Is Tainted Grail: Kings of Ruin BETTER Than Tainted Grail? | What is New and Changed?

Tainted Grail was not a game I particularly enjoyed, but there were still many things I liked about it! Unfortunately certain design choices and game mechanics held it back. Tainted Grail: Kings of Ruin is a standalone sequel to Tainted Grail that is poised to fix and improve on many of the issues with the original, but does it hold true to that promise? And will someone who didn't like the original, enjoy this version and want to back it? Come hear all my thoughts and find out!
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0:00 This Video's Approach
2:08 My thoughts on Tainted Grail (The Original)
3:31 Change #1 - No Menhirs
6:28 Change #2 - No Energy for Exploration
8:04 Change #3 - Diplomacy Encounters
12:12 Change #4 - Acquiring New Ability Cards
14:56 Change #5 - Special Boss Encounters
17:00 Other Smaller Changes
18:28 So do I like this version of Tainted Grail?

[AllYouCanBoard]

Did you enjoy the original Tainted Grail? Are you planning to back this standalone sequel?

[utahman]

It’s been extremely refreshing to see AR take a very honest approach to “is this game for you?”

Sending a review copy to creators who disliked the original is a ballsy move. I also saw they had an FAQ on their campaign page that was like “if I disliked the original will I like this?” Their answer was something like “we’ve made a lot of changes based on feedback. If you disliked certain elements of the old game, you might like this. If you hated everything about the old game, this won’t be for you.”

Crazy to see that in today’s crowdfunding climate.

[sd]

AR say they're releasing a 2.0 version of Fall of Avalon (the original Tainted Grail) along with KoR. I hope that some or all of these changes will find their way into that 2.0 version.

[robotradar]

Great overview, thank you! I love the fiest one despite the gripes you have with it, which I share, but I felt they added to the feeling of a world in decline which is already a punishing and hard world. I think you could easily adapt a lot of the changes from the Waystone System to the Menhir System as House Rules and have more fun with the first one.

[blackemerald]

Thanks for the video, glad you got a copy as I really appreciated your last video on the original. Also, congrats on having your video first in the list of video reviews on the Gamefound campaign page! Awaken Realms obviously appreciated your honest assessment, hope people se it and come to your channel.

[firechickenreviews]

Great video,

Love the comparison on what changed and its refreshing to see constructive criticism from someone who didn't enjoy the first one and how you note its like not your top campaign game you would pick but it has a lot to offer :)

[kasaklubdemola]

Nice video with proper perspective that all we were expecting.

[marcodavinci]

I think you just saved me hundreds and hundreds of dollars! I never playd TG but loved the esthethic and wanted the sundropped miniatures so was going to go all in on the new campaign but hearing you explain how this game actually plays off the table in your hand really turned me off of this encounter system. I actually backed Primal The Awakening as it seemed more of a cooperative game where you can discuss and play cards cooperatively. I might choose to back instead Oathsworwn when they reprint it or Destinies. Thanks so much for these insights!

[Eric-fb]

Many complain about the grinding. But geez, do people have no own fantasy to use? What is more easy. To sell a game or to just use a simple house rule? 🙄

[niarBaD]

I recently played the original with a friend, and I enjoyed it a lot despite its issues. I don't dislike Menhirs fading, but I do agree that the costs to keep them up were way too high so i felt like so much of our time was spent grinding for resources. We actively failed two campaigns cause we activated a Menhir when we didn't really have enough resources after/a plan to recover our food. I'm looking forward to this game, I know my friend will grab it.

[ajtame]

Did they put waystones into the 2.0 version of avalon also do you know?

[ChinDogToshi]

I backed Tainted Grail 2.0 and Kings of Ruin. I'm hoping 2.0 addresses many concerns you had about the first game. Maybe you should give it a try!

[PlayGamzWithMe]

Great well thought out vid! Thank you!

[jonathanfryer]

Not to sound patronising, i hope, but always intelligent and eloquent and useful reviews. Excellent.
Thank you.

[endu]

Love this content, the way you explained things were very clear! Thanks a lot, subscribed your channel.

[marcymarc]

I just played through the print and play that was released as part of the Gamefound campaign, and really really enjoyed it. For me, very comparable to a sleeping gods with a bit more of an interesting combat/diplomacy system.

[danbutler]

Loved the first one. Can't wait for the second. Great video though and I'm interested to see how the new one plays. I quite enjoyed the grindy element for the majority of the 3 campaigns I played. For me personally it kept me on edge, made the wyrdness in its own right feel like a genuine threat and made the game feel like a survival adventure with restricted options in a given play through which to me.... that's what it was advertised to be and I'm now on my third fall of avalon campaign (having not played red death of the age of legends)

Can completely understand why people didn't like it for that reason too though. Hopefully the new one can grow the tainted grail community.

Will keep an eye out for your vids in the future and I liked your take on both games

[stephan]

did they made an like v2.0 of the original tainted grail? i mean did the backport the mechanics, that grinding isn't that "boring" in the first one? so it might be possible to have an update box, where some things changed its still playable but might be more favorable for people that didn't liked the mechanics in fall of avalon

[norty]

Great video as always! Having never played the first one, would you say the miniature add-ons is worth it? I really appreciate the miniatures in Return to DarkTower for example, but they are on the board for the entire game. In this game, seems like they would appear and leave rather quickly.

[ALLBJJ]

What do you think about the upgade 2.0 pack/updated journals? Do you think they made enough changes to make you want to try the original out again? It's about $35 USD to upgrade the game from 1.0 to 2.0. I'm trying to figure out if it's worth doing or not.