Middara Solo: Entering the Hive (Crawl Mode)

SOLO PLAYTHROUGHS' PATREON PAGE: / soloplaythroughs
SOLO PLAYTHROUGHS' MERCHANDISE: www.teespring....
In this episode of Solo Playthroughs, Greg presents a playthrough of Middara: Unintentional Malum - Act 1*. Dungeon crawler meets anime, Middara is a huge game loaded with content enhanced by a high quality production. While the primary way to play Middara is through a sprawling campaign mode, this playthrough present the alternate "crawl mode". Our four main characters have been enlisted to go find the hive of some troublesome and deadly sickles in hopes of planting a bomb which will exterminate this colony. Dice chucking compromises the core of an elaborate combat system and our heroes have been carefully developed from a plethora of options of both items and skills. But danger lies waiting around every corner of this cave!
*=review copy sent by Succubus Publishing

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

NOTES: 1) I somehow never realized that Remi's unique powers cost Stamina Points as follows: a) Flight costs 2 SP; and b) Shady Training costs 1 SP. (Thanks to Ophir for catching this - you can see his comment below!) 2) I incorrectly put a note in the video thinking I was wrong during an attack against Nightingale because I didn't apply a Flanking +1 bonus during a monster attack. But monsters do not benefit from Flanking because they do not have weapons equipped, which is a requirement for the Flanking bonus in the game. So, disregard the note - I actually didn't make a mistake this time. :) --- This game has simultaneously enthralled me while making me think twice about requesting review copies of big, sprawling games. :) Thanks again to Succubus Publishing for the review copy. If you are interested in this game, definitely consider picking up at least Act 1 on the latest crowdfunding campaign - I believe the pledge manager is still open! Happy Gaming! Greg

[@yerel_nimni_avni]

Four handed solo, WOW, I didn't think you will ever do something like that. Now I'm going to dive into the playthrough.

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Ha! Yeah - not my first preference in most games. I talk about that near the end of this video. The mental overload of 4-handing isn’t awful with Middara once you have internalized the rules. 🙂

[@schrankp]

@@SoloPlaythroughs You did the same with Darkest Night. Any chance seeing that again? There are a ton of heroes you didn't get to yet!

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Hey Phillip! Yeah - 4-handing Darkest night is a different sort of thing. I might get Darkest Night on the channel again. I also might sell it TBH. I’ve really loved my plays of the game. But it’s hard to imagine getting it to the table much more at this point. As I’ve said before, it’s like an incredible book that I’m not sure I feel inspired to read again.

[@schrankp]

@@SoloPlaythroughs Fair! I have a hard time getting it tp the table too, but I won't give it up.

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Also fair! 🙂

[@ophirgonen1772]

Great game. Gets better when advancing the campaign (story wise, abilities, gear and enemy variety). Tons of content (if we measure amount by weight..). So much, that this is the reason I WONT back the 2nd and 3rd act (NOW on pledge manager, open to non-backers). I just don't have time for everything (huge games on the way, great games still waiting on shelf to really sink my teeth in them). My days of massive campaigns (looking at you Gloomhaven, with your 100+ scenarios) are over, I guess... Will slowly finish this awesome game and.. that's it for Middara for me, I guess. But so glad to see you brought it on the channel and I hope this will inspire others to buy the game.

[@joshb4613]

I'm so glad you wrote this Ophir :) I saw the KS for this game, and old me would have gone all in without a thought. Looking at the campaign, and I kept scrolling, and scrolling, and scrolling. New me, the recipient of a number of games in recent weeks, and so many games on the shelf I haven't devoted enough time to, let alone played or replayed caused me to not purchase this game. Limitation in funds, limitation in space, limitation in time. I'm happy to see this game being played, and that's about it. It looks cool, and now I can see Greg play it and be (maybe) vindicated in my decision? We shall see, once I can catch up to some videos I want to watch when time permits for other reasons.

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

I'm so with you, Ophir! The game really does get so awesome as you go deeper. And I also just can't see how I'd ever have time to play Acts 2 and Acts 3. But I would encourage ANYONE to give Act 1 a try. It's an incredible game.

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

@@joshb4613 Yeah - this one is a beast and is not an easy learn, on top of the fact that it is a lot to set up. I highly recommend it...but only when you have the time to commit to learning it and getting 10-20 hours into the campaign, when the game really takes off.

[@samyoung2885]

Is this game still available. If so where can I purchase it. Fan of your playthroughs.

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Thanks, Sam! There latest Kickstarter is still in the pledge manager phase. www.kickstarter.com/projects/succubuspublishing/middara-unintentional-malum-the-complete-trilogy/description There are three full acts and they all look HUGE. The first act alone is 5 chapters with hours and hours of gameplay in each chapter. I would highly recommend getting Act 1 at minimum, especially as the new addition will have all the errata incorporated along with an updated rulebook.

[@cristiandelaplaza7813]

man, because of you, dawn of the zeds is on its way, next month I'm going to the spirit island with branch and claw. Then to wait for cloudspire or too many bones to arrive in Chile. how about middara? I would like to then perhaps go for a more relaxing type of game, so that its complexity can be enjoyed but not so pending like terraforming mars. I have heard that ark nova is similar, have you seen any gameplay? greetings machine

[@cristiandelaplaza7813]

pd: We will have to see if the wallet holds up haha

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Hey cristian! I have played Ark Nova a few times but never solo. IMO, it’s a better game than Terraforming Mars, using a lot of similar mechanics related to a huge deck of unique cards while adding an interesting action selection system. I’m sure it’s fine solo but, notwithstanding my love for Gaia Project, a race for points against an automa is generally not my favorite type of solo game. But the game is good. Overhyped IMO perhaps, but very good.

[@cristiandelaplaza7813]

@@SoloPlaythroughs thanks for your answer!

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

You’re welcome!

[@cristiandelaplaza7813]

@@SoloPlaythroughs Greg, another question. Do you have play yet "roots" with the expansion clockwork? (allows to play solo). i hear a lot of solo players that his gameplay is hard game. like games you like

[@ophirgonen1772]

Hmm, you are using Remi's diagonal walk freely (50:20) and flight as 1 stamina use (like walking). Isn't it 1 stamina cost to move diagonally and 2 to fly (57:20)?. Look at the card, those red circles with 1/2 on them, are they just bulletins or stamina cost? The life of one of us is a lie...

[@SoloPlaythroughs]

Ahhhhh! Wow. I always have Remi on the other side of the table and just never internalized that. Don’t think it makes much of a difference in this particular playthrough, but obviously a big oversight. Thanks for catching it! (And, of course, I updated the pinned comment above accordingly. :))