The 7th Citadel - first impressions

[@chrisfell2621]

Thanks for posting this video. I got a lot out of it. Hope to see more on the 7th citadel in the future.

[@BarryDoubletBoardGames]

Glad I could help =)

[@ekurisona663]

tysm for posting this I didn't realize that death and starting over was still part of the game this saved me a lot of money thank you sir

[@BarryDoubletBoardGames]

No problem. Of course, that depends on how good a player you are. Obviously, I'm not that good =D Live long and prosper =)

[@DrMcFly28]

Unlike 7th Continent, it's almost impossible to die in 7th Citadel unless you play really recklessly. In fact one of the most common complaints right now is people saying the game is almost trivially easy.

[@DirkJanFotografie]

Thanks for this nice review. I just got my game 5 days ago and played the introduction scenario and the first scenario from Dadachaem’s awakening. I haven’t played the 7th Continent and from what I know from me playing video games and how you’re comparing this I think the 7th Citadel is the perfect place for me and 7th Continent is less of what I’d like. My first thought was that this game would be slightly similar to other story-driven games like Gloom-/Frosthaven. However, my first impression of the 7th Citadel is that I love it more. Gloom-/Frosthaven do have a nice story but in the end most of the gameplay is just a monster slaying puzzle tied together with bits and pieces of an overarching storyline that you can barely feel during scenarios. Don’t get me wrong, I play these games with my wife and a friend of ours and we love it. The 7th Citadel (which I play solo) is a lot of story during every step you take and the story unfolds slowly the further you get into a scenario. There’s not just monsters but many other challenges to overcome adding a lot of variety. Just yesterday evening I wanted to start the first scenario of Dadachaem’s awakening. I only wanted to check out the start, maybe play half an hour or so, leave the game on the table, and continue the next morning. Every single step I took I discovered new things and every time I was like: “I’m just going to see what’s going on over here. Now I’m just going to see what’s in the mist and explore the terrain tile later. Well, I could go onto the terrain tile and check out that number there before I stop for the night. Just one more card.” And suddenly I had spend and hour and a half (maybe even two) and the scenario was over and I had so much fun (at the cost of my sleeping time).

[@BarryDoubletBoardGames]

Glad you enjoyed. Though technically not a review. Just spitting out thoughts and feelings about the game that I have played so far. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings

[@danacoleman4007]

Wow! Wow! Wow! I haven't come across your channel in what feels like ages. I remember when you used to be on the dice tower a long time ago. Wonderful to see you again and thanks for the great review! Hope all is well!

[@BarryDoubletBoardGames]

I'm still here =) Just more behind the scenes of the board gaming world. Reviewing and podcasting when I can, but manly making music for all tabletop gaming

[@danacoleman4007]

@@BarryDoubletBoardGames oh! Well that's cool!!!

[@Deltium5683]

Hi - thanks for the good first impressions. How do you view this in contrast to 7th Continent? Also, how do you view the replay ability?

[@BarryDoubletBoardGames]

Good questions. Deltium Video game comparison. Continent = Elden Ring. Citadel = Skyrim. (that's if you are into video games) This is more a "choose your own adventure" book than the Continent. With paths laid out for you and you can follow them if you want unlike the Continents sandbox world. More story driven than trying to find your story in the Continent. You'll be going back to a camp and building it up, leveling up to. Things that are not in the Continent. And of course, it is a little more refined mechanically. Too early for me to tell how replayable it is. There may come a point where I get fed up of having to play the starting scenario, just so I can 1 of the 3 stories (2 in base game, 1 expansion). I never could keep replayed a Fighting Fantasy adventure after dying many time and would always more on to a different book (luck there are 50+ of them).The Continent has always been replayable due to the amount of curses and content. Staring in different locations and having to do different things. I am never bored playing that. There is a lot of content in this game too. Thing you do and say effect the world. Some things I have seen but there is so much that I haven't seen yet. Maybe after some more adventuring I will have some second first impression or a final review that will address this point.

[@Deltium5683]

@@BarryDoubletBoardGames this is a fantastic compare and contrast and I definitely understand and appreciate the nuances that you are referring to, thanks !!

[@nipzie]

You died? I thought it was supposed to eliminate the die and retry repetition from 7th continent?

[@BarryDoubletBoardGames]

It's doesn't happen as often as in the 7th Continent (which is a lot due to trial and error and the groundhog day experience it is). If you play it like the 7th Continent (which I did the first time) you can run out of life points and die. If you make a bad decision in the story, like not look after your health or colony, you can die. And If you choose to pick a fight with someone that you should have avoided (and there are clues in the story) you can die. You can play and survive many chapter of the story, building and developing everything and not die. But you need to play carefully. If there is no threat or fear of dying or losing the game, you wont play strategically. This is what keeps it exciting. You want to tell stories of how you just managed to escape capture and get back to the citadel. Or finding this really cool item that made it easy to kill this big bad boss. If the game is too easy, the only thing you can say is "this game is too easy." This is a choose your own adventure game. There will be a paragraph somewhere saying "your adventure end here." If that is something you do not like, don't get this game.