Sky Team | Solo Board Game Tutorial and Playthrough | UNOFFICIALLY SOLO SERIES #1

In episode #1 of my Unofficially Solo Series, I teach and play the 2-player only cooperative board game Sky Team by designer Luc Rémond. I use the unofficial solo variant rules by Sylvain Couture. BGG link: boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3....
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MUSIC:
Shadowing by Corbyn Kites
Thumbnail image is from the cover of the board game Sky Team by artists Eric Hibbeler and Adrien Rives.
#totallytabled #boardgames #tabletop #playthrough #solo #howtoplay

[@laurencesingh3948]

I absolutely LOVE this idea for a video series! So many games that don't have official solo modes but have really good fan implementations of solo modes. Great idea! Looking forward to watching this one.

[@TotallyTabled]

Thanks, Laurence! Yeah, I kept hearing about all these great fan made variants but I never play them. That needed to change. I'll be looking at the simple ones, which don't require printing cards or things like that. Should be a lot of fun. Thanks for watching!

[@markusbiewer2756]

@@TotallyTabled May be this can result in another Top 10 video: Top 10 unofficial solo modes you should be trying

[@TotallyTabled]

@@markusbiewer2756 Yes, that is the plan. But I need to play more of them. This series of videos is mostly an excuse for me to finally get these modes played after ignoring them for so many years. I'm excited for the point when I have enough experience to legitimately put out a Top 10 list on the subject. But it will take me some time. Thanks!

[@EnyawMcLovin]

Spouse and I love this game. The more difficult airports will really get your anxiety level up trying not to crash and burn. As an aside, although the rules don’t state it, we play that the flaps and landing gear must be completely finished BEFORE the last die to determine engine speed and speed for landing. Just makes the game a tad more difficult, and thematically it feels more correct that the very last thing is brake to a stop. Still accounting for a flap or landing gear setting once the plane is “down” doesn’t make sense. YMMV. Great game !

[@TotallyTabled]

That's a nice extra rule. And, yeah, I've only started exploring the other airports, but they add a lot to the puzzle. Very stressful. This has rocketed up my list of 2 player games as well as gateway or welcoming or family games. Great design. Thanks for watching!

[@shylevari]

This solo mode is GENIUS!! I tried coming up with what the rules might be for solo, and I kept running into the same problems.. because I assumed the player plays both sides equally. Dude, this is opening my eyes for co op solo modes for other games too!!!

[@TotallyTabled]

I love solo modes that are this simple and yet offer a fun puzzle. So perfect they really should have included something like this in the box. Thanks for watching!

[@nobuthatsme9201]

Shaggy, you are the man. Best game explainer on KZbin by far.

[@TotallyTabled]

That's very kind of you to say. Untrue but kind. :) I'm glad my style works for you. And I appreciate you watching the videos and supporting the channel. Thanks!

[@Kumagoro42]

@@TotallyTabled Yeah, man. Until Rodney Smith retires, nobody will possibly be number one. But you're pretty close! :)

[@marceloperettikuhn4764]

I read the title and instantly loved the concept. Looking forward to the rest of the series!

[@TotallyTabled]

That's great to hear. I wasn't sure how it was going to be received. I guess I want to remove some of the stigma around "unofficial variants" (which honestly I was harboring in my own mind) and highlight some of my favorites. Hell, a lot of these fan made variants become the official solo rules or are more well liked than the official ones, so it seems important for me to take them seriously. I'm probably late to the party and everyone else has figured this out long ago. :) Thanks for watching!

[@marceloperettikuhn4764]

@@TotallyTabled I certainly don't think you're late to the party when it comes to content around this! But yeah, when I play The White Castle, Harmonies and TM: Ares Expedition solo, I'm basically always playing an unofficial solo variant. I definitely respect the wisdom of the community.

[@TotallyTabled]

@@marceloperettikuhn4764 I'll have to check those out. Thanks for the recs. And I like what you said there -- the solo community has as much, if not more, insight into what makes a great solo mode, especially since so many designers seem to have little interest or passion for it. Thanks!

[@gabthang8]

I love this. I’ve been getting through my unplayed solo games (only have 5 left on my shelf) and then recently came up with the idea to look into unofficial solo modes for other games on my shelf so I can get a chance to play them more often outside of game night.

[@TotallyTabled]

Yeah, solo modes are great for getting things to the table. I think most of us want to play more than our meetups allow. I'm a night owl, so I like to play when my family is in bed -- a great way to enjoy the silence! Thanks so much for watching!

