5 Reasons you SHOULDN'T back : Lands of Evershade

[@asavi3]

You know what, you’re right. So I’m going all-in, thanks Chris!

[@RoomandBoardReviews]

@@asavi3 wait a second..... Haha

[@Mepper.]

When I heard this was more narrative-based than fighting-based I became much more interested. When I saw they had a standee version I was even more hyped. When I saw the big special edition upsell push my interest dampened a bit. When I saw that there were 2 extra adventure add-ons that I would just have to get for $60 because I'm a completionist my enthusiasm dropped a bit more. When I saw that the final delivery wouldn't happen until the second half of 2026 (which could really mean the end of 2027) my enthusiasm dropped back even more. Now that my impulse backing has come under control I can safely sit back and watch this one without pulling the trigger.

[@wiblick]

Definitely excited for 'more narrative than combat' but if I'm still in the hobby in 2027 I'll pick it up then.

[@shocknawe]

Just buy it when it comes out after watching a few reviews and game sessions to see if it's gonna be even remotely your thing. That sounds more sensible to me.

[@n4tune8]

You read my mind. I especially don't like the fact that the two extra adventures are add-ons, whereas they should have been monetary stretch goals.

[@lystic9392]

Palad'n... Huh. I kind of like the sound of that. A palad'n, a worrier, a rouge, and a ringer. We call that a party!

[@moo2k4]

JOKE'S ON YOU CHRIS I'VE ALREADY BACKED AND YOU CAN'T STOP ME!

[@RoomandBoardReviews]

@@moo2k4 dang I was so close too!!

[@moo2k4]

@@RoomandBoardReviews AND I BACKED THE DELUXE VERSION! MWAHAHAHAHAHHAAH! But also I'm a solo player and this looks like it's going to scratch that narrative adventure itch so hard for me. Also, I only have TWO campaign games on my shelf that aren't beat! So ha!

[@vincevella4178]

Same here, I've also backed it including the 2 extra side missions. I'm a huge fan of narrative base games, that's why I bought, kings of ruin, fall of avalon, and sleeping gods.

[@colinsmithers6961]

I needed this, my wallet needed this... we needed this.

[@Skol999]

Subscribed, since you just saved me a couple of hundred quid! I will go finish EF/ISSV/TG instead!

[@Vequeth]

Im a board gamer and I need saving. Willing to trade ISS Vanguard and addons for therapy.

[@sideswipe2615]

My reason is that I bought ISS Vanguard used a year and a half ago and haven’t touched it since so I DEFINITELY shouldn’t get another campaign game, especially with STALKER on the way.

[@RemcoHaarlem]

Before watching, is it because it's ANOTHER CAMPAIGN?

[@joshuamartin1211]

I think as a counterpoint to the upkeep critique...as someone that has DM'd before and wanted a faster, easier way to run campaigns, this seems like the right amount of fiddly. I hope they have plans to continue with this world because I think the foundational mechanics rock.

[@shaike82]

It is a TTRPG in a board game - for better or for worse... If you are experienced with TTRPGs - you will love it, if not - then it depends...

[@EricWoning]

Thank you -just decided that you are right.... step away from that credit card!

[@adamnikles7335]

Two words why i wont be backing: Isofarian Guard. I know and LOVE that game and ive barely scratched the surface. And it was $250 for the all in, not close to $400 after shipping.

[@oliwardcomics]

I wasnt interested in this game at all until you mentioned ALF. I miss that little guy

[@RoomandBoardReviews]

@@oliwardcomics it's the race to be!

[@beerman2000]

Inexplicably doesn't give a lid for the character board? Oh, I think there's about a $40 reason why it's not included in the base(ment) version. It's working amazingly well also, if they've got you angling for the deluxe version.

[@corenthian9426]

You might have actually convinced me to not go all-in. But we both know Hextra will pressure me into backing it so I might as well just give up now and do it.

[@RoomandBoardReviews]

@@corenthian9426 yeah sure, if you want to lose to Hextra... If you want him lording that over you.... For the rest of your life...

[@corenthian9426]

@ but he makes pretty inserts!

[@asavi3]

@@RoomandBoardReviewsdo it

[@asavi3]

@@corenthian9426I got you fam

[@Wylte]

Dang, #1 got me!

