Miami Dice - Sid Meier's Civilization: A New Dawn

[@ЖаркоЈанковић]

Expansion is finally here. It calls Terra Incognita, and it's real good. They fix what they should with more cards, military, fifth player, different roads to victory.

[@TheHallbjorn]

And instead of the military absence and potential isolationism in the base game, they made interaction necessary to win by making at least one victory condition claiming a fortress.

[@jrubin1971]

I'm a big fan of the game - basically because of the MAP element - you can create new scenarios every game - and you don't have to be in your own 'space' but can begin kind of close. I think it's most interesting aspect is HOW You are going to evolve your Focus cards - since you can choose ANY of them - and the combinations of one early card with a later one can be fascinating. Double thumbs up for me!

[@TheSupremeSkill]

I think it's very good that there is this streamlined and faster version of Civilization and the older long one. They complement each other and can be introduced in different play groups.

[@Zilong09]

Tom wishing for a game that focuses on the card system summoned Ark Nova from the ether

[@richardxob]

Maybe an expansion with the militaristic aspect expanded?

[@verticalisland]

I picked this up for about 19 dollars at Gamestop. My wife hasn't played anything like this before so I hope that she enjoys it. When we are out looking at board games, we often refer to your reviews to decide if it is the kind of thing we would like to play. :) Thank you for that guys.

"Moving the cards, upgrading the cards... I wish there was a game just based on that" That game is called Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization

[@jensthernstrom8602]

I think Otys and A New Dawn plays a bit alike in how you need to manipulate and move your action cards/divers.

[@maewilkes8883]

When are you guys just going to just add Zee to the intro? He's in every episode anyway.

[@Warrior_Whitten]

I was about to make that comment....

[@roop298]

He's the newly released expansion.

[@jonlocke7112]

Personally, I freaking loved this game. Easily one of the best I've played this year. Everyone who has played it with me (around 6) really enjoys it too. My only gripe is I wish there were more main objective cards. Honestly though in 4-player games our group plays all of them at once.

[@WitchDoctor87]

Do you feel the same about the game today? Also they're now releasing an expansion which drove me here

[@ag806]

@@WitchDoctor87 the expansion turns a decent game into a very good one. Civ6 in a board game

[@Straddllw]

Still no expansions. Much sadness.

[@WitchDoctor87]

We finally have one coming out very soon

[@ag806]

@@WitchDoctor87 and it is so good. Improves the base game so much.

[@WitchDoctor87]

@@ag806 I won't be picking it up sadly. I'm actually making my own boardgame atm. All my boardgame money is going into it. Thanks for the feedback though 👍

[@ag806]

@@WitchDoctor87 is there anywhere I can check it out? Will it be on Kickstarter?

[@WitchDoctor87]

@@ag806 Its in massive beginning stages, I'm a custodian and also saving to adopt children and buy a house with my wife. I'm slowly working through the art. I've been using a rough draft of the game. The style I'm going for is Japanese foklore. So Oni, dragons, trolls and spirits mixed with traditional Japanese troops. Its a more mature brawler game with some twists. I was inspired by old school dnd for the games combat system. Players carefully deploy units and battle on a hexagon board. Combat takes place on both players turns to keep things stay fresh. I'm a chess player so I wanted the game to have a planning mechanism. So it has a way for players to plan turns ahead and certain moves can mean life or death of your characters. It has few pieces because I want the complexity to be more about charater movement rather then many pieces. It only takes seconds to setup the game. The game time all depends on skill level. I'm really really excited to see this dream become a reality.

[@RubenThePenguin]

I will buy it if it gets an expansion that makes the combat more interesting, and maybe that makes the civilizations more diverse, like in King of Tokyo Power Up.

[@wappe123]

People seem to think that there is no combat in this game. That is not the case at all. The guys seem to not have done much of it but when the opponents citys start to fill up with cool wonders and you can take 3 of them in one turn with nukes I dont see how you can ignore it. I think people for some reason just dont focus on it in this game. Maybe because of the abstraction.

[@TheSupremeSkill]

You have to imagine lots of things with this game.

