Unreliable Wizard play and review | Review copy provided

[@OneStopCoopShop]

COMPONENTS - The cards are fine, and the meeple is nice. There is a plastic standee for the boss... which is totally unnecessary :). But no complaints component-wise. 0:00 - Introduction 0:30 - Game Overview 3:07 - Playthrough 26:21 - Review

[@Sayuiv]

Hi Mike, thanks for review and gameplay. Just one note that you mention in your review: during the KS i watched a playthrough and the player said that in the base game you can only go upwards and not side to side. That would mean that you can do only 4 encounters before the boss ( and so get only 4 upgrade cards) or if you want heal you miss an encounter. I received the KS but the rulebook does not mention that, only the fact that you meed to move adjacent. I believe that the base game is meant to play only moving upwards, while the expansion is the one that allow to roam freely, hence why the enemies are a bit stronger with the random cards between body and head. Thanks again

[@OneStopCoopShop]

I was thinking about that same thing. Would certainly make the pathing, rest spots, and whole experience way more challenging.

[@capnbob0618]

Appreciate the honest review! Agreed from watching the playthrough that it left a lot to be desired in terms of replayability and interesting choices.

[@Jimmothy]

Great stuff! A very thorough and entertaining overview of the game. Stacking up in one color is my go-to approach for the game as well. I appreciate the expansion for trying to vary things up a little more with different fragments and collecting bosses. After winning two or three times, it definitely becomes a once in a while game. I think the novelty of fitting the game on a deck of cards is neat too.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Expansion definitely has better variety for the battles. I still tend to follow the same exact path each game though 😅

[@Theaquasnake]

I LITERALLY finish my first game last night. What timing for this video! 😄

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Hope it was a good time!

[@tigormiti]

Thanks for the great playthrough/review. I didn’t know you were capable of truly negative reviews :P but you have convinced me.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Well, you probably know my style is to give ranges and suggestions: "If you like this kind of thing you'll also like this", that sort of point. Generally the only games I get truly negative with are the ones that seem actively unbalanced or frustrating, which is partially the case here.

[@pkarguth]

Well I've been playing this wrong, lol. Will have to try again with the correct damage rules. The latest update on the gamefound campaign page did include an achievement list they created for players looking to add an extra goal while playing.

[@pkarguth]

And great play through as always mike. Really enjoy your playthroughs.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

That’s good! Official variants and achievements should help a lot

[@KingNothing1st]

I was under the impression you were only allowed to used the healing tiles once per game, not once per tile, no wonder I found it more difficult than you did

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Oh geez, that’d be crazy!

[@tjoris9]

Perhaps introduce a score system? Each monster encountered and healing space adds a point, and the goal is to beat the boss in as few points as possible. Perhaps set a goal score and lose if you exceed that value? Unless this has a lot of content you didn't show or is priced like a Button Shy game it's a pass for me.

[@patriziopastore9895]

Ouch I receive the game one month ago still didn't play... so didnt recommended. I will give a try

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Yeah, just my experience. I know many people who are loving it

[@aljozoql4459]

5:02 I thought you played as the wizard's apprentice, since the actual wizard couldn't go out to save the day himself (hence the title) Anyway, yeah I've played the game a bunch (have the Japanese version, haven't watched all of the playthrough but it seems similar enough) and I kinda like the game, mostly because of how quick it is, but I agree with your thoughts. It's pretty easy unless you get really unlucky (one game I lost at the first fight because there was no way I could do any damage due to the Hero ability I chose), and the map traversal is just very samey from game to game. I think the combat is interesting at least, but yeah. The replayability is lower than I'd like, and maybe I prefer the smaller map at this point because it's even faster to setup and play. I wonder how the expansion shakes things up (the Japanese version of that has been out of stock for a while now)

[@OneStopCoopShop]

You are correct about the theme! And the expansion does shake things up, though not massively

[@Johnny-qg3ll]

The art is just a little too minimalist for me to evoke much excitement

[@OneStopCoopShop]

I grew up playing classic pixel RPGs so it hits that nostalgia spot for me

[@Johnny-qg3ll]

@@OneStopCoopShop me too! I just wish there was more. By the way, thank you so much for doing what you do, I really appreciate your content.

[@dilandoalbatou7522]

Well, if you want to make this game hardcore, I would suggest to NOT hit with the bonus from the heroes unless you also activated the spell. I played it wrong and I lost almost every time so far because of the rules mistake. 😂

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Yeah, that would definitely help a good bit. I wasn’t sure either… the rules aren’t super clear

[@lickjoe79]

That’s how I play too. Bonuses only from skills I’ve successfully activated.

[@TheFletchbm1]

The rules do say you get the bonus damage without activating the spell. I do play like you though- if I don’t activate the spell I don’t get the bonus. (Unless I’m on the shorter map or expansion).

[@OneStopCoopShop]

This was clarified in a thread on BGG. You definitely get the bonus with or without activating a spell, at least playing rules as written

[@sapien01010]

Sounds like Unreliable Wizard needed to be a bit more unreliable. I had fun with it, but then again, I only played it once.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Haha, dang it, you're right. If it was more random and challenging that would help

[@Theplaysthet]

Oh I see, ur copying my playthrough! Hehehehehe Like this fine! But the key is getting heroes to help you for sure.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Don’t know who you are, sorry! You had a similar experience with the game?

[@Theplaysthet]

@@OneStopCoopShop I was joking! Sorry if that didn't come across! heheh Yeah I did, in my playthrough I got 2 heroes at the start and I breezed to victory!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Oh man 2 heroes at the start make it child’s play 😅 Hope you at least enjoyed the play!

[@koklead7904]

Glad I skipped this KS, with shipping it would have been an instant loss.

[@lickjoe79]

I could be playing the rules wrong, but I stack the area defense- I don’t tuck the area card so that if I’m fighting in the volcano area, for instance, enemies get defense for volcano PLUS every terrain below that. I also only activate bonuses for spells I successfully cast. I’ve made it to the demon lord every time, but never beaten him. Maybe give it a try and see if that helps for balance?

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Yeah, both of those are incorrect, but certainly a way to make the game super tough!