Oath Review - 2021's Most Exciting Board Game

[@d20plusmodifier]

To anyone worried if they can teach Oath: You just watched a guy talk about it for a half an hour, I believe in you.

[@PeterHaderlein]

You knocked it out of the park with the art on this, mate. Fantastic job!!

[@IamBIGuUS]

There's also a teaching intro scenario built into the rulebook

[@tobiascaetano3812]

@A Y /..

[@livingstorytelling]

Epic! 😄 and yes, great, great art!

[@AnotherScribbler]

You'd think! But I'd watched two "How to Play" videos AND this review and still ended up making my friends stumble through the first game with me for 4 hours. It was fun, but MAN did I feel like a screw-up.

[@Idekii]

"..these cards create spontaneous narrative and seamless roleplay on the fly..." So to illustrate this, I recently played my first game on TTS, Supremacy oath with a random setup that caused a lot of Hearth cards to be on the table. For the first portion of the game, it seemed like the Chancellor would be able to maintain a stable realm - I had only one advisor in Arcane, a suit that turned out not to be terribly prevalent - meaning I was getting resources slowly and was mostly nibbling on the edges of the empire - one player played a Vow of Peace card that prevented him from campaigning in exchange for a defensive bonus (?!), and one just kinda seemed to be accumulating resources without doing much of anything. Then, just as we were getting close to rolling for a stable regime win, two major things happen. First, resource-buildup guy turns full Genghis Khan, revealing a Lancer card in his advisors (doubling his attack roll) and taking every Imperial territory in a single campaign. Desperate, the Chancellor offered me Citizenship, knowing I was the only other military force by that point, and believing that the one relic I had made it so I couldn't get the Successor objective (hold more relics and banners). I got him to offer me my (not his) pick of relics from the reliquary - bad mistake on his part, since one of those relics allowed me to get an additional relic for cheap. So I mass my forces with his, we take back enough territory from Genghis Khan to get the Oathkeeper title back, and I prepare to spend the next turn relic hunting so I can become the successor. Just then, Vow of Peace dude reveals the Vision of Rebellion, dumps all his favor into getting the People's Favor banner and retreats to the one territory he had taken before taking the Vow of Peace, which, as it turns out, had a Keep and a Shield Wall (translated: lots of defense dice). I spend my resources mustering forces and getting my third relic, hoping for a stable regime; Genghis Khan, however, takes one territory on his turn, taking the Oathkeeper title back and foiling that plan. With no alternative, the Chancellor takes his and my forces to seize the People's Favor back by force. Now there are two things to remember about campaigning in this game. First, normally the attacker can sacrifice their warbands to add to their attack roll on a one-to-one basis. However, holding the Vow of Peace means your opponents can't do that when they fight you - after all, who's going to lay down their life fighting a guy who isn't going to attack you? Second, because there's a x2 face on the defense dice, a small force can repel a much larger force given enough dice. Between the dice from his denizens and the People's favor, he had nine defense dice. We rolled, and his two warbands generated a roll of 16, whereas the Imperial force got a roll of 9. Normally we'd just sacrifice a bunch of warbands to beat the defense roll, but we couldn't. And that's the story of how, in the face of invasions, tyranny and bloodshed, a pacifist monk was able to rule the empire by convincing the people to just give peace a chance.

[@SwedishWookie]

That is bloody aaawesome :D

[@GadBoDag]

Great write-up! I read it twice just to enjoy it again.

[@jamesbrock7908]

So, like the glitch in Civilization where Gandhi goes nuclear

[@Idekii]

@@jamesbrock7908 More like when you're about to get a science victory so everyone declares war on you, but they're all still coming at you with knights and you've got tanks

[@BillGrant3]

This was one of the most enjoyable comments I have ever read on KZbin

[@Hennu_TRM]

This man grew a beard during this review. Incredible game.

[@richy1988]

The weird thing is he filmed it in one morning before breakfast

[@JeffGoris]

I thought he was going to look like Cousin It by the end of the review.

[@unkindfairyman]

A good beard at that

[@cranediva]

😂

[@maximilian9000]

Suspect he shaved it and filmed the review from the end forward

[@gregorymorrison5818]

I struggle to believe there used to be an SU&SD without Tom. What a brilliant bloke and addition to the team.

[@theBoonarmies]

He has gone from "this new guy is ok I guess" to "aw man, the new SUSD video didn't have Tom in it at all" remarkably quickly. The bloke is a beast.

