The lack of a theme doesn't bother me at all. A lot of my favorite games don't have themes. Strategic challenges make a game for me. Nice review!
@EyalItsik
11 жыл бұрын
I'm a heavy Ameritrash player, and I enjoy Mr. Feld's games very much. Might even get this, sounds very interesting
@anthonymeffe3723
7 жыл бұрын
Isn't the lack of obvious focus better for replay value? And doesn't it thematically simulate the varied demands of a massive empire? In the end almost every game comes down to 'who wins the most points' even something like Tokaido, but it's how you use the theme as a springboard for your imagination that makes it fun, at least for me. Ie. in Tokaido, if you can't imagine yourself on the journey, the ga,e is just a collect the most points thing. But like here if you activate your imagination, the points represent your influence in the Senate, and your success in maintaining order in the Empire etc...
@megannbird9097
11 жыл бұрын
I think it does alright with the theme. You can ship goods, go to war, or increase during the Senate. Plus, the mancala theme makes it hard to get certain things done which is like the Senate. Plus, the people have needs that must be met. These things seems very thematic to me. The artwork on the cards are nothing special, but the theme is not bad to me.
@silverfang6668
8 жыл бұрын
"A lot of people complain that the theme is very weak--I think that's crap." - Rahdo I agree. You're sending troops, importing & exporting goods, vying for popularity in the senate, building up the city, and meeting the demands of the people, all the while struggling with the tangled mess of bureaucracy (the mancala).
@Hman27
11 жыл бұрын
I learned Trajan a couple of weeks ago, and I've played it several times over the following days, it now sits at #3 on my own top 10. I agree that the game doesn't make you feel like a Roman Consul, but I do appreciate the (albeit pasted-on) Roman theme. My only gripe about the game is that I wish there were more variety in the Senate victory point tiles. I think this would add a lot to the game, and encourage more varied strategies. Most of the tiles focus completely on shipping.
@bretlynn
11 жыл бұрын
I hear you about the Theme thing. I have the same issue with Dominion, it could very well be called Stock Broker, or Accountant Intern.
@GarethJCook
11 жыл бұрын
THERE IS NO THEME! Blah bah de blah blah bloo! One of the funniest moments of any of your video reviews Tom. Love it. Priceless. Love your enthusiasm and really appreciate your reviews. I'm new to board gaming and I'm using your reviews to help me choose new games. Hopefully getting your favourite, 'Cosmic Encounter' for my birthday tomorrow. Just finished filming some videos for my writing business today and I used your style as an inspiration for presenting those. Thanks!
@bemljj
9 жыл бұрын
What game is that in the background, the one on the left of shipyard (upper right corner)? The one with the long looking ship on the side. Any one know the name of this one?
@fredmcmack
11 жыл бұрын
You mention a couple times that you can't "focus" on anything in the game. Although I agree there's not a centralized scoring method in the game, there are definitely viable strategies that involve pounding a single action repeatedly. Combining a +2 marker with extra action tiles is very powerful. For example, grind the Senate track every time you can adds up very quickly directly and via bonus tiles. Do construction repeatedly to get direct points and the "set" bonuses at the end. Try it out.
@webHead604
11 жыл бұрын
Great review. I've been following your work for years and swore you left the review to Metzler because of the lack of theme. You really surprised me with this one!
@NicholasLA1
11 жыл бұрын
Judging by the review and not having actually played, this game reminds me a bit of Village, which is another Euro that feels too much like 'getting victory points' then what the actual 'theme' of the game is. Great review, as always, Tom.
@professormayhem3080
8 жыл бұрын
Theme or no theme, that rondelle mechanism gives me a headache. I played this for the first time last week (thinking I would like it because I like heavy euros), and a few turns in, I realized that rondelle mechanism (which is the core of the game) was giving me a headache. I don't want to be frustrated just by trying to do the games basic actions. This and Troye are so far the only two heavy Euros I have said this about: I hate this game.
@TheBrothergreen
8 жыл бұрын
I want your awsome tie! where'd you get it?
@Blazur
10 жыл бұрын
I don't understand that demand for theme. For me I could care less about the lore or premise behind the game and am most concerned about the game mechanics and how fun it is to play. This game looks absolutely brilliant with how it's played out.
@gabrieleriva651
9 жыл бұрын
Blazur So play/make an abstract game. If you use a theme, use it well.
@TheBrothergreen
8 жыл бұрын
I think tom uses boardgames as a social medium, and likely prefers games that have their own "world" because that lends itself better to discussions and storytelling. otherwise you are basically just narrating your turns, and if you are a puzzler, that's fine, but it's not for everyone.
@cornfedz
9 жыл бұрын
If I have Terra Mystica do I need this? And if you had to choose this or aqua sphere which and why?
@petec3250
6 жыл бұрын
oooo. tough choice. Trajan feels head-to-head with point scoring. The mancala is also a cool brain burner. You can plan your mancala as many moves ahead as your brain can take. It is a cool challenge. I can personally plan about 3 moves ahead. before I make a decision - so as not to slow the game down for others. i am sure if i had more time I can do better, but it is a cool challenge. Aquashere is VERY much more constricting. the tension comes from the game's constrictions on your own planning and programming. You can program your moves for the current round pretty far ahead of time, and even for the next round. Trajan is a point salad. Everything rewards you. You just have to figure out what will reward you the most. Aquasphere is not a point salad. It is very very tight. It beats you down if you play sub-optimally. Trajan is a head-to-head match, whereas Aquasphere is more like a competitive puzzle. Both games feel very different but are each unique and great. Yes, I would say both of them are very different from Terra Mystica.
