TDG: The Lamps Are Going Out

[@ScottPalmer-mp1we]

I just played this game for the first time yesterday at the Compass Games Expo. It was quite fun and not too bad with rules density, though a couple of experienced players had to look up stuff to be sure about a couple of points. I bought this game along with the stuka game Storm of Steel. Thanks for your video.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Happy to help. Check out Compass’ An Attrition of Souls, as well.

[@robjohnson8837]

Cody, I'm loving your channel. I can especially appreciate that you have a PhD in History and focus a lot on historical gaming. I think it would be cool if you could score some of these games, like a 1-10 score or something like that at the end of your vids. I've been spending a lot of time scouring your content for the best WWI game, so far I'm really looking into Attrition of Souls. Thanks for what you do, keep up the good fight!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Have you seen this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eV7bo2l5f9emqNk

[@akelly432]

Ww1 history is tragically fascinating and POG will always be my top ww1 game; but i still love lamps. You make great points about the map and the length, but i usually play solo and just love the narrative. I guess i m going to have to buy attrition also now!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Attrition is great!

[@akelly432]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer It s on the list! You should check out Europe in Turmoil (TS in ww1 setting).

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I’ve looked at that one online. Looks interesting.

[@davidnichol9669]

Thanks for the review Cody, always interesting to hear your views. I think you'd love another one of Compass's titles - Europe in Turmoil. Set before the 1st World War at the end of the 'Belle Epoque' era, it uses the Twilight Struggle mechanics with the forces of Authoritarianism vying for control over the forces of liberalism. I actually prefer it to TS - different card decks for different eras, the naval arms race (instead of the space race) and the danger of pushing the world into the Great War (which you can then resolve - it's naturally completely devastating!). Brilliant theme and fascinating history.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I think that game looks awesome. Perhaps I'll check it out at some point. Paper map or mounted map?

[@davidnichol9669]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer paper unfortunately. A deluxe version with mounted map and the larger counters that Compass are producing now would be great. The cards are worth the price of admission alone though - a history lesson in themselves.

[@dhmcarver]

You are usually pretty generous in your reviews (this is a good thing!), so a try-it-before-you-buy-it is definitely caveat emptor. BTW, I love the flashback to Fury of Dracula at the end. . . .

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thank you. Yeah, Drac was a cool guy.

[@A._J_.]

ill stick with my SPI and DG WWI games until something better comes along.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

To each their own.

[@bergstro]

This is spot on. But I really did enjoy the first 3 hours of the game.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Ha! Indeed!

[@wartable]

Yeah...with you on Lamps. We played, 5 to 8 games. I liked it better than my bro did but it was kinda ho-hum. The technology never seemed to work well and the tech catch-up mechanic is okay but not great. I would play Lamps again and if we hadn't played PoG 25 times, I would rather play that (although that becomes a game of creating out-of-supply more than battles). Lamps looks great, like the artwork, cards, etc. Need to try Attrition.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

You’ll like attrition. A bit more abstract, but a far better game overall.

[@bgm-1961]

Thanks for the review, but more for the comparison to Attrition of Souls. While I for one don't agree with your assessment of the two compared to each other, I definitely see where you're coming from. Just two different perspectives, formed by different points of view, is all. And this is one of the rare times I don't agree with your assessment. So in my eyes, you're batting .900!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thank you, sir.

[@Sadar21Osasuna]

Thanks for reviewing it! Got my copy, hoping to trying it out after the summer. I am hoping its a lighter faster PoG (which I own and love!) and would love to get 3-4 players to have that interaction :) How would this fit more than 2 players? I did not like the aesthetics of Attrition, and owning PoG and Lamps I am well covered :)

[@jessel3621]

It plays 4 well. Or more if you assign each nation to a different player.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I haven't played it with four yet, so cannot comment. Too bad about Attrition - I absolutely loved it.

[@NoeAnton]

Another great review as usual :)

[@Thesussysuscat]

Should I pay for 2nd edition or get 1st at a fraction of the price

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I haven't played second edition so I can't tell you. But the game is amazing!

[@jessel3621]

No wonder you ran out of room, you need to stack your counters. As for the game becoming a slog, that is just a symptom of how the Great War was. This game benefits from 4 players to talk strategy and by taking a break in the middle. I prefer The Lamps are Going Out because it more accurately portrays the strategic situation of the war than a game like An Attrition of Souls without being too complex.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I believe I mentioned that it perhaps emulated the the attrition of the war a little too well.

[@LevZhivaev]

If it's not David Bowie, it's not lunch! So TRUE!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Indeed.

[@balfake3117]

I don't get the Bowie joke... :(

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

No joke! It's a great lunch box!

[@befirmbefair6674]

My recollection - and I once owned a copy -- is that the game is broken on the eastern front. Germany can break Russia fairly early and easily. Maybe the game has been patched???

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I didn’t find that to be the case. This is the 2nd edition. Did you own this one or the first?

[@befirmbefair6674]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Not sure to be honest. Thanks for your reviews though.

[@devinmccane8343]

He would have owned the first game since the second edition just came out