Tapestry Review - with Tom Vasel

[@talesofcardboard3986]

Tom, you are a great reviewer, and I think this is the type of situation where your knowledge and experience really pay off. You took your time and gave an honest review with details of what you liked and didn't, and why. When a game is this hyped I appreciate someone taking a look at it from a clear and calm perspective. Keep up the great work.

[@jamescameron1337]

Agreed. I think this is the most polite 'negative' review that Tom has given. He's basically saying 'meh', which in today's market, with the number of games we have available, means 'eh, go get Scythe if you don't own it'. Not that he's saying this is a *bad* game, btw -- he's saying you don't have to run out and buy it today. It'll be available six months from now, so you might buy it then. Look at his Gloomhaven review for an example of the opposite -- when he's really taken with a game, Tom doesn't mask his enthusiasm. This was not an enthusiastic positive review.

[@ArnieHorta]

I don’t think that this is a “meh” review. It just is that people were expecting that an SM game would be GOTY material and this just isn’t. It is a good game that I would play again but there are other games released this year that I would choose over it.

[@markusschmidt9260]

@@ArnieHorta The review itself sounds very meh. However, the "Seal of Approval" contradicts that take. But I agree with Tom, that if I want to play a Civ game, I rather arrange the time for an epic experience.

[@ArnieHorta]

Markus Schmidt this I agree with. It isn’t a civ game. It is a light-medium Euro with some clever parts. Ignore the theme and mechanically it is fine. It just isn’t so hype-worthy. Hence, I suspect, for the tenor of Tom’s review.

[@argel1200]

​@@jamescameron1337 Take the hype away and I think we'd see a review that focuses more on why it deserves a seal of approval and less on why it does not deserve a seal of excellence. But given the hype, viewers are expecting a seal of excellence, and that skews the vibe.

[@vincivader]

Glad to hear a more modest, balanced review on something so hyped.

[@decarkain]

hyped? every thing I read is that it's shit

[@redsands1001]

Some other reviewers I've watched have been positive but i've read as not fully enthused. A lot of the sane criticisms coming up though.

[@timdertim]

A balanced review from start to finish. Great work Tom! Extra points for the high level of energy. 🔋🔋

[@republikadugave420]

A balanced review for a highly unbalanced game

[@timdertim]

@@republikadugave420 Couldn't have said it any better.

[@timcombes1702]

Thanks Tom, this was very helpful, one of the main reasons I wait & trust The Dice Tower! This was a review rather than a marketing video!

[@ConeDefense]

Can’t emphasize enough how great it was to hear a balanced review. Incredibly glad you mentioned the price too! This price is reaching that spot that makes it for enthusiasts only. All that said, I loved it in our play. I think 3 players is the perfect count though. Has the mechanic of neighbors ala 7 Wonders which works well with 3 and also keeps the map nice and tight (without increasing to 5 which takes a ton of space and time. Probably my favorite review from you Tom; and that’s considering I love the game by comparison to your stance.

[@BigBoii1369]

Only $66 on Amazon right now

[@cerrari931999]

I have been a subscriber for at least 8 years and reviews of this quality are the reason for that. I never buy a board game without watching a dice tower review about it, and the reviews have never deceived or disappointed me. You are a blessing for board game enthusiasts! Keep up the nice work!

[@adilgeresu2296]

I greatly appreciate your honesty and the absence of “hype” influence. Very very hard to do at the time of release. I always want to wait several months for a review of this collected perspective.

[@MattPoelzer]

Tom Vasel is the best board game reviewer of all time, hands down.

[@ricochetjan]

The main flaw of the game is being called a Civ game. Other than that, it's a good exercise of What Ifs and imagination. As a medium-weight gamer, I feel that I am a target customer of SM and their strategy seems to be working.

[@robertchilders3718]

Wow, I think you nailed this review. I've only played once, and liked the game, but had many of the same takeaways you did. I will enjoy playing this in the future, but not a game I would want to pay for.

[@garys4067]

Great review! I usually avoid hyped games until they have been readily available for a year. I, too, would have liked a Miami Dice on this game to get additional perspectives.

