5 Reasons you SHOULDN'T Back : Puerto Rico (Special Edition)

[@DukeJohnny]

but... but... 😅

[@DukeJohnny]

Holly cow, that's the first time ever a YT celebrity has pinned my comment!

[@RoomandBoardReviews]

@@DukeJohnny haha you're the celebrity! It made me laugh 😂

[@silverfang6668]

I am a hard core chess geek. I could get a very cheap copy for a few dollars at a yard sale. Instead, I have a very nice set. I like the way the pieces look. I like the way the quartz feels in my hand. I like the clicking sounds when placing the pieces. It’s a pleasurable part of the experience to remove/replace the beautiful pieces from the felt lined wooden box they come in. Does the opulence of the game do anything for the rules? Not at all. For me, and I’m probably in the minority, the aesthetic experience of playing the game is just as important as the game itself. It is a sensual experience.

[@ArgoKet]

I agree with this poster. Board game enthusiasts shouldn't feel guilty if they want *nice* versions of their favorite games. As long as the model is financially sustainable and *cheaper* versions of our beloved games exist, everyone wins. Board gaming is inherently a tactile, physical experience, and our lizard brain is giving good chemicals when the things we touch and feel are also aesthetically pleasing!

[@grey729]

So a few things for me, I loved Castles of Burgundy, I went all in on it. The building pack was a mistake as I never use it and I told myself it be a waste but the collector side of me just had to have it. When it comes to Puerto Rico I was going to back it while opting out of the Building Terrain pack but I think the #1 reason you gave here really hits hard for me. The collector side of me just wants to have the game in my collection but that money and even storage space could just be used for something better and as noted in about two years I think the hype and interest that I've suddenly had for this game will likely be long gone. With Castles of Burgundy the thing going for it was I really really enjoy the gameplay so getting the obnoxiously over the top deluxification is more justified. I enjoy these videos you put together as with many game campaigns what always rubs me is when you get too many people that just gloss over things and add to the hype opposed to giving you the real details to help navigate to better choices.

[@ryanhelster5543]

@@grey729 I have exactly the same thought process. I backed CoB on this 2nd wave and got the minis for the same collectors mindset. I love CoB. I know damn well I will play with the minis once and never again. Point 1 here also got me. I know when I get this game in 2 years I will be way less excited, it just isn’t in my list of favorites.

[@grey729]

@@ryanhelster5543 Just wanted to say that incase you didnt get the sundrop for the minis then you really should for CoB. The building Sundrop is pretty good unless you intend to paint all the buildings. One day I know I will put the buildings to use.

[@ryanhelster5543]

Pledge canceled, you are a legend Chris and here to save me from myself. Being relatively new to board gaming I’ve never played PR. I loved CoB and the latest special edition campaign got me bad with FOMO. I have no doubt that I will try the game with the minis once and then likely never again. I’ll try PR on BGA first, then come back during late pledging if I like it. Your point #1 was the most impactful for me. I tend to play with a lot of casuals, a punishing game will turn those people off immediately.

[@RoomandBoardReviews]

@@ryanhelster5543 definitely try it on BGA, it's a great implementation :)

[@christopherleary7934]

As someone who has never played PR before, the campaign interested me before it launched. Once it launched and the non-lizard parts of my brain kicked in, I decided to pass on this campaign and instead picked up the recent 1897 release for under $38 and got it in hand a few days ago. The primary reasons I would reconsider and back the standard edition is the larger building tile sizes and the building tray, but that version plus shipping is 2x what I just paid for such a similar version.

[@MarkieMark-ze1ks]

You are always spot on with your crowdfunding reviews. I've never played Puerto Rico, but thought about backing this as I love the game mechanics. I don't need the miniatures, but I love quality materials in games. Your number 1 reason has made me rethink my investment and will probably try to play with people at my level on BGA. Thanks.