[@michelv1816]

I want to go all-in on this just so I can roleplay an Alf named Gordon Shumway that just repeats "No problem!" and tries to eat cats all the time. That would totally be worth $463 CAD + $107 for shipping. Is there a stretch goal that allows us to rename the game: "Lands of Evershade: Melmac Reborn"? It would be a missed opportunity if it didn't come to pass...

[@RoomandBoardReviews]

@@michelv1816 of all the reasons I am confident yours is the most valid

[@bcantui]

You should watch Shelfside’s review of the prototype… this one is hard to not back. They were super critical of Grimcoven with a 5/10 but they are gushing over LoE with 9/10s and very well explained why. Your video as always helps, but it may not be enough this time. 😬

[@nitro1048]

He gives Grimcoven a 9/10 aswell if they fix certain things wich in the mean time they already did for the most part. One of his friends who is usually fairly critical even called it the best game he has ever played. People keep getting a hard on for that video but most didnt even watch 90% of it or track whats going on in the mean time. It was a prototype with atleast 18 months of development and playtesting left , they are also sending out these newer versions for even more playtesting on top of there in house playtesting to these said channels and getting feedback wich they are using to make these changes. Just because some random dude talks about a game for 90 minutes doesnt make them any better than any other youtube creator. Boardgame co gave it a 4/5 with the potential to become a 5/5 if they fix said issues and he gave Evershade a 5/5 already.

[@bcantui]

1. I know they said 5/10 with a potential to be 9/10 if they fixed stuff, but they stuff they needed to fix was WAY more than what they need to do for Lands of Evershade. And at the point I had to give money to them it was 5/10, not whatever potential the game could have. I watched Shelfside’s video twice, I also watched game brigades videos, boardgameco, and every single other one out there. Since grimcoven was my FOR SURE back since they announced it for this year over any other campaign even Lands of Evershade. But I ended up not backing and deciding on secondhand market if they actually deliver the changes, it’s a gamble. And yes they have made changes these past few months and I’ve been keeping up with them. While some do address concerns I can see new concerns rising from how they are dealing with them. Fiddliness being a main concern. I sincerely hope it turns out to be a 9 or 10/10 and I will get it secondhand if so. Probably even at a better price than now as it normally is with AR games, but my main point was that the risk of a company making a game a 5 to a 10 than a 9 to a 10 is far greater for the former 5/10 game, plain and simple. Lands of Evershade is far more polished and ready as a product and it is in AR’s wheelhouse with games like Tainted Grail and Kings of Ruin on their background. Grimcoven is their first real boss battler iteration, so I wouldn’t be surprised a 2.0 version comes out or something for it if the game doesn’t do great (similar to their first Tainted Grail iteration). 2. I love Alex and continue to watch him, but i don’t listen to the score he gives to games from CMON and AR for his obvious conflict of interest and bias. Regardless if you disclose it or acknowledge it, by the nature of it a bias is still there in the back of your head whether you want it or not. It is impossible to be 100% impartial in his specific situation. If he really did enjoy grimcoven to say 4/5 great for him; however, from gameplay I saw and I saw every single one of them, it didn’t seem that good YET. Thanks for the discussion though and I really hope both these games become or remain amazing.

[@HazardGoat]

I tried to watch that guy but he is WAY too shouty.

[@bcantui]

@@HazardGoat that’s an argument I cannot disagree with 😂 he’s humor can be loud. I’d recommend watched the final sections where he scores and says why at least. But if you can bear it it’s good.

[@Sporkedphro]

"I said lower back but they didn...they didn't listen!" hahahaha

[@spike2439]

Hard truths. I might actually listen to your reason number one on this game

[@critiquegeek7987]

I watched this entire video and my main takeaway is get the special edition, not the standard edition 😎

[@dvoid665]

I'm getting this, but I'm definitely not getting the minis since you'll barely see combat. Also, the pricing on this game is insane if you want all in with sundrop and premium books.

[@timf7354]

Pal-addins as their name suggests, are great for groups. :) I'm all-in on this one. Perhaps I could've used that money on an Awaken Realms tramp tat....but that seems painful.

[@RopeBunny.]

So, get a redundant all-in pledge? 🤔

[@dilandoalbatou7522]

You’re number one reason is also my main reason to stay away from these kind of games now. I have so many campaign games I started and not finished yet or not even read the rules yet… No more campaign games until I have finished at least three of them. 🤪

[@CB-yh3db]

I love the game but the major turn-off was the high fantasy race tropes that they went with. Elf, Dwarf, Orc. I wish they switched it up ever so slightly like Gloomhaven did. I understand why people use these tropes because they are a shortcut. We all know what Elves are like. We have all seen LoTR. This is why I liked what Stormsunder was promising. Yes, I know that Stormsunder may never see the light of day but I liked how they had some tranditional characters but also had a “Half-demon Pirate” and pair of “sadistic Vampire Twins.” Granted, Stormsunder didn’t have “create your own character” so making generic races might be the “way to go”. They (Evershade) did have as a stretch goal, a “Shrew” race that can poison people so I thought that was interesting. How about a Necromancer build? Lovely game mechanics and story seems fantastic but the characters seem so cliche.

[@timf7354]

19:58 "Did they take you to the secret dungeon with the swings?" LMAO! That's the next Awaken Realms game. Fifty Evershades of Grey.

[@siriactuallysara]

That was fast laugh out loud😃

[@shaike82]

Already over 2.5M$

[@xSean0607]

So much bloat and a darn costly bloat. I'll stick to Ballads and tales this month. The art alone is worth it. It's my last crowdfund this year

[@dcrbdh]

Pal (as in "hey buddy ole Pal") - La - din (rhymes with Bin). ..... sorry, I'll show myself out

[@MakeYourHeartBeat]

Reason 1: Full of messy AI Art. No clear design philosophy.

[@CarstenBernstorff]

Subbed👍👍 hate it...... But what you are saying is true😂😂😂

[@MichaelJahhdogscribbleboy]

No more! After backing many of their releases I can't fit anymore in my game room...

[@RoomandBoardReviews]

@@MichaelJahhdogscribbleboy I know the boxes just keep getting bigger and biggerrr

[@MichaelJahhdogscribbleboy]

Oh. And I need to finish ONE campaign game!!!

[@HazardGoat]

I learned from games like Gloomhaven and My Father's Work that reading out large chunks of text to a group is the death of fun. I am considering backing Lands of Evershade but ONLY for the solo experience. I'd need to learn more about how that's going to work, though. Also, "Alf" is just too silly.

[@iphatbass]

It's basically a DnD, that's enough reason for me to not back it 😂 I hate those kind of "games"

[@DarkJackMF]

10 minutes in...."actually I like the implementation of the keywords and you should buy the special edition for the character board covers"....lol

[@annekejanku9759]

Are you filming this in a closet? XD (Eliina)

[@RoomandBoardReviews]

@@annekejanku9759 haha yeah you bet! Sweet linen closet baybeee

[@jaulloa21]

A vendetta against the buyer is worse than the companies. Take away all their income..

[@KidJV]

these campaign games are getting expensive.. id rather play video game with friends

[@Urek968]

I can't bring myself to buy a game with so much ai art in it. I could accept a little bit of ai art but this whole game is just filled with it and it looks ugly. Im not spending 300 dollars for a game with art I could make myself. I might purchase some older titles by awaken realms but I will steer clear of all their new games if they keep doing this. Also Ai art dates your game as ai keeps getting better and better so evershades art will look like crap compared to ai art 5 years from now.

[@nitro1048]

Nobody cares dude , for all we care its made by a turd the only thing that matters is the end product. I assume you make your own clothes and food aswell and dont own any electrical devices or modern furnuture + house but your house is made from wooden sticks. Also your the first person I see that doesnt like how it looks , actually everyone and there mother complements it cause it feels like Elden Ring. As for the last comment everything will date , have you ever looked at board games from 10 years ago or Nintendo 64 games compared to PS5. Since you can easily make this yourself let us know when your 25 million game is on gamefound so we can order one ;)

[@Dullahan3470]

Evershades art looks very similar to Etherfields, which was most definitively not AI art. It’s just their style.

[@Urek968]

@@Dullahan3470 Im not a fan of etherfields artstyle either but some of the exploration tiles in etherfields are really nice looking. While literally everything in evershade look ugly too me. But thats just my opinion.