Brian Boru - How To Play

In this video, we're going to learn how to play Brian Boru! If you have any comments or questions, please do not hesitate to post them in the KZbin comments below, ensuring you abide by our Code of Conduct: watchitplayed.tv/code-of-conduct.
NOTE: During final scoring, for every face-up claim token on the board, all players tied for the most towns in that region score half the number of points shown on that token, rounded down.
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00:00 - Introduction
00:32 - Game Setup
02:30 - Game Play Overview
02:49 - Phase One: Preparation
03:10 - Phase Two: Draft
04:39 - Phase Three: Action Phase
04:49 - Playing A Card
05:42 - Winning A Trick
06:08 - Resolving Cards
07:26 - Card Symbols Explained
10:02 - Controlling A Town
11:17 - Beginning A New Trick
11:39 - Phase Four: Upkeep
11:44 - Upkeep Phase: Marriage
12:15 - Upkeep Phase: Battle
14:22 - Upkeep Phase: Church
15:36 - Upkeep Phase: Claim Regions
16:44 - End Game Trigger
17:55 - Final Scoring
19:31 - Conclusion
#watchitplayed #boardgames #tutorial

[@WatchItPlayed]

NOTE: During final scoring, for every face-up claim token on the board, all players tied for the most towns in that region score half the number of points shown on that token, rounded down.

[@lightbulbsun]

I think that was one of your finest box-spins there at the start. Excellent work.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Thank you kindly!

[@vibrio2]

Always amazed at the clarity of Rodney’s teaching. This game looks like it has tight mechanics with meaningful player choices. I really like the elegant and clean artwork which provides great readability. I’ll pick this one up as soon as possible.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Very kind of you to say (and glad you enjoyed the look of the game!)

[@ClaudeAndTaylor]

This looks sooooo rad!!! It looks like the trick-taking complements the other gameplay aspects super well. Can't wait to try this out

[@WatchItPlayed]

This is a game right up your alley Taylor!

Many thanks Rodney, your videos are of great help, whenever we are about to choose a new game to purchase, and whenever we want to get the rules right. Just purchased it and like the game. Greetings from Czech Republic (same continent as Ireland ;) ) and thanks again!

[@WatchItPlayed]

So nice of you to say Daniel - greetings back from Canada!

[@Tanks.With.Teeth.Malloy]

Ah this looks super cool. Thank you for your hard work Rodney and everyone at WiP

[@WatchItPlayed]

Thank you Justin, it means a lot to all of us to know you're enjoying. Truly.

[@OSB911]

Excellent explanation! As another said, very crafty avoiding those names. ;-). And the discarding of the princess...😂

[@georgewsinnott]

Just got this for Christmas and your video has just tidied up some questions I had after reading the rulebook. Looking forward to playing it tonight! Merry Christmas WiP!!

[@WatchItPlayed]

So glad it helped - Merry Christmas to you too!

[@LordoftheBoard]

This actually looks really exciting! I love the trick taking aspect. truly never suspected that. Great work again Rodney!

[@WatchItPlayed]

Me either - I liked that twist!

[@KiirloNaidel]

I love the look of this game, going to pick it up as soon as it's available. Thanks for the teach!

[@WatchItPlayed]

You're very welcome Draco!

[@tonygilbert5256]

Awesome! I know a lot of people don't appreciate the art style on this game, but I love it. Very much up my alley. Same goes for time period games, especially in this period. Fantastic! Can't wait to see reviews and find out MSRP.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Glad you're enjoying what you're seeing so far Tony!

[@litphaniusmcmelloy4275]

I own two games designed by Peer Sylvester: King is Dead and Wir Sind das Volk (with Richard Sivel). Both are SO good. Definitely hyped for this one

[@WatchItPlayed]

I've played the first and love it (haven't played the second, but have only heard good things).

[@lisahubbert1269]

Thanks for the super clear explanation. We got this game for Christmas and have played three times, but we were missing some subtleties in the rules that are really going to change the game play. It really is a fun game, but will be even better now.

[@WatchItPlayed]

So glad this helped will in a few details! Have fun playing :)

[@mrmeeple80]

Fantastic. We have this on pre-order. Even more excited now 😁😁

[@WatchItPlayed]

Hope you have a great time playing it!

[@mrmeeple80]

@@WatchItPlayed Thanks, Rodney

[@ballgear39]

Great review, Rodney. I love the mechanic that combination of trick taking with area control Just order my copy.

[@WatchItPlayed]

I hope you have a great time playing Supakit!