[@JonathanNation]

Thank you for the #1 ... that really helped me decide

[@luisecmf]

I can guarantee the vast majority of folks bothered by colonization themes are not from these regions. Its just people taking offense for a different group, its highly condescending. As someone born in a Latin America country with similar history, we don't hide our past but are proud that we overcame it. I don't see these same people holding their pitchforks against Feast for Odin, a game that lets you pillage for loot and resources. I don't see anyone crying foul against Battlefield V, a game that lets you play as Nazi. If anything I'm highly worried that people need disclaimers that murder = bad or slavery = bad. Its entirely possible to derive entertainment from a theme and explore its multiple facets without endorsing its contents, otherwise we would have no war games.

[@Allthesmallteas]

100%

[@Baldricksturnip]

This.

[@cfosburg]

Well said 👏

[@NartlebyTheScrivener]

As a person who is bothered by colonialism themes, and who is not from a formerly-colonized country, I can confirm that you're probably right about there being a lot of us, but I'd like to offer my perspective, because it's not meant to be condescending. I'm not bothered by the colonial theme of the original Puerto Rico because it makes me feel pity for Puerto Ricans; you're right that they (and other colonized peoples) have a lot to be proud of. What bothers me about these themes is that I, as a descendant of colonizers, do not want to reenact that act of oppression. Even when it's "just a game", I don't like doing it. For the same reason, I have no desire to play as the Nazis in any game, Battlefield or otherwise. I'm not trying to reduce these themes to "murder = bad" or "slavery = bad", but I also don't want to do a genocide. There's nothing wrong with war games existing, nor even games about colonialism, but context matters. Jason Perez actually makes a great point about this in his videos on the subject - I'm paraphrasing a bit, but he observes that Puerto Rico really isn't "exploring the multiple facets" of colonialism, but simply taking as its fundamental premise the benefits that the colonizers gained from it. To the extent that the game's theme grapples with colonialism, it does so entirely uncritically. Again, I don't object to the game existing in its original form, people are allowed to enjoy it if they want, but it's not how I want to spend my leisure time, and it's why the 1897 re-theme appeals to me. I take your point about A Feast For Odin, although I might argue that the difference there is that the Viking raids of the 7th-11th centuries were not explicitly enabled by a systematic enslavement and exploitation of the global South, the effects of which continue to economically disadvantage entire continents to this day. I guess it's a matter of scale, though, and even if "less murder than the Holocaust" and "less exploitation than the Transatlantic Slave Trade" are meaningful distinctions to me, you can justifiably lump them into the same category if you want.

[@theartpersuasion]

the thing with Puerto Rico is that we never overcame it... Puerto Rico es STILL a colony of the USA and being sucked dry and neglected byt the US. We are NOT an intependent country.

[@Theonebeliever]

You actually convinced me to cancel my pledge. My group is sometimes lazy on set up and while i love the minis on games and it does bring me joy, the king maker one does get to me.

[@chasmoore1746]

Same. Kingmaker by seat position will be killer for me. I had pledged standard, but will be cancelling now. Thank you for the video!

[@Sporkedphro]

"...so If you are a person who knows that you love deluxifications, you know thats the only way to experience a game, I still think you're lying to yourself..." 😅😂🤣😅

[@TabletopTurtle]

I don't appreciate the idea of revamping themes to accommodate contemporary sensibilities, especially when those sensibilities are coming from a very small, albeit vocal, part of the community. I have no issue with people voicing concern, I'm just not a fan of publishers thinking those people represent a large portion of the community. I think people forget that the board game community is 1000 times bigger than the angry forum section on Board Game Geek. As much as I love the game, I won't purchase this because I'm against the retheming, much like the Libertalia retheme, and I'd wager there as many doing the same as myself as there are people who would have not purchased the release had it maintained its colonial packaging. It's okay for games to have theme that's a little historically messy and real. In fact, in my opinion, it's preferable.

[@raider363]

Lol the number of people who don't like the glorification and gamification of colonialism is not a small minority of the population. The majority of young people share this view. Litterally the main reason companies do this sort of thing is because it appeals to a broader market. They just want to make money and selling a product that people feel uncomfortable about isn't a good way to do that.