[@JayBee10]

I came into this game from the opposite perspective of Tom's: I haven't really played a lot of civilization board games, primarily due to the time investment. The idea of a shorter, abstract civ game actually does appeal to me, so when I heard Jamey and Stonemaier were trying to condense a lot of those concepts into a more abstract format, my ears perked up. While Stonemaier was drawing comparisons to titles like Russian Railroads, the track advancement and comboing actually reminded me more of the roll-and-write darling Ganz Schon Clever. I enjoy Ganz, but the static nature of the tracks made the game feel more like a fairly stagnant affair where one tries to reach the most reasonable "optimized" state with as much luck as possible. So seeing luck as a factor in Tapestry actually didn't bother me all that much. I appreciate having to make tactical decisions, pivot my best laid plans based on the tapestry card draws, and take my optimization down a different path than what I envisioned so each game truly feels different. With respect to the thematic elements in the game, I've actually seen the light amount of theme go down much more smoothly with the gaming groups to which I've introduced this than one might expect: the fact that it's not about any particular civilization and that one can make up their own story based on the tech cards they focus on and the tapestries they play has been a fun conversation-starter around the table and given each player a deeper sense of ownership over what they're constructing, even if they don't emerge victorious. That being said, I recognize the game isn't for everyone. I think anyone who's expecting an in-depth civ experience like Through the Ages will be disappointed. Those who are looking for predictability will probably also find frustration. I personally don't think the building minis were necessary. But I've been surprised by all the people who have enjoyed it in our plays: many who despise or couldn't get on board with Scythe quickly warmed up to this one, and I think a lot of it comes down to the simple rules combined with the vast array of choices and repercussions attached to them. That feeling of "I can't wait to play this again and see how I can score even better!" has been a constant refrain, and I wouldn't be surprised to hear it even more in the days ahead, especially if this sees expansion content.

[@martinba9629]

The "see how I score even better" might be a good indicator that the very positive Dice Tower solo review of this game by Mike of SoloModeGames was spot on.

[@MattGoode1]

Thanks for a really interesting review. I haven't played yet, but from what I've seen, it really is a bit of a random beast. Strangely, Jamey seems somewhat concerned with balancing as there's a Google form to fill out on the Stonemeier website after each game, and if there are any balancing problems I suspect Jamey will address them. Along those same lines, I'm wondering if Jamey will make a comment on the randomness of the Tapestry cards. Because of how powerful and swingy the tapestry cards seem, I'm surprised that the "default" way of gaining them is not "draw 2, pick 1". I've heard some players have positive results after incorporating that rule.

[@MrRadialdrift]

I grantee there will be imbalance issues

[@FrankMinogue]

Definitely the most hyped game ever. And I totally agree, not balanced at all. But we have played almost every day since we got it. It has so much variety that I want to figure out what strategies to try. That’s what I like about it.

[@drasher25]

Thank you for this, Tom. This is the first believable review I've seen about this game, and it is very much in line with my own impressions,

[@Ashwinz]

This was a HELL of a review! I am so grateful for The Dice Tower!

[@bendfocuspro]

Thanks Tom. For me every Stonemaier game boils down to your final thoughts. Not a bad game, not a great game. Will play if it's asked. Balance issues and large end game swings. Great production.

[@JimmySquiky]

I wished it would have been a miami dice !

[@chriswinston1223]

No. I prefer knowing clearly what the rating is, not this "one thumb standing tall like a monument" or whatever they would have called it.

[@JimmySquiky]

@@chriswinston1223 I prefer having 3 opinions from people with different tastes.

[@chriswinston1223]

@Mac Matheson Yes, I prefer their single reviews. I'm not alone.

[@chriswinston1223]

@@JimmySquiky Nonsense. There's about 10 reviews of the game online, so that's silly.

[@JimmySquiky]

@@chriswinston1223 which are not Sam and Zee.

[@loneXolf]

Personally, I would had prefered tiles over minis for the tetris part.

[@davids5195]

Yeah, especially since it would have resulted in a lower MSRP. I'd imagine the cost of the game would have been about $30 cheaper if they'd gone with tiles. That said, I don't mind the minis, though, like Tom, I would have preferred that the minis fit their intended spaces more accurately.

[@Vascariz]

This is why I trust Dice Tower and Tom whatever everyone says.

[@chriswinston1223]

Exactly, and for a $100.00 game that's essential.

[@pizdamatii5001]

@Mac Matheson " A problem I have with SU&SD [...]" so true! i like their insightful reviews, but i can't stand their antics and always skip ahead in the videos :(

[@mydemon]

Hyped games (hyped anything) are really hard to review. Thank you so much for all the effort put into this.

[@Mark-OutWest]

I'm glad I watched this review. It certainly helped dim the spotlight on this game.

[@egyptfreaka]

Sounds like on ok game that would quickly get forgotten if it wasn't a Stonemaier game.