[@kudosbudo]

I struggle to belive Tom doesn't have a beared.

[@bird9230]

Tom grew on me very slowly up until he went crazy.

[@jordanbeard6687]

I've never seen a SU&SD review that more deserved the comment: "It's about the cones"

[@TorIverWilhelmsen]

(Low rumbling is heard from the direction of Dunshire)

[@losfp]

Yep about 2 minutes in, I was thinking hmmm this feels a bit Cones. And then two minutes later Tom called it Chancellor of Dunshire and I pretty much LOLed. I think some people will love this game, but I already know it's not for me. Not beige enough and hardly any spice trading at all.

[@RayknLP]

The amount of work Tom puts into these reviews to make them that bit extra special is insane. It reached a point where it's like Fight Club, where you can rewatch the thing after knowing the twist and experience a whole different thing. I really really love it. (please also get some sleep though, dude)

[@caiofernando]

This channel is definitely the only one that makes reviews that I have watched more than once just because they are so good.

[@charlesmcguffy]

Tom loves the word 'evocative'. It's his 'elegant'.

[@beesforbreakfast]

I hear if you chant “EVOCATIVE ELEGANT VISCERAL” three times into a mirror, a copy editor crashes through your wall and murders you

[@estebanrodriguez5409]

Ja, I remember that sketch when Matt said Elegant... and Paul made a cameo from Canada

[@thebatman6201]

Get this man a thesaurus!

[@frankharr9466]

Also "Different".

[@corpsious]

Not to mention "into the weeds" :P

[@lentilstew]

god, I thought the funniest moment would be Tom spitting out a single rogue die like he'd had a tooth punched out, but... ... ... Tom's slow horror movie turn to the camera to say "but" made me immediately click "like," pause the video, and laugh so deeply that I leaned forward to press my forehead to the keyboard. wonderful. what a treat it is to have Tom on this channel

[@chochkeys]

Hands down one of the best SU&SD reviews I have ever seen. Went from having never heard of the game to wanting to play it now. Top notch stuff, wish I had a group for it.

[@DrawTimeShow]

You guys struck gold with Tom. Each of his videos betters the last. This was so good. Gotta say your podcast on Oath convinced me to get it- this made me excited for my decision

[@TheMartinChronicles]

Yep, good ole Tim.😆

[@DrawTimeShow]

@@TheMartinChronicles 😂😂😂 oh no! I need to proof read

[@dontnormally]

What podcast was about Oath?

[@Pludderkal]

Loving the fact that the longer the review goes, the more scruffy Toms beard grows.

[@DooDooDaddyTV]

L E G A C Y

[@mattparkinson8471]

One of the greatest subtle SUSD jokes I've ever seen. Top work from young Tom.

[@z-man7312]

This.

[@jsnrvst]

And his hair grows longer too. I wonder if he filmed the review over several weeks or if he filmed the review in reverse, getting shorter and shorter haircuts and trimmed his beard shorter and shorter between takes.

[@buttonasas]

@@jsnrvst Definitely in reverse.

[@mikkeljustesen]

I have played this multiple times with my girlfriend, just two people, without the Clockwork prince, one playing the chancellor, one playing exile and we found it really enjoyable. As the exile you start at a disadvantage but we found it really cool to try to overcome the existing regime. We have multiple games, which are designed for two players, but for the lasts months this has been our go to game. So good!

[@SamFreelancePolice]

Thanks for sharing! My girlfriend and I play board games together all the time and rarely have friends to join us, so usually it's just us. We started playing Root recently and it very quickly became our favourite board game, so I decided to look into getting this one for us. I got the impression it wouldn't be worth it with just two people from this review, so this is good to know! The fact that one player is disadvantage at the start is honestly an upside and will likely make the games more balanced for us haha

[@dabestofdabest697]

So many board games, but no one to play them with

[@CatLegoDiver]

*sigh* same here!

[@jmd810]

I haven't even bought any games since lockdown started in my country because I'd feel sad looking at them unplayed and accumulating dust on the shelf

[@naveedclifton]

(I think) I know the feeling. Thank goodness I managed to grab an Arkham Horror: The Card Game Core Set.

[@seansmith7824]

I feel your pain. I feel so fortunate to live in New Zealand, where we have managed to keep COVID (touch wood) out of the country so far.

