This summary of the video was created by an AI. It might contain some inaccuracies.
00:00:00 – 00:16:05
The video is a comprehensive review of the strategy game "True Messiah," currently on Kickstarter. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, the game involves players controlling various religious sects to dominate territory. