Rurik: Dawn of Kiev & Rurik: Stone & Blade Review

BoardGameCo Patreon - Exclusive Content - / boardgameco
The Weekly Quack Podcast - theweeklyquack.com/
Rurik was one of my top 10 games in 2019, a game that came out of nowhere, to be incredibly loved by myself and our game group. We've played it again and again, and just when I was wondering where Rurik would land in 2020, they announced an expansion...Stone & Blade. With more leaders, more buildings, variable setup and 3 modular expansions...there's a lot going on here.
Stone & Blade Kickstarter - www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
TimeStamps:
0:00:00 - Introduction
0:00:34 - Rurik Overview
0:06:17 - My Opinion of Rurik
0:06:45 - What I Like About Rurik
0:11:13 - What I Don't Like About Rurik
0:14:17 - What I Can See Others Not Liking
0:18:36 - Rurik: Stone & Blade Overview
0:22:46 - Stone & Blade Review
0:24:33 - Rurik & Expansion Final Thoughts
0:25:30 - Closing
For great prices on new and used board games, check us out at: boardgameco.com/If you have an active BoardGameGeek collection set up, trade with us here: boardgametraders.com/#/
For media inquiries, please email [e-mail]

[@monomundo]

I love how you structure your reviews. They are crisp & clear 😊

[@BoardGameCo]

Thank you!

[@MerrillWhiteKalEl]

Just got this game based on your recommendation. Loved it!

[@BoardGameCo]

Glad to hear!

[@aSyphodias]

Kickstarter is live! Nice to see you got a review copy :)

[@BoardGameCo]

Yep, I love Rurik, it was a no brainer for me to reach out to them.

[@actorios]

Great review, I actually couldn't find it on your channel, but as soon as I saw it on the Kickstarter page, I had a good feeling about this. I hope you get a bunch of new subscribers that way! I haven't had the chance to play Rurik yet, but now that there's a new Kickstarter, I'll be definitely backing it.

[@BoardGameCo]

Yep, it just went live in my channel now. I had it unlisted for the Kickstarter page for yesterday

[@calebbarton5697]

Just getting to this video as I just purchased it and trying to see players’ possible perspectives as I continue to table it. One comment on luck-based combat…it is mitigated through the scheme action and being able to look at the decks ahead of battling. If played well, it can potentially guarantee hostage taking as well. 2VP!!

[@BillyIndiana]

Rurik has been on my wishlist for awhile, so I was pretty sure I'd back the kickstarter. Your video confirmed it. Thanks for another great video!

[@BoardGameCo]

Anytime! One of my favorite games of all time.

[@Kirk-Dennison]

Thanks for backing Billy

[@ShelfClutter]

Great detailed review. This one was completely off my radar until I saw all the love for it from the community. Not sure it has a fit in my collection but will continue to watch the campaign!

[@BoardGameCo]

Yep, it's a smaller game but basically all the content creators I value seem to love it right there along with me :)

[@wbeytel]

Hi Alex, I immediately backed the expansion as soon as it went live. Rurik is such a fantastic game, definitely my biggest pleasant Kickstarter surprise so far.

[@BoardGameCo]

Yep, off my radar completely....played it, then loved it.

[@wbeytel]

@@BoardGameCo Same here. I was intrigued enough to back it but it was really more of an impulsive decision than my usual approach. I am so glad that I did back it though. It is fantastic and my regular game group love it as much as I do.

[@justacynic]

I know I'm busy at work when I had no idea this was posted yesterday. DAMNIT. I am supposed to be done with kickstarter but I can tell this is in my wheelhouse. Decided not to back the original back in 2018 but with the expansion...yeah.

[@BoardGameCo]

:) Sorry.

[@stevekingswell9143]

Great review, thx

[@aba824]

I don't like action programming when it happens in secret, but here you see where other players put their workers so you can react in real time. Looks really nice :)

[@derekbowen5820]

The programming aspect reminds me of Trickerion a bit (my favorite part of that game's mechanics), but coupled with a short area control game instead of a heavy worker placement.

[@BoardGameCo]

Oh interesting... You suddenly bumped your trickerion up my want to play list.

