Themer Solos | Too Many Bones: Undertow (Standalone Expansion) Board Game Review
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- čas přidán 29. 06. 2024
- After a long time of wondering if this game would be my cuppa tea, I decided to dip my toe into the Too Many Bones world via the Undertow standalone expansion. What ensued was a learning saga!
*Due to the highly reflective nature of the playing chips it's hard to see the face of some of them during the battle flow explanation. I tried to add a separate image of the chips as I discuss them, as well as an image of the battle mat to try to compensate for it. Apologies for that 😅
For my review of The Automaton of Shale (Pop Up Book Adventure for Too Many Bones):
• Themer Solos | The Aut...
For more game info: boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2...
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:03 Game overview
01:27 Theme
02:16 Expectations & what I'd heard pre diving in
03:28 Surprisingly steep learning curve
05:18 Intro to game flow & basic set up
07:18 Meet the gearlocs
08:48 Sample round
32:01 Character skill dice & how I found my way around
34:06 What it's like to play
35:14 Exploring campaign mode
35:53 The less fun things
36:39 The fun things
37:05 Will it stay in our collection?
38:36 Who this game is for
Thanks for stopping by! We're Amy & Maggie aka ThinkerThemer. We're an Australian couple with two very different perspectives of what makes a great board game - Amy (Thinker) is all about the mechanics and enjoys tight, competitive games, and Maggie (Themer) is all about the storytelling and the theme of the game, and the 'world' that the designer is trying to create. Subscribe to our channel to hear us talk about these two elements of a game, and how well integrated we feel these are in delivering a cohesive and wonderful game experience...
Are you #teamthinker or #teamthemer? ❤🏳️🌈🇦🇺
I often play solo, so I like your solo reviews very much 👍I hope Amy fells better 😘
Thank you for showing this awesome game. The video is well visualized, good camera work. Good job. I have played the TMB-Basegame until now and I really like it.
I love your enthusiasm--even for a game that's not really your genre, your colorful comments, and your colorful sweatshirt! ;) Thanks, Maggie!
Brilliant review, Maggie. Your thoughts very much mirror mine. I played one of the campaigns with a group of friends as my introduction to the world of the gearlocs. It was fun and I'd probably jump into a single scenario if I was asked, but I don't really think that I would seek it out. Hope Amy gets well soon!
If I could only have one game out of my collection it would be TMB Undertow (a TMB stand alone expansion). Yes, the learning curve was huge, and I still keep the rule book in reach, but the rewards are totally worth it. There is nothing out there quite like this game. I have only played solo with two gearlocs, but now I am all in with additional game content. Keep playing it, it just gets better and easier. Best wishes to you both.
thanks for a very useful review, Maggie. I really don't think I'll go all-in on TMB, but I might get Undertow. I do like all the custom dice, and popping them in and out of the neoprene mats. Game aside, that's almost like an ASMR experience for me. I hope Amy feels much better soon, and both of you can thinker/themer at will
Hope Amy is resting well and feeling better
Loved your presentation! I'm a themer, so you helped me a lot to get an idea of it. I like it! Thank you, Maggie!
Another fab solo video Maggie. Hope Amy is feeling better. x
Love the solo series Maggie! This one is definitely too much luck for me, I'm not a big dice guy unless it involves placing them in a euro haha. Great review!
Good to see you, Maggie! I debated backing this one, but I'm still holding out with its expense as well as the learning curve to be good at it. Great review and overview!
Thanks for the review for the game! I was curious how you would feel about it. I very much agree that this game isn't hard per se, once you can assemble the pieces together in your brain, but there's so much to control and reference that it can definitely feel like you're juggling too many plates. I personally get quite a bit out of it cause upgrading abilities and powers is something I tend to enjoy, but it's not one I play as often cause of the rules overhead and it takes us a while to actually get through the game.
You're mechanics explanation was very good, Amy can rest at ease! I do like how you'll add personal notes or touches in your overview/explanation of the game since it tends to help concentrate on certain key points and gives the audience something more to connect. At least that's my experience! Have a good one and hopefully we can see both halfs of the ThinkerThemer pie up and feeling well again!
Excellent points! I have played Undertow quite a bit solo and you described my main gripe perfectly. I keep having to check rules and exceptions all the time, which really bogs the experience down for me. It's an issue I don't have with any other game, not even Mage Knight which is arguably a heavier game than TMB Undertow. Are there people out there who have actually managed to internalize this ruleset?
I've found a lot of the same about most Chip Theory Games. Very steep learning curve to get in and a big amount of setup, but very easy flow once you're in it (Burncycle felt exactly the same to me). Thoughtful as always Maggie!
Excellent video! Running solo can be good sometimes. I was not very interested in this game and it was recommended so I watched this vid. I think I will go for it; for not only does it look fun and engaging to play, the parts look like a good standard, above average for a smaller box game. Interesting about the wheel counter needing the add-on mat, I will be sure to look for that. Thanks!
Nice work. This is a tough game to explain with all the various mechanics and moving parts, but you did a good job. This game is too expensive for me to want to go all in, but I’ve enjoyed undertow and have several new gear locks and the new expansion on the way.
Hi Maggie, first all the Best to Amy! I hope Amy will recover quickly. Hope you are able to stay well. Great review. I have never tried this game. It looks too big and expensive for a completionist like me, who wants everything after deciding to get a game.
You could try CTG's game Cloudspire. It's still played with chips like TMB, but there is almost no dice-rolling, and combat is deterministic. It can also be played solo, co-op, or competitive.
yes, I like the look of the world that's been created for it. So might need to check it out! 😀
If you're spending more than one training point, and one of them is on attack or defense, always attempt that one first. If you fail the check by rolling a bone, you can then spend that point elsewhere.
Yes, this is a great tip. That’s the best order I found as well. Might as well try for the trickier ones first! Haha
I really want to get into Too Many Bones, but it's expensive and hard to find :(. I'm 100% positive I would love it.
It is expensive but not very hard to find. Chip Theory Games sell all their games exclusively through their website. I don't know where you at but it's in stock in the US at least.
I saw TMB in stock at Gameology. I’m in NZ and occasionally buy games from them online when I want a game quicker as takes longer to get to NZ retailers. TMB still too expensive for me.
Super cool to have new solo reviews! I kind of want more, but I don't want to wish Amy to be unwell more often, so I'm torn.
The game is not for me. I like euros and I don't like plastic and I don't like spending a lot on my games. I'd try it any day in a friends house or something, though.
Thanks Maggie. The game looks (a) amazing, and (b) not for me. Very much appreciate the overview.