Windward Review - with Blake

[@StevenStJohn-kj9eb]

I like this format for a review. Really liked the roundtable conversation in the middle.

[@olanmills64]

+1

[@trevclarke1086]

I'm glad you mentioned that it's basically whaling in the sky. That's exactly what I was thinking as you described it.

[@Schaaschaa]

Hi Blake, wanted to say you're a great addition to the Dice Tower! I really enjoy your style and love the table discussion.

[@leasemore6053]

Was looking around for advice on if I should buy this game, and this video was perfect! Thanks for the great review and example of how the game was played. Will be coming back to this channel!

[@todddonaldson885]

Blake: you are a great reviewer please keep reviewing!! Thanks!!

[@sethiansethian]

Thanks for a great review. Looking forward to seeing more from Blake. I liked the round table discussion og shots of people playing the game, but I would prefer not jumping back and forth between the static image of the board and the handheld shots of the group in the rules explanation. I'd go intro - group shots - components when explaining game - round table discussions - final thoughts. Props for the lighting in intro and final thoughts!

[@robertboily9030]

Great review, love the format. I used to come to this channel just for Tom's reviews; Blake's display of actual play at the table, plus the brief opinions of those he played with, is a great idea. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for Blake's reviews in the future! As with any reviewer - all that remains is to try the game myself, and see if our opinions are similar, hehe

[@bcbroman]

Haha appreciate that and thanks! You are right... ultimately only one way to be one to find out : ).

[@northlakeghost]

Another solid review, you've definitely piqued my interest in this one! I hope they streamline it someday.

[@EfrainRiveraJunior]

Blake is becoming my favorite reviewer.

[@moniquelebhar8648]

Good review, Blake. I backed this on KS and have enjoyed a couple solo games so far but YES the rulebook is abysmal. They actually have been amending it on BGG and will include the revised printed version with the Treacherous Skies (expansion) upgrade kit.

[@bcbroman]

Thanks for the heads up, I will definitely look for those before my next playthrough!

[@marcosfernandesdesousajuni9576]

I played it once, so far, and i liked it quite a bit! The gorgeous components do help! I played it with my non-gamer girlfriend and she liked it as well, i feel like, just like you said, once you get the hang of it, it can be quite a fast flowing game!

[@keithillg7902]

Nice review and discussion. Love the look of this game too, just need to decide if the people I play with would go for it.

[@michaeljoyce7548]

Nice review. I backed the game originally and had many of the same critiques. They are coming out with an expansion/big box and I believe it's coming with Rulebook 2.0, they acknowledged there were a lot of issues with the first book and it's supposed to be much better.

[@richyasi7424]

First time I’ve watched one of your reviews, Blake. Very nice job! I really appreciated the round table portion with the instant reactions of all the players. Great work!

[@benfoster6715]

Wow this looks cool; hadn't heard of it. I like your review format with group B-roll and their perspectives. I'm similar in that I don't love pick up and deliver, but this seems to be an enticing mix of theme and mechansisms.

[@Steve_Mazza]

Nice review! I had to chuckle @4:15 ... this man needs to get some sleep! Eight hours will do a world of good! :)

[@Poiuytrew.Q]

I like the background music, different perspectives, and so many Cheez-It boxes!

[@bcbroman]

Haha I meant to move those! Gamers gotta snack tho

[@maxpokhiton8242]

Great review!

[@wishmeheaven]

Thank you for the review Blake. What do you think of the following opinion I've seen: " Unfortunately the combat is a bit stagnant; the losing player gets a bit of a catch-up currency so it can turn into a back-and-forth affair pretty easily " ..?

[@indigosunszenith7485]

Looks interesting. Makes me think of stuff like Sunless Skies a bit with the fantasy in space theme and the steampunk-y look of the board. Love your reviews. I really like getting the first impressions from different people who've played the game. That's a great idea I might need to incorporate into my own reviews if you don't mind lol. You're a great newer voice on DT and looking forward to more from you!

[@bcbroman]

Thanks and much appreciated! and I'm sure I'm not the first or the last to do this roundtable style review, so feel free to borrow it haha.

[@ArnoVdVelde]

I think I strongly disagree with the findings, but that's a great review. The little first impressions around the table is interesting.

[@wplacke]

Would love to see a reskin of this with normal ships and longboats/submarines and sea monsters, 40000 leagues style

[@hlorridirudel9627]

Would be pretty cool!

[@boardgameknight2791]

Thanks, Blake! Great review! Windward is a 5 or a 6 for me. It's way too complex for what it offers, which boils down to total randomness during critical moments, and the color pallet is all browns and oranges. Easy pass for me. If I wanted to get a new gamer into miniatures and combat, I'd introduce them to something like Wildlands which actually is really simple, but offers great choices for the players and doesn't ever undermine them with random mechanics. Cheers to that!

[@bcbroman]

Ahh wildlands! I’ve been on and off about whether to give that one a go, sounds like I should go for it. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@JasonRedeemed]

Blake, like you I really enjoyed the art/theme on this one, as others have pointed out they are finally updated the rulebook for the expansion/upgrade-kit. But I do think this is a solid (7.5/8) game and if it gets an updated 2nd edition it would be easy to recommend. For me, as a fan of pick-up & deliver games--being that it is accessible, short and had a unique/cool theme, it is one I really like! :)

[@bcbroman]

Glad you enjoyed it, and I will be on the lookout. I’m in the same boat with you, a few updates would take it from really good, to great!

[@82ndmi]

When I demoed this with their team the still didn’t know some of the interaction questions close to delivery. I won the game in three rounds as the kickstarter addon eco friendly whale tagger which soured me on the game balance.

[@bcbroman]

Whoa, yea that doesn’t seem right, I had excluded that character from plays so not to add any additional rules...

[@danielramsey6141]

This game gives me a lot of “Skies of Arcadia” vibes.

[@amystratton4144]

I like that you have girls playing, makes us feel more comfortable being into gaming

[@Quincy_Morris]

“I don’t think we fought anybody” Big oof 😬

[@ex1stgames]

That lady has a stellar top

[@Quincy_Morris]

Wish these ships had balloons and were less magicy

[@EfrainRiveraJunior]

This game seems very interesting, but bad rule books turn me off.

[@dougwarr9459]

Very good components but I disliked this game very much. Great review however. Thanks.

[@vdub1962]

Scythe is not a combat focused game. It makes me cringe when someone says it is. Is there combat? Sure, but it's very basic and is NOT the focus of the game. Makes me worry about the reliability of a review if they don't understand what a game as popular as Scythe is all about.

[@bcbroman]

Hi Topher. Understandable. The round table final thoughts are recorded immediately after a play through or two of the game to see what some immediate reactions/thoughts are. Off the cuff so sometimes comparisons and thoughts aren’t perfect! Hope you enjoyed the rest though.

[@olanmills64]

The theme of this game is sad

[@unlimitedrabbit]

Sad as in disheartening or sad as in pathetic?

[@olanmills64]

@@unlimitedrabbit good question; I meant that it seems sad to be killing the big creatures for gas, not that that the designers made a pathetic story

[@unlimitedrabbit]

@@olanmills64 Agreed. I quit playing Shadow of the Colossus only a few minutes in because I wasn't sold on the idea that I could resurrect my beloved if I killed enough giant creatures that never did me any harm. It's unjustifiably the wrong thing to do.

[@olanmills64]

@@unlimitedrabbit yeah, that's exactly the game I was thinking of. SotC is a great game though, even though yes, I feel like the bad guy

[@Ztrawbz]

This game is simply about whaling. hard pass