[@ryankelly369]

Hype has to start somewhere. Jamey hasn't always had such a stellar reputation. ;)

[@PGCole]

Thanks for that review. I totally sat on the hype train, but your review lightened some points that are important for me. Facts still weight more than a hype.

[@Frantzypantz]

Tom hit the nail on the head for me. I feel almost exactly the same.

[@robertburke9408]

Great review. Tom’s integrity and honesty is without equal.

[@willyum3108]

There was a sense something was missing in the pre-release reviews. I like SM games as much as anybody, but didn't bite. Thanks for the review.

[@ilqrd.6608]

Finally, the levelheaded reviews are coming out.

[@hubyxreds4177]

Nice review! Please please please do a Top 10 Engine Building!

[@boardgamebjornis]

Great review. I was actually puzzled by people saying this not being a civ game. Now I get it. Its still on my Christmas wish list

[@christopherthomas3151]

Good review, I think the criticism is fair, I really don't think the game is worth the 99$ price point, however when they announced it was 79.99$ for the preorder special I was more interested and when I saw in those first few hours gamenerdz had it for 69.99$, I pulled the trigger. Really looking forward to it, not expecting it to be this deep strategy game, but a game tonblow a few hours with with some beers and laughs with friends and family.

[@SykoLiu]

I know I’m being “that guy”, but you hit on one of my pet-peeves, so I have to do it.... The dollar sign goes before the number, not after. So what you should have written was $100, $80, and $70.

[@StevenStJohn-kj9eb]

I very much enjoyed watching this review. You always do a great job, but this review was especially fun. It sounds to me like I would definitely enjoy this one.

[@tourguidechuck]

I am greatly enjoying the fact that many game producers are become color-blind aware. It can be a challenge for me in some games. I was greatly impressed when I read on the Scythe box it was color blind friendly.

[@iNathanLite]

Thanks for the save Tom.

[@isaacsauer659]

How would you compare the randomness to that of Viticulture? In that game I can sometimes feel like a got a bit hosed by card draw.

[@whedges99]

You can play and win at Viticulture without the cards mattering that much (if you at least play some vines). Tapestry requires a good mesh of cards to really get you going. The cards can mess you up. So if Viticulture cards bothered you, you will hate Tapestry. I LOVE viticulture. I really liked Tapestry. Tapestry is lucky, but in the hands of a good strategist can be a monster.

[@isaacsauer659]

@@whedges99 Thanks for the reply. And yes I was not speaking of what is viable to win or not, just more about the feeling. It does seem that Tapestry might not be 100% up my alley if it has that similar feeling though.

[@vonwoolf9963]

@@whedges99 I disagree. If you get "bad" cards at viticulture, and another player gets "good" cards, he can get ahead of you the whole game without you being able to do anything about it, except wishing to draw a good card yourself.

[@joelbergvonlinde1389]

Just play Viticulture with the common house rule of ‘draw 2 cards and choose 1 of them’

[@vonwoolf9963]

@@joelbergvonlinde1389 That's a good idea. Though it would definitely increase game time if you're not familiar with the cards. The tuscany board has an excellent way to deal with unwanted cards though.

[@ArnieHorta]

I played this yesterday and I thought that this review was SPOT ON. I also find the building bases annoying and I am not always sure what they cover. I liked the game too but it certainly is not worth all the hype. It is a good, clean game that falls short of greatness.

[@apertotes]

Wow, first time I see sleeved cards in your videos! There's never too much protection!

[@ciealevelpsychology4642]

Kool-Aid Man. I see what you did there Tom. Well-played, my man. Well-played.

[@pizdamatii5001]

regarding the price and components, to me it feels like this game is a collector's edition without having a regular edition. that's fine if you like the game enough to want to get the collector's edition, but i wish that they just gave the players more choice; look at "tokaido": regular edition (no miniatures or metal coins), collector's edition (larger board, minis, metal coins, etc) and an upgrade pack (minis and metal coins, but no larger board)! i've read jamie's post about the miniatures and the decision to include them, and i am glad that they are pushing the boundaries of component quality, but i wish they just offered a regular edition as well, with cardboard tiles instead of pre-painted minis.

[@redsands1001]

I worry about that kind of thing as a trend. Only an expensive deluxe component edition that is

[@wesleybforti]

Interesting, I decided not to pre-order this one and the reason was the exact problems you pointed out in the video, I'm glad I didn't listen to the overly hyped reviewers out there..

[@BogartFace]

I think you took a wise approach taking your time with this review, Tom. Ultimately it seems the game is a decent game not worthy of the massive hype nor the hefty price tag.

