Yamatai (Days of Wonder) Review by Man Vs Meeple

[@drunkenflamingo]

To help with the rewinding problem: 1. First, place the ships on their side when continuing a route 2. Then, once you are certain you haven't missed a better move, stand them up This way you aren't punishing people for realizing they missed a better move, but aren't letting people ruin the game state because they forgot the details to their worse move.

[@gregkrupp5010]

Just got this game on your recommendation, and you all have continued to steer me in the right direction! Always appreciate your analysis.

[@eternity_complex]

A quick query I think we might have been playing wrong - in the review you mention that after EACH ship you place you can either (a) take a tile, or (b) place a building. We were playing it that after your entire turn you could EITHER collect tiles adjacent to your ships or place a building - is this incorrect? Because the way we played really works to stop the "rewinding" issue you had - you go in to your turn knowing if you're either building, or collecting, so rarely find a better move!

[@LoremasterRyan]

You take an action with each ship placed. Which can suck if your first ship is placed next to an empty island and your second ship is placed next to a culture token, but you also need that ship to complete a building so now you have a wasted action.

[@Karujin277]

I think you are wrong. The rulebook states after you place all your ships you either collect tokens for each ship you placed or build on an empty island where one of your ships touch. It does not say that you can choose different actions for each ship. Matthew played right.

[@LoremasterRyan]

I might be. But that is the way we played

[@TorIverWilhelmsen]

I have no idea how the rules can be mis-read to trigger token/build for every ship placed. In phase 3A you may place ships, then in phase 3B you either take tokens next to those ships or build a building on an empty island next to at least one of the ships you placed, using any of the ships around it. The illustrations even show this ordering of things clearly. It would perhaps have been better if they had separated them into two numbered rules, but I guess they are grouped because if you didn't place any ships in 3A you don't get to do 3B.

[@LoremasterRyan]

On further reading, yes. But the opening of section 3, which reads "The boats will allow the players to either clear the terrain to collect Culture Tokens or construct a building on an empty island." can easily be misread as "each boat allows the players to either clear the terrain to collect culture tokens or construct a building"

[@GirlyGamer-BoardGameGran]

Wow, this is absolutely stunning. It was on my purchase list anyway, because Cathala / Days of Wonder, but now I'm totally happy it is. Thanks for another great review guys.

[@yodelgames5245]

Cool review. My wish list for board game grows and grows. Not really sure how I can afford all of them haha.

[@matttinnell6874]

Does anyone know when this is gonna be available at my local game store?? I'm itching to get my copy.

[@boardgameguru8844]

Fantastic review. Thanks so much. I can't wait to play this.

[@Avataarkaap]

BoardGame Guru Apologies for the scattershot approach, but how does one contact you to discuss the possibility of reviewing a game?

[@Avataarkaap]

Thanks

[@PlayingSeason]

Amazing review and components introduction :-)

[@treasuretrevor]

Great review as always!

[@ryanbrown9102]

Thanks for the overview.. Seems like either of their collections include this game. Seems like both Days of Wonder and Bruno Cathala have a lot of influence in the industry. Also seems like it is a game with an amazing art, but with way too issues that affect it to be streamlined and smooth. Never played it though.. I do must admit that.

[@godzilla614UT]

Great review!

[@davidcassady3366]

What a beautiful game. Thank you for showing off the different elements. Sort of want it based off of looks alone.

[@davidwaybright]

If you've tried Five Tribes (and liked it), this game is a no-brainer purchase.

[@davidcassady3366]

I have not. Which would you recommend first?

[@davidwaybright]

Well you can play Five Tribes right now, so...

[@davidcassady3366]

Heh. Good point.

[@boardgameguru8844]

Both your negatives relate to your opponents really. Maybe you need to look for a new group? :P

[@LoremasterRyan]

There are players like that out there everywhere. I don't think they were referring to their specific experience here, but this game is prone for that. If you have people that feel the need to backtrack every step (we've all played with those people) then this game would be a nightmare.

[@davehamilton84]

I'm going to have to admit, its hard to tell the difference between your reviews and paid previews.

[@davidwaybright]

If you're talking about how we discuss the game on camera, almost all of our previews have little to no "judgement" of whether the game is good or not. With that said, if we have the chance to play a game for a preview enough to form that sort of opinion, then the preview might communicate some of that. The easiest way to look at it is that if we say we like a game--we like the game. Anything we get paid for is strictly for the work (time and effort) that we put into producing a video. We will never get paid to say a game is good.

[@davehamilton84]

Your reply has been accepted as a valid response. Carry on with your excellent work :-)

[@davidwaybright]

Your reply to my reply is a pleasant surprise in the world of internet comments. Cheers!