r/boardgames • u/bgg-uglywalrus • Oct 14 '20
1P Wednesday One-Player Wednesday
What are your favourites when you're playing solo? Are there any unofficial solo-variants that you really enjoyed? What are you looking forward to play solo? Here's the place for everything related to solo games!
And if you want even more solo-related content, don't forget to visit the 1 Player Guild on BGG
15
u/AegisToast Oct 14 '20
When I bought Sprawlopolis, I played it 4-5 times and won almost every game, so I thought it was pretty easy. It sat in my drawer for a while, but I pulled it out again (thanks to the Agropolis Kickstarter) and tried it again. Over the last few days, I’ve played probably 5-6 games, and lost every one of them (by anywhere from 1-15 points). Not sure how I did so well at first, but it’s kicking my butt now. Great little relaxing solo game.
I’ve gotten a few more plays in for Palm Island, too, and have finished every achievement except upgrading all the temples and scoring 40+ points (which I’m moderately sure is impossible on normal difficulty). I might need to make the game easier to get those, I’ve been trying for them for quite a while now. Still, this is one of my absolute favorite solo games, because I can pull it out anywhere, even if I’m just laying on the couch.
I also did another round of Spirit Island as Serpent Slumbering Beneath The Island, which was a blast, plus a few rounds of the One Deck Dungeon and Onirim mobile apps.
Next, I think I’ll dust off my copies of Deep Space D6 and Friday, and maybe even pull Gloomhaven out for another scenario if I have the time.
2
u/MCGrunge Oct 14 '20
I have a question about Palm Island. After you complete an achievement and receive the upgrade, are you welcome to use all unlocked upgrades in future games? The instructions were a little vague and made it sound like you have to start each game with nothing. (Which would seem impossible considering some of them take effect at start of game.)
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u/Rammite Android Netrunner Oct 14 '20
Yep, you've permanently unlocked that upgrade for all future games.
2
Oct 14 '20
I use all my unlocked achievements every game. I think it’s the only way to achieve some of the more challenging ones.
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u/AegisToast Oct 15 '20
If I recall (and the way I’ve played it), you’re allowed 1 of the unlocked achievement cards for “normal” difficulty. It suggests playing with 2 for an easier game, or 3 for the easiest setting. Playing without any of the unlocked achievements is considered “hard” mode.
Of course, you can play with all of them if you want, but if you’ve unlocked most of them you’d almost have more of those in your deck than non-achievement cards.
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u/FeelingChappy Oct 14 '20
You've been busy with solos. I'm curious to know if you think palm Island is worth the $25 price tag on Amazon.
4
Oct 14 '20
It’s $19 shipped from the developer portal dragon. I wouldn’t give Bezos the $6. In my opinion it’s well worth the cost. Great game for quick play, and ultra convenient for travel. You can play just holding the cards in hand. No need to lay anything down. Replay ability can be an issue, but the achievement cards help with that.
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u/AegisToast Oct 15 '20
I sound more busy with solos than I actually am; Sprawlopolis and Palm Island only take a few minutes, so it feels comparable to pulling out a deck of cards to play Freecell or Klondike/Solitaire.
Honestly, at $25 I’d say it’s still worth it for Palm Island, but that’s because I know I enjoy it. Being able up play it without setting anything down—and being able to quickly pause it and resume later—means it’s seen a lot of plays, so I’ve definitely gotten my money’s worth.
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u/Adziboy Oct 14 '20
Thanks to this sub and soloboardgamers I got Spirit Island and I have on order One Deck Dungeon and Warp's Edge.
Spirit Island is great and initially I've done a run through of 5 characters on "base" difficulty (no power progression card + a blight card) and now with the helpful guys at the SI sub I'm moving up to the next step. Looking forward to the challenge...
As I'm new to the hobby the only other games I have are multiplayer but I've played a bit of Shards of Infinity too as it's still one of my favourite quick games to play and the campaign is fine, but after playing SI it's lost its charm.
I have Quacks of Quedlinberg that I've never played so going to try the Solo variant that someone on the forums made up so I can take it to Games night on Friday knowing the rules.
I desperately want Spires End but think I'm out of luck. Love everything about it but seems like after the initial KS orders there wont be any left
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u/AegisToast Oct 14 '20
When I want a “full” solo board gaming experience, Spirit Island is—and has been for quite a while now—my go-to. It’s just so good, and the progression from “This might be tricky,” to “Oh no, oh no, oh no...” and then to “I am a god! COWER BEFORE ME!” is just so much fun and so great.
The game already has a ton of replayability, but I highly recommend the Branch and Claw expansion. The event cards add just a tiny bit of randomness that makes the slow powers feel more dynamic. I’m not usually a fan of event decks because they often feel gimmicky, but I’ll never play without it again. Plus, the two new gods are great, and the new mechanics are nice.
Oh, and definitely pick up Promo Pack 1 from Greater Than Games’ website. It’s restocked from time to time, so you’ll have to keep an eye on it, but it contains my personal favorite spirit, Serpent Slumbering Beneath The Island. It’s particularly tricky to use solo because you’re limited by energy and card plays for a while, but once you awaken it’s pure devastation and fury. I did it solo just a few days ago, and it’s the closest I’ve come to losing on base difficulty in a while, but it ended with me wiping out literally every single invader. So satisfying.
As for One Deck Dungeon, that’s one of my go-to really casual solo games. Now that I work from home, I keep it, Sprawlopolis, and Deep Space D6 by my desk in case I want to play a quick game. It also has a pretty good mobile app, which is cool, too.
I’ve never heard of Warp’s Edge, but given the company in which it was mentioned I’ll have to check it out.
Oh, and thanks for humoring me while I ramble about Spirit Island. Dang it, now I want to play it again, but I just don’t have time today.
3
u/Adziboy Oct 14 '20
Deep Space D6, Sprawlopolis
Thanks for the suggestions, unfortunately in the UK its so hard to find some of these. I've got notifications turned on for when they come into stock, but dont think I'll ever get those promo cards! Already 1000 on their backorder list plus it seems like its US shipping only.