[@naturesfinest2408]

Im in a similar position. No one wants to learn the more complex games so i have to stick with easier ones. Also, no one want to play abstract strategy games. Including but not limited to chess and go. Yeah you can play some with an ai but thats not the same.

[@Fancymancer]

Oh my god can we talk about the tiny “ah!” That plays when he flicks the mini at 8:44

[@IstasPumaNevada]

We can, but I don't have much more to say other than "I shall listen to it several times in a row because it is a highly amusing little detail". :)

[@ethanreimund2549]

Thank you for pointing this out to me! I completely missed it the first time

[@clayhobson6576]

Something very pleasing about the fullness of Tom's face paint.

[@theBoonarmies]

He got uncommonly good coverage on it, especially with the Gold. 10/10 production value.

[@nfinn42]

He cared enough about us to do his eyelids. Man's dedicated to his craft 😊

[@WoodlandDrake]

I think one of the main things about Cole Wehrle's game design is that "winning" is never really the objective of the game. Sure, some people want to win, but for the most part a game is an excuse to get friends around a table and spend time together; the game itself, as an activity, is the point of playing. If Cole could design a game that never actually ended, he would; and honestly, I think Oath is his closest attempt yet.

[@moonprincess_xoxo]

id love a game like that honestly.

[@theslimeyboi]

I've heard multiple stories for Oath where people have said they don't care about losing as long as they leave their mark on the game

[@brianricks4941]

With regards to cost, I'm surprised he failed to mention Tabletop Simulator. Definitely give it a try there to see if its for you, before dropping over $100 on a game that may be a dud for you and your group

[@NAJALU]

This should be higher

There's an official and free mod of this game in the Tabletop Simulator workshop!

[@razzendahcuben]

Maybe it's worth mentioning in passing, but let's not forget that TTS is a chore. I would know, I have 400 hours in it. Am I glad it exists? Yes. Would I EVER use it if I had sufficient IRL opportunities? No.

[@GameCrawler]

You can always sell it for about the same cost you got it for (or more if it goes oop) if you don't like it.

[@super_7710]

1500 hours in TTS. I’ve bought many board games that go unplayed as I simply have no one to play them with. TTS I don’t get to use the physical copy, if I have it, but I actually get to play and enjoy the game, often teaching it so others can buy it.

[@josephnewell90]

You got me at "Chancellors of Dunshire" with an audible laugh, well done

[@annithegiantoctopus]

It's about the chancellors!!!

[@josephnewell2578]

Respectable name bro

[@josephnewell90]

@@josephnewell2578 Nice

[@beargrylls235]

It´s exceptionally satisfying to watch someone loving his job and giving the last of his soul to make others happy! Kudos

[@secondengineer9814]

I think one of the most interesting parts of the game, is that because it's so difficult to win, sometimes you're just playing to see what happens. Sometimes you align with someone just so they treat you better next game. If the Chancellor has had two rounds in power, the exiles tend to team up and citizens realize they are yappy lap dogs with no real sway! A Chancellor is overpowered by the Citizen who helped him seize power, knowing it would get him closer to the throne. So much politics!

[@AmiableGrace]

I swear, every video Tom has more pears. Quinns collects plants. Tom collects pears.

[@JohnGottschalk]

Is this just an homage to the humble reference pear?

[@D3usExMachina]

By the end of the year, he is gonna do a whole review in a pear costume

[@raffaelsteinmann7296]

@@JohnGottschalk R.I.P.

[@strctlykilz]

This is yet another SU&SD reviewed game that sounds like I would absolutely love to play but that I will never, EVER get my own friends on board with lol

[@Botanica_Gaming]

Do you live in nh. Im fishing for a group

[@strctlykilz]

@@Botanica_Gaming unfortunately no :(

[@DooDooDaddyTV]

I absolutely love this game. Just need a consistent group to play it with (3-4 players is best) and it's amazing. Totally understand people who wouldn't like it due to balance and kingmaking but in my opinion, it just works in Oath. It's supposed to be a big sandbox of randomness. The group needs to just be open minded and have fun with it.

[@GreenHam77]

The more I look at this game, the more it reminds me of my favorite game, Inis. Mainly due to those balance/kingmaking issues (which I just go with the flow on and hope to see some cool stories from that), how important the cards are (though Inis's drafting makes it a bit different), and how my own play in Inis has evolved with the group I used to play it with in college. The stories of certain cards, territories, and battles were not from the pieces themselves but how me and my friends interacted with each on our own terms and with our own ideas. This game looks right up my alley...just not right now. I need to make another regular group do I could ensure that I get the full experience from here. Regardless, this game has my attention and Tom has made the greatest passable review I've seen in a while!

