SHŌBU Review - with Tom Vasel

[@jamiesajdak7147]

Thank you so much for reviewing our game! This is mine and my co-designers first game and that it has been reviewed by the dice tower and given the seal of approval means a lot! Thank you, thank you!!

[@shanerion]

Seems like it deserves even Seal of Excellence. Impressive design, beautiful aesthetics. What an amazing job.

[@jamiesajdak7147]

@@shanerion thats super nice of you to say! Thank you so much! :D

[@marcinmarcin5802]

Id love to buy this game, but it's unavailable in Poland

[@CrazyMonkeyMusic]

looks really great :) unfortunately not available here in germany

[@dominiclohry1782]

excellent design!

[@DinobotTM2]

I love that rustic elegance. Feels almost like it was handmade in some artist's garage. It is absolutely gorgeous...

[@redsilence980]

Absolutely fantastic game. If "perfect information" abstracts are you thing, you're going to love Shobu. Literally one page of rules (the rest is just examples), but very, very deep gameplay. Bonus points for looking amazing :)

[@Calistake047]

Where puzzly meets elegant. Love this.

[@quietego6723]

Looks like a neat little abstract game. Great review Tom!

[@Desolate1134]

Considering you could carve and paint a Shobu board on a picnic table and collect your own rocks and.. rope. Shobu as an idea alone is very generous, perhaps a classic in that you may play it without the official board.

[@robertmaniac]

This game looks rustic yet elegant.

[@coriburdusel1550]

Xa

[@weathered5661]

Heavy Cardboard streamed a playthrough of this during gen con. Check it out if you're thinking of picking this one up. Great review Tom!

[@stusmith1389]

Very professional and helpful review.

[@zegikniet9999]

the rope is just a way of telling direction, it does surve A purpose because in late game pebbles may be scrambled

[@Darwingreen5]

... i think I'll just make a board of that. I would probably use felt and glass beads.

[@tommygrahn1516]

Seems like a game I would like,good review as always Tom

[@XD-rd8zd]

I find the box pretty attractive

[@Indiana_Knows]

I’m going to try and make this myself

[@IdeaSlug]

Would be easy to make it yourself, as is the case with many abstract games. If you really love the game though, you should support the creator!

[@StKnightis64]

@@IdeaSlug I agree with your comment on supporting the creator. But I will add this. I bought the game yesterday. And it’s a given that peoples opinions will vary; I personally am not a fan of the boards they include. Some videos on KZbin will advertise this woodwork like it’s a piece of furniture. Don’t expect that. It’s an upgrade over punched out cardboard. I will probably in time upgrade my boards to maple and walnut. Great game btw.

[@DanielDo187]

The game looks nice and also really enjoyable. But what does the rope do exactly?

[@DinobotTM2]

Just separates the two sides of the board, yours and your opponent's.

[@DanielDo187]

@@DinobotTM2 My understanding is that you are allowed to play on either of the four boards. So it's nothing more than an aesthetic accessory?

[@Haldered]

@@DanielDo187 helps to orient the boards i guess?? it's not necassary but it seems to help when first playing the game. also every abstract needs a gimmick lol

[@DinobotTM2]

@@DanielDo187 helps organize the boards, nothing else.

[@WilliamJohnD]

As far as I recall on your side of the rope you can make passive moves. You can then make an active move on the opposite colour board, on either side of the rope.

[@ravenshadowz2343]

So you can only push one piece off at a time?

[@sawderf741]

Fun fact: There are 51 unique opening moves Over 2 1/2 times that of chess. (I did not count mirrored moves.)

[@superdeluxesmell]

So the piece of rope serves no purpose?

[@ccggenius]

Are those actual stones, or plastic bits made to look like stones?

[@dancdow]

Real stones

[@justinemery2194]

ccggenius12 Actual Polishes River stones. No 2 sets are alike

[@danielengel4593]

The straight milled lines don't fit the rest of the ancient components at all.

[@RandomPerson-nd2ey]

It doesn't make you think of sand gardens? That's what came to my mind when I first saw it. Like little sections of one where the rake went in a straight line were taken out.

[@turtlevader]

I love how I could just make this game myself super easily and make it look better. Not really a fan of how this version looks.