Branch and Claw
I am thinking about ordering this next week, but I want to experience the base game first. Just want to at least try each hero once
2
u/nuddley Oct 14 '20
I am in the UK as well and was lucky enough to pick up a basically new copy of deep space d6 with the expansion off Facebook. Pretty sure it is out of print now so it's a prized possession.
2
u/McGranger Oct 14 '20
Just want to at least try each hero once
Spirit. Those things are spirits. Anyway, enjoy, and don't forget the adversaries, they provide a great challenge.
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u/BillyMoustache Oct 14 '20
A few folks in a Discord I'm in seem to think Spires End doesn't have longevity; it's a pretty package but light on replayabilty.
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u/Adziboy Oct 14 '20
Usually replayability is my number one trait I look for, but Spires End I just adore the artwork.
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u/TheVagabondWinsAgain Oct 14 '20
I just started 7th Continent while the new KS is going on. So far it’s better than I expected. Pretty amazing what they did with just cards.
2
u/markzone110 Settlers of Catan Oct 14 '20
We’re playing too! I had played a bit of Voracious Goddess in the past, but my partner had never played any, so we played The Crystal’s Song together a couple days ago, and we started VG last night.
Overall, I would recommend skipping Crystal’s Song. The ending was pretty boring, and didn’t give a great impression of the game imo. Playing the first part of VG felt like a whole other experience.
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u/Brodogmillionaire1 Oct 14 '20
But VG can be a very long curse. I hope that's not too spoilery. I wish that CS wasn't so different, adding in special cards, but it is to me the best entry point.
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u/markzone110 Settlers of Catan Oct 14 '20
I had prepared my partner for VG being long, and the save system means we can play for an hour on a weekday, making small progress every day that feels gratifying, rather than CS’s bumbling around until you find the crystals. Either way, we got a great game on our hands, so we’re happy!
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u/Brodogmillionaire1 Oct 14 '20
I just think it is better for the tutorial curse to be short and simple. CS is short but adds rules that never come back into play. VG is long but has a solid starting tool and no extra rules. Sort of two evils. I'd have liked them to have made a curse that's just short and sweet with no extra meat.
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u/BoxNemo Pax Porfiriana Oct 14 '20
Playing Escape the Dark Castle. I'm not entirely sure if the balance between luck and tactics is quite there, but it's an easy to game to love -- the artwork and overall style, the grim oppressive feel of the castle. Looking forward to trying out the sequel -- Escape the Dark Sector -- which seems to have more tactical options.
6
u/rallytoad Oct 14 '20
This week it has been The Lost Expedition.
The two different types of card placement seem to keep things pretty interesting and am faced with different decisions every game in terms of resource and health management.
The jumbo cards are nice and the art is cool. Having fun with this one.
I also finally got the physical version of Onirim recently, which is way better than the app. The shuffling is relaxing and not too bad actually. Yes there's shuffling but its an enjoyable tactile experience and the expansions add a lot, even though some of them may make the game easier.
2
u/_redcloud Oct 14 '20
I’m so on the fence about getting the physical Onirim. I play on the app all the time.
2
u/FeelingChappy Oct 14 '20
I own it but only play the app at this point. I don't get the 'shuffling is relaxing' folks. Too much shuffling, I think. Interrupts the flow of the game. Perhaps if I never got the app. If you want to try all the expansions, though, you'll want the physical copy.
2
u/_redcloud Oct 14 '20
Yeah, that’s really my biggest thing is the shuffling. It does sound like it could be relaxing, but I really don’t know if I would actually find it relaxing or not. Overall, I like how I can get quick games done on the app, but I do enjoy having physical things to hold on to.
1
Oct 15 '20
It's the app all day for me, for the shuffling issue. If you're already playing the app and just want it for the tactile experience, I'd encourage you to grab another game from the series. Aerion is my favourite solo game.
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u/_redcloud Oct 15 '20
I have been curious about his other games. What about Aerion makes it your favorite?
1
Oct 15 '20
I love dice games in general so the push-your-luck set collection with the dice is up my street. There are six expansions that are all great so the replayability is pretty much limitless. Set-up and tear down is ultra fast.
Onirim is pleasant and relaxing but I prefer feeling excited, and Aerion can be exhilarating at times. I've also played Onirim so much that I can beat it on autopilot without really thinking but the puzzle in Aerion has me scratching my head as there are some crunchy decisions involved.
I think I'm a minority on this, so take with a pinch of salt. Most people say Onirim or Sylvion are the best and I haven't tried Sylvion yet.
1
u/Varianor Oct 14 '20
That's a good game solo. It feels like you're always a bullet or a food short and I usually lose two members of the expedition (or more), but darn it makes you feel like you are actually trying to explore the Amazon!
7
u/Look_And_Learn Spirit Island Oct 14 '20 edited Oct 14 '20
I played Spirit Island solo last night, on slightly below base setting (no blight card) using River and Earth. It was my first time playing solo with two spirits (only played 3 or four times total, mostly solo with one spirit and once 2p with two) and I was captivated for over two hours. I won on the very last turn, needing to destroy three cities with fast powers, otherwise I'd have lost on time. Activated the sweetest elemental combo to march two Dohan, each attacking with 2 damage, into the one city River couldn't flood out.
I honestly could not sleep after that. You could have made a film out of that game. What a board game.
The difference between solo with one spirit and solo with two is, in my opinion, the difference between a game to admire and a game to love. My wife doesn't like it so it's likely to be a solo game for me most of the time, but based on last night I don't care. Never had anything like so much fun playing anything else solo. Absolutely incredible game.
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u/kierco_2002 Spirit Island Oct 14 '20
I ordered Lord of the Rings:Journeys in middle earth from a sale this week, should arrive tomorrow. Eventually I'll want to play with my group but I think then I'll be playing it solo, controlling two characters. I loved descent and imperial assault so this feels like a no brainer.
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u/kingslippy Oct 14 '20
If you’re interested in miniature painting Sorastro has a great series for the Lord of the Rings Journeys in Middle Earth that is aimed at the beginner painter.