[@miketravis4242]

Hype? Maybe/maybe not. For the price tag, it's totally worth it based on the components. I'll happily put a premium on a game that has a high quality design provided the game is good as well. This seems a good enough game and something (personally) I'd really enjoy. I'm looking forward to grabbing it when it hits. Plus... maybe it's context, but $90 for a game really isn't that much for a game any more.

[@BogartFace]

@@miketravis4242 90$ don't scare me as I have spent way more on other games, but the price tag in this case is unjustified IMO, as the buildings are really just fancy placeholders. YMMV and hope you enjoy the game greatly if you decide to purchase it.

[@pizdamatii5001]

​@@miketravis4242 regarding the price and components, to me it feels like this game is a collector's edition without having a regular edition. that's fine if you like the game enough to want to get the collector's edition, but i wish that they just gave the players more choice; look at "tokaido": regular edition (no miniatures or metal coins), collector's edition (larger board, minis, metal coins, etc) and an upgrade pack (minis and metal coins, but no larger board)! i've read jamie's post about the miniatures and the decision to include them, and i am glad that they are pushing the boundaries of component quality, but i wish they just offered a regular edition as well, with cardboard tiles instead of pre-painted minis.

[@skylargladden2765]

Seems like a game I might enjoy playing a time or two. Abstracts out the civ theme though, and I have to wonder why I'd pay that price for yet another engine builder. I really like engine building, but I have multiple games that do that already. I know a lot of games gets criticized for being over produced these days, but this one seems to meet that idea perfectly. Extremely expensive for a game so abstracted and the components that are largely responsible for the expense actually make the game state harder to read. Unlike, say, the slave catcher tokens in Freedom from Academy Games, which make the game state immensely *easier* to read (for me).

[@skylargladden2765]

@Mac Matheson I get that to a degree. I like a pretty game. Wingspan could definitely be cheaper if it weren't produced to the degree it is. But it bothers me less in that game because the game was still $60, which is fairly standard for a game these days. $100 though...

[@kanedafx]

Thanks Tom for the honest take, and anti-hype.

[@edwardbrost331]

I'm still hyped despite the luke-warm review. Great effort put into a thoughtful and honest looking review.

[@ChrisPollitt1]

Played my first game tonight not knowing anything about it (been away from social board games for a year.) I had a great time and was amazed by the quality of the painted buildings. Seems to me the 'painted buildings' are some kind of new material process and it made me excited that maybe every new game potentially having multicoloured plastic components.

[@Tia29451]

Great review Tom! Very well communicated. Thank you!

[@zacdredge3859]

15:35 That's because Zee was smart enough to go back in time from later in the game when he discovered it in the original timeline. 😂

[@rickadam6051]

I'm hoping we get to see a review of Tainted Grail!

[@eliashartmark1522]

I don’t know if they will, since it is a Kickstarter product.

[@rickadam6051]

Elias Hartmark They reviewed Lords of Hellas and Nemesis, plus Tom named it his most anticipated game of 2019, so I'm still hopeful! Like every other review of every other game they do, I'd like a Miami Dice on it the most.

[@eliashartmark1522]

Rick Adam agreed.

[@andrewbeckmann9572]

I agree that this game's theme is a loose fit, but that's not a deal killer. After multiple plays, Tapestry has proven to be a terrific puzzle game. There's an engine building element but solving what's best for your situation delivers that fascinating element Tom mentions in his reivew. One thing not mentioned - this one is easy to teach but has a lot of depth for players with the puzzle solving aspect (optimizing benefits for your situation). Our games have always been close, despite the asymmetry of functional abilities (Tom acknowledges they are there, but goes on to state he can't tell you which combinations are unbalanced ). There is little player interaction. Tapestry does feel like it hits the same note as Settlers of Catan (another loose fitting themed game) as far as player experience. Tapestry may not be the perfect game, but it is far from "meh".

[@Skarpo89]

You said civilization and you had my interest, but as the expansion went on I realized that it wasn't what I thought it would be, and it doesn't really sound thaaaat interesting, lots of better games out there

[@MichelC2000]

If I correctly remember you were not exactly overwhelmed by Scythe either but then came around later. Is Tapestry also a good candidate for some sort of maturation process?

[@jonathansaah9163]

Michel C Hmmmm...I wouldn’t hold my breathe on that one.

[@JayBee10]

Depends on what the potential expansion content is like.

[@johnpanagos5835]

What a great review. Ty Tom!!

