Rondels & What They do - 20 games discussed!

[@jeffhiatt1682]

This was really well done, Jon. I can tell you put in a lot of work grouping Similar mechanics and then moving on to the next group which deviates from the previous group with a new variation. And I fully support your inclusive definition of rondel.

[@ludwigmises]

I find myself returning to this video time and again. I’m working on a design that may end up with a rondel. Fun stuff!

[@albertocontu5242]

I loved this! I'm glad you went for this instead of a regular top 10!

[@ludwigmises]

Thanks for this excellent overview of rondels. I had ignored New York Zoo because the theme didn’t grab me. But I now have an appreciation for its clever and intriguing rondel action.

[@ludwigmises]

Here I am watching this video again. Thanks!

[@tobyr21]

Jon, Thanks for a fascinating discussion of the Rondel mechanic. I'm glad you threw a wide net. Generally, I find that discussions of board game mechanics put me to sleep, but this one was fascinating all the way through. I will soon play my first Rondel game: Merchants of the Dark Road. I'm trying to think of Rondel ideas that no game (at least in your discussion) might have covered. E.g.: (1) A game with at least a dozen different kinds of Rondels, and rules from jumping between them. (2) A PvP game where combat only occurs when two of the player's pawns land on the same rondel space. (3) An auction game, where players bid for the rights to decide what kind of function each slice of the pie will have. (4) A stock trading game where the Rondel gradually raises and lowers the market. --- If any of the games you discussed implemented these 4 ideas, I apologize for forgetting them. - toby

[@JonGetsGames]

Those are very cool ideas! Honestly none of them match up with any games I mentioned, or any games I've played for the most part. I will say there is a PvP game that uses mancala (a type of rondel according to this list) and it's called Tao Long. You don't combat when hitting the same spot through, you just the rondel to attack each other in the sky. Very cool game, it was on the short list for this video.

[@Vadjong]

(Meta-)analysis of boardgame mechanics and design is extremely fascinating, please keep geeking-out!

[@SeekerLancer]

Sovereign Skies and Scorpius Freighter look really cool.

[@ryans8408]

Nova Luna is such a pretty looking game. I'm going to have to try it before I buy it but it is an interesting way to use the Rondel mechanic. Great discussion Jon.

[@craigj9181]

Another great video Jon!!

[@AaronWilsonDreams]

Thanks for the Sovereign Skies recco!

[@ludwigmises]

Love this video!

[@afrank525]

Nice video - would love your thoughts on the rondel in Vikings!

[@JonGetsGames]

I very briefly considered this, but even with a broader view on what a rondel is I just don't see this fitting. The tile market in Vikings is in a circle, but it's effectively a line that has been artistically wrapped around. You never make a full loop through that market, it simply constricts and you always start from the same spot and can't go past the last tile.

[@yannisguerra]

Great video. The flow between games was really cool. I wish you would have linked the first game with the last...so you would have rondelled over the rondel games🤣

[@JonGetsGames]

Gah, that could have been cool! That's what I get for coming up with this "flow" idea last minute and running with it instead of thinking on it longer.

[@ludwigmises]

I love rondels so much, I’m considering changing my name to Ron Del.

[@tc3p]

So glad that Crusaders is on here!

[@Vadjong]

Maçao (now Amsterdam)

[@JonGetsGames]

I considered this early in my research but decided it wasn't really a rondel, back when I was overly fixated on sticking to the core rondel ideas. Subsequently I loosened up my restrictions for this video and yeah, I should have re-considered this one. In retrospect I wish I'd added it, though I'd have had to kick something else out and there were already 20 interesting games to discuss!

[@saintsalieri]

Where is Monopoly?

[@JonGetsGames]

I briefly considered this, but the fact that you have zero control about how far you go made too far out for me to get to. I think the choice of how you travel (or if you force travel or not with regards to Meduris) on rondels is integral to the mechanic.