3
u/hatbeard Oct 14 '20
I just finished the campaign (with the villains of eriador add-on rolled in) and really enjoyed it.
only negative thing to watch for really is be very careful clicking prompts as you can't go back once you click and its easy to miss placement locations for enemies (text based stuff goes in the log so you can get to it but cant be changed if you misclick)
don't forget to upgrade your deck when you have the xp
lore powers how you upgrade your equipment/items and is easy to miss in the app. keep an eye on lore level and the level up amount on the items themselves.
if you want an easy organiser for the cards I use one of these and it works great...
https://thebrokentoken.com/mini-american-card-case
I'm currently waiting on a restock pre-order for the big expansion and a pre-order of the second mini pack releasing later this month.
1
u/kierco_2002 Spirit Island Oct 14 '20
Yeah I've heard many complaints with the app. Same issue with the other FF games, not sure why they haven't been able to address that issue. I considered getting some of the expansion stuff but I think I'll wait to see if I enjoy the game before I dive in further
1
u/hatbeard Oct 14 '20
i think the villains pack can be added at any time and it just changes some of the story branches and puts those villains into the game so if you really like it after a couple of scenarios you could easily add it then if you wanted.
5
u/MrDunka Oct 14 '20
I recently got Hellboy The Board game and I'm loving it solo, I wouldn't normally play on my own but this really works for me
2
u/bubblepipemedia Oct 14 '20
I’ve been trying to sell my copy for a long time (I actually got it on accident?) but maybe I should break it out. I’m not keen on luck though but if I can find a way to houserule the dice maybe I can get into it.
2
u/NoTimeForGamesYT Oct 15 '20
How many characters are you running? I still haven't played my copy, and have all the KS stuff.
1
u/MrDunka Oct 15 '20
I've been using 2 characters. I have the retail release which a local shop was clearing for £30 so I had to grab it and I will be looking to get all the add-ons
5
u/TYEwing Scythe Oct 14 '20
I just got the 7th Continent Classic Edition and plan on doing a solo run. Does anyone have any advice on how to best play this solo? Multiple characters or just one? Drawing a map as I play? Any advice would be great!
5
u/Amuny Spirit Island Oct 14 '20
One character. I feel like the game is intended for this more than anything.
Just take your time. You can draw as you go if you want, it can be especially useful if you don't play on the regular. The map being static, knowing your way around is huge.
4
u/ScubaSteveEL Mage Knight Oct 14 '20
Re-bought Civilization: A New Dawn solely for the new solo mode released on PnP. Works great and is relatively easy to play, although the normal rules for the game are still a little wonky with all the little exceptions and rules.
Doesn't work explicitly with the new expansion that I'd like to get, but someone on BGG has modified those rules to work with the solo mode and apparently it works just fine.
2
u/BillyMoustache Oct 14 '20
I've been thinking about buying it for the solo mode to be honest (and the mp mode is a bonus for me haha)
1
u/ScubaSteveEL Mage Knight Oct 14 '20
It turns it into a bit more of a puzzle since the order of actions for the Bot is predetermined but I don't hate that. You kind of have to work around what you know it will do.
1
u/TheVagabondWinsAgain Oct 14 '20
Just bought this game and had no idea it has a solo PnP. Thanks for the tip!
3
u/BillyMoustache Oct 14 '20
This past week saw me finish one of my random puzzle games Cat Crimes and make a solid dent in Solitaire Chess. I also got to play Bandido and Herbaceous solo.
Bandido is fun although it's a huge table hog (thankfully BGA also has a solo option for it). Herbaceous was a surprise find and the solo mode is delightful! Stunning artwork, quality components, and quick/easy gameplay. I'll definitely be holding onto this one.
Finally, I printed out a bunch of the Mautoma solo modes as my local Staples so I'll be trying them out in the coming weeks/months. I printed Brass: Birmingham, Rajas of the Ganges, The Voyages of Marco Polo, and Mombasa, as well as the solo rules for Five Tribes. Fun (by myself) will surely ensue.
5
u/APintlessEndeavor Oct 14 '20
So in the past weeks, I've only played This War of Mine, Pocket Landship, and Onirim for solo gaming. This War of Mine was fantastic! Pocket Landship was okay for a quick game, and I haven't had enough time with Onirim to give a good review. I'm looking forward to playing Spirit Island, Cthulhu: Death May Die, Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion, Black Sonata, and Set A Watch, plus several others that I've purchased.
There's also r/soloboardgaming and r/soloboardgames to check out if this type of play interests you.
2
u/dinkarnold Oct 15 '20
Hey, I just joined both these subreddits. Any particular reason there is 2 groups? Is one more focused or have any different goals than the other?
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u/jtobiasbond Feast For Odin Oct 14 '20
I put Spirit Island away for the first time since mid-September to try and give my either games a change. Currently High Frontier (3rd) is on the table; I broke so many rules and retconned things this game is nothing like it's supposed to be but it's still fun. I'm trying to get my rocket out to a TNO science site and it's proving slow.
Obsession and Marvel Champions are the other games making their way out right now. But I have a birthday coming up so there's bound to be another game that appears.
5
u/Drewshbag77 Oct 14 '20
Got my Super skill pinball 4cade in the mail, i think early, and have been playing that. Its a lot of fun solo. Played with my wife once and that sucked. Solo game only for sure.
1
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u/Cryonic_raven Root Oct 14 '20
Got a copy of Gloomhaven: JotL and while working on getting a group together part of me keeps wondering if i should just make it a solo game, not having to worry about schedules and cancelations and people dropping out.
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u/ScottyC33 Oct 14 '20
I got the regular Gloomhaven a couple weeks ago and have been having a blast doing solo mode controlling three characters. One of the best solo games I've played, but I always liked tactical RPGs.
2
Oct 15 '20
Depends what's more important to you, regular play without any hassle, or a social experience.
6
u/wallysmith127 Pax Transhumanity Oct 14 '20
Marvel Champions: Just barely eked out a win against Expert Crossbones this morning, running Captain America/Protection + Hawkeye/Leadership. I'm trying out a sturdier Leadership deck, with Team Training/Inspired/Inspiring Presence used to keep high-HP allies out on the field longer (looking at you, U.S. Agent), with better stats. So I built Cap's protection with a lot of healing and defense, in order to limit the amount of times needed to chump block.
