you may not be able to react. This game I would say has that feeling where a godo 1/4 of the game is your starting position, and you don't; realize it until it is too late. I parrot Tom and Sam when I say LoH is a spectacular game.

[@tcp1623]

Which do YOU think is best - Lords of Hellas or Cyclades?

[@justinrrizzo]

I didn't like Blood Rage. Any chance I will like this?

[@caseyclark2265]

After Tom’s review of Heroe’s of Land, Air, and Sea I was all pumped to get it and now this comes along. I can only get one, but which one?!? (Thanks for the review!)

[@WillUleimi]

They both hit KS about the same time as well. I was in your exact same position at that time lol. I went with Lords of Hellas. I can't give you the insight that The Dice Tower could give, but LoH just gave me a better feeling than Heroes of Land, Air and Sea.

[@doggosplosion]

Since Lords of Hellas calls itself a 2017 release game. Would this push any other games out of The Dice Tower's top 10 of 2017?

[@thedicetower]

Lords of Hellas is a 2018 game.

[@gamera2351]

With all that magnificent plastic, it's odd that the temples are standees. Is there a KS exclusive or retail upgrade for that?

[@randomjunk1977]

The upgrade they call the "Terrain Expansion". I believe it will be available retail. It was a $25 add-on in the kickstarter but it shipped in it's own separate box that looks like it belongs on a retail shelf. It gives you plastic temples and plastic cities so you don't have to rely on the ones printed on the board. Two more cities than are actually printed on the board as well, for expansions I assume. The cities are really nice but not strictly necessary, I'm not sure why they didn't make the temples plastic by default honestly. I highly recommend getting the terrain. What I do is I put all the standees on the board during setup and then swap them out for the plastic when a temple is built. This makes it a lot easier to tell at a glance which regions can house temples. Then whoever builds the temple puts the standee in front of themself to show they control a temple. If someone takes one then pass the standee over as well. It makes a nice score marker to keep track of how many temples each person has.

[@hawkeye137137]

I guess you didn't watch the whole video if you are asking this, but there is a terrain expansion which gives minis for various stuff like temples, cities, etc..

[@gamera2351]

hawkeye137137 You would be correct sir lol. Yeah as soon as I saw the temple standees I commented before watching the whole thing. I gotta stop doing that. :)

[@michaelnagel2410]

randomjunk1977 great idea, thanks!

[@opsallen]

Where'd the purple hair go?

[@isaachernandez3100]

Well as soon as my taxes come back I am getting this game. I am not going to regret not Kickstarting since there are not many exclusives. Doubt I will be buying many expansions for this due to bulk and time it takes to play. Happy that I Kickstarted Star Realms Frontier and Gothan City Chronicles (even though it's really expensive) Will be bring this at game night. fam will probably not enjoy due to asymmetric powers such as Cry Havoc.

[@BoscoBlood]

Tom and Sam: This game or Rising Sun? I am dying to buy (when they hit retail) one good area control game with cool miniatures and cool gameplay, but, damn, you two look so enthusiastic about both XD What do you prefer, honestly? even if it's by 1% more, what do you rate as a more fun experience?

[@dougmoore4653]

I just played Rising Sun and love it

[@natehocking8884]

Same question. Tom?

[@Smashpack85]

Debated this for so long on KS and ended up pulling out of it towards the end. I love Greek mythos but I couldn't get past the techno look of everything. Also don't think it will hit my table much with Mythic Battles and Gloomhaven on deck...

[@mattcurr9931]

yeah, i was the same. if it was straight up old skool greek theme I was in. But they went the techno route.

[@Vaole]

So, it's half (or more) Kemet and half BloodRage

[@heikkihegemon493]

Seal of excellence?

[@thedicetower]

It is.

[@Starshorts1234]

why your scale just has 2 "thumps"? why not a normal 10 point rating system?

[@Falcon-ev6ct]

AndyIstFertich the rating out of ten will be in week in review, which will be released next monday, hope that helps!

[@egamruf]

Two thumbs has always been the Dice Tower's ratings system. In my opinion it works about as well as a ten point system. The ten point system is failing almost completely in video games - nobody gives anything a 1 - 4; 5 - 6 means 'awful'; 7 means 'average' and 8 - 9 mean really good. It kind of ends up as a 'two thumbs system anyway. To help in translation for those used to the metacritic video game system: 1 - 4 = Tom literally destroying components in the review (have a look at kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpvMiKKnq86Ka5I - you get a pretty good idea of what he thinks of the game). 5 - 6 = no thumbs. 7 = one thumb. 8 - 9 = two thumbs. That's a broad 'rule of thumb' for you. Which falls apart as soon as (edit: any of them) start doing their "one and a half chainsaws" malarkey.

[@Starshorts1234]

B Ahmed ah okay! It does! Thanks!

[@Starshorts1234]

John Smith haha! Okay thanks! Im New to that kind of rating.

