Smash Up: The Obligatory Cthulhu Set Review - with Tom Vasel

[@nowjoining]

If Pirates of Cthulhu was a movie, I'd pay to watch that.

[@TitusConstantine]

I saw this video when I was 14 years old and "And this here's a... SHOGOTH" and "There's lots of these little... Byakhee's guys" have been quotes in my vocabulary for years ever since then

[@sparhawkeagle]

Both Smash Up expansions are very cheap on Amazon right now at around $8. They are eligible for Prime shipping as well.

[@silverhelm500]

Tom I completely agree with you on all topics mentioned. I like the madness mechanic and I agree I don't think other expansions need more madness it's fine the way they have it and should be unique to this set only.

[@SolofAvaldor]

I love Smash Up and I think this expansion is a good one. The madness doesn't add a lot but it does add a little, which is fine with me. I know that I made good use of it playing the robots from Miskatonic University.

[@sandwichboy1268]

It adds the perfect amount in my opinion. It's a mechanic that won't ever be used in any other sets, so it shouldn't be too big, but it still does matter a tad.

[@HeadCannonPrime]

My first game of SmashUp was with this expansion. I had good old Steampunk Pirates and still crushed the madness players. It seemed like the madness stuff takes a long time to build up and if you can close out cards fast it doesn't hurt too bad.

[@PressEnter42]

Wait...I just got Smash Up (the base game) I didn't get any tokens

[@glensnoir]

Tokens come in the "big geeky box", there are none in the original game. Nothing some dice can't fix :)

[@ellock1998]

Can someone tell me where cthulhu thing even started? Like a game, movie or book or what? And is the series any good? Even the theme in the board game seems really cool, so is the original series any good?

[@biterofkneecaps]

"The call of cthulhu" was a short story written by H.P Lovecraft. He wrote several stories in the Cthulhu mythos and dozens of stories dealing with similar things. The premise is that Cthulhu is a being that has slept dormant under the earth for zillions of eons. He is the priest of a race of beings known as "the old gods" a race of beings who descended to earth from the dark stars. One day Lord Cthulhu will be released upon the world and re-awaken the old gods to get up to no good.

[@judgewilson2410]

He’s mostly right but he’s not a “priest” he’s basically the grand children of the old gods but yes the stories are good if you can handle his old school writing

[@PyroTheInfernal]

I'm a little concerned about this expansion. Are the Madness bases easy to take out if you are going to play a game without the new factions? I like how the game always had the bases minic or have similar abilities to some factions but since only four factions use them it takes away from the usefulness it seems (from the review, I haven't played it). I don't think I'll like the other teams can affect your deck now. After seeing some of the example cards from the scifi expansion I think this game is going to have balance issues and power creep issues very soon. Also how well the expansions will play with the base set while missing some in between expansion games, in case I decide to skip this expansion?

[@Snappyseth]

so how do you get rid of a madness card?

[@judgewilson2410]

Seth Burke either use a card that does or use an action to add it back to madness deck

[@alistaireveritt6890]

Elder Things and Ninja. Use the Disguise card to bring out the Elder Thing without sacrificing 2 minions

[@judgewilson2410]

Alistair Everitt nope doesn’t work still have too

[@judgewilson2410]

Do A to play B you don’t do A can’t play B rule book states that

[@Sapemies58]

When we're going to have review on Eldritch Horror? :/

[@maneshkapahi6013]

My first time playing Smash Up was with the Cthulhu Expansion I was playing Cthulhu-bots or CthulhuTech and early on I started collecting madness... I ended up winning because I was able to flood bases with the robo chaining minons and the card that sets up your deck with 2 or less minions and the minion abilty that allows me to set that card back ontop of my deck. :P

[@judgewilson2410]

Manesh Kapahi did you subtract 1 vp for every two madness you had

[@sinisternorimaki]

Pick elder things with crazy scientist o another faction that increases minion's powers. See your oponents cry.

[@dhc3po]

I tried Zombie Elder Things tonight and slaughtered everyone. Very powerful.

[@VictorTheComputerGuy]

Does anyone else get a kick out of how Vasel pronounces so many words incorrectly?

[@glum_procedure]

I'm developing a card negotiation game about it :) Working title: Say it like Vasel

[@TheAmericanDragn]

This is probably my least favorite expansion for the game, mainly because I'm not a huge Lovecraft fan, but my goodness, this set is great!

[@Ulfnarr]

damn, this sounds like fun

[@olivierbajet8851]

Three words: Elder Thing Robots

[@GrumpyGamerLP]

These reviews seem kind of random. This expansion released several months ago. Why not review it then when most people would have been looking for a review?

[@thedicetower]

Well, three things. 1. I have a TON of games to get through. 2. I just got it. 3. Reviewing it now is better than not reviewing it at all, I'd guess.

[@GrumpyGamerLP]

Yeah, good reasons. I am a fan of Smash Up and I bought this expansion when it came out. I never played it though. I just stuck it in the closet. The cards didn't seem interesting. I just wanted to be able to say I owned all the content for Smash Up. I love watching your videos, especially the top 10 lists with the other two guys. I have just gotten into board gaming and your reviews and stuff are very entertaining and helpful.

[@mikehax]

I'm glad that this expansion seems to be optional. I think I'll pass on this one.

[@mikehax]

aww, who'm I kidding, I'll probably get it

[@omelettecrap]

***** It's obligatory for a reason.

[@kahadin]

Elder thing aren't really strong, Way weaker than Shoggoths anyway.

[@judgewilson2410]

kahadin ....ye....no lol

[@DarthSironos]

I would have bought it if not for the Innsmouth, an entire faction with only 1 minion card seems rather boring and lazy.

[@judgewilson2410]

DarthSironos lol you haven’t read that story have you

[@lunatik4]

I hate the madness cards, totally pointless and does not bring anything strategically to the game.

[@freddieyu]

Strategy? What strategy?

[@lunatik4]

there's a TON of strategy in this game, i just don't feel that madness cards do much, they feel like something that was just thrown in.

[@judgewilson2410]

Soooooo drawing two extra cards doesn’t add to strategy?