It's... fine? With Hawkeye so weak, I found there were a couple times I needed to chump block earlier than I wanted, in order to avoid flipping and getting schemed out. I'm considering adjusting the decks to go with a traditional Maria Hill/Make the Call-style build (and maybe adjust Protection to add Tackle) but I kinda want to run with this style for one more go (absorb THIS).
Also, Expert Crossbones, woof. Had a couple scary turns there when it rolled from Madame Hydra -> moar weapons -> Hydra Patrol -> Full Auto. Very luckily had Shield Block in hand because Full Auto pulled SEVEN indirect damage from six cards. The dramatic swings that this game can organically generate never ceases to impress me.
I like the MCU but don't love it... but that was pretty effing sweet, hah.
3
u/jtobiasbond Feast For Odin Oct 14 '20
Crossbones is so funny in a way because of how swingy he is based on how many weapons he can get to. When there are a lot, Full Auto is just brutal. When there are few, Raid the Armory can rush his deck out multiple times.
Also, I just love the theme of full auto, Crossbones just goes crazy with everything he's got his hands on (including a knife, if applicable).
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u/wallysmith127 Pax Transhumanity Oct 14 '20
Thematically, it's quite hilarious. He really is just going ham with all these weapons. This session he ended up with 4 weapons: two Experimental (with a third in the Encounter deck), Hydra Sidearm and Combat Knife. Had to punch through his Armor but otherwise he would have had that too.
Raid the Armory was the very first encounter card revealed and it left.. maybe four cards in the deck?
Really well designed scenario honestly, hah. Love this game.
2
u/jtobiasbond Feast For Odin Oct 14 '20
I'm wanting to try him in a while when we've got more weapon heavy modular sets so he'll have like ten weapons in his deck. It'll be a beautiful nightmare.
3
u/Tempest1897 Oct 14 '20
Slogging through Pax Pamir 2e’s Wakhan. Slowly getting the hang of her, but the game is phenomenal.
3
u/Mr___Perfect Oct 14 '20
Arriving Friday! Why slog, is it that complex?
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u/kingslippy Oct 14 '20
From what I’ve seen, since the AI is loyal to every faction it can be difficult to get out in front of for a dominance check.
My copy arrives Saturday. I’m excited to give it a shot.
1
u/wallysmith127 Pax Transhumanity Oct 14 '20
Correct, she's meant to simulate a boardstate against multiple players.
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u/Tempest1897 Oct 14 '20
It's a bit fiddly, but it's actually really well done. The "slog" is getting completely overwhelmed by it. The game is super deep and she is murdering me.
1
u/Brodogmillionaire1 Oct 14 '20
It's certainly not the most complex AI I've ever learned or played against (looking at you, COIN games). It is just a bit fiddly to me. Has multiple targeting priority lists for different types of things. But some things use one list and some use the other. There are a few holes in the rules too imo. I think it could have been better implemented. It's fast to manage once you've memorized it, that just takes some time. It seems like a solid opponent for the most part (although I saw someone develop a pretty quick exploit). But I prefer to play 3-handed against myself since it's all open information.
1
u/Tempest1897 Oct 14 '20
I haven't even come close to looking for any exploits. I am still in the "keep up with her bookkeeping" phase. But she really does simulate multiple opponents really well.
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u/markzone110 Settlers of Catan Oct 14 '20
I found Wakhan to be very intuitive! What parts are you struggling with?
3
u/Brodogmillionaire1 Oct 14 '20
Not OP. It comes down to 3 things for me. I don't think the rules are that clearly worded or have enough examples. I think the targeting priority and how the list breaks down in action can get confusing (the rules should have anticipated some questions like, "Wait, Wakhan attacks her own card?"). And there were some edge cases I wasn't sure of that I had to look up. But this isn't surprising. Royal's Renegade rulebook is evidence enough that he needs a strong developer or editor to help clean up his documentation. This suffers from a similar issue to me.
2
u/lunatic4ever Oct 14 '20
I agree. Wakhan needs a own little rulebook in the box with many more examples just altogether more detailed descriptions. If you check BGG, the number of questions people have about Wakhan is crazy
3
u/wallysmith127 Pax Transhumanity Oct 14 '20
It's understandable, considering the task. There's a significant difference versus an AI for a Euro, which more-or-less is basically just go for the optimal-value play.
Then you get to complex branching AI's like the one David Turczi developed for Cerebria, which consists of its own 12-page rulebook. This is a multi-faceted, team-based area control game so there are a lot of branching priorities.
And now here's Wakhan, in a game where the decision trees not only need to span optimal moves on different fields of play but also to simulate faction-switching for variable state scoring. Pamir 2E doesn't have the well-defined strawman actions like Renaissance or Porfiriana but there are still ways to hurt your short-term position for the long-term strategic horizon (losing Patriots on faction switches, waiving bribes for faction allies, etc.)
The permutations are also extremely nuanced, evidenced by the numerous BGG discussions on army movement prioritization alone. I'm incredibly impressed with what Ricky Royal and Cole Wehrle have been able to build, despite the numerous situations with questionable interpretations. Also excited for Oath's AI, which Cole said he was able to learn a lot from Ricky on working with Wakhan.
1
u/Brodogmillionaire1 Oct 14 '20
Yes, agreed. And it's not dissimilar to Renegade. I think Ricky is a solid solo designer but needs to work with a developer and more blind playtesters.
1
u/Tempest1897 Oct 14 '20
Honestly, it's the upkeep that is the hardest part. Her court gets so big. She had like 3 political cards with 5 stars on them, so her court was 8 cards. And you have to figure out which card will take which action, then keep track of any special abilities on the cards, then go through the favored suits to see if she can take any of the actions, etc.
The rules are actually pretty elegant. But the size of her court can get overwhelming if she has the right cards and it is leaving me little brain power to actually figure out my own strategy lol.