[@MeepleOverboard]

John Smith - I did notice that Zee gave a game a 2 in this week's "Week in Review." I think it was the game where you spin tops for really no good reason. I wonder why a 2 instead of a 1. Maybe since the tops actually spun, that earned a 2? haha.

[@leandrodavid6256]

Awesome

[@hachi261]

Polish = high quality :) great game !

[@SinnerJ]

I'd love to see a Norse mythology variant models.

[@Revariance]

Lords of Ragnarok says hi!

[@pedroalves6425]

Mythic Battles: Pantheon FTW

[@Kajotex]

HELLAS Zusammen!

[@XShrike0]

Ugh, there are Kickstarter exclusive components. I hate it when they do this. I makes me want to just wait and hope for a second run.

[@wizo656]

XShrike Actually, there were very few exclusive items in this Kickstarter. Leonidas figure, envelope, Pandora's box and I'm not sure about Chronos expansion. Everything else will be available in retail. :)

[@RuneGamborg]

Yes yes. Now get to Mythic Battles already

[@Vigotehbutch]

Preach.

[@ariodb]

why no mythic battles review?

[@fleaflyfloflum3625]

Oh yes please!

[@cthulwho8197]

That card should of had Bubo’s picture on it 😁

[@kimngantruong6405]

I want another late pledge, please please please I found out about this game just recently :( :( :(

[@Michael-vv1gn]

Sam tell us the difference between cyber and tech

[@thedicetower]

Sam here...Tom said "cyber punk", and I was thinking "steam punk"...hence, my correction...apologies.

[@hardbathsalts3143]

It is more tech than cyber punk, because one thing all cyber punk novels have in common is that you can plug your brain directly into the internet. There is no tech punk genre in anything (its just science fiction, and cyber punk is included in that) so sam is right. Unless of course the heroes of the game are neural- laced into the internet.

[@wroot_lt]

Map of the board :)

[@TheBbadger]

Is it because Sam cannot handle the thought of America and Trash in the same sentence that he says Amerithrash?

[@FranzBazar]

Well it is pretty rude isn't it? Would you say France Trash or Germano Trash? They'd surely see that as an insult wouldn't they? It is rude.

[@999slawter]

The miniatures quality is under OK. There is 3-4 what is correct like the Minotaurus, but that's all.

[@hardbathsalts3143]

Read Ilium by Dan Simmons.

[@UndenyingPurge]

Looks like Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers the board game

[@kembanganplaza5782]

Who else thought of this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6eUknWqYsSNqZY

[@donnab6391]

Hoplites?????? What are those?

[@bronxuk6052]

Hoplites was the name for rank and file ancient greek foot soldiers, usually carrying large pikes and shields.

[@sopota6469]

The guys from 300 were hoplites

[@hadeseye2297]

I can't get accustomed to people wearing hats indoors. Here in Poland it's considered rude or dismissive. :D

[@thedicetower]

Fair, but we aren't in Poland. :)

[@hadeseye2297]

Now imagine guy like me watching many USA channels where people wear hats. It's weird at least, lol. But still best hat is the cowboy kind one.

[@sab6261]

Traditionally that was the case in the United States too. Not much nowadays.

[@FranzBazar]

It was rude or dismissive in the US up until the last 10 years or so. (personally I still find it so)

[@hardbathsalts3143]

Oh its definitely rude in the US too. There are a LOT of rude people, trying to make it seem like that isnt the case, but dont be fooled. Some folks wear hats at dinner :/

[@panwall1327]

It's not much....but the map appears to have a serious lack of Sparta

[@BLDTHEGAMER]

My question is simple. Since ive been in the hobby (little less than a year) I havent heard any celebreties like Mr. Vassal here complaint and comment on the outragous prices these comapnies are charging for cardboard. 600, 800 dollar "all-in" pldge levels?! Yeah thats insane by any standard. Even 300 If I were in a place of power, like Mr. Vassal, Rahdo, Watch It Played and so on, then I would say things like - "This game is great or awesome and I would love to have this in my collection - but, the price is pretty ludicrious" I cant recommend this game until its like 100." Meanwhile let it be know that yes, you will place these games in your personal collection, but you didnt fork over 600 dollars for it either. Its unfair to your viewers that you dont take things like that into consideration. THis hobby is afflicted with the same issues as video games, however in that medium there are youtubers that openly dissagree with shark policies. I think this hobby needs someone like that as well.

