Great episode, as usual Scott . While I've seen the game name tossed around a bit, I never really looked into it. While it isn't exactly my type of game, it still looks fun, and I now know not to turn down a game.

Another great episode. My wife would have loved it when she was first reading through the rules.

One minor comment. At the bottom you state:



While Yspahan is a great game (and now available for PC play: http://tinyurl.com/2k26ug) I don't know how many will sell based on a review of Pillars of the Earth.

I think he's banking on the fact that the majority of his audience is debating between Pillars and Yspahan. The real question is, which publisher does he want informed?

Doh!

All better.

Another great presentation.

Aside : Black shirt + black background = Amazing detached hands! - "Thank-you, Thing"

I've watched a good portion of your videos, and I think your presentation of the critical elements of the game is getting better over time. The order in which you introduce elements (talking about the master builders go on the board before talking about how you get them in the first place, talking about how all the stuff on the board works before talking about the order in which it takes place, etc) worked really well in this one. I'd never read or heard a single thing about the actual gameplay of this game, but I feel like I could pick it up right now and play it without ever looking at the rules. Great work.

I suspect someone's mentioned this elsewhere, but here are some nits to pick:

1. The tax die has the 3 and the 4 repeated, not just the 3. That's real minor, but here's the kicker regarding the tax roll as discussed in the video...

2. Scott mentions that you lose 2vp per gold you can't pay. In fact, it's 1 vp per 2 gold you can't pay, rounded in your favor!

Otherwise a great review, except for the 'get to play with sheep... BAAH' comment. I did however like the 'don't go there' comment regarding Aleana bringing you wood every turn

and 3. There was no mention that the Wood->$3 Woodworker! is clearly the best craftsman in the game, and in fact in the sample round the yellow player was allegedly swearing for being drawn first, when in reality they should be happy to pay the $7 for that Woodworker! (and extra bonus if he got Aleana as well!)

- Seth

Ooops!

I'm off to fix that one now and re-render and re-upload, as that's a big mistake. Gimme about 5 hours.

Thanks for that review. I am a big fan of Caylus and I have hard in several parts (including your video) that Pillars is "Caylus-light". My question is which would you buy, if you could only buy one.

I don't own Caylus (but have played it many times).

I don't enjoy Caylus, so it's an easy question for me to answer. (I do, however, enjoy Caylus Magna Carta!)

Here's my perspective:

I like a game where you get to set up an engine and then run that engine.

In Caylus, you are fighting to build your engine every turn. It's very tactical and confrontational, and there are some unforgiving mistakes. At the end of a game of Caylus, I don't feel like I've done much other than squabble. It's a very tactical game with little luck (but actions of other players can ruin your plans). While you are supposed to be all working together to build the castle, the mechanics and the theme clash and it feels very competitive. I don't usually like games where there is constant conflict; I prefer games with more meaningful points of conflict that you build for.

In Pillars, you develop your sets of craftsmen to work together, and then look to improve that engine as the game goes on. At the end, I can look at my craftsmen and feel a sense of building a team. It has a more-pleasing-to-me balance of strategy, tactics, and luck. It has less direct player interaction; therefore, it feels less directly competitive and more in with the theme of working together.

So, that should help you make your decision based upon what you enjoy.

My short review of Pillars: "It's like Caylus, but fun!"

Great review, now I just have to buy the game...