Paperback Adventures is Slay the Spire with Words and it's The Best

[@NoPunIncluded]

Paperback Adventures was sent to us by publisher Fowers Games, or more specifically 3/4 of Paperback Adventures was sent to us by publisher Fowers games. Apologies, we forgot to mention this in the video directly.

[@michaeltang6290]

I remember you guys loving now boarding. Looks like fowers games is a bit hit or miss but when it hits, it punches you right in the heart.

[@Jlerpy]

Interesting! Which 3/4?

[@NoPunIncluded]

@@Jlerpy all the character packs. Because I bought the core pack and then looked at the back of the box.

[@Jlerpy]

@@NoPunIncluded Ah, I see. Yeah, that makes sense.

[@EliasTrollkarln]

As many people already said: GREAT REVIEW! I do agree on almost every part of this and wanted to confirm that me and my partner have been playing this exactly as you mentioned. Her English is better then mine so i crunch something up and demand of her to make up a 6 letter word starting with H to get that sweet critical hit, and she delivers. It's the best.

[@christoperstovell272]

Just received my copy, they included a replacement set of trackers that actually fit and some extra sleeves. The game is pretty fantastic!

[@Goblincow]

This game seems really cool, the mechanic of which direction you lay out the letters with the left or right symbols on display is absolutely brilliant.

[@talkingshelfspace]

While watching, I was mentally crossing off points I wanted to make when writing my own review. I think you might have hit pretty much all of them 😀 Regarding difficulty, yes that rules mistake (and a couple of others one can easily make) makes a lot of difference. So far I've yet to beat a level 3 boss! Great game, quickly has become one of my favourite solo game experiences of late. Thanks for putting it on my radar by mentioning it on your podcast!

[@32bitginger]

Kudos for the wordplay throughout, I enjoyed it a lot

[@IslanKleinknecht]

Those plastic trays should've just been cardboard. Hell, even card stock, with cardboard tracker tokens.

[@styfen]

In an increasingly crowded genre; Paperback Adventures manages to be a fresh take on the concept of boss battling.

[@cardiner-lv]

This one is one of my favorite and also biggest surprises of 2022, too bad I only backed for one character

[@NoPunIncluded]

Which one did you get?

[@cardiner-lv]

@@NoPunIncluded Plothole and I actually really like him :)

[@robertchmielecki2580]

We need more original ideas like that, instead of endless copies of resource grind euros and map&figures dungeon crawls with cosmetic differences.

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

I think the sound effect at 5:28 is the success tone in The Search for a planet X App?

[@NoPunIncluded]

Very similar, but not the same. Wouldn't surprise me though, we all work from the same pool of resources.

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

@@NoPunIncluded Keep up the great work Efka. I remember meeting you at the Gencon Asmodee party a handful of years ago :)

[@middaymeds]

Loved the Father John Misty shoutout, seeing him live soon on the Chloe tour

[@manseekingmeeple]

It's videos like this that just remind me of why you are the best at this! You're a legend! And somehow, not only did you get me interested in paperback adventure, but you got me wanting to try Marvel's Midnight Suns, which seems very odd.

[@arthurdent9281]

I just started playing Midnight Suns this past week. It's got a really fun combat system, especially after the first week or so in game when you've started getting upgrades and unlocked the various other abilities through training. Definitely worth playing!

[@benjaminbaker4168]

Thanks! I’m not a huge video gamer, but I did looooove slay the spire so much. So, knowing that it’s based around tactical card play actually does interest me a lot. So, I’ll definitely try it out, hearing this. Thanks!

[@th1ngo]

Thank you for another well done review.

[@LaboratoryGrey]

This was one of the reviews that sold me on this game. I was not prepared for the efficiency this game demands.

[@virtualexamman6251]

Absolutely fantastic review. Now time to try and find an affordable copy of this in Spain! Thanks.

[@lucypatton42]

My eyes popped out of my head at the end, I love Jessie!! Can’t wait for the episode

[@thetable7660]

Love deckbuilders and word games, been looking for Paperback already as I think it's a nice bridging game which I'm hoping my mum will enjoy but this could be something to explore from a more hobbyist perspective and play solo, so thanks. Already quite interested in this game but the use of sleeves is actually something I've been thinking about in designing my own deckbuilder; I'm thinking of something where flipping cards probably happens more often which I do think will be fun but I'm concerned about the wear this will incur and certainly intend to include extra sleeves if I can ever produce it.

[@robertdascoli949]

Glad to see you're going to cover more solo games in the future!

