The Best and Worst of --- Stonemaier Games

The Best and Worst of --- Stonemaier Games

Trial run of a new series idea that people were positive about from my podcast. Episodes where I talk about my best and worst examples from a designer, publisher or mechanic. It will vary as to what I decide to do in terms of quantity as these videos do take a while to edit with all the photos.

But this is my take on Stonemaier Games, the kings of hype and marketing. But what are their games like to play?

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Related Content

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Who Am I?

One single batchelor from the UK talking about his passion for board games and the people who play them! I support small content creators, board game cafes and go against the status quo when it comes to the board game industry. I give my honest opinions without bias towards any publishers or designers and will not hold back if I don't like a game.

The Broken Meeple is a variety channel that hosts all kinds of board game content from reviews to Top 10 lists to playthroughs to live stream collaborations with special guests (predominantly small channels who deserve more exposure).

I look forward to engaging with you, the community on my live streams or in the comments on my videos!

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction (What Is This New Series?)
02:38 - Stonemaier Games In A Nutshell
03:31 - Worst (Expeditions)
08:08 - Worst (Tapestry)
11:59 - Worst (Pendulum)
14:12 - Best (Scythe)
18:15 - Best (Viticulture Tuscany)
22:42 - Best (Wingspan)
28:35 - Summary Thoughts

#brokenmeeple #stonemaiergames #wingspan #tapestry #boardgames #boardgame #lukehector #supportsmallcreators #tabletop #tabletopgames #bgg #boardgamer #boardgamereview

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Useful Links

Full credit to BoardGameGeek and its members for any images used that aren't my own or part of the publisher press kit.

[gabtrat]

I don't particularly enjoy Tapestry, but the complaints about it being "unbalanced" are frustrating. No amount of playtesting can match the wealth of data gathered after a game's release. Video games handle this post-launch balancing, and it should be more accepted for board games as well. Kudos to Jamie for his ongoing support and improvements to the game.

[a-c-m]

As it seems you are rating both Viticulture including the Tuscany expansion and Wingspan including the Oceania expansion, you should also rate Expeditions including the Gears of Corruption expansion. It is also an essential fix for some of the flaws in the base game and improves it significantly.

[kipel]

I can’t explain how much I love Tapestry. Is my fav so far.

[chrisingold]

So when Jamey surveyed Stonemaier ambassadors he found Tapestry was their favourite Stonemaier game - above Wingspan. I play tested the solo mode for Tapestry and gradually fell in love with it and continue to enjoy it more and more every time. It’s not really a civ game - correct - and it’s not balanced but here’s the thing…

I just don’t care that it’s not balanced.

Now it’s my third fave game of all time after Xia and Glen More 2. It’s probably more balanced than Xia but Xia really doesn’t care about balance. He tried - he amount of play stats captured is huge compared to most games. But stop worrying about balance and do the best you can, and it becomes more and more absorbing.

Tapestry is loved as it gets better and better the more you play it. Tapestry is ‘meh’ for some as it requires a good few plays to get hooked, and it’s super swingy. But I’ve realised I care less and less about balance the older I get.

[gailwondowski]

Pendulum is my favorite game of all time 😅 I know I’m in the minority by far, but I LOVE it! This is why I’m glad there are thousands of new games every year.

[tvvista]

Best: Tapestry is probably the most popular game in my circle with over 50 plays. It is not perfectly balanced but everyone always has a great time comboing their moves regardless of the result. And with all the civs and cards the variety is amazing.
We also do love Viticulture but it can end with a somewhat sour feeling in such a tight game when you just dont draw the cards.

Worst: Scythe just fell flat for us. Very dry and too competitive. Theme doesnt help that.
Pendulum is just a hot mess. No one wants to play literally on the clock.

[Mentat]

It's funny how often my opinions are almost exactly opposite to yours. I'm probably just wrong, and I definitely respect your opinion. This time it wasn't quite opposite to mine, since you liked Scythe and Viticulture (as do I); but I really don't care for Wingspan at all and I love Tapestry. Never tried Pendulum or Expeditions, but now I wonder if I should. Lol. Different strokes.

