Primal: The Awakening | Rahdo's Prototype Thoughts

A video outlining gameplay for the boardgame Primal: The Awakening.

Kickstarter Page:

Part I: Gameplay Runthrough

Part II: Final Thoughts

[tomasxfranco]

I know it's not the idea of these throw every upgrade possible-kind of games, but I wish I could get a version with boss tokens instead of miniatures and save 150USDs...

[IvanLeben]

This game has the same "opportunity to improve" as Gloomhaven: the defensive/offensive class cards all have the same exact art on them so you have to read the text to know which one it is. If each card had unique art (like in Aeon's End or Shadowrun: Crossfire or Magic the Gathering) each card would have a much stronger thematic impact as well as being much easier to recognize with a quick glance when you are fiddling with your hand or looking through your deck. I do kind of appreciate the minimalism of the art, but functionally (and thematically) it is a loss for me. Mechanically the game looks brilliant and the AI system is genius. The rest of the art is amazing.

[BoardGamesUnLocked]

I cannot tell you how excited I am for this game and games like this for an "affordable" price. Kingdom Death Monster has dominated the market for far too long and with these new "Boss Battler" games coming out, it's gonna be a good time for gamers!

[KingOfNormans]

Here's the thing we all want to know, tho: this or Aeon's End?

[TabletopHaven]

Seems they are indeed including beginner and advanced levels of play! Preach Rahdo Preach! Keep on keepin on.

[sakarilaiho]

Rahdo video is so much better when he sits and tells than the older ones where the phone or camera is flying on the gametable :)

[TheWalkingBad]

Wow what a great looking game! I know its a prototype but these are what I would love to see changed for final release.

- As you said at the end, standard/advanced modes.

- The Agro token be changed to a rubber/plastic red ring that the miniature can pop on and off instead if a token.

- All health be tracked with dials like in Dice Throne, I can't stand clutter on the table!

- I would say honestly make anything be tracked as a dial if it makes since to mitigate the use of so many tokens.

- I wouldn't mind the board being bigger I feel like the terrian tokens are a bit to big while on table.

- Better player boards, not neoprene add ons but that will most likely happen.

- That player aid better be amazing, so many times you caught yourself forgetting about a rule.

[nguinguingui]

139 Euros for the base game!?!?
I'll wait for Primal: The Dice Game version lol.

[Vascariz]

How does it compare to other boss battlers like Oathsworn (card driven too)? KDM or ATO might be harder to compare as they are very dice driven but do have AI cards

[MRCollier]

So monster hunter the boardgame, I’m sold, all-in.

[pesmerga]

Glad you enjoyed! But for that price I could buy Monster Hunter, pre-order the next Monster Hunter, buy a Blu-ray of Monster Hunter signed by the cast & crew, and still have enough leftover cash to shop for weaponry and armor so I could go out and personally Hunt Monsters.

[TheBoardMeeting]

This looks like one of those games that I really want to like but once I start playing it I get worn out just from all the upkeep going on constantly.

[HoosierHound]

Thanks Rahdo, any pros and cons compared to Marvel Champions? I know you and I both love that game. Primal seems to go even deeper on the card tactics and has the clever Monster AI.

[felizitash]

It's funny - I saw another How to play/Runthrough video today morning and they had very similar complains/struggles as you: No player aids, so they forgot about the same things as you; heavy gameplay with too many stuff to keep track of; lots of planning that might ground you to a halt because of AP (or is exactly the thing someone wants to have).
Your video still wasn't boring, because they fought the other monster. :-)

[TheMperor]

A question: do you need to use all the mechanics and items and optimisation to win a battle? Or is it just there for show and because it makes thematical sense? Ie is the deep thinking worth it and necessary for winning?

[petergross]

Looks really good, thanks for the preview! It is so dang expensive though....if I have to choose food or this could stand to lose a few pounds I guess. Haha

[mennovanberkel]

Looks like an amazing game with cool mechanics. A shame its overproduced with the (granted very cool) minis. Impressed but outpriced.

[dddmmm]

Sooo... Is this basically Marvel Champions but with massive expensive static miniatures on the center of the board?

[mysticmouse]

Given the simplicity of the positioning the miniatures tho nice and all seem a tad indulgent in terms of the presentation of this game. One could just have had cards and the game would be a lot cheaper.

[ToucanSamich]

Would love to hear the developers addressing your concerns because so many games have fallen flat for me lately because I just don't have the energy required at the end of the day to learn or manage a game with so many moving parts