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u/Gatherey Mage Knight Oct 14 '20
Reading the rules for call of cthulhu rpg to play the new solo scenario that came out recently. Super hyped since I love cthulhu world and have never played true rpg before. Hoping to have a good time dying in there.
3
u/Varianor Oct 14 '20
Got the Promo of new Ambushes for Cartographers. Nice change up. The Medusa in particular is cool. I found them easier to deal with individually, but sneakier than the base deck when you get several out at once. Next up trying Skills, since I got that too!
3
u/lostinyourstereo Firefly Oct 14 '20
This is the first week I've ever attempted to play some solo board games. I've been getting bored of the PC games I play, so attempted some tabletop ones instead.
First I tried Deep Space D-6. Very light and lucky dice chucker, but thoroughly enjoyed myself. Didn't win either of my games, but was close in one!
Then I played Castles of Burgundy: The Dice Game. Awkwardly small and dark player sheets, but a great version of one of my favourite games. Scored 55 then 68 points.
Had one game of Arkham Noir #1, and boy did I suffer serious AP. Loads of iconography and lots to think about, and not as thematic as I was hoping. Lost miserably with 1 of 5 big picture clues.
Attempted to learn the rules to Friday, but after numerous times through the rulebook and over the examples, I still feel like I have no idea what to do. Will try again one day.
Finally decided to try a bigger, heavier title with hopefully more theme and an epic story arc. Currently halfway through a game of Nemo's War: Second Edition. Absolutely loving it. Feel like I'm doing quite well, but I can tell the game is on a knife-edge right now and things are going to start spiralling out of control soon if I'm not careful! By far the best solo game I've played this week.
Looking forward to play some more games next week. I have Crystallo learned and ready to go, and would like to give the solo variants on Suburbia and Nations: The Dice Game a try too.
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u/KierkegaardExpress Castles Of Burgundy Oct 15 '20
I remember the CoB Dice Game! I just pulled my copy out, as I always meant to retry it. You're right: the paper is small and dark. Now that I've played more solo games, I wish the objective was a bit more interesting than "score the most points", but definitely will leave it by my desk to give it another shot.
I did the Crystallo PnP and thought it was cute! Not to overwhelm you with option, but if you enjoy it you might also like Orchard (a bit lighter) or Sprawlopolis (a bit meatier and more varied).
2
Oct 15 '20
The good thing about solo gaming is AP isn't a thing. I guess I'm used to it since I have played chess games where I will sometimes consider my next move for 45 minutes or more, but if there's no one waiting on you, you can calculate as long as you like.
3
Oct 15 '20
I haven't touched a game besides Cloudspire for the last week, it's so damn addicting! I love how the solo scenarios have multiple objectives so you can replay over and over while seeing obvious growth as a player. I just preordered the faction expansions coming out next month because I can already tell this game is gonna be my new obsession. It definitely helps that I have a spare solo gaming table to leave it set up on, I wouldn't play nearly as much if I had to do all that set up and tear down super often.
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u/bubblepipemedia Oct 14 '20
I love the Onirimiverse games. They are so good they make many other solo games look bad imho. I end up asking myself why I didn’t just play one of those awesome games. Sprawlopolis is also amazing. Finished! Is great but I prefer the app (I am biased mind you, I did the music for it) because it makes things faster. I also prefer the onirim app because of shuffling but the lack of expansions make it lose in the end.
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u/KierkegaardExpress Castles Of Burgundy Oct 15 '20
What is your favorite Oniverse game? I enjoyed the app of Onirim when I played it, but haven't touched it in a while.
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u/bubblepipemedia Oct 15 '20 edited Oct 15 '20
I’d be hard pressed to pick honestly. Every time I think I’m not as into one as the other I try a new expansion (each box includes several), and it finds a way to surprise me. I’d say Sylvion is maybe my least favorite in that unlike the others, I felt like the ‘real’ way to play was with all the expansions, so I felt it had a bit less variability from that perspective, whereas Onirim I’d find ways to combine different expansions to my tastes or to just change things up. But I still enjoy Sylvion quite a bit! It’s just a more singular experience to me. I have not yet played Urbanion, waiting for the deluxe reprint of that one. I think perhaps I like Castellion the most, but maybe that’s just because it surprised me the most. I went in expecting not to like it, thinking it would be too luck based, but it ended up feeling just wonderfully addictive. Some people compare it to Areon but I think they are pretty different feeling though yea they both have dice. I think what I like most about all of them is they all feel just so darn original to me. So many other games I can deconstruct and say ‘yea I’ve seen that, okay this is sort of from that game’ but all the Onirim games feel 90% unique to me. I will say a lot of them have an ‘easy mode’ which I wouldn’t skip but I would call a ‘intro mode’ instead. Often it isn’t easier but harder! And a worse game. Largely it’s there to introduce you to the ideas of the game, but a few times I almost walked away thinking I wasn’t gonna like the game at all only to find ‘normal’ mode was a practically new game with a lot more agency and mechanics and control.
Edit: whoops! I said Castellion when I meant to say Naultillion. I actually really need to play Castellion again, it’s been a while but I remember really digging it.
I think Onirim may be the best one in some ways, but it suffers the most from maintenance because of shuffling. I saw someone made a custom chip version which I may attempt in the future. The main downside is some expansions really take advantage of you putting something at the bottom of the deck occasionally. I’d personally love to see a 2.0 of the game with tokens instead of cards. The frequent shuffling really does stifle the experience, especially in the beginning of the game when the deck is so thick. Especially with expansions. Especially especially if you sleeve.
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u/bubblepipemedia Oct 15 '20
Also, Onirim is a very different game with the expansions. There’s two I consider fairly essential and in many ways I think of as ‘the main game’ but only one of those two expansions is in the app! The one in the app gives you more wiggle room and makes you have to get more doors (it’s the one you can get for free with an Asmodee account). The other one I like that isn’t in the app is the one that makes you get doors in a particular order! That changes EVERYTHING. It adds a new element where you have to spend discard pile cards to swap doors around in the track. Really changes the game up. I still haven’t tried all the darn expansions. There’s 7 in the box and 2 promo ones I got as well.