[@ag806]

Yes, base game was sort of abstract. Expansion fixes this problem and lots of other problems the game had.

[@jpotter2086]

What beautiful terrain tiles! Thus concludes my New Dawn review.

[@vexdhex9587]

I have this game in my library. I use it as a "gateway" game to more involved 4x games like Twilight Imperium or Eclipse 2nd Edition. I like that it is simple enough to teach, deep enough to allow for some strategy, and streamlined to the point that the game can flow and end conditions resolved relatively quickly.

[@zachcorey9080]

Would love to see a review of the expansion. It improves this game a lot and addresses a couple of the complaints made in this video.

[@jarvbricks7422]

Played and brought this at UK Games Expo today. I really enjoyed it, enough to sacrifice the game I was going to buy to get this. Great balanced review guys.

[@steveg7000]

Been waiting for this review eagerly. Thanks!

[@jose3653]

21:17 me at parties

[@bosstempo]

hilarious!

[@davidkennedy7126]

After playing. 1 game (having played the last version many times) I really enjoyed the gameplay and mechanics but it feels like elements have been cut to be released later in expansions. And I feel this game kinda needs a little more just now. So am very much anticipating an expansion.

[@Zeenordnihon]

It's exciting to wait Zee's name at the end of introduction.

[@bgambin7039]

For Tom I think this fits with his feelings on most of the civilization games... he would rather play the video game version.

[@richardshort2001]

Thumbs up for the guys to force Zee to live play a game of Advanced Civilization (1991). He'll never complain about Twilight Imperium begin too long again.

[@MarioFanaticXV]

Actually, I feel FFG's Civilization: The Board Game felt closest to Civilization Revolution.

[@derekschmidt5330]

First time watching your reviews! Thanks for all the input. My girlfriend just got me this game and it seemed a little overwhelming at first since neither of us have played Civ. We’ll give it a try and let you know how it shakes out.

[@Barl3000]

That card moving mechanic seems to be fun and useful for other types of games. I would really like to see it used in other types of games. I think military has purposefully been left out of the game, to be used in an expansion. Yes, leaving it out has streamlined the game and not having to move little armies around each turn is probably a big factor in cutting down the playtime to 1-2 hours. But it also feels kinda bland without it.

[@TheMaxZakh]

Otys uses a similar delayed benefit system, although the theme and rewards are less exciting. That's just my preferance though.

[@freddieyu]

I like how this one streamlined the system into one playable below 2 hours. Very interested in this one!

[@FSCB2013]

I think the real achievement is that they made a civ game playable in less than 4 hours.

[@Esauofisaac]

You can really see that A New Dawn was made when FF looked at the 2010 rendition and thought "Sweet baby Moses look at all the pieces and this sideboard, we need to cut 90% of this, make it happen." I didn't buy this for years because I was very reticent to play a dumbed down game. But actually, the game itself is not bad at all. The thing is, it feels like a GAME moreso than assuming the role of a civilization with other characters. They got some things way better, and somethings way wrong. It's great that you have to claim tiles, that you have a plentitude of cities, that there's a greater level of abstraction. That all makes sense, and is what you would expect in a good civ game. The problem is really just with how barebones everything is, not even necessarily for speed but for want of creativity where it was needed. The tech pyramid in Civ 2010 was just incredible, easily the best technology mechanic I have personally played, replacing it with direct-upgrade cards is an absolutely massive disappointment, even if the action mechanic itself is stupendous. Stuff like that. It's not that the game is bad, it's just that when you inevitably compare it to Civilization 2010 you're left wishing you had something like that in.

[@halinar1]

Love when they asked Sam how he felt about then they cut away and come back with their hands covering their mouths. Guess they were hiding smiles or not laughing from what happened in the cut.

[@calebyagow7568]

I really enjoyed this review, I would love to see more reviews like this.

[@sentinelmoonfang]

The Dice Tower Hey Tom, slightly unrelated, but if you're a big Civ player on the PC, have you ever tried Stellaris? If not, you owe it to yourself to give it a try. One of the best 4X games of all time, in my opinion. Absolutely beats out Civ.

