- Board Game Spotlight -
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Board Game Spotlight where we take a brief look at games that have come across our table. Today we're taking a look at Brass Empire by Rock Manor Games Brass Empire1-5 Players | 30 - 60 Min Playtime | Ages 10+ |
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Joseph DeMarcoAuthor:
Joe DeMarco a single father, freelance writer, game designer, quality assurance software tester, and business analyst. I am a big-time gamer, and really enjoy checking out all kinds of games available. Putting my curiosity to the app store I find random games to check out. If you have a game you'd like me to review, contact me and let us see how we can work together. Follow Joe on Twitter @shad0fx |
Board Game Spotlight is where we share some of the games we have come across. We talk a bit about the game itself, what our thoughts are on it. This week war never changes as we take a look at Fallout The Board Game from Fantasy Flight Games.
Fallout The Board Game
1-4 Players | 120 - 180 Minute Playtime | Ages 14+ recommended
Designer: Andrew Fischer and Nathan I. Hajek
Artists: Andrew Fischer, Nathan I Hajek, Brian Schomburg, Evan Simonet, Ben Zweifel.
Set in the universe of the Fallout video game series Fallout the Board Game from Fantasy Flight is a scenario driven game. In the base game players are competing to push their factions to the most power. In the new california expansion it introduces one scenario that makes the game cooperative. Each player starts as a survivor on the edge of unexplored territory. Each turn players will explore the board, interact with creatures, and go on quests to unlock the stories of the wasteland.
This game is a doozy for time. With solo play i can get it done in under 2 hours. With 2 players, It averages around 3 hours. With 4 players it can take better part of an afternoon. The game also takes up a lot of space at the table. Our little table barely holds the map and two player boards. I have an organizer being 3D printed but i’m not sure how that will help with the table organization. It’s mostly for the box organization.
I really enjoy the stories in the game. Being able to play through the same scenario multiple times and get multiple elements of new stories coming through depending on what the cards give you. I played the game through 3 or 4 times before I finally hit a quest line that gave us a vault quest line where we could explore the vaults.
Another issue with the game is the rule book is complicated when you get going. It took me a lot of plays before I got the hang of the different nuances of the rules. When certain things trigger was another big thing. The game didn’t get a lot of play when it was just the base game. Folks I played with just weren’t interested in the competitive modes available.
I really enjoy the stories in the game. Being able to play through the same scenario multiple times and get multiple elements of new stories coming through depending on what the cards give you. I played the game through 3 or 4 times before I finally hit a quest line that gave us a vault quest line where we could explore the vaults.
Another issue with the game is the rule book is complicated when you get going. It took me a lot of plays before I got the hang of the different nuances of the rules. When certain things trigger was another big thing. The game didn’t get a lot of play when it was just the base game. Folks I played with just weren’t interested in the competitive modes available.
The New California expansion gave us a single cooperative mode which helped to bring the game to the table more often.
From the Fantasy Flight website it shows that a new expansion is coming later in 2020 that gives us more cooperative game modes.
This game has it’s quirks. For myself it makes up for those with the story elements. Presenting the story to you in such a way that keeps you going forward. As I mentioned before I enjoyed getting different story elements even with the same scenario. To be honest I could see this mechanic of presenting a story being used without the game board and figures. Just telling a story. I enjoy the figures that are well crafted. The S.P.E.C.I.A.L. tokens and the leveling system are fun.
For me this game is always a fun one to bring to the table. For others, it has it’s glitches that folks playing didn’t enjoy it as much.
Fantasy Flight Games - https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/fallout/
Board Game Geek - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/232918/fallout
From the Fantasy Flight website it shows that a new expansion is coming later in 2020 that gives us more cooperative game modes.
This game has it’s quirks. For myself it makes up for those with the story elements. Presenting the story to you in such a way that keeps you going forward. As I mentioned before I enjoyed getting different story elements even with the same scenario. To be honest I could see this mechanic of presenting a story being used without the game board and figures. Just telling a story. I enjoy the figures that are well crafted. The S.P.E.C.I.A.L. tokens and the leveling system are fun.