[@DooDooDaddyTV]

@@GreenHam77 Oath is probably my favorite game at the moment and now that you mention it, it has a TON of Inis vibes which is also one of my favorite games so I don't know how I didn't make the connection before. But yes, I can confirm that you would love this game if you don't mind the kindmaking element and just have a laid back group to play with. The stories are endless. Cheers!!

[@RadishTheFool]

Yeah, I'd love to find a consistent group for this that would gel well with both the complex and competitive rules AND the story elements. Most players I know would like one but not the other.

[@andrewnewell1142]

Oath is definitely the most love-it-or-hate-it game this year. I love it though for all the reasons in the review.

[@RottenJeeves]

and I hate it. :)

[@guyselway4865]

I've played it twice, I have never hated a game the way I hate Oath.

[@tren3220]

​@@RottenJeeves Can you explain why? (researching the game for my group and am on the fence atm)

[@tren3220]

@@guyselway4865 ​ @RottenJeeves Can you explain why? (researching the game for my group and am on the fence atm)

[@guyselway4865]

@@tren3220 To be fair I played it on TTS so it may be better physically and we didn't get to experience the legacy aspects of the game so that could have changed things but the base design of the game infuriated me. The whole thing just seemed incoherent with a bunch of ideas that fit together awkwardly, then there's the language of the game which is impenetrable. If I'd played it a few more times it may it may have all started to come together but Oath is so unwelcoming to new players.

[@GretSeat]

I have literally no idea how to play this game. Even after watching this review. But I apparently need this game now?

[@pfefferle74]

That's the problem with SU&SD videos. They are really less review and more sales pitch.

[@jeffreymonsell659]

@@pfefferle74 I find that most reviewers get too bogged down in mechanics and lose sight of what it feels like to play the game. SU&SD is great at conveying how it feels to play the game, which is what I'm looking for when considering whether to purchase one. If I'm really interested in how to play the game, there are videos that specialize in that.

[@DaughterOfFrankenste]

@@jeffreymonsell659 Thoroughly agree. They're the only board game channel I consistently pay attention to for this reason. Quinns' Arctic Scavengers review never really taught the audience how to play the game with more than nominal understanding. They often gloss over essentials, and that's not because they want to teach you how to play--they want to teach people why to play. It might feel sales pitchy, but when ity comes to a board game player like me, the review style of SU&SD is supremely helpful. Arctic Scavengers remains the only deck-building game I have ever personally owned, and I can't think of a review that would've gotten me into that game in any other way given how thoroughly joyless I find games like Dominion and Ascension.

[@toasToaTs]

Susd is a hype machine and this game is all hype but is actually pretty bad. Read the bgg comments.

[@jeffreymonsell659]

@@toasToaTs It does have an 8.1 on BGG. Seems like people are frustrated because it is an RPG masquerading as a war game.

[@raeelemental7084]

I'm at 21:33 right now. I've come to realize, Tom and everyone in shut up and sit down do such a great job at describing and weaving this tale of all their board game reviews. It really elevates and is one of the reasons why I may have become obsessed with boardgames even with my access to videogames... Especially this one, Oath. The way everything was explained and told in this grand scale.... It's almost unbelievable that this is a boardgame. I could've sworn if I heard this it would be a D&D RPG or videogame... Tom has fully me convinced to try this now... Then the BUT segment came and I've forgotten this is a review video... Like that blackmail card, that transitioned stabbed me like a poison dagger! I am now coping and on the edge of my seat, praying and hoping! The caveats aren't too bad. As I really really want to try the game after all of the introduction and stories Tom shared so far... I hope this new dream boardgame isn't too good to be true... Thank your for reading my ramble. I had to since this team's videos has singlehandedly introduced me and sparked a new obsession of mine. And I thank you, for bringing this introvert out and try boardgames for a change. Rather than being stuck in the endless gacha and Mobas videogames have been stuck in for the past few years.

[@gordoneats]

Just gotta say I appreciate all the hard work that went into the production of this review.

[@BenLeinweber]

This is such a great review that I can't stop watching! This is my forth time around! I've only had the opportunity to play two games so far, and this review hits it spot on. The first game, nine of us really knew what to do at any moment, and the rules can be somewhat obtuse given a particular situation. However, after the winner wrote the chronical for the first time, everyone realized how much role-playing can be in this game. Our second session was a complete blast, as one of the players quickly became a greedy trader in secrets, constantly using the combination of Alchemist along with the Wizard school to drain the economy of favor without actually loosing a secret. The player took that role on, full bore quickly adopting a Scrooge McDuck personality to the delight of all at the table!

[@macdam11]

Loving the Age of Mythology soundtrack in the background :D

[@paladinlt]

Was searching for this comment.. brilliant. Just brilliant

[@ryanwinpenny4210]

I heard it and my ears pricked up!

[@MarcusTullman]

"Did I leave my laptop on? 🤔 wait a second, I haven't played AoM for weeks wtf"

[@jimmyp1594]

Tom, you are incredible. I am so glad that you are a part of the equally incredible SUSD team. I love the use of dated British TV show themes at the start of the review (Supermarket Sweep and horse racing?). Also, I really want Oath now. Thank you all so much!

[@LuukP20]

The intro was absolute gold. Well done guys.

[@drlobster9291]

clean-shaven Tom is a little unsettling

[@tedchevalier]

Nah, he looks good!

[@leostmark]

The lack of a beard is the least of my worries about his appearance.

[@emmaplaysgreen2849]

Unshaven Tom actually reminds me of someone I used to work with many years ago, back in the UK, who was similarly baby-faced and remained so over the ten years that I worked for that company. Even in his mid to late 30s, with a teenage kid of his own, he still looked as if he'd only just left school. I can see why Tom normally has a beard, it definitely suits him :-)

[@ShirHac]

@@emmaplaysgreen2849 That's what beards are for. :D

[@housecaldwell]

Wait, that was Tom??? (I literally thought it was his roommate at first.)

[@billie_the_birdie]

I find remembering which cards are out and what they do too much, but watching people really lean in and play is so much fun! Last game I didn't play but provided documentary-like voice over; it was a blast

[@caiofernando]

Sounds hilarious to have a narrator following the game lol

[@bj-earn]

Hey this is the first time ever I comment on a youtube video but I just have to tell you: as a fan of SUSD for several years now who watched every of your videos, this is by far the best one I saw so far! It makes me wanna bring out my Oath copy immediatly and just play with the components. Thank you so much. I'm really impressed.

[@Chumposaur]

His scepter is a recorder with a foam crown stuck on top. Gold!

[@MrNicktwin]

You Sir, are an amazing addition to this channel! Loved this review style

[@fsecco]

Oath is also my favorite game atm. It's beautiful, the gameplay is incredibly tight (but also chaotic) and the storytelling is just perfect. Great review

[@thomashughes7336]

How much did you get it for?

[@fsecco]

@@thomashughes7336 got it from the KS

[@DustinPorta]

Two years later this game is still languishing at my local perplexed retailer and I’m re watching the review for the umbth time to decide if I’ll buy it. The beard gets better every time.

[@ryanb6074]

Most entertaining review to date! Absolutely lost it at the end skit as I'm so used to bearded Tom I forgot you started out the video shaved.

[@freebordor]

I own Oath and it’s my favorite game. Yet here I am, watching a review. Helps remind myself how great it is.

[@r.j.1485]

4:29 Ah yes, the classic blow roll technique. Challenging, but guaranteed to roll a four+ as long as you don't choke on it first.

[@bencecserkuti7110]

The amount of work and ideas put in this video is at least as impressive as the game. Incredible game, incredible review. And the beard!

[@OSWguild]

This review was like watching The Book of Eli. By the time I got to the end, I found myself watching it again because of the "How did I miss that the first time?!" moment.

[@THESP-rz3hg]

As a long time fan of the channel- how is Tom so good at the SUSD review!? The costume, the jokes, the turnaround & critique, the absurdist bit at the end. The way he's fit his voice to the channel is bordering on obscene. I half expected a cameo from Paul at the end there.

[@androidthumper]

Tom - incredible. Your best work. Nailed the ending, literally guffawed. Thank you

[@monochromatiatic]

What a phenomenal review! The clever little tableaus are such a treat to look at and Tom's love for this game is such a shining beacon. Bravo!

