The Kings Dilemma review

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Designer,Hjalmar Hach, Lorenzo Silva,
Artist,Giorgio Baroni, Giulia Ghigini,
Publisher,Horrible Guild,
boardgamegeek....
Other games mentioned:
The quiet year: boardgamegeek....
For the queen: boardgamegeek....
Icarus: rpggeek.com/rp...
Sherlock Holmes: boardgamegeek....
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"Shiny tech, special spotlight, techlive" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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3 minute board games are J Carmichael and S Rodgersrsonal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

[@3MBG]

Seeing its popping up a bit. No you cannot recycle this game, at least not here. All the cards are treated with a plastic to make them shiny and long wearing. This makes them not suitable for recycling. They opted for long wearing pretty cards on a disposable game. Cards you will likely handle once and then bin. I should have spelled it out clearer in the video, but i'd also hope you'd assume i'm not an idiot who's never heard of the idea of recycling, lol.

[@iansutton7416]

I share the same discomfort. Perhaps I might feel less uneasy if it were all 100% recyclable (and accepting it does NOT need to be long wearing), but even then, I really don't like the concept.

[@monkey2.092]

This is a silly concern. Look at how many games you have behind you! How much do they get played? I bet most of them get played less than the 15 hours you spent playing 'King's Dilemma'. You mentioned escape room style games, and an 'Exit the game' is smaller but only takes an hour, 15 'Exit the game' games are about the same paper and cardboard amount, maybe more. And at the end of the day it's only paper. We are being conditioned via scare tactics to feel shame and guilt at almost everything we do, even if these things in the grand scheme of things only make an infinitesimal difference. It's not only consumption and pollution we are made to feel guilty about either! Anyway, a one hour car ride and you will have polluted even more than playing this game for 15 hours, are you going to never drive your car again?

[@marinn00]

​@@monkey2.092 thing is even if you dont play them for 15 hours you can sell, borrow, gift, give them away. Most people will gladly take a free game out of your hands if you dont want to keep it anymore. Some games with minis borrow themselves to be used for rpg campaigns or you could use them to learn how to paint and learn a new hobby. This does none of those things.

[@billyao3613]

A thematic game so immersive that it put you in a dilemma after the game is done.

[@3MBG]

Ha, that's a very sharp comment, I approve

[@3MBG]

So i'll be doing a few more of these longer format reviews in the future. The 3 minute format will still be the go to, but there's just some games that don't fit the format very well. And that's fine, not everything needs to be a square peg hammered into a round hole. I've also linked to the other games i mention in the video in the description above. The TLDR of this one though, story was fine if a bit grim for the sake of grimness. But overall, the game left a bad taste in my mouth for other reasons.

[@jeffg5917]

Long time viewer and your channel has aided me in finding really good board games. I think I can speak for everyone when I say you should make more videos like this. Having more thought out reviews and responses to games is always helpful, especially in this one's case where it seems there's hardly a game at all Good stuff and keep it coming!

[@rosmith606]

I think that your 3 minute boardgames service is invaluable - someone can send one of your vids to their gaming group and pitch it as "I'm thinking of bringing this to game night" or it's a super quick assessment of "is this game for me?" This deeper dive into a game's structure, design and 'vibe' is a really interesting output too - You are a game designer yourself! You have valuable insight and input to offer when providing critiques! As such I very much look forward to more videos of this nature :D

[@dangilboa6496]

Heh, you sort of broke my heart there, but not really. King's dilemma has been high on my wishlist for a few years now, and the only reason I never got it was that I realized I will not have the right group to play it with. You just took it off my list. feels empty with only 925 games I want left in it.... Thanks for putting things in context and perspective. Wastefulness is something we need to really start considering, even in board games.

[@scotchbox]

This is meant to be a 15 hour game, I swear we're entering our 40th. ... We're laugh-cry arguing over pretty much every Dilemma.

[@Moan57]

I liked this game a lot but I would recommend what I did with my playgroup. Play it tabletop simulator, no waste of paper, and we enjoyed it a lot, I'm thinking of buying to support the developer

[@HenricWallmark]

One of the best games I’ve played! First half started and promised more storylines than I felt was resolved second half however. Still great!

[@clarkewithe]

Loved the review but I definitely disagree, it’s my favorite game of all time. I think the difference was that my friends and I got more into the mechanics with endless negotiation, bribing, and roleplay even though they were a bit unbalanced and winning wasn’t necessarily rewarded at the end; if the mechanics are just a means to an end I could see it being less fun

[@3MBG]

You can get the same RP experience from something like icarus or the quiet year. But without the mechanical busy work. I really do recommend those games to your group if you loved the feel of KD

[@blueseqperl]

The Queen's Dilemma Kickstarter includes an optional buy-in for a reset pack for King's Dilemma.

[@3MBG]

Why though?

[@muzaq6]

@@3MBGresale or gift?

[@3MBG]

I still dont see it, that's a terrible gift, lol. And resale, maybe. But i susspect most people will pay a few bucks extra for a non-reset set

[@blueseqperl]

@@3MBG my friend group went through the story 3 different ways. It was fun to roleplay and they had me manage the upkeep. It was also the perfect pandemic bubble experience. We named our kings after the wine we were drinking

[@muzaq6]

⁠​⁠@@3MBGI mean, a reset pack makes the whole waste argument at least a little moot, right? Were you expecting to play this game multiple times?

[@rosmith606]

I came to the same conclusion as you when I started to realise that Legacy games overall that have the destructive nature of gameplay, yielding a broken copy of a game at the end, just isn't for me. Oath was such a breath of fresh air - a campaign game designed so that it can be completely reset! Shame I don't have enough folks around who love it as much as I do...

