Cathedral Classic Game Review and tutorial

[@Sturm01]

I was introduced to this yesterday at a 12th night event. Absolutely loved it. Might have something to do going 2 hours strait against all comers and only being beaten twice.😅

[@TheBoardGameKaptain]

Well done!

[@diamondmeeple]

Notice that one guy has solved the game, and he/they suggested a new start rule to balance this: The white player places one building. The dark player then places the cathedral and one piece. Then players alternate one and one piece. A match consists of two rounds, alternate start. Total lowest surplus squares wins.

[@steveevans9342]

I saw this game demonstrated and sold at The Maryland Rennesance Festival in the early 1980's and was intrigued! I didn't have the money to buy it at the time. Years later, I finally found a copy at a local game store that was going out of business at a great price! I love Chess and prefer strategy games over mostly luck types. This is a good game night icebreaker for the more elaborate and lengthy titles.

[@TheBoardGameKaptain]

Indeed, I couldn’t have said it better myself. Coincidentally, I bought my copy at a Renfaire.

[@cgramlick542]

I think I liked the version that came out in 86 better. Yes it was plastic but the buildings looked cool, the cathedral was white, and I believe the pieces fit firmly on the board once placed.

[@mogusmo7077]

I like it. Quick. Not long and drawn out like other strategy type games. Don't have to plan ahead to play with a group. Quicker than chess, more strategy than checkers. It's a good fun strategy type game.

[@ninefotimbo4036]

Great video! Which website sells the larger higher-quality set? I'm trying to avoid ordering the smaller, poorly glued-together set. Thanks!

[@TheBoardGameKaptain]

Thanks very much. I'm not really sure, I have a real hard time telling size from pics. I did a quick internet search for "Cathedral Board Game" and I saw some listings on the big seller sites (Target, etc) for copies that look like mine, but I'm not 100% that it's the exact same one.

[@mcleandesign]

My grandson and I put a spin on this game. We have wars using dice and the higher number roller winning the battle. WInning a battle allows you to remove one of your opponents pieces. The opponent can then use his war to try to recapture the area. Each player is allowed 3 wars. Gives each other a chance when they've messed up. Also, it adds a bit of chance to the game. I think this game has potential for other “house rules”, something we do with Catan, one of our favorite games.

[@TheBoardGameKaptain]

That does sound interesting. is sounds like a full fledged variant more than just a house rule.

[@brashanGG]

Hey! I know this is like 1 year old, but I have one question: In 5:06 white puts a cross piece that is not in direct contact (only corner) with the 2-tower piece. Then white adds another piece and claims "I've sorrounded this area", but wouldn't the diagonal-only contact of the cross and 2-tower piece make the area open/neutral? I'm trying to learn the game and found conflicting information regarding diagonal contact versus wall-to-wall contact for creating boundaries. Thanks so much!

[@TheBoardGameKaptain]

It is difficult to see from the angle, but that is actually direct contact, that piece with the two towers is shaped like the letter "U" and the cross is in contact with one of the ends of the "U." If you go to 4:24 you will get a better look at the piece as I pick it up.

[@brashanGG]

@@TheBoardGameKaptain oh, I see it now! It was late in the night when I first saw the video lol. Thank you! 👍

[@TheBoardGameKaptain]

Brian Clark you’re very welcome, I’m glad I could help. Thanks for watching and commenting. 😁

[@davidinthe406]

Your ratings reflect almost exactly what happened when my wife and I played it 😄 I thought it was fine, good though not necessarily great, but she made clear she never wanted to play it again.

[@TheBoardGameKaptain]

We're very in sync. ;)

[@TrevorWicklund]

Great video! This seems like a game I'd like a lot, I wanna get it now

[@TheBoardGameKaptain]

Thanks very much for the positive feedback. If you pick up a copy, be sure to let me know what you think of it. :)

[@nataliewright1067]

Me too! Just bought it off Amazon but the one that came in a case. I think it would be more fun if you would try to block the other players from taking half the board. Excited to play it!

[@TheBoardGameKaptain]

@@nataliewright1067 very cool. Could you post a link to the one you got in the case? I'd love to see it. :)

[@evilwillhunting]

Do you have to place next to an already placed structure? Can you put down a piece totally out in the open?

[@TheBoardGameKaptain]

You can play your pieces anywhere, though it helps to play them next to others of your own for surrounding territory or one of your opponent’s pieces.

[@ME-nf8jv]

I just got this game, based on this video review, and I really love it! One question I had, though: So, surrounding a single opponent block removes it from the space, but the opponent can re-place that piece on their turn.... so what's stopping the opponent from putting back in the place it was ejected from?

[@TheBoardGameKaptain]

Doing so would immediately cause that single piece to be surrounded and removed again, it would be a wasted move. Thanks so much for commenting and letting me know that you're enjoying the game. I love to hear when my videos help people to find games they love. :)

[@mcleandesign]

They can't place it back in the same area because that zone is now captured and owned by the opponent.

[@GirlyGamer-BoardGameGran]

Not my kind of game, but there is no doubt the pieces are amazing, it's gorgeous. So whoever has the bigger piece / most single squares (worth of pieces) left at the end is the loser?

[@TheBoardGameKaptain]

Basically, piece or pieces, but yes most squares worth.

[@gaylenandmarlavanderlugt4794]

It’s a # 10 game for my husband who is virtually impaired!

[@TheBoardGameKaptain]

I saw your other comment about Visually instead of virtually. It’s a really fun game.

[@TheGamerZapocalypse]

I recently bought a copy of the original Mattel game that has the plastic building pieces. I have not actually played it yet. It's more of a display piece in my game room area...lol. I found a interesting rule issue after being directed to this link when I was researching the game: sites.google.com/site/ptlehmann/gaming/hrules/cathedral It seems there is a first move that will always win the game once it is found. The author of the article does not tell what the move is, but rather gives what seems like a solid house rule to remedy the issue. I really like the concept and look of the game, however, after discovering this rule issue, I feel less inclined to play now. Regardless, nice play-through/review.

[@TheBoardGameKaptain]

Thanks, for the feedback. House rules are good ways to fix games like this. Still, if you and your opponent don't know the way to break the game, and aren't uber competitive, you can still just play it as per normal rules. :)

[@paulad2782]

I really don't feel this is true. The cathedral can go anywhere to start, so there is no standard first move.

[@frankiethefrank]

Would have been better if Lyn told us WHY she didn't like it

[@TheBoardGameKaptain]

I agree, but when Lynn doesn't feel she can explain why, or doesn't feel she has much that she can contribute, she stays off camera. The reviews that she appears in are ones she felt she could talk more about and could explain more of her reasons for liking or disliking a game.

[@frankiethefrank]

@@TheBoardGameKaptain fair enough!

[@Mr.Fluffy_Rainbow]

My guy sounds like Neil deGrasse Tyson

[@TheBoardGameKaptain]

I’ll take that as a compliment.

[@gaylenandmarlavanderlugt4794]

…talk text screwed it up, it should definitely read visually impaired!

[@GregTheHun]

So, who actually won? Little confused on the rules.

[@TheBoardGameKaptain]

So the player with the least number of squares worth of pieces left unplayed wins. Lynn had a piece that would occupy 2 squares left unplayed while I had a single square piece unplayed so I won.