Back Chat (Top 10 Kickstarter Board Games) Ep13 feat. Tranquility The Ascent, Kroma, Arkosa & More!

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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction
01:34 NUMBER 10
02:56 NUMBER 9
05:00 NUMBER 8
06:31 NUMBER 7
08:23 NUMBER 6
13:03 NUMBER 5
15:29 NUMBER 4
17:55 NUMBER 3
21:12 NUMBER 2
23:55 NUMBER 1
28:24 Wrap Up

Links of all evaluated (Alphabetical order)

Thanks for stopping by to watch Back Chat! We're Amy & Maggie aka ThinkerThemer. We're an Australian couple with two very different perspectives of what makes a great board game - Amy (Thinker) is all about the mechanics and enjoys tight, competitive games, and Maggie (Themer) is all about the storytelling and the theme of the game, and the 'world' that the designer is trying to create. Subscribe to our channel to hear us talk about these two elements of a game, and how well integrated we feel these are in delivering a cohesive and wonderful game experience.
Are you #teamthinker or #teamthemer? ❤🏳️‍🌈🇦🇺

[FostertheMeeple]

Haha I am always trying to straighten up the cards when we play games 😆 I love that Amy said she would then try to mess them up on purpose because the is 100% what Jeff would do to me ha

[abby]

Tranquility the Ascent and Villagers Shifting Seasons are my favorites this week as well. :)

Thanks for the back chat!

[craiggruesome]

Thanks for making this video! I can't wait to go back to an escape room. I did a Stranger Things themed room once and it was incredible. There is a dinosaur themed one I want to try near me that looks awesome too.

[jamesemmerson]

Thanks so much for the Tranquility shout out. Loved the preview, and loved this. Just keep doing what you're doing you guys are awesome.

Thanks for some great recommendations also, definitely going to check out Escape from the Asylum. 🙂

[MamaWaffles]

Heckin Hounds sounds so unique and I really enjoy the theme. But the big hook, for me, is that you don't want to be the best. It forces a different strategic thought and I like it. We also have yet to do any escape room games, or actual escape rooms, but we do have an Exit game. So I'm hoping to like it, since I enjoy the promise of those kinds of games and Escape from the Asylum sounds promising, too.

[missraindrop]

I am also a Villagers fan. The expansion is an automatic back for me. I'm looking forward to the new solo mode. Thanks for the video!

[rikhavok]

Hey ! I just saw one of your videos for the first time yesterday. I needed a look at what Imperium Classic/Legends was about. I liked your tone and review of the game as well as your format. So, I figured I’d stick around.

Thank you for who you are and doing it openly but subtly for the world to see. I hope some lives are helped as a result.

[kosterix]

Not backing villagers because I still haven’t properly played the base game enough.

[tristamrossin]

So nice to see Tranquility at Number 2, thank you so much for the great review!

[charlesvalentine]

Perspex. I remember reading that word and "Hitchhiker's Guide" and thinking, "What the hell is that?" Plexiglass for Yanks.

[Luke_L]

14. Battlechips (Passing) - I generally don't back educational games. Sounds like a cool idea, but it's probably not a good fit for my game groups. 

13. Big Game Night (Passing) - I didn't care for Tiny Towns, so the primary incentive is gone for me. I am interested in both games, but I can wait for retail.

12. Villagers (Passing) - I liked the base game, but it fell flat with both my game groups. So I'll have to pass this time around. Ah well.


10. Kroma (Passing) - Very cool concept! However, it's too abstract for me, so I passed on it. 

9. Valor & Villainy (Passing) - Sounds like this should be fun as I do like these types of co-ops, but I probably have a few games in the queue that provide a similar experience. I'm currently at $1, but I'll almost certainly end up passing.

8. Winterhaven Woods (Passing) - I totally missed this one. Thanks for highlighting it! I really enjoy drafting, but I'm much less interested in set collection and attacking other players (but it sounds like you can remove the "take that" cards). I really like the theme and artwork. However, it seems like the target audience is primarily families, so this may not be a good fit for my game groups.