[@Aoshi312]

I love the original paperback. This looks awesome

[@leonardquirm]

I had my eye on this during its Kickstarter and tried it out a couple of times on TTS. First play, I absolutely loved it. Second time through, however, it felt very similar and I was worried it wouldn't have longevity overall - so I didn't end up backing it. I'm also personally convinced that digital deckbuilders are significantly better than physical ones, due to all the admin being handled automatically (and the fact I spend too long shuffling any deck whenever I need to, which in a deckbuilder is *all the time*). So I was surprised to find myself getting pretty tempted to reconsider by the half-way mark of this review with the level of enthusiasm shown - and somewhat relieved with the counterpoints raised that pulled me back again! And the fact there's a digital version available (which, in fairness, is marked as Early Access on Steam, so errors and rules snafus seem more acceptable, although the ones you highlight seem pretty egregious) definitely leans me more towards grabbing that. And it's always a pleasure to watch your enthusiasm for a game, regardless of where I end up on the interest in buying scale!

[@NoPunIncluded]

i don't think you'll go wrong with the digital version

[@Leilataj85]

Best explanation I’ve seen for this game yet!

[@tabletopinterlopers135]

Great video! May I ask for a link to the "deckbuilders are the hero's journey in board game form" video? Fingers crossed for some light dunking on J Campbell.

[@NoPunIncluded]

Lol no dunking, I just didn't want to waste time on that, even though it would have been very deserved. The video had a tight scope. kzbin.info/www/bejne/noe7moWJibdgY68

[@tabletopinterlopers135]

Thanks for the link. The dunk was implied! I'd be into the "How does Fort critique the hero's journey?" reverse critique / extended video essay. Actually, I'd be curious, in the intervening couple of years, whether you have run into further examples of games that critique the form effectively. What mechanical innovations afford formal alterations -- and what mechanical innovations nevertheless replicate the "boring farmboy to magical princemage" scheme?

[@SanderPastoor]

Love the video! I am personally not a fan of the idea of a core box that isn't at all playable. Arkham Horror LCG does it better, I think. It's less of an investment up front. Buying two seperate boxes to play a game just feels like a big decision and it's keeping me from trying something like Final Girl too. I wonder if anyone else feels this way.

[@Table.Fables]

I totally feel the same way… I’ve come close to buying some Final Girl a few times; but having to buy the core box + another box just to try it doesn’t feel great. Mental barrier for sure 😅

[@danacoleman4007]

I agree 💯 percent!!!! It's nothing but a really lousy marketing ploy.

[@jaffa4242]

Oooh definitely going to pick this one up. And thanks for the tip about avoiding the video game version because i was tossing up which to get

[@NoPunIncluded]

Oh the video game version is totally fine. Also they updated it quite a bit since

[@daem0nfaust]

"Groin" is tactically the best option. Gotcha.

[@danacoleman4007]

This is absolutely true. Just ask Master Ken.

[@davidzimmermann920]

'phew..one step closer to hitting that workout' had me :'D My life exactly right now

[@rachelbrown989]

Great review and matches my feelings about this game exactly. Such a great, great game, but the component choices are so annoying. Waiting on someone to produce a 3D printer file for a better version of the player and enemy trays.

[@ThandrieDavis]

Greatest ending to any video, ever

[@kasparbaktat964]

This video is a piece of art!

[@andyraff4465]

Laughed repeatedly at this review. Cheers for that.

[@lucchamberland514]

This videos critic is close to master piece , like many books that are actually master ... not only this intricate review is going the extra mile (kilometer) it just can't resist to play om words - pun included- Fowers games that keep doing brilliant game i hope is grateful for the extra detail problem that came with their nearly master piece game... they are condemn to do even better next time. As always exceptional high level articulate review. BRAVO!!!! indeed and THANK YOU for us all

[@clintonjeffrey6699]

Has Adventure Mart remained in your collection, or is that just B roll from the Fort review? My daughter is interested in Adventure Mart... Is it any good?

[@NoPunIncluded]

That is indeed old b-roll. I would not recommend Adventure Mart.

[@lostmarble540]

Efka put all that work into spelling out groin so to it would be readable to the viewer but I assumed he was spelling the word so it would be readable from his perspective and I had to stop for a moment and ask myself if "I" was really the second letter in groin

[@videk_online]

How hard this game might thks be for a non-native english speaker? I'm proficient in the language but notice myself lacking when playing games like wordle.

[@NoPunIncluded]

That's an excellent question. I think harder for sure, but a Scrabble dictionary might be a helpful tool in that regard.

[@videk_online]

@@NoPunIncluded appreciate you taking the time to respond. Keep up the fantastic work!

[@JimmySquiky]

I was lied to. There were puns from the get go in this video !

[@chemcukh]

Hi Efka! Excellent review as always. I have a question which applies to your international audience I think (I am from Turkey for example); what about non-native English speakers? Can this game be a useful tool for learners to expand their vocabulary and board gaming experience? I would really appreciate everyone’s opinion on this. Keep up the good work!