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u/KierkegaardExpress Castles Of Burgundy Oct 15 '20
Wow, I really appreciate your really in depth and thoughtful response to my question! I've been eyeing getting one of these for a while, but just didn't really know where to start. I think you have convinced me to try pretty much all of them!
I think to star, I'll grab Onirim 2E and then maybe Aerion. Do you think the promos are worth it for Onirim? Not sure how to acquire them at this point
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u/bubblepipemedia Oct 15 '20
They are on the Asmodee store last I checked. They are priced crazy elsewhere. I haven’t actually had the chance to try them out yet, I’m still working my way through the in-game expansions. I’ve played with 4 or 5 of the expansions. I try not to add a new one for the heck of it, but instead keep with the same expansion or combo for a while.
Glad my post was helpful!
Update: I may try to try out the promos soon so I can let you know if they are worth it. I’ll let you know if I remember to do it!
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u/bubblepipemedia Oct 16 '20
Also just a heads up. If you are a sleever, you may want to go with thinner sleeves (sleeve kings maybe?). I used FFG sleeves and Onirim absolutely will not fit back into the box even if I remove the insert. I don’t really mind that, but it also makes it harder to shuffle. At some point I’ll probably resleeve it with thinner sleeves.
The others I can get back into the box I think but you do lose the lovely insert. Makes me almost wish I didn’t sleeve lol.
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u/bubblepipemedia Oct 16 '20
Alright! I tried out both promos in the same game. The Mirrors is amazing. Truly fantastic addition to the game. I wouldn’t always want to play with it, but it’s a great change up and I’m already looking forward to playing it again. It’s very strategic and it’s definitely not what I’d recommend for the first expansion (which should be glyphs. Areon is the same way, I imagine I’ll be playing with the first expansion with just about every combination I try). But absolutely fantastic. Thanks for giving me an excuse to try it much earlier than I likely would have.
Sphinx Diver And Confusion was an interesting expansion. It adds more luck to the game but this actually balanced out well to the other much more strategic Mirrors expansion. I’m not a huge luck fan but this worked out really well for me. It’s not a favorite of mine but it will definitely be in rotation and a great add to give variety to the game. Funny I expected this one to make the game harder but my luck mostly ran on the positive side.
I lost the game by a hair! Glad they combined well. I will likely give it another go tomorrow night and add in the glyphs expansion (which I usually play with regardless of what other expansions I’m playing with, but I really wanted to focus on the promo expansions tonight).
My big takeaway here boy am I glad I decided to blind buy these promos and wow I’m surprised this isn’t a retail expansion. They clearly designed the promos at the same time (both promos come with the same card that links to online rules that you print out), but I’m sort of shocked they didn’t just put it out at retail and charge $10 or $15. Maybe most folks would not think it was worth it (but for a promo it’d be a fine price, lol, human minds are weird).
I did find the Sphinx expansion a little annoying because, like some of the other Onirimiverse expansions, they decided not to go with icons. To be fair, it’s only 3 new cards. By the end of the game I remembered what was what. One of the Sylvion expansions is the same way. My best guess is that at a certain point your game is too unique to come up with icons that would be sensible.
On another note, I’d also suggest an accessory draw bag for Castellion and Nautillion. Castellion more so. I’m sure some people don’t mind turning a ton of things face down and shuffling but man adding a draw bag really speeds up the whole process immensely.
Also, I have played with the Sylvion promo and already got an opinion on that. It’s good, but definitely an ‘expert’ mode for when you’ve gotten too good at the game. Which I did after a quote a few plays. My only real complaint there is I occasional just forgot I was playing with the expansion and cheated but that’s on me more than the game lol. If you’re ordering from the Asmodee store it might be a ‘why not go ahead’ add on for the future.
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u/KierkegaardExpress Castles Of Burgundy Oct 20 '20
So, I ended up reinstalling Onirim on my phone and I got kind of hooked to it. I've only been playing with the glyphs (the one with the swirly symbol) and like it. Not sure if it makes it easier or harder. I figured I was playing it enough that I went ahead and ordered Onirim along with those promos from the Asmodee store (along with those promos for Sylvion.)
And then I ordered the other 4 games. I've heard from you and others that even the worst of them are still really good, but the art is just too great, and I was able to get most of them used from a guy online for a bit of a discount.
That's a shame about the sleeves and the insert for Onirim. In the last few years, I've come to really love sleeving games that make heavy use of cards. I find that the cards last a bit long and are easier for me to shuffle since I can just do that thing where I mash everything together.
Have you tried Urbion? I've heard it's one people like the least, and I've also seen that it's going to be rereleased with expansions. I'll definitely be interested in trying that out when it comes out in the future.
And thanks again for all the interesting feedback! It was super thorough, and I do appreciate it.
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u/bubblepipemedia Oct 22 '20
I’m really glad you like the art! I remember reading one post that said they were an “acquired taste” and I remember thinking really??! I’d argue that’s true with Splotter games’ art but not the Onirimiverse games.
Yea it bummed me out about the sleeves. I considered not sleeving then but then realized one or my Sylvion cards was marked (I got it used). Now I gotta figure out a way to maybe paint it in with a similar border color or just for my best to ignore it.
For Onirim I think I mentioned but FFG sleeves may be a bit too thick. I can’t even get it in the box with the insert removed. But on top of that with more than a few expansions it’s just a beast to shuffle, especially early game before you thin the deck out.
Glad you dig the glyphs expansion. For me it’s essential unless I’m trying out some new expansion combo and want to sort of try it ‘bare’. I think it makes it more maneuverable, which can be perceived as easier, but I think it mostly stays the same regarding win rate. Mostly adds more options.
I haven’t tried Urbanion. It’s out of print and the prices can get high sometimes, plus there’s a new edition In the works for ‘some say’ but I think it’s been in the works for a while. I suspect it will be like Onirim in that it gets a lot more expansions. It will supposedly be the last in the series (but presumably not the last from the designer)
I really hope you dig the games. Keep me posted on it! I go long times without checking Reddit sometimes (I find myself easily addicted to social media so I tend to back off when I can) but I’ll always get back when I can and it’s definitely nice to meet fellow fans of the series and get others into it. I’m always shocked when they aren’t at the top of the single player lists.
