What Are The Dice Tower Essentials? - with Tom Vasel

Tom Vasel explains the history and the future of the Dice Tower Essentials line of games produced in a partnership with Arcane Wonders!
0:00 Intro
0:28 What are The Dice Tower Essentials?
2:50 Royals
3:10 Viral
3:33 Dice Manor
3:52 Goodcritters
4:20 Aquatica
4:44 Smartphone, Inc.
5:13 Mobile Markets
5:33 Four Gardens
5:54 Foundations of Rome
6:17 Upcoming Games
6:35 Aquatica: Coral Reefs
6:42 Vegetable Stock
7:04 Foundations of Metropolis
7:28 Comic Hunters
7:51 Video Game Champion
8:18 ito
8:48 Freedom Five
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[@dansioui9819]

Thanks for clarifying about this line. Looking forward to Comic Hunters and Video Game Champion!

[@DrFrankenolly]

I’m soooo excited for comic hunters!!!! You guys have talking about this game for years!! Can’t wait to finally play this game!

[@g8kpr3000]

As someone about Tom's age who collected comics from 1985-1994. I'm super pumped for this

[@WalkSteady]

One thing I’ve always been curious about that wasn’t mentioned here is the financial benefit to the dice tower from this arrangement. How much does me purchasing a dice tower essentials game benefit the dice tower? Is it a percentage? Is it a flat dollar per game? I don’t expect them to share financial details but I am curious.

[@thedicetower]

It's a small percentage. Of all the streams of income to the Dice Tower (and it goes to the Dice Tower, not me), it's one of our smallest.

[@WalkSteady]

@@thedicetower So, it sounds like buying a Dice Tower Essentials game doesn't compare to backing the Dice Tower Kickstarter. Thank you for the clarification.

[@SmoothGummi]

Are Comic Hunters and/or Video Game Champion going to be available for purchase at GenCon 2024?

[@e-manr.486]

Wow! Congrats on getting "Comic Hunters" and "Video Games Champion" into the line and in the states!

[@Ezalc]

Surprised World Wonders wasn't on the list.

[@blakwngbrd]

Arcane Wonders had already signed it before Tom saw it 🙂

[@wprothwell]

We coincidentally just played Royals last night for the first time in awhile, and I was immediately reminded how solid of a game it is. "Ticket to Ride of area control" is right on.

[@HorseIRL]

I have had the Japanese version of ito for years. Although we used translate apps for it. Glad to see it here.

[@JamesOrr1987]

Cool video Tom, I think it was a good idea to give a refresher on this.

[@thesuperzfamilyvlog6607]

I bought sheriff of Nottingham because of your essential list. My kids love the game (we just got it last month).

[@josephmenchey2871]

Viral is my favorite in the line followed very closely by foundations of Rome.

[@chanfc817]

Played the small publisher versions of Ito and Vegetable Stock, I agree with the fun and charm of them.

[@jayray1714]

I want the highly produced Foundations of Rome, but no where in Canada sells it :/

[@adamholt5395]

I'm so excited about Vegetable stock. I've been trying to find it for a while, but it's either sold out or super pricey.

[@Babyboyo1]

I backed All In on the Freedom Five board game via Kickstarter and I'm so excited for the game to be delivered this year.

[@JonTripp115]

Quite excited for Comic Hunters and Video Game Champion. Thanks for helping bring those to the US!

[@MrKeller13]

Always been curious how dice towers essentials worked. As Dice Tower, and Tom, have become bigger names in the industry and you have befriended more “well known” designers it’s interesting to see games like Freedom Five be in the Dice Tower essentials line. With it being such a big IP from another publisher and a well known designer coming together at Arcane Wonders.

[@zenpvnk]

One of their early picks for the line... Speechless... kinda soured me on the whole "Essentials" thing. Definitely made me think the line wasn't what I first thought (hoped) it was.

[@thedicetower]

Speechless was a game that really wowed me when I played it so I added it to the line. Looking back, it's a weak link in the line, and I determined to be even more choosey after picking it.

[@The.FrozenGamer]

Comic Hunters is so good. Already in my top 100 of all time and I’m not even into Marvel or comic books in general. The game play is that good.

[@billable1861]

I worked with people who are all about comics and this endorsement is big for me as I could care less about comics.

[@The.FrozenGamer]

@@billable1861 auctions:Modern Art::drafting:Comic Hunters. The theme really could be any collectible. As long as you like different kinds of drafting mechanisms, it likely will be enjoyable. the game plays as smooth as butter. Only comic books I ever read were some of my dad’s MAD magazines when I was a kid and maybe 2 graphic novels. Are graphic novels even considered comic books? 🤷‍♂️. I don’t have a clue, that’s how outside of that hobby I am. Never read any Marvel comics, books or graphic novels. I only saw Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy and that was more than enough Marvel movies for me.

