It's A Wonderful World Review - The Broken Meeple

[@jean-christophecoppeau7565]

Hi, it’s funny you don’t really speak about the chained combo which can happen during production phase; you produce resource A which makes you finish building a card , which increases your resource B production instantly, which makes you finish building another card , which .... It’s really an important side of the game for me Also, from the few games I had, I don’t really agree with you regarding the hate drafting mechanics ; it’s easy to see that someone wants blue card or whatever for scoring, and you will pick these cards to throw them for 1 resource that you need for building a card or crystalium, and you will do the same for cards which give appropriate resources for other players; in fact I have seen huge score difference between players who block or do not block others So far, I really enjoy it, speaking about the standard edition as I still haven’t use the ks edition content, and more than sushi go or 7 wonders... we will see in a few weeks. Cheers

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Never found the chaining to be that interesting. The fact that the game feels so generic makes everything feel underwhelming mechanically. I'm basically doing a Century variant with drafting with 5 generic resources and two generic scoring tokens. Nothing feels unique. There's also unlikely to be just one player wanting a single color in the draft and even then you have the issue of needing to think more about your own plan rather then there's. There are plenty of cards out there that you can't stop me getting blue cards if I want them, only need 2-3 max a round given any more and I'm unlikely to build them all. I do think the game is fine overall, but it's going up against wonders, sushi, Villagers, bunny Kingdom, even the new Walking in Provence and they all feel more interesting.

[@vonwoolf9963]

Just like Century: - the game is simple in its rules - though it doesn't feel like a gateway game - there are a bit more things to take into account and to think about - the theme vanishes very quickly - though the graphic images are quite beautiful - it needs regular plays to master All in all, this game is an acquired taste. Like Century, this game won't blow people's minds, but I think it has the potential to become a regular ~45 minute game in certain circles.

[@bartwalczak2715]

Funny, this game replaced for me both 7 Wonders and Terraforming Mars, and I liked the theme more than in either of those. Hate drafting is possible if you look at the scoring conditions, less when it comes to resources. Granted, I do have a KS version, which adds more cards, other production capabilities and at least 2 other mechanisms, which make the game less straightforward. Also, I was surprised that the campaign that they introduced there was actually kind of interesting. Sure, you could say that the theme is pasted on, but then it is on most such game anyway. I guess it's the case of what catches your fancy.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Well I'd play this over TM due to the shorter length but Wonders would still be my choice.

[@k4rl1L40l4]

It's a matter of taste. I don't like 7 Wonders at all but I really enjoy "It's a wonderful world". It's not the best game ever produced but it's short and as I said very enjoyable. I think the iconography of 7 wonders is really bad, especially of 7 wonders duel.

[@supercommando440]

What about "Colony"? It looks simpler but also "dry", particularly for solo play. I'm just guessing based on vids and reviews I've read.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Very different style of game and I found it a bit too fiddly.

[@Vadimaster]

I really liked the way the solo works, but I own the Kickstarter with the 2 campaigns which add to the replay ability.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

I dare say it might. But retail all you get is the basic drafting game which on its own, isn't enough to beat the likes of other top rated drafting games out.

[@nyanates]

Ha! How timely... Just played this first time last night and we all really enjoyed it. 2x things really stood out for me - 1. chaining starts slow and picks up speed almost exponentially and 2. folks who like engine building grok the game almost immediately and puff up visibly when they build efficient production chains, almost w/o even listening to the rules overview. Upon closer inspection I can see your points, though. Good deep analysis... just hope you don’t analyze Santa Clause.

[@semajracubolk]

I really want to give this game a try, unfortunately it is out of stock everywhere. I think it is unfair to just label it as a drafting game implying that is the main attraction of it. I am not really a fan of drafting, but the chain reactions and engine/tableau building in this is fascinating to say the least. That's what interests me enough to want to play it.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

The tableau is such a minor aspect though. You don't do anything interesting with the cards once you have them. The initial drafting/recycling is where the whole game experience lies.

