Doomtown: Reloaded Review

Doomtown: Reloaded Review

Intro (00:00); component overview (01:39); game overview (04:22); detailed overview of shootouts (11:41); final thoughts and review (19:35);

from

Ecstasy Of Gold by Ennio Morricone
Remix by RZA

[BoxofDelights]

great presentation Joel - so glad you showed us this one... great to see ! best, Rick

[simonworger]

Great review as always. Just picked up the base set, being meaning to for a while and I'm pleased I have now when you mentioned the differences about NR etc needing to know opponents decks. I dropped NR basically because of this, I'm too much of a casual gamer so I hope Doomtown will scratch the LCG fix while still being casual enough to just pick up and play now and again.

[couplevscardboard]

To tag off on what Todd Rowland said, you can start to build decks which feel tighter in shootouts.  I think with the deck construction rules being what they are, folks will probably gear their decks around a couple values, Kings, 8's, 2's, etc., to give them boons in shootouts.  It's possible for a lone redshirt to ace the opposing gang's hired muscle(s) -- but it actually winds up being rarer than you think.

Additionally, as decks are tighter, you run into two other issues: 1. you lose at lowball (which means (a) you have less money in a round -- or worse, your opponent(s) gets your ante; and (b) they get the first player spot) and 2. people wind up playing more Cheatin' cards on you.  Cheatin cards wind up policing other folks' hands a little, adding risk/reward to shootouts -- "do a risk a hand which is legal, or do I go for a better hand which someone could play a cheatin' card on me and suffer it's potential penalty".

One last thing, while I'm here, I found during deck construction there were what I called "boroughs" in different values.  That is, certain concepts were crowded around certain values.  So, in the CCG, certain Outfits had values which naturally lent themselves to certain Values.  Like Law Dogs had a lot of 5 stuff which had to do with Warrants and Wanted dudes -- while 9's and J's were very gadget heavy.  Additionally, A-6 was very gunfighter heavy, which stunk for skill heavy decks -- like Mad Scientists and Hucksters -- because if you added gunfighter-y cards to their decks, you risked flubbing a skill pull.  I assume things will be different, but that there will be certain "boroughs" still.

It's surreal and so cool to see someone playing Doomtown!  Glad you enjoyed.  Excited to get it in our hands when the time arrives.  If one of us moves toward the other's Home, I am calling you out to a game.  Decline and you're a lily-livered greenhorn!

[GhostOfCroatia]

Everything I have read and seen about this game continues to drive me mad that I cannot have it NOW! Bring it on gang, I've already dusted off my boots and spurs!

[theturdreich]

Just bought today so can't wait to play the art work is great

[freddieyu]

Nice review! The use of the deck to resolve combat reminds me of the old Avalon Hill game Up Front, where blowing through the deck is actually a valid strategy (ie if you blow through it faster you can end the game early, and vice versa). That's not a deckbuilder though, as the deck is fixed and shared with your opponent.

[manolios]

great review!!
how did you get your hands on??
where do they sell this game????
thanks

[guyblin]

I was totally set on not getting into Doomtown and then you go and do this. Thanks for that, mate. ;) Did you ever play Jyhad CCG back in the day?

[Chubtoaster]

That opening music sounded like a cover version of a song from Outlaws, a Lucasarts game that released in 1997. If anyone here can confirm if this is true or not, please reply.

[JasonCookingham]

Thank you for the review. I used to play a lot of Doomtown.

How are the prebuilt decks? 

Are all four complete and well made?

Complete meaning I don't need to trade cards out between plays to have two full decks. 

I have no interest in deck building, but I will buy this if it is a complete game. I have been burned too many times by FFG's half-built poorly thought out initial decks. 

[Paul_S_]

Are you still playing Doomtown? Does anyone still play it?

[chadhackman]

Subscribed at "friggin' amazing!"

[vincivader]

Good review, but I remember this game back in the day being shite. I wish they had done Battletech, Overpower, or Rage instead.