[@IndianaGeologist]

Thanks for the video, Tom. For many years, I thought this line was the best games the DT recommends, it's good to understand the true meaning of the line. You didn't mention if the DT benefits financially from this line. I'd hope so.

[@hoser40k86]

A great selection of games!

[@BoardGamesBricksHobbies]

5:13 I just picked up Mobile Markets the other month, like you said, it's the "card game" version but it's far from small. I enjoyed my first play.

[@TerrierHalo]

Onitama I bought just because I saw the Dice Tower Essential on it. Didn’t let me down. :)

[@darinherrick9224]

That one actually is one of the best abstracts I’ve ever played.

[@goldengriffon]

I played Aquatica today. Total banger! I don't always agree with your assessments on games, but that one I certainly do.

[@boardsontables8924]

Any idea when Comic Hunters will be released? Or when Pre-orders would become available?

[@SenseiJae]

Is there a way to preorder the upcoming games?

[@jeff41768]

Diamonds club with a space theme would be cool

[@CamObscura88]

When is Ito coming out? I can’t seem to find any information about it.

[@stormcrow4423]

I like the intro music.. it is Lord of the Rings like

[@TabletopFamily]

More curious about the business side of it. Does dice tower put up in part production money on the games?

[@thesuperzfamilyvlog6607]

Is there a link to get some of these? Or do i have to wait for a KS?

[@TheClyd3Man]

Many of these are for sale in retail now, no crowdfunding.

[@thesuperzfamilyvlog6607]

​@@TheClyd3Manthat's great! I'd like to get the comic game, ito, and the video game one, but I think I'm done with KS (at least for now).

[@thesuperzfamilyvlog6607]

​@@TheClyd3ManI found most of the games on their site, but I didn't see comic hunters.

[@TheClyd3Man]

@@thesuperzfamilyvlog6607 That's why I said *many* and not *all* games. Comic Hunters, Foundations of Metropolis, Ito, Freedom Five, and Video Game Champion are games coming later.

[@thesuperzfamilyvlog6607]

​@@TheClyd3Mangotcha, thanks.

[@dancondonjones]

How does Ito differ from Top Ten/That Escalated Quickly (other than having more numbers)?

[@GarySonnenberg]

Is there a GeekList containing the games in this line? (I haven't tried to find one.) If not, there should be.

[@JoshuaThomas-sr9oq]

Comic hunters is amazing

[@joeferreti9442]

Oh, so it's like with those 'influencers' that have their own line of perfumes and drinks and such. You have the basic idea, find a manufacturer for it and then get a small cut of the profits.

[@Kromgar]

Lovecraft Letter reprint, please!

[@bronotamrok3002]

So, this list is the original two, and then the ones that are still in print, and the ones upcoming… are there some that are out of print? Can we get a “be on the lookout for” list? Lol!

[@nathannemeth4094]

Is that the big daddy pop from Bioshock in the background?! How'd you get that?! That's been well over $100 everytime I've looked it up!!

[@thedicetower]

No, that's a different model from a miniatures game.

[@juliankuhn5990]

Oh my good god when does Comic Hunters get released in America?!?!?!

[@paintingwithmartin]

Will any of these be essen releases?

[@thedicetower]

Yes, likely. You'll see many of them there, for sure.

[@paintingwithmartin]

@@thedicetower great! Thanks. Looking forward to seeing you guys there too in less than 4 months

[@gawura]

Wasn't Critical Mass a DT Essential? I remember seeing it at Origins quite a few years ago. It looked cool and had good production, but 2 player tactical card games that are not Star Realms or MtG are hard to get to the table.

[@thedicetower]

It was, but it is out of print, which is why I didn't mention it.

[@gawura]

@@thedicetower Thank you for the clarification. I am so excited for Comic Hunters and Video Game Champion! I have actually been struggling to get excited for many of the new games, but the ones on this list sound great.

[@MarcyLeiman]

David & Goliath when??

[@neojaw2192]

COMIC HUNTEEEERS!!!

[@RolandIronfist13]

Freedom five has had quite the delay lol

[@CME3]

Onitama is amazing!

[@MidnightCarp]

Royals never got the love it deserved.

