Every Game is Awesome 40: Schotten Totten

[@joa7302]

Glad to hear you guys like it, I think it’s lots of fun too !

[@hardyworld]

Did you guys mention that the Schotten Totten game has 6 suits of 9 cards and Battle Line has 6 suits of 10 cards as the only difference between the games (if you did, I missed it)? The 6 fewer cards (slightly) shortens the game, doesn't it? Does the 6 fewer cards in the deck slightly increase the use of Tactics Cards? Is the game better than Battle Line due to that difference?

[@johannesblank1552]

I thought you looked at the sum of the card values for tie breaking, rather than high card?

[@jonofpdx]

Yeah, if none of the "special" combinations are achieved then it goes to sum, not high card. If sum is a tie, the first player to place their third card would win the tie. Also, just to be clear, if using tactics cards you DO NOT start with one. Your hand limit is increased to 7 but your initial hand still consists of clan cards ONLY. Not a huge deal, but in case anyone was confused the rules were a LITTLE off in the vid.

[@kotieerwee2593]

I can take or leave tactics depending on my mood, but with or without it, this is definitely one of the best (if not the best) two player card game out there.

[@mkietzmann]

Jason's got a CBGB's shirt? Wow. Got one myself. Bought it at a Body Count show in '91.

[@john-vi9hl]

You are simply the best!

[@thesladeification]

It's the side with the highest sum that wins in the lowest two types of sets? in the review you say the side with the highest card wins. your way makes the deduction aspect much less interesting.

[@surgeoner]

Is Jason okay?

[@kurunirek]

I found out that tactics cards are to powerful, whenever we play with them player who got to them first always won.

[@jonofpdx]

I like them, but a lot of people find that. For what it's worth, it's a completely valid strategy to let another player grab a bunch of tactics cards and clog their hand and then just stop playing them. Since they can only play one more than you do they will be stuck with 2, 3 or even 4 junk cards in their hand and that usually more than makes up for the one tactics effect more they were able to pull against you. Of course, if you're both being cautious on tactics that strategy doesn't work as well, but then any play can still choose not to play and the other really only had one special power and no choice over what it was.

[@smolle8906]

would you recommend the original version ?

[@jonofpdx]

Personally, I would not. It's fine, but the almost impossible to find and doesn't include the tactics cards. Battle Line...maybe? Like, I think the art is much prettier here but with Battle Line it is ALMOST the exact same game (a couple SLIGHT differences on the tactics cards). Maybe if you could find a copy SUPER cheap. But then...this version's only, like, $15.

[@smolle8906]

I bought the new version of iello and i have no regrets. But here in Belgium the Original version isn't hard to get. My local shop has alot of copys (+25 i believe of the Original one)

[@boardgameknight2791]

I miss Jason. :(

[@conanvaleria3996]

The artwork may be a little too busy for some; and the overall card design seems less functional, especially if you're playing with an older crowd. GMT's Greeks vs. Persians version is graphically simplistic but user friendly in terms of card design and has text right on the tactics cards vs. symbols on Iello's. I'm not saying color blind symbols are a bad thing. I've heard some say some type of marker (plastic mini) to easily see who can play a tactics card would be useful but you could use an actual rock for that. I think the only difference in the sets for gameplay is this version is 1-9 vs. 1-10 and the scout card places the returned cards to the bottom of the deck vs. the top but I may have read that wrong. Iello does quality stuff though and something different just gives everybody more choices, and I still want a closer look. In this case, theme/artwork is pasted on anyway and will either peak your interest or won't. OK guys, you're holding out on us, where's Welcome Back To The Dungeon?

[@jonofpdx]

I'm with you that the cartoony art is a little divisive, but I feel like of the group that will really care about it, it will draw in more than it will turn off. MMV with specific groups, of course. Do agree that having text on the tactics cards is better but I get that they want to be as language independent as possible. Big deal in the Euro market.

[@AgentKuo]

I wasn't impressed with it. I've only played the GMT version. I found it hard to remember what beats what, and I think other games do the same sort of thing better.