[@rmclean101]

Great game ....easy pass for me. I only play 1 or 2 players. Thank you for always trying to fight the good fight! 💪

[@EfrainRiveraJunior]

I don't agree with reason #1. We've played enough to know how to catch up to players that seemingly are way ahead. One thing is true. Not once a rookie player has won their first game in our group.

[@MonsterMotorsportsDiecast]

So, I am backing Puerto Rico with acrylic and buildings (but not the other stuff). So, Landscape pledge plus acrylics. It all goes back to my wife's all-time favorite game, Castles of Burgundy. We had the Alea version for years. So, I backed the special edition. I got the acrylics and did NOT get the buildings. We are still very happy that I opted out of the buildings. And she absolutely loves the blinged out copy. Now on to Puerto Rico, and did I mention that my wife is Puerto Rican? 😅 I used to own the original version with the Meeple Source upgrades, plastic dubloons, and thicker print and play tiles with the updated artwork. I ended up trading it away not because of the lack of game time but because I was being offered a much more valuable game in my own eyes. So, this is a great opportunity for me to get the blinged out special edition, and I know my wife already loves the acrylic tiles from CoB. But why the buildings this time? I have asked the creator if the buildings will block the text ability of the building tiles. They said no, which is what I wanted. I have asked if the sculpts will be different based on the building art. They said yes, which is also what I wanted. So, that is why I'm backing and what I am getting. And it really feels like you're almost talking yourself into backing it, at least at the acrylic level by the time you got to the end of your video 😅

[@EfrainRiveraJunior]

I jumped All-in into Castles of Burgundy. I've never played Castles before, and I still haven't. That's one expensive shelf decoration I now own.

[@grey729]

You should give the game a try it is pretty satisfying in my opinion. The solo mode they made for the special edition actually works quite well too but it took me a bit to grasp it confidently unlike the solo mode in Lords of Ragnarok which I dunno if I will ever actually learn.

[@EfrainRiveraJunior]

@@grey729 - Of course I'm gonna give it a try! 😂I haven't found the time to learn, and then teach everyone in my group. But I will, some day... Shut up!

[@panosliakos3653]

I just love Deluxe Games in Big Boxes! I backed All-In on Castles of Burgundy, I recently bought Foundations of Rome, I own Terraforming Mars the Big Box, Yedo and La Granja Deluxe with everything... you understand. But, I won't touch any of PR pledges... And you know why? I play only 2-player games, with my spouse! And PR, as a game, is just OK with two players - and superb with 3+, as we know. So, it's not worth, for me, and I'll stay on my classic edition...

[@ChadHensley]

I have gotten so much better about crowdfunding a lot of help definitely comes from you. However, this game has been on my must buy list since the announcement. With a wedding coming up in about two months I was hoping you could possibly talk me out of it but now I just want it more! Thanks for making the attempt. Anxious for you to talk me out of the next game.

[@chadstilson8804]

Your #1 reason is my ONLLY reason. My game group are SO good at this game and I am not So its just a slog whenever I play with them.

[@jankogo]

You bring up some valid points, but to me it´s very fun to have an upgraded version. Maybe some of the buildings will bring bloat, but I have already blinged out my old edition a lot and it always bothered me that it was just flimsy paper VP tokens and tiny colored discs for people. This will for sure appeal to my main gaming group compared to the old version. I think what I like the most with the main editions are the workers, the resource upgrades, the playmat and the acrylic tiles. I am still undecided about the buildings, but I think they are potentially more functional compared to the ones in CoB.

[@bushibayushi]

fantastic video!

[@gundam1]

6TH REASON: Crowdfunding bloated plastic games is a dumb way to throw away your money

[@MeganDixon-vi8xe]

Brilliant- funny, relevant, and very very helpful :)

[@leventeopelcz6203]

I did not know about the kingmaker aspect. That is a mayor flaw in my eyes. Can you imagine a chess where a player playing with white would have 30% more chance of winning? Basically a flawed game. No point. I can get past all the other non game essentials being pricey and whatnot, it's just personal preference. But a flawed design is not. I cancelled my pledge, thanks man!