[@Choose2Connect]

I think track mechanics can be such a cop-out , sometimes. I love the games that are so natural and organic, that "scoring" isn't a boring "count your points," but instead, an immediate way of knowing who is winning and how.

[@guillermoz4914]

I just love The Dice Tower! Great review my friend.

[@MassEffectFan113]

Oh look a balanced review. That’s a first. I was waiting for a puff piece. You impressed me.

[@aloharay]

Good description of the game here. I played with five people and our turns went quickly after the first era. So it was not too bad. Did feel the outcome of the game was severely controlled by the synergy you were able to build between the civilization you chose and the tapestry cards you randomly God

[@TheOldMan-75]

I just really dislike totally unnecessary components that drive up the cost way too much. Coloured houses aren't cool and you don't even move them around the whole time like the miniatures in blood rage. It just feels like something they can put on the promo shots but doesn't serve any real purpose.

[@DanielMinottoII]

but you can use them in DnD! ;)

[@TheOldMan-75]

@@DanielMinottoII Well, I don't play DnD but I'll keep that in mind in case I ever start ^^

[@DanielMinottoII]

@@TheOldMan-75 In searching for DnD miniatures I've found people selling Blood Rage and other Board game mini's as "DnD" mini's. They'll piece them out into a pack of 4 and sell them for $30.... Seems unethical to me because they're claiming the seller made them themselves, but people are buying them

[@AthexTube]

Wow, Sleeves Tom! Never seen sleeves in a drop before!

[@AmateurBoardgamer]

This review added more perception to 'explain' the hype from any game that comes out of Stonemaier games.. Usually I will place an order straight but I guess I would attempt to play this at least a couple of times before buying the game..

[@christaggart5687]

Why is this game so hyped? Looks just ok to me

[@ubiquidade]

Stonemaier Games is the Blizzard Entertainment for boardgames.

[@CeePhour]

There is no more succinct way to put it.

[@swvi9459]

@@ubiquidade But Blizzard is bad guy for video games, SM games are good guy for board games. So youre totally wrong

[@Neonardo05]

@@swvi9459 Blizzard used to be good guys and known for great quality and content, that's probably what Ubiquidade was referring to.

[@swvi9459]

@@Neonardo05 Blizzard and quality? Come on

[@codydavis3100]

Played it last week. And I really liked it. The more abstracted civilization theme was nice because I personally don't need a heavy civilization game. I liked the decisions with my Tapestry cards and of the ones I have which one can I benefit the most from or how does this one change my strategy this era for me. It by far is not one of my favorites but I did enjoy most of what is offered.

[@Drewkas0]

Interesting looking buildings, I guess, but what’s with the giant vacuum cleaner? (can’t help seeing it that way)

[@larrytedmcbride]

When I first saw the title, it made me think of games like Azul. So I was wondering why this was titled Tapestry as that doesn’t really convey the sense that the game is about standing the test of time, but now I understand why. It’s because it lacks theme and perhaps the designers realized that and that’s why they made the “civilization” word small and insignificant on the box. Being a history buff, I want my civ games to be thematic, so this probably isn’t the game for me, although I would like to try it out and play around with the mechanisms.

[@katerosk]

It is a good game but not a great and definitely not a civilization, this point out by Tom. Thank God someone else from my group buy it, so I saved some money.

[@parisnicolaides1552]

How does it play with 2? Is the sentiments of the game dramatically changed from when playing with 4? Does the game feel more/less broken competitive?

[@crash331]

Paris Nicolaides I played with my wife and it seemed fine. It moved pretty quickly and it has rules for a shadow empire that does nothing except advance on the tracks to block you from getting benefits.

[@pierrewhite2062]

I watched a video on the Watch It Played channel about the word hype. Seems like something every body should give a view to. But that aside I loved your video.

[@loicovis426]

Thank you a lot for the thoughts! Great video :)

[@lokihve6591]

Tom giving a review the best way he knows: Saying what the reality of this game is at the end of the day. I loved it Tom and not cause I feel I have 100% the same taste as you that I have made my mind not to buy it. But because I trust your reviews enough to know, that if you say the things I thought already about the game... then from my experience 100% that's how they are: 1) You are completely right when you said, civ games... they need to be longer games to really bring this "epic" feeling and immersion that you are actually building something. Tapestry couldn't have that from the get-go. 2) The theme is not really there 3) Civs are bland and more or less just some mechanics pasted onto it 4) Conflicts are funny, to say the least and so on and on... it's an engine builder but a funky and not well-balanced one. Plenty of other games who do what Tapestry does better... Hack even Wingspan by the look of it.