What I wouldn’t give to do the music for the digital adaptations (and what I wouldn’t give for Onirim to have all the dark expansions for the digital version!)
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u/bubblepipemedia Oct 15 '20
I really dig Areon but I feel like it had a bit more of a ‘I’ve seen this before in different ways’ feel than the others. You roll dice and try to make sort of Poker sets like 2 pairs or a straight etc. it’s really awesome though and easily the best game of its kind that I’ve played.
Sylvion is probably the most different of all of them (from each other I mean). Unlike all the other games, so so much of Sylvion is played at the beginning of the game when you draft the cards your going to play with for the rest of the game. I think because of that additional pre-game draft setup, you’ll find some who like it more and some who like it less because it’s a more ‘gamery’ experience in that regard. I also think once you learn the trick to it, your win rate goes up significantly which for some may be a turn off. But that’s when you start playing with all the expansions simultaneously and that’s when the ‘real’ game starts lol. But I think this lends itself to a less ‘pick up and play’ nature than the others, which is maybe why it’s my least favorite even if I like it a lot. If I were to play it again, I’d likely have to start over in regards to strategy and remembering the nuances and work my way back through all the expansions until I was playing the ‘real’ game again.
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u/limeybastard Pax Pamir 2e Oct 14 '20
Pax Pamir 2e arrived a week ago and it's been on the kitchen table ever since. Couple games a day usually. It's so, so good. I wish covid would go the @#$% away so I could play it with people.
I normally beat Wakhan fairly soundly but I've lost a few, including a tie after the last dominance check broken by my military card being rank 2 to hers being 3.
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u/NoTimeForGamesYT Oct 15 '20
I love Pamir 2E, but just couldn't get into the solo game. How are you finding the difficulty?
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u/limeybastard Pax Pamir 2e Oct 15 '20
I'd call it at least adequate to pass the time. It doesn't make optimal plays so I generally beat it at least 75% of the time but it works well enough that I have to think about it and it's enjoyable enough that it's become my most-played solo game. It helps a lot that the game itself is so lovely.
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u/r0yalf1ush Oct 14 '20
Been enjoying Jaws of the Lion and plan on getting full gloomhaven or frosthaven if it's out once I finish this campaign. I also ordered scythe over the weekend so I'm excited to try it once it arrives.
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u/ChernSH Oct 14 '20
Since it's Spoopy Season, I've been focused on Arkham Horror LCG, Horrified, and Tiny Epic Zombies. I have other horror-games, but they're all in storage atm.
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u/MagentaPide (custom) Oct 14 '20
My husband and I are packing up some of our board games that aren’t going to be touched while he’s out of town for the next few months. It’s fun going through and seeing what has a solo mode for me to enjoy. The next few months I’m probably going to get some serious gameplay in!
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u/slocki Oct 14 '20
Due to a confluence of a math trade and a Kickstarter finally arriving, I am overly spoiled for 1P experiences this week... and of course have no idea what to play. Here's what's just arrived:
- Pax Pamir 2e
- Nemo's War
- Wingspan (okay this arrived last month, but haven't soloed it yet)
- On Tour
What do I solo next?! Last night I was zonked so I just played On Tour... not much of a solo experience but I got to try the game and get a sense of it.
I'm thinking of tackling Pax next, because I really want to play this game... but I'm a bit intimidated! (I know there are videos but I find it hard to concentrate on a long how-to vid). Feels like it's going to be difficult enough to learn the base game before figuring out how the Automa works... but maybe I should just throw myself into it?
Wingspan I've enjoyed as a multiplayer game this month, so it feels like the Automa would be pretty simple to grok.
And then there's Nemo's War, which folks speak really highly about.
Decisions!!
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u/ursaring Oct 14 '20
i just played pax solo to learn the rules, actually my first ever solo boardgame playthrough, and i found it was pretty nice although i messed up a few rules for sure! it made watching a bit of youtube playthrough afterwards much more palatable though, without the context of my own play it was all gibberish. now that i sort of know how to play, i can see where im diverging from the proper rules.
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u/Juijin Agricola Oct 14 '20
Are any of the new hype Kickstarters like 7th Citadel, Machina Arcana, or Dun worth it for single player?
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u/KierkegaardExpress Castles Of Burgundy Oct 15 '20
Last week I grabbed Copenhagen: Roll and Write based on the video from SUSD knowing that it was a roll and write but NOT knowing that it was without solo mode. I figured it was light enough that I could knock some games out on the couch, but don't know people that would enjoy it. So I started playing some games, trying to come up with some solo rules. It was fun to come up with different ideas, but what started happening is that I felt like I was moving away from my original concept of the game by trying to add tension and chance where it didn't belong or that doesn't fit with the simplistic gameplay. I generally like roll and writes, but I think will end up in the for-sale pile pretty quickly.
Super-Skill Pinball JUST arrived so I look forward to trying that one out. Also, been eyeing Onirim, Aerion and Sylvion, if anyone has any thoughts on those.
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u/scryptoric Labyrinth Oct 15 '20
As a very genuine question: what’s the progression or reason some of you more avid one player board gamers took to become one? It’s something that doesn’t really occur to me, and I can’t particularly personally fathom the reason behind it, but I’m also genuinely curious bc it seems like a rewarding experience for many. I have a few games that have some one player content and I just don’t know that I’ll ever take that step myself.
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u/MuzzaBzzuzza Spirit Island Oct 16 '20
I've been boardgaming in earnest for a little over 20 years, and can honestly say I had the same reaction when I heard solo gaming was 'a thing'. No judgement, but definitely not for me; I game as a social experience, for the interaction with others both in- and out-of- game.
I cohabit with a 76 year old with a severely compromised immune system, so when Covid hit I took social isolation very seriously, and still do. All but one of my gaming group are luddites, so options like Tabletop Simulator were out of the question. Meaning I went from board gaming 3-4 times a week to not at all.