[@then8mac]

As a long time Civ player I have had Stellaris on my steam wishlist for awhile but never bought it yet. Now I might just have to, thanks.

[@sentinelmoonfang]

then8mac It's got a bit of a learning curve to it, with a lot of mechanics at work, but the depth kinda requires that. I'm especially fond of the freedom in designing your race. Want to play a rogue helper AI trying to conquer the galaxy to save biological life from its self-destructive tendencies by keeping all life you conquer in preserves and subjecting them to mandatory pampering? You can do that. Want to play a races of warlike aliens that only sees other races as livestock to be farmed for food? You can do that. Want to play a megacorporation that's completely supplanted your species' government and is expanding into space for great profit? You can do that. Another really great feature is the late game crises, which throws in some almost unstoppable threat to the entire galaxy to shake up the balance of power where most 4x games start to stagnate. It usually forces several empires to work together to stop it. I honestly can't say enough good things about Stellaris.

[@JohnQSpartan]

They don't mention anything about control tokens adding modifiers to defense in combat ... makes me wonder if they used it.

[@famaral42]

"to be fair..." In the computer game, the CIVs are indeed very unique

[@mienzillaz]

Felipe Amaral agree.. he prbably stopped on civ 4 where all civ had same set: 1 uu, 1 ub.. while civ 5 and civ 6 especially extended this to make civ play really different from others..

[@malkavian5]

It reminds me kinda scythe with build engine and timing actions, but even scythe has a better combat system.

[@pczplughead]

This game screams "The War Expansion" to me. A friend has it and we'll play it post-Xmas ...but you can see that being the focus of a future expansion, if one is ever forthcoming (which it surely will be )

[@EclecticCamel]

Maybe. They tend to not support their IP games very well if it isn't Star Wars.

[@pczplughead]

I hope you are incorrect - after all, they did put two expansions out of the previous Civ game.

[@EclecticCamel]

Depends entirely on how well this sells. Looks like it needs an expansion to fix combat like SW rebellion did.

[@pczplughead]

I can't comment on Rebellion, but I think the first part of what you said is pretty obvious. I suspect it'll sell well enough - I considered pre-ordered it but didn't because someone else I know did. I'd very surprised if at least one expansion didn't come out.

[@LordSplendid]

I love the look of the tiles.

[@markusschmidt9260]

Through the Ages will still be my pick of choice, if I want to play a game like that.

[@jamessparks3731]

Personally looking forward to this game. Knowing and understanding that the combat is scaled back, I appreciate that. I have the previous FFG Civ game and have that for one group of friends, and this one looks idea to include another group of friends. Love the player count and the game time is a huge plus! Combat seems to bog things down in so many other games and I feel I tend to loose players at the table to their phones or other distractions.

[@then8mac]

As a long time civilization player for the computer, I would probably have the same reaction as Tom on this one. Civ is a great series and streamlining it just doesn't sit well. I need epic. My thoughts on how a civ board game should be is to allow a long game with a save feature so that it can be played over several sessions, or days, similar to how most play the PC game (vs the AI). I'm not sure how the save part would be done with potentially so many pieces on the board, but this would allow for most of what the civ series has including military, while having a legacy feel to it. Maybe use a supplied app to help with the save feature. Then each session can be played in 1-2 hours. Bring on the Civilization Legacy game!

[@9206audree]

This game is called The colonists.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

I've really enjoyed this, one of my favourites of the year - I don't care if combat doesn't come with miniatures. This abstracted the theme a bit but you can play a Civ game in less than 2 hours and it's streamlined. My review is out this week and it's more positive. Barbarians are fine - they are a pest like in the computer game and if you just ignore them then you deserve to have a city die!! It's a refreshing change though to have a game that I really like, that NONE of you like that much! ;-)

[@1979kubala]

Luke Hector glad to know im getting this for xmas, ill def watch your review

[@BoardGamesNotBoringGames]

Hoping this is under the Christmas tree but if not, try not to burn yourself out on it as I’ll probably try to grab a game with you at StabCon! :)

[@slothinabowl6654]

I wonder if they would find the old Martin Wallace game Tempus a better civ lite game. It also has modular hex board, different terrain, cities, control (people and armies are one and the same), tech advancement and has a more aggressive combat element to it. What Tempus lacks is the wonders and any strong divergence of tech between empires. Tempus also doesn't need barbarians to force conflict and tension.

