f13.net

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3584773/ARMELLO%20title1.png)

http://armello.com/

http://store.steampowered.com/app/290340/

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZXwxvnjz6c


This is 100% a board game, which was prototyped internally by these Australian game makers, and then translated into a beautifully animated computer version. It's for 4 players and games between humans tend to last from 60 to 90 minutes, although different win conditions allow for games to last much less.

It's played on an hexed board which is randomly populated each game and has the four players starting at the edges and a King's Palace in the middle. Players represent their Clan which are obviously inspired to the Game of Thrones houses. There are four ways to achieve a victory but the most common is having more Prestige than other players when the King dies at the end of the 8th day (turn 16). Each day is made of two turns, Dawn and Dusk, and the time of the day affects players differently based on their character traits.

Gameplay sees Players picking up cards at the beginning of their turn from three different stacks (Items, Spells, Tricks) to fill their hands, move around the map, complete quests, capture settlements, acquire items and followers to power up, set up traps for other players or attack them directly, and in the process try to work a strategy to obtain one of the three premature wins (Kill the King, Heal the dying King, Become Corrupted and Take the King's place), or just wait until turn 16 hoping to end up having more Prestige than anyone else.

Combat with players and NPCs is a combination of dice rolling and cards playing. Dice will drive you nuts, but not as nuts as Blood Bowl. At least there are ways to affect the rolls. And the whole thing is pleasantly presented and animated.

The different Clans players can choose to represent have very different strenghts and weaknesses and there are certainly balance issues at the moment. There are already 4 characters, but they are gonna be 8 in the final game (plus another 4 only available to original backers). There's also not enough cards, but they have already said the amount is going to be doubled in the next couple of months.

It is basically a glorified version of Talisman with many more choices to make although, for my tastes, still too luck-driven. At least the Australian Developers are aware of this and have spoken about toning down luck's impact before release. There's obviously some inspiration coming from that masterpiece that is the Game of Thrones Boardgame, sadly not that many. But you can spot it in things like the King's Declaration, a card that sets a (negative) condition which will affect all players for two turns and that the player leading in Prestige will get to choose between two options. My main issue with the game is that it tries too much to be "simple" and loses a lot of depth in the process.

There are issues: some cards are OP while some absolutely boring. At times it feels like a solitaire. Map can't be zoomed out enough so moving around is hard. UI needs more info easily accessible. Player interaction should be improved and encouraged. RNG plays too much of a factor. Some actions are bland and uninspired. 4 different Winning Conditions too often boil down to just one. I can totally see where the design of this game is NOT strong and oversimplification didn't make it a better game, but the overall experience is satisfying and fun and that's much more obvious against human players.

Visuals are just gorgeous and even if you are not into cartoony graphics (I am not) this is a kind of art style I can't move any criticism against. Colours are simply beautiful. Music is composed by Lisa Gerrard (Dead Can Dance), so another strong point.

Game is not done but it is already 100% playable and enjoyable. It's not great but it's good and probably going to get better. Wait if you want to jump in only after all the balance passes have been made, otherwise feel free to get it now as it's quite lovely already.

Made a thread because I am sure this will stick around.



(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3584773/ARMELLO%20screen.jpg)

Just watched some videos and this thing looks sweet.

Is anyone already playing? Does anyone want to play?

It looks cool, and I love Australians, but large random elements in board games frustrate me. May as well play Yahtzee.

Even when playing the Game of Thrones board game (which is an excellent diplomacy variant) we house-rule the three event decks to have the top card revealed at all times.

I have it and I love it. And it's getting better with every update, especially because they are introducing more mechanics to reduce the extreme impact of blind luck. Also, more cards, more characters, and more of everything. It's always going to be a "light" boardgame, but definitely a pleasant one. As I said, you can consider it as an updated version of Talisman. Whether that's a good or a bad thing it's up to you.

Anyway, lovely  :heart:

I've been planning to pick this up. Was hoping for a discounted 4-pack or something during the next sale.

Armello is out. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=16&v=9DIV8Hwy4n0)

No 4-pack, which is asinine.

Anyway, game improved a lot and many of my concerns in the initial post have been addressed.

Met these guys at PAX, got a DLC code... game looked great.

-_-

I don't know if they just added it but I'm seeing a 4-pack for $59.99.

That's cool!

Especially because this game is best played with friends. It has a casual and a ranked matchmaker, but it's when you can taunt and kill your friends over Teasmpeak that it achieves greatness.

Is local multiplayer available? (sorry, can't check it myself right now)

You mean hotseat? Another stupid decision on their part, so no. Not available.

Local multiplayer is the single reason I didn't buy this. I was going to grab it on PS4 to play with my kid, figuring it had pass+play on turns. I guess I figured wrong, or something. Either way, single player board games somewhat defeat the purpose, imo.

On the rare occasion that I play board games I do it with my friend and his kids.

The idea of an online-only board game is just weird to me. To me the whole point of board games is as a social activity with people you know.

Exactly!

Now, the problem is that the authors of this game understand that their product IS mostly a boardgame (it was built as such, and then ported to computer and expanded), but they claim it's not just that and they wanted to make sure it felt like a strategic RPG too, so for the same reason you cannot zoom out 100% to have a full view of the board, in some kind of bogus interpretation of 'fog of war'.

This is very bad for what would be a perfect social game. I am struggling to have four of my closer friends get it, and what's worse is that even if plan to play together at someone's house, we need 4 computers.

Funny, I've made some friends all over the world playing a particular board game through cyberboard ( mind you this game is so unwiedly in person online is the best way to play).

This looks like it would do better on the mobile/tablet market. Regardless of that though, it does look amazing.