7. Van Ryder Games' Graphic Novel Adventures. (Passing, maybe retail) - I've always been curious about these. I really should just back/buy one and see if I enjoy it. I don't think my FLGS carries them, but Amazon (US) does. Hmm...

6. Heckin Hounds (Probably passing) - I hadn't heard much about this one either. I really like the unique theme :)
It has 3 times as many backers as Arkosa but even fewer comments. Strange! I do enjoy Hanabi and trick-taking games, but it's hard to tell if I'd enjoy the game without actually playing it. I'm on the fence here, which usually ends up a pass for me. 

5. Arkosa (Probably passing) - I actually am interested in this one, although I'm not sure it's going to fund. I like the sci-fi theme, and the gameplay also looks solid. But the kickstarter only has 39 comments, so it doesn't look like this has gotten any buzz. 

4. Tranquility: The Ascent (Probably Backing) - I didn't play the first one, but I remember you two giving it a positive review, so I'll likely back it :)

3. Ultia (Backing) - I like trick-taking games in general, and one of my game groups is just 3 of us. Seems like a good fit!

2. Velocity: Vanguard (Backing) - I really like the concepts (e.g. "realistic" physics re: movement) in this game. I'm currently backing it, but it's not currently funded. Hope it gets there!

1. Wild Assent: Lavon Rising (Backing) - I've heard really good things about the first kickstarter, but the price to get the cool campaign in the new kickstarter would come out to over $400 shipped. But yesterday I won a copy of the base game from Meeple University. Woohoo! So now I gotta back the Lavon Rising expansion :D

Wild Assent and Velocity Vanguard make this an expensive week for me, but at least I got a little help from Meeple University :D
Hope you both had a great weekend! I played volleyball and games this past weekend. I skipped the fireworks (for the US 4th of July). See you in a fortnight (or sooner for a review or small talk)! :)

[DonGilstrap]

Well, I backed the Villagers expansion on day one. I think that's it this time around. I was intrigued by Tranquility: The Assent, but haven't gotten as far as actually backing it so far.

[AngelaDickens]

Hello! Designer of Arkosa here. Somehow I've only just seen this video but I just wanted to say thank you for giving Arkosa a mention! Much appreciated :D We didn't make it on the first go round but the relaunch campaign is up and running and going well so far! Oh and it also has custom friendly Australia shipping, wahey!

[TrntyNZ]

I know what you mean about postage - expensive to NZ! I finally had my first play of Villagers - got it off my shelf of shame after watching your preview. Love it. I want the KS expansion now.

[Sebastian-rtqf]

6 months already!? Wow does time flies (when you're having fun!). Good choice for the number 1. Otherwise not much worth mentioning on my part. Next week with Orgs it might be something different!

[DigitalAwakening]

Not Valor & Villainy? Not into fantasy or monster slaying games? That's the only game I have backed since your last video. Villagers I kinda like except that it is too luck dependant for me. A friend has it and she'll likely back the expansion so I can try it.

[melvinyong]

Have played Villagers, quite enjoyed it but I won't be backing anything this week. Saw some copies of Grand Austria Hotel expansion showing up in Europe so I'm anxiously waiting for mine. Got a chance to play Imperium Legends last week, good game but wee bit too long. Our 3-player game took us 2 hours! Have a good week!

[malvinafis]

Nice overview again. Luckily nothing for me again. I hope to keep my FOMO down.

[WayneTinlin]

Wow - I sense both of your relief to have finished this review and having exorcised the demons. Thanks sisters for once again providing an honest and analytical review. I also love Pax Pamir but I am definitely sitting on the fence WRT this one. Sounds like the key to enjoyment is to slot in with a group of people who are conversant with the rules and gameplay...

[shawnmincer]

Thanks! Winterhaven Woods is such a lovely little game at a very reasonable price with low shipping in the US. Just hit the back button for that one.