[@stevensum2011]

Expansion maybe coming. Check BGG

[@cthulwho8197]

Two players starting next to each other and constantly butting heads whilst a third player sits across the board and merrily does whatever they want is a common problem in three player games.

[@battlemind]

I'm a fan - I liked it with 2 and 4 players. It's a race to completing those victory conditions though, so military actions are often inefficient bc so much expansion has to be done to fight over distances. Might as well stick with the mature cities conditions. I found many games finished with Wonder victories almost entirely, as Wonders are on 4 of the 5 cards. Still athumb up though. And ya - there will be expansions - so easily accommodated.

[@FalkFlak]

too bad the three didn't like the game that much back then because overall I think this hurt the game. It's their right of course but I couldn't disagree more in some aspects. For example I don't understand how one can even come to the conclusion this is a solitary experience for it is highly interactive.

[@KlassenT]

What a crushing disappointment! I had such high hopes for this since I first heard the announcement. Halfway through the explanation of the mechanics, I already started to feel the disenchantment that Tom echoed in his final thoughts. I feel like the really had the right idea, they just overcorrected, and cut all the wrong corners in the process. Trimming it down to an hour-ish playtime seems maybe a hair too much; might have been a comfortable middle ground at the 2-3 hour mark without the fiddly bits from it's predecessors. Stellar review though, I love that each of you came in with a little different perspective and expectation.

[@Killer62Joe]

For me, Zee summed it up the best; this game is not a traditional CIV game which is why I like it. :)

[@jenspoder8322]

Hmmmm. I think I’ll hang onto the previous version. I quite liked this for recreating a CIV experience. The combat system was a little convoluted though.

[@Sangha119]

Isn't this mechanism in Conan, I thought the bad guys had a "river system"

[@cthulwho8197]

It seems a mix of Conan (The way the cards move after being used but their effect is always the same) and Attack of the Giants(?) where cards had greater effect depending on how many cards are to the left of them.

[@jasonmountain4643]

I still love this intro.

[@solidsnake5102]

Hello fellows from the The Dice Tower, please make a tutorial of that game, but the 2002 version agreets from El Salvador

[@danorris5235]

Glad I watched this. This is clearly nothing like the Civ series even at its most basic concept.

[@ag806]

With the expansion, I feel like I'm playing Civ 6 in a board game.

[@petec3250]

versus Through the Ages?

[@thanasisseretakis1546]

TTA is the most comprehensive and complete ancient to modern civ game out there! but for that reason it's so long to play. I don't think this one comes close to it.

[@KissellMissile]

Both games do play completely different, not the least of which is an action point allowance system vs. an action track. Personally, I think this game was a little better then okay, but TTA is a little less then okay. If you want a long two player game, get TTA. If you want a civ game you can play with 3-4 in 90 minutes, this is a better option.

[@bricelory9534]

Feels like a game where the IP attached to it will hurt it more than help. Those who are attracted to Civ games will likely have expectations this game isn't trying to meet. And those who dislike Civ will be more prone to stay away from it. At least the IP provides nice art to use. for

[@mccallosone4903]

Its pretty. Does play fast which i like. The combat/military aspect is disappointing, but not enough to make me dislike it

[@pirotehs]

1:55 spelling mistake Civiliation (w/o z)

[@TorIverWilhelmsen]

There is nothing wrong with Zeevili-Sam-Tomion.

[@ericmatthews9673]

Zee is the guy on the left. Also it's a typo which is more of a spelling mistake than a grammar mistake.

[@pirotehs]

thanks

[@Draffut2003]

Sam's head so so shiny

[@sorinpopescu1139]

Help me please to understand how gaining resourses works. Once you place a control token on a resourse, you take that resourse, but do you gain it constantly, or it's just one time gain?