[@scotchbox]

I think even the Devs has realised this, since the sequel can be "recharged" with a cheap add-on that replaces the secret or stickered elements.

[@Christian_from_Copenhagen]

I don't have a lot of board games, but I couldn't really imagine buying something that can't be replayed. The element of waste only adds to that.

[@kevinanderson422]

Fair point on the waste generated, but honestly most legacy games I've come across feel about the same. I don't see breaking out my completed Pandemic Legacy board to play on when I have the original game available (and let's be honest, more than likely if you're committing to Pandemic Legacy you probably already have the original). I guess I could re-use some of the classes in the base game.. If I ever convince a group of friends to play through my copy of KD that's been gathering dust for a couple years I'll have to see if we think the juice was worth the squeeze.

[@MrRjak21]

I just picked this up on clearance for 30 at my local game store. My thought is that it is the same as other legacy experiences. I haven't played pandemic legacy once since I finished it and just recently got rid of it. It's like one of those sand mandalas that is wiped away and your memory is all that's left. Also, being able to throw away the game at the end gives a sense of closure that for example selling my copy of scythe with all the expansions (which hasn't been played in three years) just can't

[@3MBG]

Yeah, im seriously thinking legacy games and me are not a good fit. I think in future, i'll steer clear of them.

[@thewilltheway]

I think if I finished playing a game with that much waste at the end, I would disintegrate.

[@3MBG]

Yeah, it was such a downer for the group

[@noonefromnowhere99]

Thanks for the review, I don't think I want to buy a game that has no replay ability.

[@rossglenn7600]

Just an FYI: In the U.S., "pick a path" is known as "choose your own adventure" (or CYOA, after the U.S. trademark).

[@3MBG]

I use pick a path so its more hollistic, including CYOA, figthing fantasy, loan wolf etc.

[@rosmith606]

@@3MBG Lone Wolf was my jam growing up, my dad had a huge collection of em!

[@Jon-G]

Great review and I totally agree about the waste of legacy games. We're just about finished with TtR Legacy and I'm already feeling like I need to play the "finished" game so that huge box doesn't turn into waste. I think non-replayable legacy games are going to disappear. Even if they're 100% recyclable, it's still not great. KD is one I've always looked at and now I know I can take a deep breath and just close that door. Thank you.

[@OhSixy]

Not sure if we needed 5 full minutes dedicated to you going on and on about how it's waste/ garbage, but I do agree. Legacy games with no replayability are not for me either

[@3MBG]

I probably needed to clearer. It was the decision to make the game out of long wearing, plastic coating cards, which made the game non-recyclable that really got under my skin.

[@OhSixy]

Makes sense. I like your longer format videos, generally I already know the details of a game and so the 3 minute videos don't usually help me. These longer dives into the games are great, please do more! @@3MBG

[@RichardArpin]

Maybe someone else knows; is Clank: Acquisitions Inc reusable once it's been played through?

[@OhSixy]

Yes it is, you can play a full normal game of Clank! on your customized world map once its all done.

[@timdertim]

I know we disagree on this J, but On Mars is my favorite game- tell me you rank King's Dilemms lower, please lol

[@3MBG]

Ha, probably not. As i did enjoy the core story ideas. On Mars will always irk me because its clearly a game about colonizing the new world that got pasted onto mars. Hence the traveling back and forth system and the search for crystals (gold). And as a Mars nerd, I took that personally ;)

[@wayner396]

I own it but have yet to find a group who will play through it with me. Looks like a fun experience. Though an app would be a good idea.

[@deathseekergibbsy]

It's been a couple of years since I played The King's Dilemna, I can't say I have many fond recollections of it. I got my campaign goal and that was the most exciting, and then the game that lasted double the length of a normal game because of a book (trying to be spolier free). I think roleplaying isn't my thing, and that's why it was like whatever

[@timdertim]

Red Dust Rebellion 😍

[@Squatch_needs_no_heroes]

This should have been on my Grail list.

[@Brainstrain]

The recycler’s dilemma

[@3MBG]

All the cards and stuff are plastic coated, it can't be recycled in my country. Not sure about anywhere else.

[@terry3733H]

thanks for the rating and the warning. these are good to rent 😅

[@terry3733H]

legacy game is worth it if it gives memorable moments like Pandemic (I heard) but this one sounds sensationalized violence/ shock baits…

[@MsNosis]

question: how much of backstabbing, lying and tricking your fellow players is in this game? For me this game looks a bit like Diplomacy, the game famously known for ruining friendships (and the worst ever game I have ever played). am I right in my concern, or is this game nothing like that?

[@3MBG]

A little, but ultimately, the decision was on which of two options in a pick a path adventure to take. So there were not any real consequence for each decision.

[@terry3733H]

take that smartass banter is fun but real life murders and grim role playing - no thanks - and that (pun)’s a better game 😊

[@shawn_solo]

Why feel bad? Recycle.

[@3MBG]

Might be different where you are, but the card style and tokens in the box aren't the sort of paper products that get recycled here to my knowledge. This is almost all landfill material.

[@OhSixy]

There is no recycling to be done with these games, its all plastic coated

[@3MBG]

Yeah, that's the issue. The stuff is all treated in a way that makes it non-recyclable.

[@shawn_solo]

Bummer

[@xshadowscreamx]

It should have been all cheaper material, would reduce the price too but maybe they did not want to sell a cheap game for reasons.

[@aeon_zero]

Cmon, I get your gameplay points but the waste thing is more or less moot. That is the destiny of all legacy games and there are many MUCH more wasteful games out there that you haven't mentioned. KD is all card and a bit of plastic, all easily recyclable. The weekly groceries shopping I have done today is gonna create way more waste than this game.

[@3MBG]

Its not recyclable. They chose to use long wearing paper coated in plastic. (See pinned comment above)