[@PDXpackrat]

If anything, I appreciate that the leaders are NOT more powerful. It's an asymetrical game that doesn't feel that asymetrical. I had one game where I had the leader that could drag two soldiers with her. I used the ability a total of TWICE the entire game, but I used it to deadly effect in the final round to take troops from the south all the way up to Novgorod to make a play for 5 territories + Kiev + Nov (it failed ultimately, but only because I misplayed one of my other territory defenses). I think the game is very well balanced so far that I've seen.

[@Kirk-Dennison]

Thanks Michael!

[@TheSplinket]

I really like your reviews and you have been better at grabbing my attention then most Kickstarter previews so props for that 👏 even if it is making it harder not to murder my budget 😆 ive looked at a lot of Kickstarters that didn't really hook me & sometimes not at all then after watching your review on it sometimes completely changs my mind if not at least revisiting it for further deliberation. but this is one i saw that didn't catch my eye at all. So i didn't give it a second thought but then seeing yours & tom vasel's review has once again made me rethink it but now I'm at the point i have to do the process of Elimination since i have over 30+ Kickstarter with $100+ pledges

[@Quackalope]

Quack.

[@BoardGameCo]

Oh hey you :)

[@negoc78]

Okok, ill back it :) (I own the base version but we never played it yet) - im a bit disappointed, that the language versions are running on different Crowdfunding Platforms -> and, as far as i Understood, my pledge there will not help unlocking stretch goals :( I also want to add: there was a (VERY VERY) Minor quality issue in the base game with my delivery - and they replaced it without any problems -> so this maybe also helps deciding.

[@BoardGameCo]

Yes! They have generally been pretty awesome about component replacements.

[@robertdavey5582]

Fantastic game and deserves much more exposure.

[@BoardGameCo]

💯 agreed

[@Kirk-Dennison]

Thanks Robert!

[@Hero19093]

I just love this review! I have one question, what happen if I decide to take out the 2 new builduings or just the catacombs from the game from any reason? Does that affect the new expansion?

[@BoardGameCo]

It shouldn't that should work.

[@Hero19093]

@@BoardGameCo Thanks!!

[@RiHa_Games]

Your tone of voice was so different back then😂 Since resurgence is below this, how is the replayibility of resurgence, and which one would be better for 2 players.

[@knightprime]

Hey Alex, thank you for your very informative video, but what is the value proposition of backing this game on Kickstarter? Is the value of its components similar to that of similar games? Do you think it will hold its value? Why not buy retail?

[@BoardGameCo]

I cover that in the next video :)

[@XileboW]

So ranking rurik vs Lancaster vs inis, which one is better / would you add first to the collection?

[@BoardGameCo]

Inis, Rurik, Lancaster

[@Tharukan]

Hi! I passed on Rurik since I missed that there was a german pledge option, too. Still tempted by the english late pledge, though! How language dependant is the game? Seems to use more symbology than text.

[@BoardGameCo]

There's some text but definitely mostly language dependant

[@TheKevlol]

Hi Alex, do you own the neoprene playmat? Is it worth it?

[@BoardGameCo]

I'm not a huge mat person, too many storage issues.

[@svendhondt5352]

Already backed the expansion. I already have and love Rurik.

[@BoardGameCo]

Good taste. You have good taste :)

[@svendhondt5352]

@@BoardGameCo I noticed we have similar tastes, if you're ever in Belgium 😁 we'll play some games!

[@Kirk-Dennison]

Thanks Sven!

[@vikingfabian]

Love the game, have two gripes with it: 1. It is very point-dry (opposite to a point salad) 2. Its hard to pull away with clever moves, we always ending up one point away from eachother.

[@BoardGameCo]

Totally agree on both counts. 2 doesn't bother me, 1 is a reasonable strike but not one that stops me from loving it.

[@vikingfabian]

@@BoardGameCo Our running joke is "the war will be decided by a potato" :)

[@jhowd78]

The expansion will change that and its still tight. You have the opportunity to score in more ways and the scores are generally higher.

[@vikingfabian]

@@jhowd78 I will most likely both 3d print the new buildings, and get the expansion when its out (have no patience ;)

[@jhowd78]

@@vikingfabian for real DO IT! You will love all of it. Played it with all the new stuff last weekend. Everything...everything makes this game even better

[@TheSplinket]

Would you recommend backing this over others like northgard, nemesis, Monumental & massive darkness as I'm am currently backing all of these $150-300 pledges

[@BoardGameCo]

Oh man, with the hard questions. Short answer is it depends on your collection and preferences. All of those games are solid choices. I do believe Rurik ranks higher than any of the rest for me if that helps.