[@Mysmi]

Keep up the great work and I’ll happily keep watching! What a great version to play solo.

[@TotallyTabled]

Thanks! I appreciate your viewership. It helps a lot. This one is great solo. I tried it on a whim and I'm glad I did.

[@hanklan9398]

Nice! Did not expect to see this game in your channel.

[@TotallyTabled]

Ha, yeah, that's the point of the series. I love having a variety of games on the channel. I've been enjoying this one both solo and at two players. Great family weight game. Hype is deserved. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@jacqmo775]

Loved this solo mode. I saw another, but not sure who by, where you roll all 4 of, say, pilot, and place them, then roll all 4 of co-pilot and then place them. It was fun but less interactive between the two. I'm going to try the one you've demonstrated to see which I prefer. Thanks, great video as always! P.S. I'll try any solo mode with board games, just so I can play and have fun 😂

[@malhildreth8418]

I’ve seen a third solo variant where you roll and place one dice at a time alternating between the two players, starting with the controlling player. I’ll have to try all three variants and decide which I think works best, although my initial thought is that the method demonstrated here would probably be the best of the three.

[@TotallyTabled]

I think I would prefer the one I showed, but I can't be sure without trying it. But I could see a bunch of different ways to tweak the solo mode to fit your preferences. Thanks so much for watching the playthrough!

[@jamespurs]

This was my game of the year last year and love it solo and co-op. Glad you featured it!

[@TotallyTabled]

I'm a bit late to the party, but I've been enjoying it both ways as well. Thanks for watching!

[@johndavidharding]

This game’s theme is super immersive and very well-integrated into the gameplay. Thanks for this very cool solo playthrough!

[@TotallyTabled]

Yeah, they knocked it out of the park with theme. It's all so simple mechanically, but works perfectly. Limited communication co-ops aren't usually my jam, but here I like it. Thanks for watching!

[@nirszi]

People claiming credit for my solo variant... or at least I documented it first, no problem at all, my lawyers will be in touch ;) Great game and video, thanks for doing it.

[@TotallyTabled]

This was the earliest ruleset I found on BGG. Sorry if I missed something. I can update info in the description if you provide me with a link to your documents. Thanks for watching.

[@nirszi]

@@TotallyTabled Oh, no, I was kidding, all good :) He is the first one who posted it in the file section so kudos to him.

[@TotallyTabled]

@@nirszi Ah, got it. Yeah, it is so simple I'm shocked it wasn't just included in the box. Surely the designer and/or publisher thought of this? I don't know. But I felt it was very fun. Have you developed other solo modes? I'm putting a list together for this series and I'd love to include some to try. Thanks!

[@tracieperez2629]

I am so looking forward to playing this game, and really glad you shared this solo variant! Thank Shaggi!

[@Think_Table]

Did not expect to play this game solo 😂

[@TotallyTabled]

It's fun, quick, and super simple. I'm kinda shocked these rules weren't included as official rules. Honestly I'd recommend the game even if only playing solo, but it is really great a 2 as well. :) Thanks for watching!

[@michaeld.5607]

Great concept! Love to see more =)

[@TotallyTabled]

I'm glad you like the concept. I think it should be fun to mix in a few of these games once in a while. Lots of games to explore. Thanks for watching!

[@melaniemajor4319]

I'm going to love this serie :) Already looking out for more!

[@TotallyTabled]

That's wonderful to hear, Melanie. I have a long list of fan made solo modes to try in some of my favorite multiplayer games. Should be a lot of fun to explore and hopefully make for interesting videos. Thanks for checking it out!

[@WrathofGuldan]

Great video. Looks like fun.

[@TotallyTabled]

Yeah, it is a nice dice puzzle whether at one or two players. Recommended!

[@hiho8084]

I was waiting for the solo on this one, as I've heard such good things about it. Thanks as always for the excellent teach and playthrough!

[@TotallyTabled]

You're welcome, as always. I had fun with this one. A nice, quick, solo dice puzzle. I can't wait to try all the different scenarios. Thanks!

[@queenieho7672]

Thanks for sharing. So happy that you did a playthrough for this game.

[@TotallyTabled]

I happy as well. I loved it at 2p but sort of stumbled on the solo rules and tried it on a whim. I was surprised that it was really fun. Thanks for checking out the playthrough!

[@Gogendantess]

Thank you for posting this playthrough! You have convinced me to get this game 😁

[@TotallyTabled]

I hope you enjoy the game. I appreciate you checking out the video!