[@EfrainRiveraJunior]

I had at one point around 30 Kickstarters/Gamefound/Backerkit games on the way. Now my Shelf of Shame is pretty much full.

[@RoomandBoardReviews]

@@EfrainRiveraJunior 100 percent, it's so easy to creep up on you

[@patrickmathieu9689]

Tu m'as convaincu, j'ai pris le ALL IN.

[@RoomandBoardReviews]

@@patrickmathieu9689 hahah j'espere que vous l'aimez :)

[@EfrainRiveraJunior]

We had a player in our group that would be in the category of those who would break the game. We learned to win the game regardless of seat order. But, then again, we have played the game a few hundred times... and yes, we have the data to prove it. 😁

[@blindGuardianGR]

I got CoB special edition retail in some crazy discount, played some games, i absolutely loved it, my group absolutely loved it and got most the bling this year in the reprint. Puerto Rico, though, never clicked for my friends... I got original version + the 2 expansions sitting on shelf but I can't see anyone else playing it with me 😅 not to mention I loathe kingmaking... Solo mode by D Turczi sounds tempting but not that much money tempting. Will probably be available somewhere on bgg I guess.

[@ronaldbharvey]

All of the people who like Puerto Rico to be surprised and dismayed when they get around to playing this game.

[@jonathantomlinson1598]

I couldn't care less about the behind the scenes stuff. I'm a customer. Not an employee advocate.

[@sernln4931]

I'm dropping my landscape pledge, thanks for saving me $100! Still a beautiful game to own tho.

[@EfrainRiveraJunior]

I've never agreed with Jason Perez's political views on the Puerto Rico Board Game, but they burned him badly. Live and learn the consequences of "handshake deals." Mr. Perez didn't watch the McDonald's movie with Micheal Keaton.

[@rain1224]

It's akin to selling overpriced skins in video games. At least board games are pretty good at keeping their equivalent of microtransactions to being cosmetic/not significant gameplay additions.

[@theshogunstein6475]

Great opportunity to find a used copy of the original for way less money

[@bmrigs]

Awaken Realms knocking it out of the park again with another multi-million dollar KS success.

[@RoomandBoardReviews]

It's what they do best!

[@dougwarr9459]

Oooops too late! Already backed! In all seriousness I can’t wait!! No remorse here!!!

[@RoomandBoardReviews]

@@dougwarr9459 awesome I hope you love it :)

[@hansaugustsson7288]

The old one is good enough. Better get a new game than try to improve what is already good. Avoiding to focus on divisive politics or on always winning also makes life easier. It's just a game, not like chess or MtG. (those are also just games, but slightly more "important")

[@EfrainRiveraJunior]

I've said this before, I'm from Puerto Rico. We've played the game a few hundred times during the past two decades. None of us, or any fellow Puerto Rican I've presented the game to, has been offended by it. We know our history... our _real_ history; not the one SJWs offer.

[@parisceive4963]

I didnt realize that being uncomfortable playing the white masters bringing in slaves to compete for wealth on our island (yes, i'm also Puerto rican) was an "SJW" thing. I have total solidarity with Jason.

[@raider363]

​@@parisceive4963pretty much exclusively grumpy conservatives use the term SJW un-ironically. So yea... it's not a "SJW thing"

[@EfrainRiveraJunior]

@@parisceive4963 - Which white masters are you talking about?

[@williamgarcia-medina9989]

@@parisceive4963me too. I’m Puerto Rican too. We are tired of the racial democracy myth. Black history in Puerto Rico needs to be handled with care. I be they ain’t gonna releerse the Marcos Xiorro expansion. Stop playin. No se hagan.

[@EfrainRiveraJunior]

@@williamgarcia-medina9989 - ¿Qué?