[@GrasenGM]

Saw this video this morning. As it turns out, it's the present I'm getting for my birthday tomorrow!

[@TheR971]

Been looking forward to this video for close to a month now! Amazing stuff!

[@CrabQueen]

Gang school, damn, now thats a DEEP shut up and sit down cut

[@adamwoods6373]

The gang school callback was priceless!

[@TheHallbjorn]

I love Gang School. Just rewatched it recently hoping to get City of Remnants to the table for the first time (still hasn't happened).

[@flatbat777]

Good, I wasn't just making that up in my brain... Amazing call back!

[@dgmstuart]

Came here to post this. Love it

[@mattyx79]

Brilliant review, my favorite from SU&SD. Tom, thanks for your dedication, reverse beard was a nice touch. The enthusiasm for this game really came through, I can’t wait to play.

[@relativelyboard9959]

Oh yes, a review i've been waiting for!

[@humandave5417]

Love the gang school reference on the white board, City of remnants what a game! Think I might be getting Oath after this and the podcast! Top work again Tom!

[@Esto_es_un_Poema]

This is... just... my favorite review... Like, lets put aside the fact that I've been waiting for it... since I backed the game. Upon playing Oath, I realized I've been wanting to play more and more... because I can't stop thinking about the stories, the struggle for power... And even more than that... the pure magic of playing, and that's what I believe that Tom captured perfectly. The fact that he shares the stories built throught the games he has played just talk a lot more about the experience than simply explaining the rules. And... that's all, thank you... lets play sometime... :D

[@jamessloan_tech]

4:20 that first whiteboard sequence ... Amazing

[@brutus_salazaar]

Tom without a beard... He looks 16! Tom with a half painted face - *nightmare fuel* Tom nailing another fantastic review - Priceless I can't even with this day - so much drama! The day is won - Tom has the super power of growing a beard in minutes! *breathes a sigh of relief!* Oath - Tom's Legacy Beard Review!

[@bennypuylaert8990]

One of the best productions ever from SUSD. Great work Tom!

[@HoboMeow]

I could listen to Tom talk about this game for at least one eternity

[@07jackg]

Tom lad - you’re getting better, braver and solidifying your own unique style more and more with each new video. Keep up the great work 💜

[@JoshDavidLevy]

This is probably my favourite of the SU&SD reviews, and there have been some great ones. Tom is such a great addition to the team and his comedic style is just the best. 01:50

[@chrisjohnphillips6352]

A truly splendid review! Thank you for your passion and attention to detail.

[@tjpinedo4072]

This is the third time I’ve watched this video. Once when it came out, again when I was debating between buying Root and Oath, and now again to commemorate my newest addition to my collection. Truly a masterpiece. Well done, Tom, get some rest.

[@federiconastasi3824]

Why not buying both 😁

[@secondengineer9814]

I remember playing a game of Oath with three different cards that allowed you to make binding deals with that card. Except they each had slightly different things that were allowed to be traded there. So there was much negotiation about using one binding deal to force a deal at a later date at a different card. Truly a wild game with amazing politics.

[@domedagskatten]

The callback to the City of Remnants review is kind of amazing.

[@Argusthecat]

I miss gang school.

[@karljohannordensten9139]

I've played the game three times but never noticed the obvious Hide the Pain Herald at 7.42! Love it! Great review!

[@jedfromyourlocallibrary]

Love to see Oath getting reviewed by SU&SD and with such panache!

[@Adrius91]

One of the best reviews on this channel.

[@Talliesyn]

If you ever wondered how long does this game take - you've just watched a guy who went from clean cut to fully bearded during the rules explanation.

[@Sparky2618]

Great review. I may have zoned out in the actions explanation because the Age of Mythology sound track kicked in... So relaxing.

[@lausdeo4944]

Just finished my third play (and got my first win!). This game is brilliant, beautiful, and full of surprises. Can't wait for more.

[@beorik]

Love the shoutout to SPACE-BIFF! I am a big fan of both of yinz, so I'm happy to see the crossover!

[@julianbailey2749]

I am at 0:35 and have just seen the single frame of the Oath box replaced by a Quaker Oats box. I know already that this is going to be good.

[@CrisWhetstone]

Oh good. Another game of proprietary cards that require learning and linking together. Cole is such a genius. Thanks for taking one for the team again, SUSD.

[@meathir4921]

Oh god, Tom’s descent into madness is more than complete…

[@Sandman382]

Covid really sped up the fall for a lot of people.