[@thedicetower]

Sam here...this is how I see it: I shouldn't have to tell you what you should or shouldn't be able to afford to buy with your own hard-earned money. I can give my own opinion on whether I would be able to justify the cost, but that information is ultimately of no value to you, unless we have the same budget, similar living conditions, and so on. I have only ever backed one Kickstarter, and currently don't back any other Kickstarters for the reason you just laid out...prices (for my budget) are astronomical in many (most) cases. But rather than putting the weight of responsibility on the publishers and their "shark policies", as you put it, I simply attribute it to the fact that these are LUXURY items, and, for the most part, they don't fall within the confines of my budget. Just because we say a game is good does not, by any stretch, mean that you should drop everything, use your grocery budget for the month, and purchase said game without any regard to your own personal financial capabilities. It simply means that we feel it's a good game. Now...it's your responsibility to determine whether the cost of said game is affordable for you and , if so, whether you're willing to spend that money to own it. And finally, however powerful you think our soapbox may be, you, and everyone else in our hobby has a much more powerful tool at their behest with which they can send an overwhelmingly brutal message to the publishers and their so-called "shark policies"...your wallet. We can say how good a game is until we're blue in the face, but if you, the consumer, remains unwilling to fork out the kind of cash being required for said game, that ultimate message will be heard far more clearly than our positive report.

[@BLDTHEGAMER]

Sam, thank you for that answer. Its an honest answer. Id like to retort, a little bit. I know you feel based on your answer that ultimately the burden of buying lies with the consumer and I you are 100% correct on this. However, you cannot belittle the fact that Dice Tower and other platfoms like yours are influences. Theres even a term for it and I can almost assudrely say that there are folks that look upon your opinions as mandate. Understaind this, would it be such a bad thing to warn your viewrs. I think you give to much credit to Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Did you not see the expericment Buger kind did to teach its customers about net nutrality: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqXdqmish9KBbrM People either dont know, or sdont care. Are we not our borhters keeper? Ive always felt that out of the all the personalities in Dice Tower yours was rthe voice of reason. I apprecite that you divulged that its sometimes out of your reach to also buy some of these kickstarters. The show is about your ipions, share all of them.

[@thedicetower]

Sam here...I appreciate your kind words. I will say, though, that I've come to this conclusion based on my experiences in this area over the years. I used to think rather strongly along the same lines as you do now. But over the course of time, I've come to realize that few people want to hear about how I (we) think they should or should not be spending their own money. They're more interested in what I (we) think about the game, and then decide for themselves whether it is something they want to spend their money on or not. Additionally, what am I to be "warning" anyone about? What harm comes to someone if they are unable to purchase a game? If we say a game is good, you go look it up and how much it costs. If it's too much for your budget, you simply don't buy it. I may be underestimating the potential impact of our soapbox, but the line I certainly don't want to cross is underestimating the common sense of the people in the hobby, and their ability to make their own decisions. That would be a far more egregious faux pas, in my opinion, than simply not casting judgement on what may or may not be "shark policies".

[@BLDTHEGAMER]

The Dice Tower Thank you Sam. I understand your point. Please forgive me if I was abrasive, it was not my intention. It's funny, I spend so much time looking at all these videos that I might have wrongly associated your shows as some form of transcendental friendship. We are each responsible for our actions, I know and my comment was not exclusive to your organization. I meant as a whole. I ran away from this corporate beast after 30+ years of video gaming, only to see the same monster rear it's head here. Can't tell you how insane this all seems to me. But thank you for your time. I know you're busy. Happy gaming and as an aside nice miniature work.

[@thedicetower]

Sam here...truly, no offense was taken here at all. Have a great day!

[@hardbathsalts3143]

Huge miniatures, hahaha.

[@999slawter]

The miniatures are not that good as they said. For example the lady next to the Sphinx is one of the worst molten junk that I ever seen.

[@chrismusix5669]

"Pay close attention to all my instructions. You must not call on the name of any other gods. Do not even speak their names." Exodus 23:13

[@wolflarson71]

Another dudes-on-a-map Kickstarter game with great components and mediocre gameplay. Yawn.

[@hawkeye137137]

Any reason do you think it is mediocre? Because two guys who did the review you are commenting under liked the game a lot as it seems.

[@Ry0kanzaki]

Some people just don't have a taste for certain games, or maybe a disdain for KS. At any rate there's about 12,439 people who disagree with you or are anxiously awaiting their game.

[@wolflarson71]

It's all about those miniatures and it would be closer to 1200 (if that) without them. :-)

[@Ry0kanzaki]

Have you looked at the Nemesis KS which has a fraction the amount of mini's? Seems to have a few more than 1200

[@wolflarson71]

I looked and the huge, detailed, impressive mini's are the first thing you see when you scroll down. Take those out and I predict the campaign barely funds. There are exceptions of course, but the selling point of games on Kickstarter these days are plastic toy pieces with gameplay taking a back seat.

[@georgeblack2749]

Tom is such a lazy reviewer. Every time I watch his reviews I feel like I have to go and find another one.

[@dylandog1289]

Techno greek.........Making your theme “techno” doesnt hide the fact that you used public domain characters/theme.

[@sopota6469]

They could have done the 1000th classical Greek classical mythology theme, but went instead for something like Dan Simmons' Olympos. They don't hide anything, hoplites, Hercules and Zeus are as famous as Mickey Mouse.

[@Thisslapsmydude]

I really need my copy to arrive !!!