For me this game is always a fun one to bring to the table. For others, it has it’s glitches that folks playing didn’t enjoy it as much.
Fantasy Flight Games - https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/fallout/
Board Game Geek - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/232918/fallout
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Joseph DeMarcoAuthor:
Joe DeMarco a single father, freelance writer, game designer, quality assurance software tester, and business analyst. I am a big-time gamer, and really enjoy checking out all kinds of games available. Putting my curiosity to the app store I find random games to check out. If you have a game you'd like me to review, contact me and let us see how we can work together. Follow Joe on Twitter @shad0fx that’s S H A D ZERO F X |
Get your workout on while playing Pokemon
Note - I am not a personal trainer. I am not an exercise expert. Consult your physician before starting any workout routine. I am not held responsible for injuries that may occur while doing these exercises. Change up the exercises as needed.
So you’re playing pokemon and needing to get some exercise on. Here’s a workout that might help you accomplish both goals.
When you start the game you have to get to the Professors lab. Count how many steps it takes you to get there.
Exercise options -
Exercise options -
- Steps in game x10 = This is how many steps you have to take in real world.
- Steps in game = jumping jacks.
- Steps in game = Lunges
- Steps in game = Mountain climbers
Once you get through the dialogue to pick your pokemon you have 3 choices.
The choices you have determine the type of exercises you will progress through.
The type of exercises (Strength, Cardio, Endurance) are just examples of the kinds of exercises you can do with the the chosen pokemon.
Strength -
Cardio -
Endurance
The choices you have determine the type of exercises you will progress through.
- Fire - Strength
- Water - Cardio
- Grass - Endurance
The type of exercises (Strength, Cardio, Endurance) are just examples of the kinds of exercises you can do with the the chosen pokemon.
Strength -
- Squats,
- Lunges,
- Push ups
Cardio -
- Punches
- Mountain Climbers
- Jumping Jacks
- Burpees
Endurance
- Pushups
- Squats
- Planks
- Mountain Climbers
Now it’s time to get into your first battle. With your rival.
The attacks you select determine the exercises you do. The amount you do is based on your pokemon’s level.
Pick exercises that fit your chosen pokemon. Or choose 4 exercises that you want to improve upon.
For this example we will use
Example - I want to use scratch against my opponent. It is the top attack available. My bulbasaur is a level 5. So I do 5 jumping jacks then select the attack. The opponent does their movement. I select Scratch again and do 5 more jumping jacks.
The attacks you select determine the exercises you do. The amount you do is based on your pokemon’s level.
Pick exercises that fit your chosen pokemon. Or choose 4 exercises that you want to improve upon.
For this example we will use
- A - Jumping Jacks
- B - Lunges
- C - Squats
- D - toe touches
Example - I want to use scratch against my opponent. It is the top attack available. My bulbasaur is a level 5. So I do 5 jumping jacks then select the attack. The opponent does their movement. I select Scratch again and do 5 more jumping jacks.
You can add weights as necessary. You can change up the exercises as necessary. After the battle, the player ventures out into the world. In pokemon blue/red you travel north towards the next town. Count how many steps it takes you to get from a location to a random encounter or another building. That’s how many steps you have to do. When you leave town and get into grass where random encounters occur you simply walk the number of steps it takes between random encounters. You can multiply this by your main pokemon’s level, or by the number of badges you have, etc.
Progress through the game, change exercises up as desired. Battle, exercise, and change your life.
Note - I am not a personal trainer. I am not an exercise expert. Consult your physician before starting any workout routine. I am not held responsible for injuries that may occur while doing these exercises. Change up the exercises as needed.
Shad0fx
Joe DeMarco (Shad0fx) is a father, writer, game designer, and podcaster.
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