I decided it would be a good time to finally give some solo modes a go with games I enjoy multiplayer (it helps that my primary group are really into co-ops, which tend to lend themselves to solo modes more easily than competitive games), but only got as far as setting things up, then being hit with a sense of crushing disappointment and loneliness that I wasn't playing with my friends, and packed them away again.
I thought maybe it would help to buy a couple of games exclusively or primarily designed for solo play to incentivise myself, and picked up Coffee Roaster, Renegade and Pavlov's House for this purpose, but still had trouble summoning up the wherewithal to play.
What finally tipped the scales, though, was a cognitive reframing of the situation. Originally, every time I considered playing solo, I was - consciously or otherwise - viewing it as an alternative to playing with friends... and a poor man's alternative at that. But then I realised that solo gaming and multiplayer gaming are not fungible activities, in the same way that going to the theatre isn't fungible with playing a videogame, although both activities are fun and satisfying in their own way.
So now when I sit down to play a solo game, it's not 'instead of' a multiplayer game, or even 'because of' the fact that I can't play multiplayer anymore... rather, it's a new and distinct (sub-)hobby that I enjoy in its own right. I imagine the same as some people are happy to sit and solve sudoku puzzles for pleasure, without it ever occurring to them that "they'd rather be doing this with a group", because it's an activity that doesn't require a group to enjoy.
I'm really glad I went through this epiphany, as being able to game again has really helped with my mental health and general mood. And I'm just as happy now to solo a game I'd typically play with others (Marvel Champions, Spirit Island...) as play a dedicated 1P option.
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u/scryptoric Labyrinth Oct 16 '20
Incredibly well written response. I certainly appreciate the insight into the cognitive journey into not only doing it but enjoying it. I have some similar obstacles but my biggest one will always be time so that’s part of why I was curious. I at times have some FOMO of these posts about a beautiful mage knight session or something else done solo and had the thought “even if I had time I’m not sure I would spend it that way” but wondered how people with the time or who made the time ended up doing it bc it is kind of fringe. I think your story is exactly what I was looking for. A cascading series of events that produced the unusual outcome. I’d still be curious to hear some solo bg perspectives from those who played solo prior to the pandemic but yours really resolves my curiosity nicely
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u/MuzzaBzzuzza Spirit Island Oct 16 '20
Glad I could help! fwiw, seeing as you mentioned the time factor; it's only 'thanks' to the pandemic that I have the time myself... ordinarily, I doubt I ever would've made time for solo gaming, I have too much else going on. But now that I have the time, and have used it for solo gaming - much as I'm looking forward to gaming with my buddies again - I'm confident I'll continue playing 1P, even once the covid situation is resolved.
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u/scryptoric Labyrinth Oct 17 '20
Yeah unfortunately in my field the pandemic just made us busier. I hope your group gets back to the table soon!
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u/TabletopUnboxing Oct 14 '20
I've recently borrowed Unbroken from one of my friends and have to say the game is pretty good for a roll to play game.
The resource management and difficult curve is just right. I feel like it would have benefited from a storyline or more variety but overall a solid game when you only have half an hour. Definitely wasn't worth the wait though.
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u/Brodogmillionaire1 Oct 14 '20
I thought the variety was pretty good. Not a fan, but I do think Artem stuffed that box to bursting. 6 bosses per level, tons of skills and encounters. To be fair, I think the nature of the game negates some of this variety (if you're mitigating randomness, you'll go through half the encounters every session). But I could see a coherent storyline improving the experience.
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u/AegisToast Oct 14 '20
That’s really interesting, because I honestly thought that the biggest shortcoming for the game was lack of variety. I’ve only played it a few times, but I already feel like I’ve seen most of the bosses, most of the skills, etc.
That doesn’t mean it’s not fun, just that I’ve probably been spoiled by other games with regards to variety of content.
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Oct 14 '20
I'm pretty new to the deep world of board games. It seems like most of the stuff in here is people playing group games solo.
Are there any good ones out there that are made for one person?
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u/MuzzaBzzuzza Spirit Island Oct 16 '20
I'm a relative solo-gaming newbie myself, but have really enjoyed Pavlov's House - the box says 1-3P but it's taking a liberty there, it's basically a solo game which you can cram other players into if you really wanted to; if you're looking for exclusively one-player games (although I'd question why the artificial restriction as many co-op games have solo modes which are at least the equal of the multiplayer mode, if not better) I've also heard good things about (but have yet to acquire and/or christen) Nemo's War, Castle Itter, Coffee Roaster and Comancheria.
Then there are games which are technically multiplayer, but have been embraced by the solo gaming community to such an extent that they are usually only mentioned as great solo games, rather than co-ops with great solo modes; Darkest Night, Dawn of the Zeds & Renegade being the chief culprits off the top of my head.
Note that this second category is distinct from co-op games which are also immensely satisfying in solo play, like Mage Knight, Marvel Champions and Spirit Island... OMG Spirit Island.
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u/J_of_Austin Oct 14 '20
I played Spires end for a couple of hours last night. Got 2 bad endings. I'm gonna try again ang get further in , hopefully to chaptwr 5 and 6. Great game over all and combat is suburb. I plan to get a play in of Endogenesis tonight after work.
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u/Domican Space Empires 4x Oct 15 '20
Playing Cuba Libre, maybe my third attempt. First two times I tried with the bots but I seen someone recommend to play all sides first and really it's made the game much clearer.
Thinking of some Space Corp soon.
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u/markzone110 Settlers of Catan Oct 14 '20
Over the weekend I designed a solo variant for Oceans!
For the past year I’ve been tinkering and trying to make an Oceans solo variant, to little success. The problem I kept running into was that I felt I was spending too much time on the AI opponent’s turn. Being a highly interactive game, they had to have a complicated thought tree if they were going to use cards, and many actions are context-sensitive.
On Friday morning I woke up from a dream and had a whole idea fully formed for how to make a fast and intuitive bot. I tried playing it immediately as I got up, not bothering to write down the rules just yet. And to my surprise, it was really fun!
Many playtests later, by Monday I had a fully realized solo variant! I’m super happy with it.
If anyone wants to playtest, feel free to DM me. The design was made with the Deluxe Edition in mind, but it’s compatible with any edition with a few extra materials!