@petec3250
6 жыл бұрын
and yes, trajan's theme is pasted on. it's a game design masterpiece. but if you need theme, look elsewhere.
@ReuvenFischer
11 жыл бұрын
"Blabidy Bo Blah Bo" LOL
@smoothcriminal28
10 жыл бұрын
I don't think this is my kinda game... Le Havre on the other hand.. I can see myself getting in a few months.
@smoothcriminal28
10 жыл бұрын
One mont later, it is exactly my type of a game.
@cabalpaxiarch7239
3 жыл бұрын
Why doesn't Trajan have theme? You're shipping goods, you're going up the senate track to get more votes, you expand militarily, you build brown tiles the represent buildings, what more do you want? You're supposed to be a middle management clerk, I'd say those are enough responsibilities for a hard working Roman.
@Badon124
10 жыл бұрын
Belch @ 9:08? lol
@ParaGranimuje
11 жыл бұрын
Best job in the world :)
@BeardFaceSuper
11 жыл бұрын
At first glance I though the description said, "Tom Vasel takes a look at this satan filled game."
@lachlan514
8 жыл бұрын
Treyjan?
@akahdrin
11 жыл бұрын
Sometimes I wish euros didn't try to write a theme on the back and just gave the game a name. The theme...ahem...lack of theme is obviously apparent. Does this make it bad? Of course not. It's just silly to read the back of the box and you think you're going to do some Trajan reliving history a little...only to find out you are pushing pieces and playing with cards...the cards have no flavor either. Either way, amazing game, just wish they'd give it a different theme because it lies to me.
@IslanKleinknecht
9 жыл бұрын
I don't know, would it be fair to say that there is a theme, it's just a very _dry_ theme?
@inuinuinuinuinu
9 жыл бұрын
+Nick Clinite It's not so much that Trajan's theme is dry, but that there is zero connection between the theme and the mechanics. I love Ancient Rome, and I really enjoy Trajan, but at no point during gameplay do I feel like I'm winning military victories or gaining political clout in the senate or what have you.
@IslanKleinknecht
9 жыл бұрын
Colin Tress I kinda feel like I'm a Roman senator. Not in-depthly so, and I'm sure a lot of it is just my imagination, but it's an imagination inspired by the game. For instance, I don't consider military actions to necessarily be battles, but rather putting allies and members of prominent families in positions of military status abroad. (for instance, Brittainia was already conquered by Rome something like 50 years prior to the rule of Tajan; I think the military conquest for Trajan was mostly in the East). In fact, looking at the history of Trajan on wikipedia, we can see some parallels in the game: "He is also known for his philanthropic rule, overseeing extensive public building programs and implementing social welfare policies"
@inuinuinuinuinu
9 жыл бұрын
I see what you're saying, and once again I want to point out that I think it's a really good game, but I feel that many other themes could have been pasted on and would never have known the difference. That is, the actions players take on their turns remain pretty abstract. The "mancala" like wheel for instance, does not feel analogous to anything in the real world, and certainly does not transport me back to Ancient Rome. I don't think that's a bad thing, because I don't need all of my games to do that. Anyways, when Tom says there's "no theme", I feel fairly certain this is what he's referring to, not his lack of interest in the Roman Empire.
@IslanKleinknecht
9 жыл бұрын
Colin Tress I completely agree; I'd say the theme was a paint job, something plastered over the mechanics, rather than actually baked into the mechanics. However, the thin paint-job of a theme _does_ succeed at making me like the game more, so I think it was somewhat unfortunate that Tom seemed to be dismissing it as entirely nonexistent and unimportant.
@inuinuinuinuinu
9 жыл бұрын
I totally agree with that point. :)
@numskully
10 жыл бұрын
Looks to have no interaction.
@brmoogma
10 жыл бұрын
Getting Victory Points in this or that way.....cant play those games anymore
@nydaloth
3 жыл бұрын
Definitely these expressions relating the game comes from a non euro gamer. He said it himself “not an eurogamer”. The game does have a theme. It’s not pasted on. If a person really understand the rules he will see the thematic ties. Tom is not a good reviewer for euros. If you want a good review for euros see Rahdo.
@LissCanary
11 жыл бұрын
One of your less convincing reviews, Tom.
@cornfedz
9 жыл бұрын
If I have Terra Mystica do I need this? And if you had to choose this or aqua sphere which and why?
@smoothcriminal28
8 жыл бұрын
You never got answer so in case you're still curious, Vasel hated Aquasphere. I own both and I think this is the superior game btw the two. Aquasphere is good, but this is just greatnesss.
@cornfedz
8 жыл бұрын
+smoothcriminal28 Thank you very much. I picked Trajan up in trade and can't wait to play it soon :)
@smoothcriminal28
8 жыл бұрын
+A Warren (FollowHearted) Very nice. If you like puzzly Euros with awesome mechanisms, you will not be dissapointed. The mancala in this one is my favorite mechanism in any board game that I have played so far.
@AnaIvanovic4ever
Жыл бұрын
I'd say this and Terra Mystica are two very different games. TM is strategic and long term planning, Trajan is tactical.
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