[@near799]

Constantly

[@ag806]

It's one time gain, unless it's a natural wonder, which you can use every turn.

[@EfrainRiveraJunior]

Has anyone played the Civilization 2002 Board Game?

[@charlesrowan1978]

I thought Avalon Hill first released Civilization in the 70's or early 80's

[@FSCB2013]

Yeah but that isn't Sid Meier's Civ

[@mr.midnight9962]

thanks for the review. I honestly think the other version is better

[@FSCB2013]

I agree. I think anyone who wants to play a civ game and therefore buys a civ game, will really want the experience of FFG's Civilization 2010

[@nicolajohnson1887]

transition ?

[@hypnoticsorin8016]

Jeez the combat/military mechanism in 7 Wonders is more robust than this game. I just think a true civilization game that plays in 1-2 hours just doesn't work. This one doesn't look horrible, but it looks like it has been stripped bare, and will get "fixed" with a bunch of expansions(this is FGG were talking about here )

[@bluetornadicamusic2010]

You played once, then guess at how some game features will play out over multiple plays. Your long discussion on the game doesnt mean much. Why not play more than once before you review. Or maybe just read the rules, and guess at how some game features will play out.

[@man-yp1gb]

Guys I'd play this game over monopoly to be honest.

[@head_rat]

Enjoyed the previous sid civ but found it a little uninspired... looks like it hasn't improved with this iteration. Thanks for the review guys! :)

[@justinrrizzo]

I think it's nice to have a Civ game without military. I can have my cake and eat it too.

[@1osmit]

The old civilization board game has more depth, Its kind of like civ iV vs civ beyond earth

[@marcost9711]

Zee signing off... lol oops!

[@driftwood8943]

Barbarian invasion expansion incoming!

[@steveg7000]

Note to FFG: When Mr. Vasel is the one telling you that a game has sacrificed fun for the sake of streamlining, you know your game's got a problem.

[@Apeshower]

I think he said sacrificed theme. Not sacrificed fun. Not necessarily the same thing.

[@TheWarmupLap]

Once I saw 9 thumbs down I knew it would be a negative review

[@rubylazer995]

is it me or this is more complicated than the actual civ 6

[@ghost_tickler1575]

Definitely not. Actual civ 6 gets crazy

[@giovannimaestro6747]

Been waiting for the review since tom's boring unboxing!

[@WitchDoctor87]

I'm only really disappointed on one thing and that's no singleplayer play. I think as far as when they touched on player counts it felt like they didnt give en ok high time to play more games to see what other options they have.

[@dabearz27]

Agreed with this review. Very disappointing. Would rather play the previous version.

[@gabrielcutrone7606]

I thought the second version, the one from Fantasy Flight games, is one of my favorite games period. This one seems to have similar parallels to making a "One-Night Werewolf", because it makes for a similar game to Ultimate Werewolf, for instance, with simply less content and streamlined content...I loved the sheer complexity in that older version, and feel this one is an inherently different experience, but I think it may miss something just because it's supposed to be "smaller" and/or "simpler".

[@WolfGratz]

So it's a game seeking to build on the Civ name which will enjoyed more by people who haven't previously been enthusiastic about the brand? Does that make any sense at all? It just seems like trying to sell American Football to me by making it a bit more like soccer whilst still maintaining the name. Why would I find that enticing in any way?

[@youtubeadministration8037]

Why based on civ VI... Its the worst civ if we're talking about leaders... WHERE'S NAPOLEON?

[@fournwah]

Civ VI computer game sucked and the rubbish artwork has been repeated here. The combat mechanic in the computer game was flawed and so it is in this Civ board game. Very disappointed.

[@bigbackman3609]

Nop, not at all

[@MrRadialdrift]

Just like Twilight Imperium 4, streamlined does not make for a better game

[@jomaz8111]

So this game is rubbish according to Vasel... And yet "Coaster Park" gets his thumbs up.... 🙄😝 Ahaahaaa well that says it all about these reviews.