[@briancherry8088]

In the end maybe it would be a good civ lite (a la Gentes) if it weren't for the extra price charged for painted buildings.

[@RicoCordova]

No theme...fine by me. Wild swings of luck...worrisome.

[@chauveet]

Awaiting for my copy to arrive next week, am looking forward to the experience. What shocks me is how how many people came to comment on how much they agree on the negative aspects of the review. It's like everyone wants to feel validated on not buying a game. There are hundreds of games coming out each year, but it seems quite a few folks really want to let the world know that they are happy to have someone say this game in particular isn't the second coming of board gaming and they are proud to have not purchased it. I'll say the same thing I always do about Stonemaier Games: they combine solid game design and approachability with a beautiful aesthetic. Jamey has created the Blizzard of board gaming. (Pre-Activision buyout.)

[@gaillardlionel]

I think people are hesitating before buying because it's an expansive game and there are lots of games on the market already (can't blame them really)... That's why I think there's a sense of relief when they find an honest reviews like Tom's (who by the way still liked the game). I pre-ordered the game too because I'm a fan of Stonemaier games, it was almost an impulse buy. I will be happy to play it and judge by myself what the game is worth. I can deal with a bit of imbalance as long as experience can help compensate and the game remains exciting to play, I'm just slightly afraid it may not be super innovative, we'll see... What I find repulsive is the trashing of Stonemaier games I have seen in some of the comments, totally undeserved. Jamie is a great guy that I respect a lot. Scythe is an incredible game (love the top/down actions on player mats and the resource stored with the workers on the map, just brilliant...). I find the negativity very toxic sometimes, but that's the reality we have to deal with, people have no filter, they vent...

[@chauveet]

What exactly does "a sense or relief" mean? As in Tom provided criticism that validated hesitation to purchase a board game? Edited to better quote OP!

[@gaillardlionel]

@@chauveet not "sigh or relief", "sense of relief". It means people feel happy because something unpleasant has not happened or is no longer happening. It's a common reaction to the certain freedom from a strong fear and anticipation of something bad. The relief feeling comes with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. Here people feel relieved because they feel they avoided making a purchase they might have regretted (they "dodged a $100 bullet" and are thankful for that, that's the gratitude aspect). What's especially interesting to me is the kind of reaction we see from certain people who start bashing not only the game (Tapestry) but also the publisher (Stonemaier) and/or his other games (scythe, viticulture, etc)... It almost like they're angry at Stonemaier for the time and money they spent with their products, and are trying to sway others from Stonemaier's games. It's a bit like you had a bad experience with contractors and you go rampage on social media to denounce them! I'm probably going too far but I find it fascinating nonetheless to see how people feel the urge to express how much they dislike things, often providing no reason at all... I have given negative feedback myself on some games I particularly despised ("Root"!), when it was in context, but I always have provided as much explanation as I could, because I know how hard it is to make a game and I want to remain respectful to everyone. When I gave comments like that, I was trying to warn people about the type of game it was and have them save their money if indeed it wasn't the game for them. Anyways, probably a good "Tom Thinks" topic for board game breakfast there...

[@DrGenion]

Civ games should always tell a great story. After a long night of Through the Ages one could tell a story of the own civilisation, about it's rise and fall and your decisions. I tried Tapestry and it's mechanics are great, if you like Russian railroads. But Man, such a bloat. The theme could be exchanged with being a farmer or controlling a pizza Mafia cartel. "Civilisation" isn't the reason of this game, it's a strategic chosen selling point.

[@Bella07e]

@M M We are but you must "handle" an individual that believes pineapple belongs on pizza. Once your task is complete you will be eligible for admittance.

[@JJ_TheGreat]

Even 7 Wonders could be any theme. I never thought of that one as a “civilization” game either. To me, it is a card drafting, “civilization themed” game. “Civilization” game is something particular, of which 7 Wonders is NOT.

[@ccmonter]

Very interesting how viewers have chosen to interpret this review. Tom's review, as usual, is fair as he discusses the good and the bad from his perspective. I have some of the same thoughts - the fancy buildings are superfluous, the many random elements can feel unbalanced and the theme is there but does not drive the play. But the game is FUN. Tom himself says he likes the game, has enjoyed his plays and would be there if someone asked him to play. Of course, it's not for everyone. But it's for me. I will enjoy the game. If it's not for you, don't worry, there are thousands of other games out there. Go have some fun.

[@vanzetti7]

Great review Tom - can you do another epic review like this for Black Angel?