[@frankdetank9126]

Here I was cruising the internet, minding my own business and out pops Rodney. "Yo I am teaching another game over here," he hollered very politely. I flip it in reverse, pop the glove department, pull out my bacon rations and watch. At this point, I don't even know what game you're teaching--I'm just here to support you. I give you 5 🥓 way up!

[@WatchItPlayed]

Five! Very generous Frank!

[@StoryOfPain]

i love the artwork!

[@henriwhitehead]

This looks like a really cool game. Great video!

[@WatchItPlayed]

Thank you kindly Henri!

[@ericbanks693]

Thanks Rodney. This game looks great.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Appreciate you checking it out!

[@markcoomey8954]

Hi Rodney. Your videos are always spot on. Thank you so much. After watching your video multiple times I taught the game to play. Our very first round we played cards face down and revealed simultaneously, and resolved the cards. Something felt wrong so I checked the rules and realised that the start player plays a card face up, followed by the other players in a clockwise manner. I realise your video has to be quick and to the point and I probably connected A to B to make C, but upon watching your video the following day I realise that you did brush over very quickly how cards are played. I know, I realise that you did state that the start player plays a card then follows clockwise, but seen as it's a major part of the card play, it would have been good to be specific and mention face-up. Please don't take this as a harsh criticism of your videos. They are fantastic and again, I really appreciate your hard work that you and your team put into this. I would just like to point out something that tripped me up initially. Brian Boru was a hit with us, as is Watch it played. All the best, MArk

[@WatchItPlayed]

No worries at all Mark, a fair point, and sorry that part caused you some trouble.

[@tannerknox9088]

Heck I’d own this just to say I have a game called “Brian”

[@vincentj.9057]

“You guys ready to play? Cool I’ll go get Brian.”

[@WatchItPlayed]

Ha!

[@scyldscefing3913]

Thank you.

[@WatchItPlayed]

You're very welcome!

My kind of game. Thanks.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Glad you enjoyed what you saw Alain!

[@PMMagro]

A very neat looking game!

[@WatchItPlayed]

Thanks for checking it out Peter!

[@GalendilEVEPlayer]

Rodney, The rules that came in this game (obviously translated from German) are so obtuse and hard to understand (and missing in places) I would have never played the game properly without your terrific tutorial. Thank You!

[@WatchItPlayed]

SO nice to know this was helpful Galendil!

[@freek204]

Masterfully avoided having to say the names on the board

[@WatchItPlayed]

*whew*

[@seanmcnallyactor]

@@WatchItPlayed Irishman here. if you ever want help with name pronounciations with Irish games id be more than happy to write it out phoenetically for you

[@bramdirven4289]

Thanks for the explanation (and for all rules explanations for other games). I also have a rules question. During upkeep, when deciding who claims the region tiles, I assume you can claim region tiles from any region that is flipped over? (Even if a town was covered by Vikings and therefore no longer meets the requirements to be flipped). And my actual question, during upkeep when deciding the flipped region tiles, do you only look at the region tiles that are still on the gameboard, or can you 'steal' region tiles from other players when you gain control of that region? Related, do you lose the region tile when you no longer have more towns in that region (in case of a tie), during upkeep, and so return it to the gameboard face up?

[@WatchItPlayed]

Hey Bram, I think you'll find this addressed here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5nHqoqEh86rp9k

[@williammartindale5769]

Hi Rodney! Question: If you’re the majority disc holder, do you have to place a monastery when scoring the church region? I’ve heard the designer say this is an optional placement and that the wrong language was used in the rules translation to English. I think the player still removes all their disks no matter if they place or not. Thanks and great job as always!

[@WatchItPlayed]

This is a tough one to answer, as it sounds like the designer and publisher might have had different ideas about the intention. I know this is the ruling based on what was shared and approved by the publisher. If you have a link to the designer's comments, I'd be happy to look at it.

[@zrazieli]

Are an individual card's rewards simultaneous or do the occur in the printed order? i.e if my card reward is two coins and an optional 'buy a town for 5 coins,' and I currently have 3 coins, can I spend the two coins I just received as part of the 5 coins I need to take control of a town?

[@WatchItPlayed]

I shot this long enough ago, I don't recall from memory, would you mind providing a time stamp of the section of the video you are referring to?

[@wargamesontoast]

This game is beautiful and shockingly cheap. I got it for less than £30, new, including postage. Great value and an excellent t game

[@WatchItPlayed]

Great deal!

[@isaaccopeland2]

This looks like it has some similarites to Inis. Do you know if it was designed by the same people?

[@PowrThru]

No it was designed by Peer Sylvester who also designed the King is Dead and Wir Sind Das Volk. Excellent designer imo.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Thanks to Corey for the assist!

