Interview With Cole Wehrle: Arcs And The Gravitational Pull From Root and Oath

[@BakedGoods]

I love about knowledgeable and articulate Cole is. You can tell he knows what he's talking about and that he loves what he does. Hearing him talk about games is so surreal and makes a 50 minute video feel like 15 minutes.

[@RollforCrit]

The initial plan was to only talk for 30 minutes. Time flew by way too fast.

[@GhERM2SOIED72]

16:55 I am completely smitten with this game I haven't played. I feel so bad that my game-partners couldn't handle a commitment to Oath and it's systems, but the base Arcs is 100% going on my wishlist! I was just listening to some older Ben Prunty (FTL) music yesterday while thinking about Arcs, so I'm really glad Mr. Wehrle mentioned FTL! A pair of my friends are in a local Pitch cards-league, and we've just gotten into Euchre, so this will fit right in with them! Libertalia is already a household favourite- I'll try a game or three with the altered reputation reward thresholds- that rebalancing does seem better. (I'm already making alternate card-art with One Piece characters).

[@GhERM2SOIED72]

(People being hard to pin down and making a situation where lying consented to are things I consider regarding hidden-role games, but just hearing that WehrleGig's next project is a hidden role game about queer subculture means I'll hold out on acquiring anything until Molly House is released!)

[@Kojimalosophy]

"Root was never intended to be expanded" he says, and now it has 6 total full fledged expansions lol, but hey! The game rocks, the expansions are AWESOME! Even though 3 of them haven't actually come out yet (the marauder, clockworks 2, marauder and underworld hirelings packs).. so if anything I'm glad things didn't go as planned there with the "not intended to be expanded" design

[@RollforCrit]

Unfortunately the insert Jonathan was using didn't plan for all the newest expansions either, so he spent an afternoon reorganizing and trying to make sure everything was correctly sorted while fitting well into the box!

[@GPlewright]

Cole is an excellent writer also. His designer diaries are exceptional.

[@RollforCrit]

They are a blast to read. I wish I got the time to ask him about the 1700s Trick Taking Games he brought up in one of the entries.

[@Big_Dai]

Are they? I don't think I've ever gotten anything out of any of them..

[@RealJahzir]

I am super excited about this game. I think I have been waiting for this game since I played Rex:Final Days of an Empire

[@salmanqaisar7377]

Rex has probably got THE best board game cover ever!

[@joerihessels8230]

Great interview & editing Will! The arrows were hilarious, and you were definitely not the only one called out ;)

[@RollforCrit]

I must get all expansions and add-ons. Tomorrow.

[@RozanovaHunter]

Fantastic interview, really enjoy hearing the designer insights and inspirations.

[@jakesanders9834]

I hear Cole say "historical record" and all I can think of is Quest for the Galaxy's "historical documents" lol I demand a re-theme!

[@picivyvortac2641]

Cole, you seem like a cool guy. If you ever find yourself in west Texas I'd be down to buy you a beer (or beverage of your choice).

[@37stu]

Very Interesting! Thanks! I sold Root because too many barriers were in the way but really enjoy Oath despite the complex rules -- curious to see where Arcs will lend

[@RollforCrit]

I think see where you are coming from. Obviously I didn't get to see Arcs in action yet, but if I had to guess, Arcs will be easier to get into vs Root because the asymmetrical barriers will not be at the start of the game, but rather build up as you progress. This should make it easier to grasp new rules slowly, instead of having to learn a new factions rules and how they interact each time before the game starts.

[@steverap8680]

Apple changed the experience of 'unboxing' something. Even my mother, who got the new watch, made a comment while she opened it. It sounds like cole understands this and brings it into his game design.... is it easy to setup, does it fit in table, will you want to play it again or dread the setup/tear down.... I love his games

[@RollforCrit]

My friends tend to joke about how happy I get with a good insert, but that can make such a difference when it comes to opening and putting away a game. It deserves its own time and design process, just like any game mechanic.

[@DoctorOzelot]

Cole Wehrle is becoming my favorite designer...

[@Eihcra96]

Great interview! Getting the interviewee excited about answering is a skill. Very interesting and I'm so much more hyped for the game now!

[@jeffpenningtonjr.9766]

Welp, I’m getting it.

[@thomgizziz]

FOMO is hitting hard for you...

[@ZebraCatfish73]

Very interesting discussion. Any one that wants to try their hand at board game creation, this is the brain you need to pick! Great insight into a creator’s thinking process. Thanks for the video.

[@supermegavega]

Great interview. I'm really excited to see Arcs.

[@salmanqaisar7377]

Brilliant interview 👏

[@allencordell]

This is an excellent interview

[@darling0223]

As a person whose english isn't my first language, the downtime in oath is really long for my group especially when drawing 3 cards and reading their ability, do you think the downtime will be shorter in ARCS?

[@RollforCrit]

I can't say for certain, but since a large portion of the game looks to be playing tricks using cards with mostly symbols, that will likely help cutdown some playtime. There will probably be more during the intermissions when you decide how to spend your power for rewards and if goals were sucessfully completed or not.

[@nomadcaravantales84]

Argh, 100% wanted a game by these guys, but 3 players minimum is basically impossible for me.

[@RollforCrit]

Its always a huge challenge, balancing a game to fit a wide range vs what is best for the mechanics. I do not envy game designers trying to find out if they can actually make the game fun at multiple different player counts.

[@nomadcaravantales84]

@@RollforCrit Game looks amazing and you wouldnt be let down by Cole.

[@theinnerparty5295]

I haven't played root or oath. The animal thing and the themes just put me off unfortunately.

[@RollforCrit]

Even if a game has fun mechanics, if the art and theme don't mesh with you then you're not going to have a fun time playing it and that's ok. There are plenty of games I didn't like as much because the art/theme didn't really speak to me. Then again I am more of a Ameri-game player so theme plays a really big role for me.

[@thomgizziz]

How is your engagement so low? 1.6k views and a dozen comments...

[@thomgizziz]

This was a pretty empty interview if you wanted actual info about arcs and not vague pontification.

[@ChadUrsoMcDaniel]

The design diaries on BGG have plenty of details about Arcs. I liked this as an interview with the person who designed the game.

[@ZebraCatfish73]

The interview was more about how he got to Arcs. The evolution of a game. You’re right there wasn’t a lot on the actual game of Arcs but I thought it was an important and interesting interview nonetheless. There are already so many reviews and breakdowns of that game on KZbin already so I was really for something fresh from the designer. It was refreshing to just let the designer off the chain and let him run free for awhile. I was thoroughly engrossed by what he said. It was a good interview. I was hoping I wasn’t going to get more of the same of why you should back his game, and I wasn’t disappointed. Great interview!