[@kyuribou5869]

I have got the same feelings. It is not as grand as Scythe but it is simple in its mechanics, fun and really engaging. I really like it a love.

[@lukasklees3081]

Wingspan hype ended in pure boredom for me and my group. So i get the hype avoid.

[@zacheray]

what were your group’s thoughts on wingspan?

[@perfectloveweddings]

Thanks Tom! The randomness and unbalanced cards puts me off. Will have to play this one to see how it goes.

[@Fighterfan69]

Tom hits a lot of good points. As with most games, It's a matter of opinion. I like this more than Wingspan and Wingspan has won the Spiel(I believe). MOst will not like this because of the 'Swingyness'. Some civs/cultures seem way overpowered combined with certain tapestry cards. That said, it didn't sway me either way. I love the challenge even if I don't get good card draws. It's a nice puzzle. It would have been nice to see what Zee and Sam thought as well.

[@HeliosGoN]

Thanks for the review Tom, it is refreshing to hear a non hyped review of this game. I am new to the hobby and I'm on that stage where every game looks mighty interesting and a must have with the collector's instinct in me kicks in. So going through the comments there is a general consensus showing Wingspan is hyped too, but my wife and I deeply enjoyed that and it's one of our top games to go to whenever we want a game on the table. Can anyone suggests any other good alternatives if they think Wingspan is merely decent? I usually just game with my wife so it will be something that scales well with 2, and she particularly enjoys Yokohama, Century SR, and Solenia with me. Res Arcana is my current favourite and she's fine with that. Thanks everyone! TLDR: Please suggest any games which scales well with 2 that you think is better than Wingspan, which we currently enjoys the most. Thanks a bunch!

[@pizdamatii5001]

my wife and i really like "7 wonders", but in our experience it works best in 4-5 players. in two players it felt really unwieldy and in 3 players everybody is everybody else's neighbour, which isn't ideal. we really disliked "7 wonders duel" cause it was quite cutthroat. you might want to check out "tokaido", which works well in 2 players as well, but i prefer it as a 4 player game: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4nEoZV-ZdeVeaM

[@HeliosGoN]

@@pizdamatii5001 yeah we own 7 wonders duel too, and we did enjoy it for a bit before it now sits on the shelf sadly. Thank you for the recommendation, I will go ahead check it out!

[@JoostN86]

How is this the most anticipated game? I would say Tainted Grail beats it easily in terms of hype.

[@deltari1105]

Nice review, but still not enough talk about the price, i can understand that is a subjective matter and games are becaming more expencive but i think Tapestry is highly overpriced; here in europe is 99euro..........and apart for the plastic building even older games like Five Tribes have better components. May be the day that i will find it at the right price (max 50 euro) i will buy it.

[@chrismurphy9932]

The more I research this game, the more I realize it's not for me. I have Nations already and I think that's a great civ game. I feel like most Stonemaier games are way over hyped.

[@SykoLiu]

They’re all well-produced, well-designed games. I don’t own or even like all of them, but as a company, it’s hard to find one with a better track record for quality.

[@user-wy4jp6wg7x]

Scythe ist definitly not overhyped...

[@angharad256]

Wingspan is pretty awesome too.

[@jfnovotny]

You should've worn a toga and roman wreath for this review. Do you have a wreath in your hat collection?

[@tyrussleightholme7261]

I've never played a game that I found so fun but felt so meaningless in a way

[@PwndNewbie]

Lots of luck in the cards you get deciding the outcome of a 2 hour game. I pre-ordered it, and now I am a bit worried.

[@LookAtTheBacon]

Just draw 2 pick 1 and you're fine. Jamie said it's okay it's just not implemented because of the playing time (potential AP players).

[@imasexydinosaur2656]

I wouldnt worry too much. The game is solid. Yes random powerful effects happen, but I feel the enjoyment out of the game. When I explained the game to my gf she had little interest, but after her first playthrough it became 1 of her favs. The appeal to me is that it's not 4 hours long and it's a easy game to pick up and teach, which makes the game ready to hit the table compared to Through The Ages.

[@markusschmidt9260]

@@LookAtTheBacon How should this "fix" that? You could still draw two bad cards compared to one of the cards another player draws.

[@LookAtTheBacon]

@@markusschmidt9260 So? Then draw 3 and pick 1. Be a little bit more creative, Markus. Eventually, the luck will get mitigated. It's simple math.

[@markusschmidt9260]

@@LookAtTheBacon Yes, just pick one card from the entire deck. Easy fix.

[@silversunseven]

Thanks for your review !