[@elwinpillai]

best review I've seen in ages, well done!

[@edrichburnop991]

It took well over 12 months of staring glassy-eyed at a dozen or so walkthrough and preview videos for me to grasp what this game even is and decide that I did indeed want to play it and you've neatly managed to sum it all up in 25 minutes here (with extra time allotted for some very quarantine appropriate facial hair shenanigans and my next Halloween costume). I'm seriously impressed! Thanks for all the hard work you put into this one Tom! Now if only there were a way to send this video back in time and save me a lot of trouble... When looking at Oath I'm reminded of the panel on game design that SHUX hosted (was it 2019?) when Leigh argued convincingly that each designer is really refining different variations on a central concept or idea that is centrally important to them. Oath bears a strong resemblance to Pax Pamir in terms of the board layout, core gameplay elements, and theme but it somehow manages to be both more general in its relatability and also more specific in its story-telling expression. It also isn't locked in to one time period which allows for the emerging narrative at the table to continue on from one play to the next not just on a meta level for the players themselves but also for the story expressed within the game. It's a neat trick and I don't think anyone could have arrived at a design concept like this... What if... Pax Pamir BUT didactic fairy tale theme AND dynamic map locations AND shared & individual card tableaus WITH persistent deck construction IN an episodic campaign format? ...without first taking the time to iterate on several of those concepts along the way. And yet, it feels so singular and idiosyncratic that somewhere in the back of Cole Wehrle's mind that combination of ideas must always have been there. I really like that Tom referenced Discography in the review because this is a concept which can be applied in any medium of design. New ideas are incorporated along the way with each volume but because they're all coming from the same designer/artist/writer there's a thematic through-line that ties them together such that further exploration of one volume also informs your understanding of the others.

[@ravenjoker254]

This game is certainly wonderful and quality, with unique mechanics and concepts. We borrowed a copy from a local bordgame place, tried it out with our playgroup, we had fun, we were really charmed by the quality of the gamepieces. We bought it soon after, excitedly opensd it - and to our heartbreak, we found out the nice "deluxe" tokens and the chronicle book we found in the borrowed copy were kickstarter bonuses, and would not only cost us extra 40 euros on top of the 110 we had spent on the game, but we can't even have then until January of 2023. It may seem like a small thing, but it truly did break our hearts, and was a bit infuriating. The game is well-made, yes, but I do not feel that the quality of the gamepieces found within the box actually justify the price tag. At most this could be said for the playmat/map, and honestly, I would trade it for the metal coins in a heartbeat.

[@joshuaritter791]

Good review. It helped me to determine that Oath is not for me.

[@drewbakka5265]

Does not seem like the game for everyone I am super tempted myself

[@chastermief839]

nice los campensinos shirt. great production on this video, i loved all the visual gags. made the whole thing very entertaining to watch. :)

[@Telmdal]

Tom looking like he would fit right in at a Minnesota Vikings game.

[@willn9568]

Glorious review for a glorious game. Keep being the best, Tom!

[@jamesmccarthy962]

The face paint was tremendous as was the review; tom is truly an magnanimous member of SUSD holiest of trinities.

[@GamerPhysics]

Okay, the Good Eats style interjection at 15:20 was incredible

[@the.martianrei3323]

This man is a great addition to the team with various skills. Glad he’s making the fit. Really working hard.

[@koenkristians]

Best review of yours to date! Loved it.

[@michaelschlobohm8877]

Did SU&SD just give a board game its A Levels? And more importantly, did it pass?!?

[@amiscellaneoushuman3516]

Looked more like GCSEs to me

[@ThatJakers]

Oath was confident enough to take the test with a pen as well!

[@amiscellaneoushuman3516]

@@ThatJakers I don't know how it work(s/ed) where/when you're from but UK students are required to use a black pen for their exams regardless of confidence

[@clementhossaert5234]

Interestingly enough, it reminds me of Nemesis, in the way it doesn't use flavor text, it uses real interactions with the system that just thematically make sense! Thank you for that review Tom, I really wanna play it now!

[@FAVYSM]

Nobody gonna talk about the "hide the pain Harold" card at 7:45 ?