[@kindertuintm3637]

When are you doing a video about Mage knight 😉. Would love to see you explane it!

[@WatchItPlayed]

Thanks for the interest! I talk a bit about that here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5XXdaisfrqUbKM&t=342

[@kindertuintm3637]

@@WatchItPlayed OK, understood. Can I just ask if you played it and if you like it?

[@WatchItPlayed]

@@kindertuintm3637 I tend to avoid giving personalized recommendations. What I like, someone else might not - but hopefully you see a few games on here that might be what you are looking for!

[@FullMetal625]

The only question I have rules wise is for the final round. Is the final round the one where the princess of Denmark is married or is there another round after that? Other than that, fantastic video, I'm super excited to get a copy and play this!

[@WatchItPlayed]

Hey Charles, you'll find that covered here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5nHqoqEh86rp9k When you get to the end of a round where the deck is empty (so that would be the round that the princess was taken from the deck and put on the board, which is also the round that the princess is married or discarded), the game ends. Have a great time playing!

[@WatchItPlayed]

Co-ops can be so helpful for introducing people to the hobby too. Takes some of the stress of having to remember all the rules away.

[@jerrywilliams3943]

So if a person has no viking tokens do they have the "lowest number of tokens" and the player with the highest puts a viking token on them ?

[@WatchItPlayed]

You've got it!

[@emmanuelgoldspleen2905]

Awesome game. Brian Boru was the High King of Ireland. His name is pronounced like "Bree'n" Boru, rather than Brian, as we say in the West.

[@Clappincardboard]

When you play the card do you play it face up or facedown???

[@WatchItPlayed]

You play your cards face up, one after the other. So you'll see what the players before you had played.

[@Clappincardboard]

Awesome thank you!

[@BlueTorchWeddings]

Rodney is the best on the internet, hands down and hands up

[@WatchItPlayed]

You're too kind - thanks Stephen, glad you're enjoying!

[@VeganCheeseburger]

Admit it, Rodney. You're obsessed with trays!

[@WatchItPlayed]

I really do like them! So handy :)

[@alexandrederenne2817]

Hey Rodney! Great video as always. Regarding end game scoring, it seems you missed the part that face up claim tokens on the board are also scored, each player with most towns in those regions score half of the points shown on that token (rulebook, p. 10).

[@WatchItPlayed]

Very good catch! Adding a note about this. Thank you.

[@maxducoudray]

I like the way the game is super simple, but with 1,500 tiebreaker rules to remember. 😆

[@WatchItPlayed]

Ha! Yeah, there's quite a few. I would focus on the first 2 and only look the others up if it seems like they might be necessary :)

[@gersonkphone]

Except for the victory tiebreakers, the first place tiebreakers can be generalized to "if there's a tie for first, no change occurs, move to the next step". For ties below first, you get (or lose) the same thing you would have without the tie. The extra bits are the "if you'd end your turn tied on the marriage track, fall back til you're alone or a the bottom" and "if there's a tie for Viking lead during an invasion, the choice of town(s) lost falls to the player(s) losing town(s)"

[@maxducoudray]

@@gersonkphone I was mostly observing humorously. I don’t see it as a real game flaw. It just came off funny in the video.

[@jhowd78]

does the person that wins the trick take the ring?

[@WatchItPlayed]

Hey Jeremy! Yep, they will gain the ring, because they will resolve the top action of their card, which always shows this symbol (which causes them to claim the ring): kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5nHqoqEh86rp9k

[@jakersni9499]

The poor Princess of Denmark. She was turned down...Rodney style!

[@burningphoneix]

I clicked on this video because I listen to this catchy Irish tune called "Brian Boru's March" I have no idea who Brian Boru is.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Well, welcome either way!

[@Rex1987]

i am getting a Crusader Kings vibe off from this game even if made in a more should we say, casual way :) i mean it features "the tutorial island" of that game, ie Irland. And it focus on politics, marriages and terrain control as well

[@WatchItPlayed]

I've wanted to play Crusadar Kings!

[@FrankMinogue]

As we have talked about, unfortunately, you lost me at 3 to 4 player. We rarely have three players. Which is really too bad. I know we would love this game. We both love kingdom games and Viking games, and this has a bit of both; not to mention it is based in Ireland which is where our ancestors are from…I was looking forward to this when I saw the other folks in the Watch it Played team talk about it… Oh well, can’t have them all…

[@WatchItPlayed]

Thanks for checking it out though Frank :)

[@FrankMinogue]

@@WatchItPlayed Of course. Always happy to support the channel. Plus I wanted to learn about the game anyway. Take care, and have a wonderful holiday, my friend.