QuoteThe Exalted Boardgame plays like a heavily houseruled Risk set on the blessed isle.

So far so good.

QuoteThere's a lot of strategy involved.

Is a direct contradiction to the first sentence, please decide!

I get what you're saying, Sett, but I figure the conversation is allowed to move on past what it looks like. You can have about two reactions to how the board looks:

1: The board is ugly.
-: No it's not.

2: The board is ugly.
-: Yeah, ok.

Short of serious questions about board game ascetics vs. functionality or whatever (the latter issue seeming to be... taboo or something?), you're not going to get much else out of that conversation.

My response (and I'm not sure why I'm getting so much flak for it) is just: "It looks bland but not awful. I await more information about the game itself."

So, in other words, screw off. I got the point behind making fun of the game. Do you understand why I might be interested in how it played, or do you value all your board games based on their appearance as shown on an internet message board?

There is obviously nothing to say against talking about either the actual game or the living qualities of a house, generally.

But in a discussion of aesthetics, it´s pointless.

It´s just not what this is about.

Let´s get to the aesthetics:

- Colour choice is terrible.
- Map looks overly simplistic and lacking enough variables for any kind of complex spatial problem solving. (If the looks are deceiving, it´s STILL a problem)
- Mt. Ding-Dong

Quote from: Elliot WilenBut...there are so few spaces, with so little variation in geometric relationship.

I'm...skeptical. But I'd join a group of players, I guess, if that was what was on the menu.

By way of comparison, I do think that Wizard's Quest and Emperor of China are good games at the lower limit of complexity in Risk-like mechanics.

The spaces change in value every time you play (or can, you can be lazy and not move the value chips around) plus...there's the water spaces as well (which have a constant value).


The map is simple looking because it gets covered in playing pieces. Eventually a Shitload of playing pieces.

Quote from: SettembriniSo far so good.



Is a direct contradiction to the first sentence, please decide!

How is that a direct contradiction?

Did you read "houseruled"?

Axis & Allies is a heavily houseruled risk (it's team Risk with multiple unit types, set in WWII), does it not require a lot of strategy to win?


This is Risk, with d10s, each player with a unique special ability (Anima Banner), a deck of other special abilties that are purchased(charms), with two resources to keep track of (jade and essence) and multiple win conditions (land control, sea control or overwhelming essence).


Risk...by the way, also has a good amount of strategy, it just not the kind governed by the rules! It's all social in Risk (temporary alliances, couples at play, backstabs). Just like Munchkin and Monopoly.

Quote from: Elliot WilenBy way of comparison, I do think that Wizard's Quest and Emperor of China are good games at the lower limit of complexity in Risk-like mechanics.

Furthermore, Wizard's Quest doesn't look like shit.

Krakajak,

Okay, let´s just say I get what you are saying. We can leave it at: "About as much strategy as Axis & Allies", whatever that may mean to each of us. It´s a totally valid statement.

EDIT:

Wizard´s Quest

aesthetics are superiour

- colour´s are chosen in a professional manner
- there´s hand drawn, and in that case, superiour craftsmanship regarding the iconographic elements

I've never played Wizard's Quest but the castles and whatnot pop right out of the board very nicely.

Jeff, it's one of the most attractive chit games ever made. The map is incredible. And Elliot is spot on--it's simple but exciting. If my gaming budget weren't exhausted I'd pick it up. The BGG trader list has several offers of "Very Good" copies at ten (10) bucks.