[@tasteyfoood]

I totally missed this hahaha

[@michaelschneider256]

I LOVE the City of Remnants easteregg on the whiteboard

[@DoctorEth]

One of the best (least bad?) things about the pandemic and lockdown etc. has been to watch Tom come into his own as a reviewer. I'm already missing the beard though :o

[@amesaeotrono]

30:00 You just made me watch the whole thing again, but I only focused in watching your beard grow... What a masterpiece!

[@rasin9391]

This game is my new obsession. It’s extremely good for true nerds! For people who obsess over intricate systems!

[@Tokioka]

Tom's reviews just keep getting better and better 😁👌

[@anjovimusic]

woah! wasn't expecting a full blown review following the twitch. Neato!

[@anjovimusic]

Dope Costume! And that bit about the luck of the draw made me wonder if a drafting variant (hear me out lol) could work. Thematically, What players could do is draw from 3*players and simply draft, which could possibly even add a bit of a backdrop to each game. Kind of like if you were to play the game of thrones game with starting with an established family, players could custom tailor what there place in the world would be before starting the game..Like, i know this exile is likely to do this thing, that the other. It could possibly just give that teeny bit of agency to make the early game more interesting as well. Damnit Tom! despite the caveat (a solo and play with the wife on the occasion player), I'm really having a hard cognitive dissonance about the purchasability of this game. Your illustrative examples (very well done! i think they were some of the best that I've seen in content covering this game so far) didn't help.

[@shutupandsitdown]

Stream was a lot of fun! www.twitch.tv/videos/1071429425?t=00h18m36s

[@emmaplaysgreen2849]

@@shutupandsitdown Tom's (and Ava's) love of the game was really evident in the stream. I'd recommend watching the VoD if people want to see how the story comes out during gameplay. I was admittedly tired after a long day and not paying 100% attention to the finer details on the board by the end but it didn't matter. I just listened to everyone narrate their turns and talk about what was on their cards. It was so much fun! And those cards, those cards are just something. The specific cards in that game are so very, very funny, particularly when drawn by those specific players. No spoilers but you know the team ;-) During the development of Oath, I would read snippets about it and I couldn't quite grasp how it could work, it really is so unlike anything else that we already know. (I didn't read the development diaries as I was very ill at the time.) I was excited by the idea of the game, like many, many others but it all seemed like some weird, complex and arcane thought experiment until I watched it brought alive by Tom, Ava and Matt. (And that was on TTS, it would be even more special, I imagine, in person.) Tom was absolutely right about the importance of the lack of victory points. Everyone seemed focused on what would be good and right and fun for them to do rather than calculating what would get them the most points. Anyone who's played a mid-heavy euro knows how the last few rounds of those feel! Seeing as I'm already rambling as usual, I'll also add my vfm pov ;-) also as usual. For those that don't know me from Twitter, I have a very low income as I am disabled. So...Oath: if I had the right group for this game, I would save up for it and buy it! I have absolutely no issues with the cost. It's very well made, from and independent company, it's doing something new and different, everything in the game is necessary and the game has longevity built into it. It's exactly the sort of game that is worth spending the money on, if you have it, if you will play it. I'd rather buy one Oath than 4 games that I only play once. Sadly, I won't be buying or playing Oath as I don't play any games that involve negotiation. TI4, The King's Dilemma, BSG, GoT, etc. This is because when I'm not playing family games with my kids, I play in French, my second language and while my French is good enough for euro games, it's not good enough for these kind of games. It's something that's hard to explain unless you are also bi/multilingual! ETA: I can't believe I wrote all that and still forgot to mention that there are even more Cones of Dunshire references in the VoD. Don't think that's too spoilery? Honestly, the stream was very funny, you should watch it.

[@sashaherda4429]

Bird launches poop out of the window @ 18:30

[@thejfreak93]

I genuinely enjoyed this. Both due to my hype for the game growing, but also the amount of TLC that was put into this. Tom is a treasure as is the rest of the team.

[@j-henry7391]

Very entertaining and informative review, super good job, I think Tom has really found his style!

[@SecretusLiber]

The review I've been waiting for

[@clyde2599]

Good review Mr. Brewster. Really well put.

[@kivipaperisakset3999]

Nice use of things around the house! A recorder-spire! Loverly.

[@emmaplaysgreen2849]

Yeah, Tom? Which sister did you nick the recorder from and did you give it back afterwards? Will you give us a tune on the recorder on the next Twitch stream?

[@MarineSquadDeployed]

Excellent review, and excellent use of the Age of Mythology soundtrack!