[@NoPunIncluded]

I think as any word game, a localised version would work better. However, the words you form are mostly 4-6 letters and are generally pretty common ones. You can always adjust difficulty with modifiers that really change up the rules.

[@EliasTrollkarln]

As a Swede, I was thinking about this a bit before buying the game! I would say that it makes me try out new words and with a Scrabble checker nearby on my phone, I so learn some new ones 😁

[@sebastiang.5032]

Great review!

[@djoj20]

And here I was thinking no new boardgames in March

[@AdamDrew]

Fowers made a game with a bad manual and frustrating components? I mean, you could have stopped at "Fowers." I've never played one of their games that was comprehensible from just the manual and didn't have missing or damaged components.

[@mahna_mahna]

Watched the whole video? Phhhht. I always just skip to the end. Nice stop motion. I'm sure it was easy and didn't at all cost you your sanity.

[@jbirzer]

I like the game, but I have a problem with that it is a bit time consuming to set up and play. The last time I played, it was 90 minutes and only got through the first boss. Also, the rules are fiddly enough that you will miss a rule (as proven by this review. Laser Eyes, you spend YOUR skulls, not your enemies) I wish I could play this more.

[@NoPunIncluded]

your point very much stands but you're incorrect in how laser eyes works boardgamegeek.com/thread/2965947/am-i-misunderstanding-ex-machinas-laser-eyes

[@jbirzer]

@@NoPunIncluded Really badly written rules then, since "spend" usually means using something you have, not what the enemy has. If you are going to change what words mean, you need to be explicit. It is part of the reason why this game takes too long to play. Way too easy to get a rule wrong.

[@NoPunIncluded]

I don't love the rules either. Reading through the FAQ really helped. Now it's smooth sailing.

[@TheMperor5]

Actually I love the idea of buying a core box without a character to play. Too often the characters in a base game are kinda boring compared to the exciting characters from a day1 expansion. This avoids that problem nicely. Your quote around the 28:00 minute, is such a fundamental game design insight. *Chefs kiss*

[@MattWGAllan]

I feel like you're trying to say that you don't want to be best friends any more by calling our friendship parasocial. Which of us is going to tell Elaine? She'll be devastated. 😢

[@brianblessednn]

I took a chance on this when it came out, and I'm glad I did. In fact, I ran through it again today. Your comments about being able to execute your plan mirror my thoughts exactly, and this "plan-plan ruined-???" thing games do is the reason I despise, among other games, Gloomhaven, which even randomises whether enemies act before you.

[@mahna_mahna]

It's just a different style of play from more clockwork perfection. It's a best-guess plan and then being reactive. Like the old saying "No plan survives first contact with the enemy." You have to keep that in mind when making the plan, such that you don't try to field a glass cannon. Another example of this is poker. You make a plan based on probability, but you may have to adapt or just scrap it altogether depending on how it plays out. Some people like one style, some people like the other. Many people like both! It's all in the execution. Personally, I love both XCOM, even with it's 95% shots that fail in a way the human brain insists is 50% of the time. But I also like the other kind.

[@jonathandrake170]

Let’s just take a second to appreciate what this comparison (gloomhaven to paperback adventures) says about this game… what a brilliant game Tim Fowers and Skye Larsen have made!

[@CyyFyy]

algo go up

[@colingerber5319]

Chekhov's Gun was RIGHT THERE and no one used it??

[@Merlandese]

my favorite part was when he liked the game :)

[@GlassofJ]

Incredible review. You had me from never considering this game, to 100% buying it. And then, chapter five happened, and you talked about the sleeves, and that 100% dropped instantly to a 0%. Well done, NPI.

[@RamunF]

Same, but it did convince me to buy the digital version, even though he panned it.

[@NoPunIncluded]

Oh hey I'm glad you're trying the digital version, it's not at all bad, it's pretty great and cheap. I just did not vibe with my time at the computer as much as I did on the table.

[@GlassofJ]

@@RamunF same!

[@denycast]

I would love to play this game.... if there was a german version😅.

[@Rorschach71lm]

But where would it fit in your top 97 games of all time?

[@NoPunIncluded]

i don't know! i would have to redo it and the first iteration is still (technically) not finished (soon)

[@martinlebduska8344]

Awesome video

[@EltWilder]

Words.

[@AndySmith1243]

Is this a new entry in the Paperback/Hardback line of games?

[@NoPunIncluded]

Same theme and premise, different game - I'd watch the vid, we cover this.

[@bigsarge2085]

❤

[@bdelzerful]

Paige Turner is pretty upset with that opening joke.

[@naomiooooo]

Love the script…the text when text I’m texting this text repeats text…

[@learnsomething7084]

Pure comedy

[@rafa_b85]

First

[@Stomski]

Perhaps "Rifts" would be the more strategic play at this point?

[@leftistfrog404]

fabulous review!