[@ghstrdio]

Do you have a review on scythe?

[@BoardGameCo]

Sadly not :(

[@jwspiker]

in for one of the limited 100 slots for now, not sure i'll keep it, the game seems really great but i need to watch some play through coverage. .

[@BoardGameCo]

It's great :) Quackalope has some great gameplay

[@petergross7235]

The inheritance cards seem like a nice way to make your hero character more unique. What did you think of that?

[@BoardGameCo]

I liked them but didn't feel they added a ton.

[@Littlebean-t2t]

Was originally considering backing it , but found it a bit to pricy with the expansion and I feel like for me the expansion would be necessary. Still looks like a really fun game from the gameplay I’ve seen. For this price however I would have preferred to go into massive darkness , which I somewhat regret not getting but I’ve backed to many similar style games.

[@BoardGameCo]

It made it to my number 6 game without the expansion but the expansion definitely adds a lot.

[@Littlebean-t2t]

BoardGameCo Still 50-50 on backing this game. How does it play with 3 players? As I feel like the gameplay may be slightly odd with that number. It’s one of the reason I ended up avoiding northguard despite absolutely adoring the Steam version.

[@BoardGameCo]

@@Littlebean-t2t We have literally only ever played with 3 :) We keep thinking 4 will be better but haven't yet tried.

[@CB-yh3db]

@Alex (BoardGameCo) - Good review. This game (Rurik) was totally flying under the radar. **Hey, are you going to give your opinion on the value proposition for Galaxy Hunters on KS and Ivion (Card game) (also on KS).** Rurik looks like a dudes on a map, but after seeing your review it doesn't seem like one. It's hard to articulate exactly what it is about this game that makes it seem like a straight Euro. I wonder if this game was set in fantasy atmosphere would it ignite more interest.

[@BoardGameCo]

It's mostly a euro yes. Has dudes on a map elements for sure but more strongly a euro and optimization game.

[@KadenIgnium]

Great review :) Btw I see you have unfair at the side. What's ur thoughts about that game?

[@BoardGameCo]

Coming soon :)

[@KadenIgnium]

@@BoardGameCo Looking forward to it :)

[@justinrrizzo]

I feel the same way about short round games.

[@BoardGameCo]

Yup, I always want to do more.

[@ScytheNoire]

Backing this on your, and some others, recommendation. Not a game you can easily find in stores. The things you said others might like sounds like people I wouldn't want to play a game with. Most of those I would find a positive. I like that it doesn't have too much combat, more historically realistic, not going into combat lightly, but trying to manipulate and out maneuver others.

[@BoardGameCo]

Agreed on all counts. For me I love this game. Solid top 10 and continues to be top 10.

[@tonybowers9490]

Well, you just cost me. :-) I've purchased the game and I'm pledged on the KS.

[@Kirk-Dennison]

Thanks Tony for your support. :)

[@BoardGameCo]

Lol sorry 😉

[@abdulrahmanreijerink]

You're early today!

[@BoardGameCo]

Cause there's another one at 10 :)

[@stevenbonham7136]

What’s the community think...worth it for usually only 2 player? Hearing the blood rage comparisons...I consider that two player passable...but barely... Thoughts?

[@ilqrd.6608]

Not worth it at all at 2p

[@Kirk-Dennison]

Copied from a reviewer’s post about Rurik from a FB group earlier today (Derek Funkhouser of Board Game Spotlight): “Oh yeah. This game made our top of 2019 solely based off our 2 player experience. This game scales incredibly well at all player counts.”

[@BoardGameCo]

Never played two player myself but have heard positive things.

[@Janisurai]

😮

[@foodini666]

Hour early today you faked me out

[@BoardGameCo]

That's cause there's one more coming at 10 :)

[@Holubchyk]

Good and enjoyable game with theme of ancient history of Ukraine. Waiting for expansion)

[@BoardGameCo]

Yep :)

[@razomax2724]

This great game lord I sent you a mail in your mail are will help me lord I hope from my deep butom heart to help are have Facebook we can talk in it I can give you my whtsup if have I will wait your reply and thanks I need this bro just give me one chance to improve my skills in design board games

[@BoardGameCo]

I shot you an email reply yesterday :)

[@razomax2724]

@@BoardGameCo Thanks so much I will check it now lord

[@homewarboardgame6134]

Kyiv not Kiev