[@ClasmanFilms]

Thanks for pointing out the flaws of the game. Most reviewers nowadays are publisher kiss asses.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Does feel that way at times, I'm not afraid to speak my mind. Even my favorite publishers and designers can put out flawed material.

[@Gatherey]

I thought it might be 7 Wonders replacement (due to overpowered green cards) but thank god I saw it before jumping on Kickstarter. Thanks for saving me my money!

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Happy to help you make whatever decision you choose. :-)

[@fredoblong]

Not sure this one needed a 20 min video. Well explained though.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Times are difficult to gauge when you are in the flow sadly! 😄

[@MarkBuschhaus]

wow, we normally have a similar taste, but here we are way off. the theme is there. the resources meet the type and name of the building. also the tokens. i would play this over 7 wonders anytime! IawW is such a streamlined and clear game which plays great at all player counts. and what u said about the scoring is totally wrong. if i wouldnt know better, i would guess, u never really played the game or played it wrong. the qwirk and little thing which makes this game great is the seperate material production. and when u really dont remember any of the cards, then i have to say, u might have played it too biased. bc its so much fun to create the story of ur faction. hatedrafting can be so important in this game and u saying its not shows me that sth is really wrong. 8.5/10 for me.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Can you even remember the names of the materials without checking the rulebook? What story is being told when you have Atlantis in one card and a Uranium Mine the next? You're the first I've heard to comment on the theme beyond anything more than abstract. I wouldn't use the bias or not played it right argument as a fall back. I simply did not get much enjoyment from the game. It may be streamlined yes and easy to play/master but that's not an auto win. For me I would take the extra tactics of 7 Wonders even though it's harder. I've got Villagers and Sushi Go for easy drafters.

[@rickert566]

@@TheBrokenMeeple Well let me add to the list. The theme comes through with most of the cards and I have no trouble remembering the eight names of the various resources..

[@MarkBuschhaus]

@@TheBrokenMeeple i have no problem remembering the names of the materials. and the game has so much theme if you want it to have, but none, if you dont want to. im sorry, but im not saying you are not allowed to have ur opinion, as not every game is for everybody. i just think your arguments against it are not true. im sure it will be in the bgg top100 next year. i find it better than 7 wonders and i really disliked villagers. sushi go is a fun game but i wouldnt compare it bc sg is sooo light. as i said. im not against your opinion, i just dont agree with ur argumentation. as if 7wonders and sushi go have more theme!???

[@jamesmccarthy962]

Long time past but i do not see how the theme cannot shine through unless you choose to just call the tokens blue, green ect... If you know they are science cards, economy/infrastructure cards, exploration cards ect... then it all makes sense Theme is simple, you are building an empire, every project you choose to create adds to the story of your empire. Each card ties into the theme with what it is, e.g Magnetic trains are economy cards since they are major parts of the your nation helping people travel and prompting commerce and efficient running of your system. And then you are playing into the theme making the story just by building it, what did you have to harness to build your magnetic train? While lots of money (yellow tokens), a little bit of science for working out the electromagnets (so a green) and energy (black cubes). Red bonus are generals, used for war/military leaning projects, blue are financers supporting large construction projects Even what each card produces makes sense to the theme, science cards often give science cubes due to natural progress of research just as the most basic example Honestly the theme seems quite clear with every card you have. If you choose to call each token just by its colour it will not shine through as well but then the cards are all still named projects and pieces of your civilisation building up like a empire building or civilisation video game.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

You had to inject a lot into that to gather any kind of theme though. The stuff about trains and electromagnets etc. I guarantee that was not in the design process. People don't call 7 Wonders thematic because the baths cost 3 stone to build as opposed to wood.

[@rickert566]

Did you need a drink of wah-wah before doing this review. You must have said "dry" about 30 times. Are yout rying to convince yourself?

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

When you are in a desert, how many times do you say "it's hot" or "I need water"? 😏

[@rickert566]

@@TheBrokenMeeple Not as often as you said dry in this video.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Well gets the point across 😋