[@Avenrise]

I have to be honest, for me it's the name that's confusing. 'Dice Tower Essentials' implies these are games you absolutely must get. There's nothing in the name that indicates that this is an Arcane Wonders only thing nor states they were previously unpublished games. I had no idea prior to this video that the Essentials range was limited in such a way as the name states nothing more than 'we approve this game'. It's obviously a choice by yourselves, I'd have gone with 'Dice Tower Indies' (to coin a computer game term) or something similar to imply these were smaller games given the big game treatment by AW. But to each their own.

[@TheClyd3Man]

Many of the games are previously published, just not in North America. Comic Hunters is from Brazil and Four Gardens comes from Korea. No seal or label on a game box should ever mean "absolutely must get." Foundations of Rome is SUPER overproduced, which is fantastic, for me, but other HATE it for that.

[@Avenrise]

@@TheClyd3Man Even though I trust the Dice Tower with their opinions I'll always check out any game I find looks interesting regardless of their scores. Same for movies and series. I just feel the name 'Essentials' doesn't best describe what exactly the sticker itself even stands for. The game may be good and may be 'essential' according to the DT but that isn't why the sticker is placed onto these boxes.

[@uplift-yourdailypickup6424]

Ito is so great. I have the Japanese version

[@christaggart5687]

So… is foundations of Rome possible to buy anymore?

[@JerzyMuller]

Last KS just fulfilled, there’s good chance they will make another KS print soon.

[@NKAYWHY]

Arcane Wonders still have some in stock on their website.

[@ddolgov]

I don't understand why Chris likes Vegetable Stock so much

[@Singulitarian]

Thank you for Onitama! A brilliant game.

[@jacobjslee]

I was hoping you would mention something about kickbacks. I have no problem with you getting a commission, but I want to know if you get compensation of some sort. I had a disagreement with a friend about this. I like Aquatica, he didn't so much, he noticed the D. T. Essential logo and felt it was a marketing ploy. I didn't think so until I played Smartphone and thought that was a very average game.

[@thedicetower]

I get a small percentage, yes. But again, the games are ones I choose to put in the line. Perhaps you think they are average (and that's fine!) but I think they are great. I reject many, many games (sometimes to my disadvantage - I rejected Furnace!)

[@TKerbow]

I love Furnace, except for the box size. Thanks for the assist Tom. Tommy in Texas

[@jacobjslee]

@@thedicetower I believe your intention and I think you have a lot of sway in the board gaming world, so you should get a royalty of some sort because you encourage sales when you endorse a game (I've bought games based on your reviews). But after your Smartphone and Earth reviews I have learned to be more careful. This is why I've kept circling around World Wonders, but haven't bought it yet.

[@JamesOrr1987]

@@jacobjslee Well, I wouldn't put Tom or the DT as any kind of outlier in giving Earth great reviews, it was a near universal hit in the gaming world / review world. You may just not line up with Toms taste, and that's fine.

[@darinherrick9224]

I won’t be buying any more essentials without trying them first. I hate Aquatica and it was basically a waste of money. Won’t make that mistake again.

[@kaza3490]

Audio imbalance again between intro and mic

[@thesuperzfamilyvlog6607]

My wife LOVES Aquatica... And i cant stand the game. Lol thats how it goes sometimes.

[@grog3514]

Why do you hate it? Why does she love it? I'm on the fence about getting it.

[@thesuperzfamilyvlog6607]

​​@@grog3514 she likes the drafting, and the powers with the stingray, I hate it because there's a lot of RNG and I have terrible luck. It's also why I hate catacombs. I have had several games where I had nothing to do but pass my turn. It's one of the few games where winning is near impossible for me. You could chalk it up to bad strategy, but I play a lot of games, gloomhaven, deliverance, wingspan, and so-forth, and just have really bad turns in this and catacombs. It's also why I don't play dice games (although Colab is the exception).

[@dago6410]

This serię stsrted withctwo genius games and proceeded tocbe only bad games afterwards

[@thedicetower]

I'm sorry you think that way! I really enjoy all the games.

[@nirszi]

This is a cool arrangement, it just creates a conflict of interest with the Dice Tower reviewing them.

[@christalmadge8306]

Seems like the number of essentials being added is proportionate to the number of new games being released. 6 new ones? Initial impression is that of "everyone gets a trophy." I just hope that I am wrong.

[@thedicetower]

It's just a timing thing. Comic hunters has been in the works for years, as has Freedom Five. A couple others were able to move faster, so it's just timing, that's all.

[@JamesOrr1987]

Yeah, considering it has been around for 10 years or so and has this limited of a list of titles vs the 1000's and 1000's of games that come out yearly, nobody could accuse DT of 'spamming' the essentials line. I am frankly surprised there aren't more considering how long it's been around.

[@MarcyLeiman]

David & Goliath when??