Oath

BaBalleflassstar7,0

Dec Update: The fact that every card has a different power is cool, but I don't feel like the reward is worth all that time and dedication. It's a really interesting system, but I prefer Pax Pamir, Root and COINs when I have 4 players that wants some area-control with a lot of semi-coop and player interaction. My main issue is the win conditions which I believe should have been simplified a little bit to give even newer players an easier goal to work towards. It's an interesting game that I need to explore more to be able to give a good verdict. It's a 7.5 now after just 1 play, but something tells me this will go up after a few more plays.

GaGarfieldstar8,0

#38 Very cool, cute but brutal gameplay. A lot of interaction, multiple ways to win and fighting together against the one that is currently winning. Turns could take long, but it's always interesting what others do. Too many little rules everywhere and the combat system (what is involved when you target x) is not straight forward. [c] Theme: ★★★★★ <!-- size 7]Great --> Gameplay: ★★★★★ <!-- size 7]Meaningful decisions to make --> Interaction: ★★★★★ <!-- size 7]Combats and multiple winning conditions --> Artwork: ★★★★★ <!-- size 7]Nice --> Luck: ★★☆☆☆ <!-- size 7]Random card drawing --> Strategy: ★★★★☆ <!-- size 7]Multiple strategies possible --> Components: ★★★★★ <!-- size 7]Great --> Play duration: ★★★☆☆ <!-- size 7]Ok --> Easy to teach: ★★☆☆☆ <!-- size 7]A lot to teach (45min) --> Rules quality: ★★★☆☆ <!-- size 7]Ok, too many tiny rules and not enough examples --> Setup time: ★☆☆☆☆ <!-- size 7]A nightmare --> No downtime: ★★★☆☆ <!-- size 7]It can take up to 10min in a 4player game --> Replay value: ★★★★★ <!-- size 7]Different winning conditions, a lot of cards --> [/c]

Mario López Menésstar10,0

A design masterpiece allowing players to give shape to the history of a fictional world. PROS - What Wehrle achieves here is simply not offered by any other game in the market. Oath tells its players a story through emergent narrative and remembers what happened previously to generate an infinite campaign of epic scale and proportions. - The gameplay itself is furiously tactical, with everyone either pursuing their own wincon or trying to stop the one from the previous player / the Chancelor in the late game. - The cards give players space for combos, surprises and very smart moments while also setting up the story and allowing them to imagine the narrative involved in their actions. - The art and design values are outstanding. CONS - There are MANY mini-rules to remember. Be prepared to forget some of them in your first games. - The win conditions are not inmediately obvious, which may give new players a hard time as they try to play without a clear direction. - The game needs focused players to shine. Someone making nonsense plays will result in kingmaking and will very severely decrease the enjoyment. - The game is much more enjoyable if lived as a story, and that needs several plays from the same players. It is definitely not a game for a casual public, and it begs to be played regularly.