[guandjs]

I appreciate your direct discussion and thoughts. You may want to consider being a little less dismissive of what other people enjoy. Some people are not as bothered by down time and want games that play with their regular group of 4-5, don’t mind playing games a game that has been ‘fixed’….certainly that happens a lot with video games, etc. I do like to see the passion you have for what you enjoy, perhaps consider turning it a little down for what you don’t as small things don’t make a game (which many others enjoy a certain way) “garbage.” Thanks.

[gadgetgeekgirl]

Tapestry is a lot of fun - oh it has many flaws, but there's always the possibility of a wild points combo. If you accept its a paper thin theme it's just fine. Apiary has been a surprise hit for me, hits a similar wingspan itch in many ways.
One of the real baffling things with Stonemaier is the insistence on 5 players (or worse 6) for all their games. How many games genuinely aren't a chore at that player count (maybe there's a video in that)?

[JonoNZBoardGamer]

Great video Luke! I look forward to many more episodes in this series and hope that is a successful series for you!

[jogumby]

I totally agree on Expeditions and Tapestry. Did not like either, especially expeditions. Played it at a con and was totally bored. I'm not a big Scythe fan though I'd still play it. Viticulture is fun but I got turned off a bit when I won a game or two without ever making wine. Isn't that the point. I currently like Wyrmspan a bit more than Wingspan but it's very close and I have not tried Oceana yet so that might push it back up. I do enjoy Apiary and would most likely rank is just behing the two ...span games right now. Great video.

[steveg]

Viticulture without Tuscany was my intro into modern board games after playing Carcasonne once in a while and it blew my mind at the time. Then I purchased Tuscany and I discovered how much fun and thematic board games could be.

Very fun video to watch Luke. I like this format with negative and positive takes. More enjoyable than watching a long rant on a game I understand you didn’t enjoy two minutes in the video. I wish you a great (cool) summer.

[realdealalchemy]

Shocked to see Jamey not commenting here. I bet he hates you ;) If you don’t like one game from him, you get on his sht list. That’s his personality.

[joshuaolsen]

Scythe is still my favorite (maybe cause it was one of the first modern board games we purchased), with viticulture (Tuscany) as my number two. Tapestry is still a fav of ours too, but we grab up like 7 civs at the game start and choose from them, cause why not? But the tapestry cards themselves can be very over/ under powered. And I wanted to like pendulum, but it’s not great. Neither is red rising, libertalia, or expeditions. And thanks to your video of apiary, I will not be purchasing that, thus ending our “must buy everything SM” streak. I also loved your top/ worst of Uwe, as he is my fav publisher. Please do one on Shem next, but don’t be too harsh lol. Great videos btw!!!

[BenSaidScott]

So wrong about Tapestry! My favourite Stonemaier. The balance stuff can be fixed by drawing a couple of tapestry cards on the income turns and choosing one. Also, the pack of ‘fixed’ cigs is available online for free, but just available to purchase if you want the physical copy. Tapestry is also fantastic at 2 players.

The main problem with all stonemaier games as far as I can tell, is that they make them all 1-5 players. 5 players doesn’t work for me for almost all of them - scythe, tapestry, wingspan, viticulture, and fake scythe all go horrendously long with 5.

[DanielSilva-srdm]

Pretty nice overview and explanation about the hate and love of the games!! Well done :-)

[abstout]

I have Wingspan and all expansions and that’s also my favorite. I like Pendulum with 2 players and Tapestry with some house rules. Even though our tastes don’t always line up I always enjoy your descriptions and analysis!

[kylemeighan]

I like this format. Looking forward to more.

And I was in total agreement with you, all the way up until you said "Wingspan." At which point a noise of disgust game out of me. 😂

Not that I think it is a terrible game, but there is absolutely nothing special about it, and I will always prefer just about any other game.

[pepagacy]

First, I love this video format. I would like to hear more about liked and hated board games from different publishers.

Now, I do like your top three Stonemaier game picks as they are games I like and will play. Now, I do like Tapestry, but will only play it if the game shows up at a table. I have no plans to go buy the game myself. I have not played either Pendulum nor Scythe Expeditions, and will also not hunt them to own them. I will also hold judgement on Wyrmspan until I can get it to the table, but it does hold promise of being a good game.

[rudybotha]

Yea not aligned. Tapestry has flaws but it's one of my favorite games. It got so many bad reviews I knew I had to try it first. I tried it at a game shop. Immediatly fell in love. Maybe the hype created the wrong expectations. It might not be the best but I disagree it's one of the worst...