[@pyrotelekinesis7253]

I like deluxification, but as you said, the minis will slow the game down and waste time.

[@dragos_serghie]

"I don't have any principles.. " [crickets]

[@RoomandBoardReviews]

@@dragos_serghie I said it, it must be the truth!

[@yicama2098]

Im definitely getting the standard edition with the San Juan card game. The figures and plastic don’t entice me. I’m also very excited for the Solo-gameplay.

[@corenthian9426]

Do you have any knowledge of where I can find a miniature for my Ace of Spades?

[@RoomandBoardReviews]

@@corenthian9426 I'd ask the discord!

[@corenthian9426]

@@RoomandBoardReviews I shall await

[@munkyman33]

Number 1 saved me $200. I would play this with my kids as well as friend and punishing isn't helpful. Plus, since my gateway of Catan, I loath king making

[@path4061]

I already own the standard edition (15 years old now). I am most likely to get the standard edition pledge for: the dual layered boards, expansions, wooden victory tokens and acrylic tiles add on plus unified rule set with 2 player mode already incorporated instead of having to look it up all the time when it is just my wife and I playing. I have someone to whom I will pass my current copy of Puerto Rico. The only thing pushing me away from the Special Edition is all those worker minis (I don't own zombicide even though it is a fun game because I hate dealing with all those zombie minis since the plastic trays are semi-specific to each different zombie shape and by the time we are done gaming I don't want to have to spend so much extra time just putting the thing away). 3d terrain pack is a hard "NO" from me just like it was for Castles of Burgundy special edition (I have the castle minis which are plenty of "fun" sizzle without muddying the flavor of the steak).

[@Vote-4-Pedro]

Reason 5 is enough. I know it's a capitalist system and we live in contradiction, but the game is about literal historical slavery of Black (and possibly indigenous) folks. To repeat that today in the cost of labor and not paying people gives me the ick. We don't live in a vacuum where our games aren't informed by and inform institutions people. I think there is an important distinction to make when it comes to this game vs. say, a Feast for Odin. I've noticed folks both on BGG and and Board Game Reviewers/Influencers who believe this is an apples to apples example of hypocrisy which it is not. Viking history and pillaging of peoples is also history yes, but the legacies of that history do not have a significant negative impact - the denial of access, dignity, and quality of life - to those peoples in broader Europe (who evolved into groups like the English, French, Irish, etc.). Abhorrent yes, a part of history, also yes, but that history does not make peoples' literal lives harder right now. Puerto Rico is still a colony, not independent, and those that would argue that it does not want to leave the U.S. run into the issue of political status as a territory and not a state without the same voting power as others in the states. There are practices including the sterilization of Puerto Rican women to experiment with birth control and "contain poverty" - some of whom are still alive. Stories matter when they inform and continue to shape the power dynamics and outcomes of peoples' lives from casual racism to job denial to over policing. Groups are not monoliths, and even if there are some from these populations that may be okay with this, personal opinion is not the same as the reality of the continued systemic oppression of poor people and people of color (and other marginalized groups). I believe the industry as a whole would do better to understand that and properly compensate/do the work to improve marginalized communities if they wish to use their stories/history; e.g., A Feast for Odin doesn't need to pay back the English who seem to be doing fine but if you want to tell a story about peoples who still face systemic struggle, I think it's more than theme or even cultural consultants. How can we work in partnership with communities in efforts to transform systems is what I think about. Scholarships? Proceeds to educate folks on history? Donations to service groups? Labor to enact political change? Food for thought. - Some Random Community Organizer, Person of Color, Child of Refugees, and Teacher with a degree in Ethnic Studies who watches every Crowdfunding Countdown and thinks about this stuff A LOT.

[@EfrainRiveraJunior]

I hated Puerto Rico on BGA. We prefer TTS.

