Through the ages in about 3 minutes

[@3MBG]

So, i am conflicted about through the ages. I really do not enjoy playing it in person due to the down time and the fact a player who is losing badly, will just have to sit there for an hour or two knowing they are playing a losing game. But I play it on the app a lot (80 hours+) and do appreciate the mechanics in the game a lot. Still, actually my 2nd favourite game with the subtitle "A story of civilzation" :)

[@3MBG]

grab a copy from miniature market here: www.miniaturemarket.com/cge00032.html

[@tychay]

There are some amazing mechanics in this game: the sliding draft market is very thematic, the way "combat" is initiated, resolved, and rewarded, and the cube resource economy. Too bad this game is so punishing and slow to play over the table. It really feels,like a great game for a different era in boardgaming. Hard to believe that "era" is only about 10 years ago. Love the app. The AI and challenges are excellent too. I still haven't won all the challenges (5 left).

[@DingleDangleSoup]

Could not agree more. In person could be 5 hours, but have done a 3 player app game in under 1.

[@3MBG]

Solo, i can do it in about 20 mins, as i can speed click through the AI turns.

[@filippocoppo]

Every time a single player can reduce/increase the timeline. I’m one increase dead time. But these games are spectacular for this.

[@fishcharlie]

This is a fantastic overview of Through the Ages, very impressive that you packed so much info into three minutes!

[@Calistake047]

I never thought I'd see the day when a 3 minute overview of TTA would come out! Impressive work man.

[@3MBG]

Cheers. I have played the game a lot, which helped.

[@jdtyler7]

Sigh...my favorite game of all time. Over 200 plays (mostly digital), but I'm always happy to play in real life. The down time doesn't bother me because it lets my brain run through all the different paths I can go down on my turn. That card river is perfectly designed. No two games are alike and there are several viable paths to victory.

[@AhJong0]

Amazing overview (as always). One of my favourite games and definitely my favourite competitive ‘organise a day’ game.

[@3MBG]

It definitely is one of those. I think for me, i'd go with Leaving Earth for that. 6 hours can breeze past

[@brinthorne]

I've only ever played the game on Board Game Arena, and I quite like it. We never play with the "heavy military" option, so that might have an impact on players being able to catch up if they fall behind. I never found it particularly complicated, but of course that's because the computer is doing all the tedious, fiddly parts of the game. I think my only real complaint is that (at least the base game) always uses all the same cards, so with repeated playings it's easy to just keep using the same strategy since you know the cards you want will come up eventually (you might not get them, but at least you know they will come up).

[@Silmegil]

One of my all time favorites. Thank you for that :)

[@brian8972]

What? He LOVED cubes!

[@3MBG]

I was quite proud of that joke, so thank you :)

[@Murkaeus]

Always thought the image of Napoleon on the cover looked like Mads Mikkelsen

[@3MBG]

100% does

[@RozanovaHunter]

Ok, you got me good this time: I snorted at the Picasso joke

[@FragRevel]

I sold Through the Ages and bought Bios Origins, which I think is the best civilization board game. Great channel, greetings from Argentina

[@3MBG]

Kia ora from Aotearoa! I love how international the hobby is!

[@Table.Fables]

As ever an instant like from me.. usually before the video even starts haha. Love this channel!

[@3MBG]

Cheers Richard, most appreciated

[@groovygorgar8408]

I would love to see a review of Civilization with its expansion. I've heard the expansion changes the game entirely.

[@3MBG]

Through the ages? Or original civilization?

[@groovygorgar8408]

@@3MBG the latest civilization expansion "Terra Incognita"

[@3MBG]

Oh right, Civilization: A new dawn. Got confused with the other civilzation game i've reviewed, the original "civilzation" from the 80s, which also had a massive expansion that totally changed the game. Good news, I have both A new dawn and Terra ingonita. Bad news, i still haven't got around to playing with the expansion. Good news, I totally plan to.

[@groovygorgar8408]

@@3MBG excellent news!!

[@msa4998]

Pretty spot on review. The app is the only way to play IMO due to what you stated and I do enjoy it. Nations is superior, however, IMO, since it doesn’t simply prey on the weak player, has asymmetrical nations, less impact of war, and a handicapping system.

[@3MBG]

I've only played 2 games of Nations, but i liked what i saw.

[@Matt-zp1jn]

What about another great civilization game that was recently reprinted, Clash of Cultures: Monumental Edition, ever thought of reviewing it?

[@3MBG]

@@Matt-zp1jn Not played that one, and the name made me think it was a terrible phone app game. Lol

[@IamEdisonHuang]

Adore for explaining such a monster in 3min. I don’t think focusing on western civilisation is bad thing, especially the expansion add a ton of eastern leader choices anyway.

[@3MBG]

For some folks that lens is pretty important. It's not just that the leaders are almost all white dudes, its the idea that civilization is about industrialized progress and colonization. The greatest civilzation is the one with the biggest movie industry is a very specific take, and its was this game does.

[@gbdomingo]

Ive been playing on the app. One thing I don't have a strong feel on is corruptiom amd knowing when the ages will end. Gotta figure that out to win challenges.

[@3MBG]

Just keep an eye on the number of cards remaining in the top right. If its 10 or lower, the age is probably going to end very shortly.

[@elisheva1753]

I think the worst thing about western civilization being omnipresent is it's laziness from the game developer. One of the best things from historical games is all the little tidbits you learn and might get you into some era or region's history. Imperial Struggle is western focused - being Britain against France, but it is far from lazy historically and has tons of info about India and America at those times. This is what one its driving strengths and sadly most "mainstream" i.e. non wargame games most often fall short in that department, instead choosing people every English speaker knows already.

[@joncleek5406]

I don't think it's that harsh. Video cherry picks the leaders, without looking at the wonders. They're closer to 50/50, despite Age III being Hollywood, Internet, Fast Food. (and splitting hairs, but Moses should prob not be included in Western Civ, but Joan of Arc should be, I think? Also, post this video coming out, the expansion added double leaders (24) and wonders (16) which I believe are more balanced? And, of course, got in trouble for not enough women leaders, which was remedied.

[@Lordborg909]

Hows the new gaming room bro? Al unpacked and set up?

[@3MBG]

Pretty much. Just waiting on one final thing (and outdoor hutch for our pets), so i can convert the corner they are in into a study area.

[@Lordborg909]

@@3MBG Nice one! I am pretty jelly about the room haha. Our little house hasnt got any spare rooms, enjoy!

[@atomicpasta7073]

My only taste of this game so far has been the digital edition, and yet strangely enough it’s a miss for me. It’s chock full of euro mechanics I like, but I find it really hard to fully grasp. As inconvenient as it is, I feel like I would learn the game better if I played the physical version to see and interpret all the moving parts, rather than leave the bookkeeping in the background.

[@3MBG]

Yeah, sitting down with the physical copy would certainly help. I played it quite a few times in person before selling my copy and getting the app

[@martinsvacek6922]

You stack the cards wrong :D

[@3MBG]

Example?

[@martinsvacek6922]

@@3MBG Stacking card separatly is crazy, stacking cards over enother in column is more space saving. To play like in video, you have to have huge table. But It was just for explanation purpose I think. Sorry. You are doing great job, subscribed for two years ;)

[@3MBG]

Ah, i have a massive table, so space stuff out.

[@OverlordZephyros]

Is the app obligatory or optional?

[@3MBG]

It's just the PC version of the game you play instead of the board game.