Luthier - What did we think?

Luthier Crowdfunding Page: www.kickstarte...
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A video outlining gameplay for the boardgame Luthier.
For more game info, boardgamegeek....
Part I: Gameplay Runthrough
• Luthier - How does it ...
Part II: Final Thoughts
• Luthier - What did we ...

[@samuelshafritz8572]

The vital lacerda comp is spot on. My first though was "is this a loose spin off of kan-ban ev?" They have similar feels when it comes to complex and distinct worker actions (which comes down to resource effeciency and scarcity.)

[@daviddigby6978]

Thanks Rahdo, glad you enjoyed what we did with the solo AI in this one

[@mariannegonzales2911]

Worker placement in this reminds me of Trickerion.

[@mythicdale8757]

thanks for a well considered analysis and critique.

[@elqord.1118]

Very excited about this and super grateful that they offer a Tabletop Simulator mod. Will give this a spin but heavily leaning towards backing.

[@StevenWard]

Has a strong Encyclopedia vibe - one of my fav ever games. Off to check out the Kickstarter page

[@abeburson]

Thank you for review! Caylus was definitely an influence on the design. The way the resolution phase plays out was influenced by variable phase order in games like Puerto Rico / San Juan.

[@CG_Hali]

Weird, I didn't get youtube pushing this one. And yet I'm subscribed to all your videos. Anyway, really like your input, it's very important for me. The comments about the length, crunchiness, how turns work, etc. I think David also designed Ada's Dream's solo.

[@rahdo]

publisher asked i wait until the 17th before making the video public (they wanted the videos spread out a bit) :)

[@GamingRulesVideos]

You need to get an alarm and a big red light that flashes in your bedroom whenever Rahdo uploads a video. I got one last year and have never looked back.

[@stormburns]

How long were your 2p games? Do you think that with more plays the playtime might go down? 60min is the sweet spot for us. Distilled is great for that reason. But usually playing games the first 3/4 times those type of games are more 80-90min for us

[@rahdo]

it was over 2hrs for us, but we're slow players. i imagine for a normal gaming couple it's a 90 min game. definitely bigger and longer than distilled.

[@Punkve1987]

I have backed this game, and it looks absolutely amazing, but I cannot help but to think that the placing vs. activating workers also sounds a bit like the system in Come Together?

[@rahdo]

there are certainly similarities (patrons/reporters, instruments/performers) but the worker placement that drives things is pretty different. come together is very free and loose and player driven, unlike the more regimented structure of luth (how appropriately thematic) and trying to get into the head of your opponents because you don't know what workers they've sent where is a VERY different feel for luthier

[@johna6108]

Hey. What other games besides wingspan have the "remove Workers to accelerate chain turns" mechanism? I didn't catch the name of the game you mentioned?

[@rahdo]

it was probably myrmes :)

[@gadgetgeekgirl]

As a musician (played the oboe extensively in orchestras in my youth) I am struggling to understand why this is seen as thematic by all the reviews? The art looks nice but none of the mechanisms strike me that way. A nice twist on worker placement, but it's resource management, blind bidding and contract fulfilment in a way that could work for lots of things isn't it? I love distilled due to the silly push your luck and terrible tyre flavoured beverages you can make so I really wanted to like this but it does look a bit on the heavy side.

[@rahdo]

i would say the main thing that makes the game thematically rich is the function of the patron, and how they're an active source of tension and release in your "life" in the game progresses :)

[@Rik77]

It's not a game about playing music. It's about instrument makers who perform and support the music industry. So you manage patrons perform some music for prestige, and repair instruments to fulfill patrons requirements. You're primarily building instruments as a craftsman using resources. True, it's a euro game but I do feel like the game makes sense to me thematically in the sense that any worker placement is. Sure it's all abstracted and I agree distilled was a much more thematic game but this is thematic for a worker placement euro. Much like Lacromisa really.

[@JJ_TheGreat]

So, Luthier or Philharmonix? Which do you prefer?!

[@rahdo]

wow, that's a tough one! i like the sci-fi setting of phil more, but the art from dutrait is amazing for luth. i would say that phil is a bit more live and let live, which is better for us, plus it doesn't need the dummy player to work at it's best at 2p. luth's worker placement is more innovative. they're comparable length, comparable table hogs. i think to make a determiner, i'd have to go with the fact that i like luthier's variable setup more. but it's a really close one. both excellent, tough to choose!

[@BoardGamePix]

$279 good?

[@feldmanjb]

Start at the $99 one and then see if you want to add or subtract. They gave you a ton of options.

[@rahdo]

an amazing experience for $69

[@rahdo]

$30 more for metal coins, wooden pieces, and game trays makes no sense to me. there's nothing wrong with cardboard chits, and this is definitely not a game that needs dual layer boards to hold cubes in place or something like that. but that's just me :)

[@ThaineFurrows]

The theme speaks to me. But the pricing was a bit of an unpleasant surprise. Fair point, you get it plain for about 70 bucks. Unfortunately I like to deluxe my games. So I went for a higher pledge, and it's among the most I've paid for a game so far I can remember. Now I hope this is not just another standard Euro with nice art and an interesting setting.