[@TheMeph2000]

Great review. One of the tiring habits I have gotten into with gaming buddies is analyzing the s*** out of games versus playing them if they are fun. Game is fun but not perfect ... well that kind of is the point I think. I dont mind the hype because Jamey is passionate about his games and its good business but I dont think anything hyped was dishonest. It is also good to see a straight up review. I bought it and cant wait to get the solo onto the table.

[@Monkeyb00y]

Is there such a thing as a train engine building game?

[@blacksheep9950]

Empyreal, maybe? Fantasy train game where you research new spells as the game goes on.

[@pierrewhite2062]

What's your production number Tom?

[@sty0pa]

It sounds like a fun game, but honestly if I'm going to play a civ game, I'm playing Advanced Civilization, which is imo one of the greatest board games ever made.

[@iancarvalho8371]

Tom is the best!

[@simland]

I did think it was funny that you said Through the Ages was a heavy Civ theme. I feel Tapestry and TTA are about on par for theme.

[@BogartFace]

Except the fact that TtA has historical characters and discoveries becoming available in a chronologically coherent way? They both are quite abstracted, I give you that, but Tapestry is hardly even a civ game.

[@LookAtTheBacon]

But Tapestry has a map, TtA has an ugly excel sheet. It's about on par, really.

[@BogartFace]

@@LookAtTheBacon The map of a totally fictional place where The Futurists, The Merrymakers and The Chosen wage one-sided battles. Where your civilization builds Warships and Lithium-Ion Batteries in the "stone age", but hasn't developed Mathematics or Pottery at the end of the game. Dude...

[@markusschmidt9260]

@@LookAtTheBacon TtA has also a map of sorts. It's more abstracted to yellow cubes, but Tapestry does not have a real world map either. And fighting over Colonies, raising a War on Territory, where you can conquer yellow cubes from the other players, events like "Uncertrain Borders" feel very thematic. I think, TtA pulls of more expansion theme with the absence of a "real map", then Tapestry is able with it's tiles.

[@ski6913]

Tom, in your opinion is this worth picking up at the msrp of $100? It seems like you liked it just fine, but not $100 worth.

[@codydavis3100]

That is up to you. He won't answer that question because your tastes and financial situation is completely different

[@alecgalbraith5604]

Also I don’t know why anyone would pay MSRP for a game. This will sell for ~$70 online at the beginning and then likely drop to ~$55 a year from now.

[@LookAtTheBacon]

@@alecgalbraith5604 hmm, SM games are fairly stable imo. Could be a little while longer.

[@alecgalbraith5604]

theonlySeraph Well it’s already going for $70 in preorder, so I’m at least confident in that statement. The $55 a year from November could easily be wrong, but SM games do go on sale every once awhile. Scythe dips below $50 occasionally, though it does stay around the $60 mark usually. With Scythe having a $10 lower MSRP, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to assume it’ll taper around $5 higher than Scythe’s price, and sometimes dip down.

[@randym5824]

So it's not a very X-y game?

[@Eidenhoek]

*looks at the thatched-roof cottages*

[@Buffalodude1]

I watched the Watch it Played like 4 times before I made the decision to pre-order and I'm very happy I did. I've played the game 4 times and had an absolute blast each time. I love the game a lot. So with that being said, I agree with all of the negative points. The rubber factory isn't big enough. The game is very abstract. I dont even have a desire to play as "The Chosen" as they are the least interesting civ to me. (But in my mind I still have 15 other civs) And there's a fair amount of randomness. However the randomness didn't feel any worse than Viticulture or Wingspan. Both SM games that I supremely love. So in short, Tapestry definitely isn't for everyone but for myself and my usual hangouts its superb.

[@KingMePlease3]

Would have liked to see Miami Dice on this one. I am looking forward to playing it, and hearing all the buzz about how everyone is scoring seems familiar to Ganz Schon Clever/That's Pretty Clever. One end game goal is to try to beat the other players in Tapestry, but possibly more importantly for others and probably me is to try to score 300-400 points. And that is what will keep me coming back to try to hit that mark with multiple civilizations. I think it is also a neat thing in gaming where I can say I scored "X" points with "X"civilization, and everyone who has played this game would understand and dialogue would be had.

[@LookAtTheBacon]

Yup. Also the Automa looks great. Must be a really fun solo game, which Tom unfortunately didn't touch on.

[@jonh716]

Thank you for this!

[@goyasolidar]

Whew, dodged a bullet. Thanks, Tom.

[@matthew.strout]

What did Sam and zee think