TDG: Merchants & Marauders

Yo-ho, yo-ho, a pirate board game for me! Cody takes a look at this pirate themed adventure from Z-Man Games. Will he walk the plank or find buried treasure? Let's watch!

[@_The_Rake]

This game has sat on my shelf of shame for years. I finally sat down and learned the rules and played it the other day. I can't believe I missed out on all of this fun for so long. I agree with you 100%. It is the Definitive Pirate Game!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Really fun game.

[@Scott-Tucker]

I just wanted to say thanks again Cody. Anytime I'm considering a game I come check your channel to see if you've reviewed it. I find our tastes align closely enough that your recommendations tend to be the deciding factor in my purchases. And I smile every time I see the Cthulhu Wars box behind you as it is one of my favorite (and definitely most expensive) games.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thank you, sir. I appreciate the feedback, (and the trust!)

[@claudiojferre]

Great review! Helped me a lot to decide what would be my next game!!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Glad I could help! Thank you!

[@KabukiKid]

I love Xia and Firefly, so I have a strong feeling I will like this one. It also helps that I dig the pirate theme. This reminds me a bit of the old Sid Meier Pirates! computer game from the 80s. Still one of my favorite computer games of all time because of its sandbox nature and innovative gameplay. This looks like the board game version. :-) The same way Xia reminded me of the old Elite computer game, as well. Keep the sandbox games coming!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

+KabukiKid Agreed. Love sandbox games!

[@vytautas12345]

Best game in the world :)

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

A very fun game- though your statement can, in fact, only apply to Twilight Imperium 4th Edition.

[@bertrompa]

Just bought it im happy yo test it tonight and finally a decent pirate game :)

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I think you'll like it.

[@bertrompa]

Cheers! nice review do!

[@dalefranklin364]

Great Praise.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Indeed.

[@Tizniter]

Charles Evans Hughes! haha

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Indeed!

[@Tizniter]

Fun fact: Charles Evans Hughes was the last major party presidential candidate to sport a beard!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Good for him! Stupid beardless politicians!

[@Tizniter]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer I couldn't agree more!

[@Tizniter]

Except for Ted Cruz

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@Tizniter Ha!

[@nok6151]

This was my second ever board game added to my collection and I love this game! Great review, and did you ever manage to play/review the expansions to this?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

No. Never played the expansions, and I regret that this game is no longer in my collection. Hope they reprint it with expansion baked in soon, like WizKids did with Clash of Cultures.

[@nok6151]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer yea that would be great, thanks for the response!

[@nobledicegames]

Hey there, a great review sir. Do you think a two player game would be competitive or luck of intense?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks. I've only played 3 and 4 player games, but I think a two player would still be a lot of fun.

[@misomiso8228]

This game looks really fun - have you played StarWar:outer Rim at all? Seems similar. But this one looks great.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Here is my review for Outer Rim: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqvacqWqpdWin5Y Here is a play through we did: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXjHf2tuiMuVibs

[@Markzilla41]

Have you ever tried Blackbeard? This is about identical as far as theme goes but it looks much more fun.

[@jamievantries7193]

Blackbeard is very similar, but with a fair bit more complexity. Unfortunately the added complexity doesn't really add any extra "systems" or depth over M&M. It's been years since I've played Blackbeard, but from what I can remember, it doesn't have anything to offer over Merchants & Marauders (unless you want added complexity for the sake of added complexity)

[@Markzilla41]

I agree completely

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

+Mark Levad I haven't played Blackbeard, and from what you're saying it doesn't sound like I need to.

[@Markzilla41]

The Discriminating Gamer you really don't all you would be adding is 1980's Avalon Hill complexity.

[@Judgedredd1973]

Can you play this game with just 2 players or is more players a better experience?

[@JPCarrico]

+paxton73 You can play with two just as fine, and if you wish you can use a variant where you put more NPC ships on the board at the start, to make the sea more populated and tense. I REALLY recommend this game, it delivers a gaming experince that it's hard to find, especially if you enjoy the idea of being a pirate attacking merchants, or being a merchant all the game till you have that one opening that can give you the edge and you attack another ship to plunder their gold, and turn, therefore, into a pirate. Elegant design in my opinion and I still haven't bought the expansion! But it is coming soon :)

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

+paxton73 What he said.

[@thelesserhumungous2927]

Buy it, but God damn you if you voted for Wilson 😂

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Ha!

[@thelesserhumungous2927]

@TheDiscriminatingGamer why the dislike for Wilson? I admit I know bugger-all about the Presidencies c.1870-1920. Noticed that you made similar comment on your lecture about German experience in WW1

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@thelesserhumungous2927 Several reasons. I think he truly was the worst president in America’s history. First of all, he was unapologetically racist, screening Birth of a Nation in the White House and praising it; segregating the federal workforce because he didn’t believe that white women should have black supervisors. I have serious issues with his foreign policy, including American entry into WWI, which I believe was a mistake. His hubris at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 made things infinitely worse for Europe and the world. He vastly overestimated his ability to make the British and French see the situation from the American point of view, rather than their own bloody experiences during the war. He snubbed the Republicans in the Senate at home by not taking any of that party in good standing to Paris with him, then wondered why they wouldn’t support him. The treaty itself, which he championed vigorously, was unconstitutional as it usurped Congress’ authority to declare war. When the Republicans brought this up he vilified them. Further, although he tried to show magnanimity to the Germans in Europe, when he was trying to sell the treaty at home he painted picture that the Germans were just waiting for the chance to conquer world again, and the treaty was the only thing that could hold them back - engaging in the stereotyping that that further humiliated the Germans. These factors ultimately led to the deprivation of Germany the rise of odious Nazi regime decades later, causing even greater problems for the world. In short, he had a much higher appreciation for his judgement than was the case. Finally, after he had a massive stroke, he refused to resign and step down. His wife and a serving U.S. Admiral essentially staged a benevolent coup to keep him in power, and he went along with it. He even wanted to run for re-election in 1920, but his wife wouldn’t let him. He was hubris personified in an American president. That said, one can appreciate the Wilsonian Revolution in foreign affairs - the idea that territorial expansion through war was little better than armed robbery on a national scale, and the creation of modern diplomatic norms. Also, one can admire his willingness to to travel the country at risk to his own health to try to sell the treaty - he sated that he had sent millions of men to die on European battlefields to secure peace, and that he needed to risk his life as well for the same cause.

[@thelesserhumungous2927]

@TheDiscriminatingGamer Fair enough, that's interesting. Thankyou for the considered response and sound reasoning.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@thelesserhumungous2927 Happy to help.