[@leentje8924]

Fantastic video series idea! Thank you! An unofficial solo variant that I've played recently is one for Forest Shuffle. Really enjoyed it. Next one that caught my eye was for Iki, which is unfortunately collecting dust here on the shelf.

[@TotallyTabled]

Oh, thanks for the suggestion. I'll check that out. I recently acquired Forest Shuffle but haven't tried it yet. Iki looks fun as well. Too many interesting games and not enough time. Thanks!

[@UmouMais]

Excellent!

[@TotallyTabled]

Thanks!

[@lventura1978]

Love the solo variant!

[@TotallyTabled]

Thanks so much for watching the playthrough!

[@adurham9647]

I was so interested in this game and was actually just looking up the solo variant the other day! So timely to see it here on the channel! Love this idea! Keep up the great work. Love your work on this channel!

[@TotallyTabled]

Thanks so much. That is nice of you to say. I'm happy you enjoy the channel. I hope you enjoy playing this one solo. I've had a ton of fun so far. Thanks for watching!

[@Biodelic]

For weeks there were no notifications for your uploads but today I got six for this video. 🤣 This is such a fantastic and fun aviation themed game, aside from the Ace of Aces: Powerhouse Series, maybe the best there is. I am a private pilot and part time flight instructor and for fun I brought a copy of the game to the airfield where my planes are based and it became an instant hit. Everybody took an instant liking to it, even the grumpy oldtimers, that otherwise wouldn't touch a modern board game, really love it. There are several copies now making the rounds. I must confess, with all the plays I have, I still haven't played it solo. Great video as usual, still waiting for in to disappoint. Thank you very much.

[@TotallyTabled]

That's such an awesome story! Thanks for sharing. I love hearing about inexperienced gamers finding a modern board game that really works for them. I've had that experience a few times with games like Ticket to Ride, Splendor, Ethos, Pandemic, and Dominion, but it is rare. It is easy to see why Sky Team is the newest hit. And you might have a great video series on your hands -- pilots playing Sky Team, conductors playing 18xx, farmers playing Agricola. I'd watch that! :) Thanks!

[@Biodelic]

@@TotallyTabled There is something incredibly wondrous and entertaining about seeing a person, that held adverse views towards modern board games and playing them as an adult, to stand up after an hour or two of playing that game with the theme that clicked for them for the first time and go: "Well, that wasn't half bad!", all while they have a smile on their face and a childish sparkle in their eye. Their is a weird barrier to get people to the point of just giving a board game a shot. The way of modern media consumption, attention deficits might be part of the equation why that is but to me it seems we are slowly losing our social interaction abilities and willingness to joyfully engage with each other. Aside from posing a threat to one's wallet, board games have such tremendous potential to do good and bring folks together.

[@ForAllTheMeeples]

Thanks Shaggy! Going to give this a try today. Great play through and tutorial. You rock! 🥃

[@TotallyTabled]

I hope you enjoy it. The game really ramps up when you start playing the different airports with unique challenges. Let us know what you think. Thanks for watching!

[@ForAllTheMeeples]

@@TotallyTabled If I made a video of the games i love but suck at, Sky Team would be right at the top! Great game that i just can’t seem to get. 😳 i’ve killed thouands of passengers! 🥺 The horror!

[@nick16characters]

that was pretty fun, I will try it out

[@TotallyTabled]

Definitely worth trying. It's actually one of my favorite light solo puzzle games I've played so far this year. Really fun. Thanks for watching!

[@williammitchell116]

Much appreciated! I've been eyeing this game, and although my partner will play this, they may not want to play as much as me 😅 so this is very helpful in my decision making. Game seems so fun with the tense decision making and randomness of the dice

[@TotallyTabled]

Yeah, it really is fun. And the tension really increases once you start playing the different scenarios and adding in new complications. This one deserves the hype! Thanks for watching!

[@11PONCHO11]

This is great! Always liked the look of this game. Had it in my hands again yesterday at the game store, but put it down because no one to play with. Definitely will pick up next trip to store. Thanks.

[@TotallyTabled]

Yeah, it's crazy this solo mode wasn't included in the box. It is so simple and obvious. I wonder if they are holding off in order to create something to add for an expansion. Who knows? Thanks so much for watching!

[@11PONCHO11]

I went and bought it today! I mentioned your channel to the guy ringing me out.