[@stevenpyt]

I'm primarily a solo player so am interested in the solo mode. I've got CoB: Special Edition and the solo automa play there is great. So I'm hopeful it will be a similar situation here. Similarly, I'm watching if the stretch goals will address some of shortcomings you've mentioned and mitigate established strategies, like the ones announced in Day 5. Standard edition has poor value IMO and folks should just go out to get the 1897 version instead if they are just looking at the standard edition. If I'm backing this, I'll probably take the Special Edition with acrylic tiles (as in CoB) and avoid the 3d buildings altogether. The overheads of including them in the game is not worth it as they don't add anything to the gameplay itself. Loved the look of the 3d buildings though!

[@grey729]

I kinda wish they would show off a demo of the sundropped buildings. I imagine they eventually will do so in a future update after the campaign ends.

[@MonsterMotorsportsDiecast]

Every time you say catch phrase, it makes me think of the movie Free Guy 😂

[@jonathantomlinson1598]

Some of your reasons for not backing the game is that Puerto Rico plays like Puerto Rico. So that has nothing to do with this special edition. That's just about the game in general.

[@RoomandBoardReviews]

@@jonathantomlinson1598 yes, exactly. But is pertinent to this game if people haven't played it before, which countless comments express

[@dcrbdh]

Awakened Realms go from using AI art to recycling art. Several million dollar campaigns and they go cheap on art. Also the minis are gonna be annoying and fall over in comparison to the discs.

[@EfrainRiveraJunior]

At least, when it comes to Puerto Rico, we know we will use and enjoy the deluxification. We actually made are own deluxified components.

[@morgaknightgames]

This is an easy pass for me because I've never played it, and my gaming group doesn't have much interest. Phew!

[@raider363]

I've had pretty much no interest in playing Puerto Rico since I realized the thematic implications of it years ago. And it's a shame they screwed over their cutural consultant but hardly suprising these days. Companies have less and less morality and look for every opportunity they can to exploit their workers to make a few extra bucks. But just because they all do it doesn't make it right.This game in particular reeks of "souless cash grab" to me and I've no interest in it.

[@EfrainRiveraJunior]

You know you want to and will back Puerto Rico Special Edition.

[@EfrainRiveraJunior]

Chris, you _have_ to try the first Puerto Rico expansion. It's fantastic.

[@RoomandBoardReviews]

@@EfrainRiveraJunior oh that's great to hear, especially because I know it's your top! Definitely will

[@EfrainRiveraJunior]

@@RoomandBoardReviews - You will love it. We don't care about the other expansions.

[@Exozik]

Isn't the 3 changes made in the variant are going to patch the current meta of the game?

[@applecorc]

Alright. Number 1 convinced me.

[@chrismichael9556]

Ahh ofcourse. You can't have a board game without talking about the injustices of.the past . .... and I'm checked out now 🙄

[@RoomandBoardReviews]

@@chrismichael9556 see I think you can! And that's the point

[@DumahAtreides]

I'll say that point 5 is enough for me to avoid the game (not bringing on Jason into this). I'd probably have looked for a cheaper edition of this down the line otherwise.

[@cfosburg]

I looked on BGG, people are review bombing this game for one reason. 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@bmrigs]

The woke twats.

[@ImpossibleWhopper111]

Man.. why are you making me not to buy this? Why 😢

[@RoomandBoardReviews]

@@ImpossibleWhopper111 because I am the devil and you've been a very naughty child!! No treats for you!!

[@onlinegametime]

For me i feel like all the 3d print is a waste making the game look nicer, but will make the game set up and clean up longer. Making worst for Players who feel like they are losting or wasting time. I think they should just make a Puerto Rico Online Video Game on steam, instead.

[@RoomandBoardReviews]

Yeah set up and tear down is super important to me the further I get into the hobby, and is a real turn off when things aren't efficient.

[@rafakruczek5622]

Before watching I got one reason: New Frontiers is better game...

[@jankogo]

Too late! 😂

[@Tjorriemorrie]

5:45 how the hell is this different to today: where it is just called immigration for minimum wage

[@Tjorriemorrie]

0:23 I'm still waiting!! How long?