[@TotallyTabled]

Ha, nice! I like the word of mouth. Hope you enjoy the game.

[@sylvaincouture3558]

Thanks for making a video on my solo variant

[@TotallyTabled]

Hey, you are very welcome! I had a great time with it. Thanks so much for checking out the video!

[@krittapastt.95]

Seems like a good game in a small box. Thanks!

[@TotallyTabled]

Yeah, nice small box, small price, economical use of components, short play time, loads of replayability. Great 2p family weight game. The fact that you can play a nice solo dice puzzle as well, that's the cherry on top. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@coyotemoon722]

Thanks for showcasing that. It seems so obvious now 😅

[@TotallyTabled]

It is right there and surprising how well it works. Thanks!

[@lasocietedesjeux]

Thanks ;)

[@TotallyTabled]

You're very welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@ryusuikarate]

This video convinced me to get the game. I'm not keen on communication limits but if it's this easy to table solo then it doesn't matter if we like it as a two player game or not. BTW how about a video about Faraway? That's another one I'm not sure about

[@TotallyTabled]

I want to play Faraway, but I don't own it. It is on Board Game Arena so you might try it there, but I don't know if you can play solo on there. It looks like a cute card game. Thanks for watching!

[@lozinho333]

Such an awesome idea, in a similar vein, have you thought about making a top board games list that are easy to table like this one? May be similar to your sick day list but some games can be easy to table with very high depth/complexity

[@TotallyTabled]

That's a great idea for a list. I'll noodle on that one. Thanks for the suggestion and thanks for watching!

[@chimster1234]

I really REALLY wish Brass Birmingham had a (good) solo mode ;)

[@shylevari]

Oh oh try my solo version of Marvel Damage Control next pleaseeeeee

[@TotallyTabled]

I definitely would try it if I owned that game. I'll give the game a look and possibly pick it up at some point. Thanks for watching!

[@BAD-Canon]

Thank you for sharing this, I had no idea this had a simple and good solo variant. I saw this in my local shop yesterday. In my cart now! Is there a link to the variant on BGG?

[@TotallyTabled]

Sure. It is called "solo variant" in the file section: boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/373106/sky-team/files

[@BAD-Canon]

@@TotallyTabled thanks so much!

[@CamObscura88]

Looks pretty fun as a variant. I’ve loved playing this with my wife but this is a neat alternative. One question - doesn’t the speed need to be done at landing after the flaps are open? Or is the final round different in that the speed check isn’t done immediately?

[@TotallyTabled]

Glancing over the rules I don't see anything that would suggest that. Is your take that once you play the second engine die the game is immediately over? Do you also need to place the axis dice before the engine? I might be missing something but I think you analyze all the win conditions at the very end. Thanks for watching!

[@mariuszkania9947]

Hi. What about Dominion Pyramid Challenge by SoloPlay? Will you try this one in your unofficial solo series?

[@TotallyTabled]

I have never heard of it. Thanks for the recommendation -- I'll check it out. I would love to have something Dominion related on the channel. Thanks for watching!

[@mariuszkania9947]

@@TotallyTabled Thanks it would be great to see Dominon solo gameplay😀I have another idea of unofficial bgg solo for another classic game. Maybe you could consider to try Roll for the Galaxy?

[@TotallyTabled]

@@mariuszkania9947 Ah, I'll check that one out as well. Thanks. I've only played Roll for the Galaxy once with some friends a long time ago, and they preferred Race for the Galaxy, so it never got played again.

[@olinsha]

Hi, I saw another KZbinr playing solo in a different way : he plays all the die of the first player then he plays all the die of the second player. On next turn he picks another dice of the first player and then he re-rolled the 3 remaining die of player 2. It seems easier than your rule. For the moment I’m applying your rule but I find it frustrating as player 2 to only have to chose a place for the dice and not to be able to chose a dice. It seems this mode relies a lot on coffee to mitigate a bad roll of player 2

[@TotallyTabled]

Yes, that is a way that I've seen. If you prefer that one, definitely use it. I prefer the way I showed in the video. I think it makes for more interesting choices and captures the spirit of the 2 player game better. The other way will be much easier, but that might work better on some of the hardest scenarios. Thanks for watching!

[@jeremymullen7097]

It may have been asked, but where exactly are these solo rules on BGG. I tried searching, and didn't find anything. I also found a few solo variants on Reddit.

[@TotallyTabled]

It is called "solo variant" in the files section on BGG here: boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/373106/sky-team/files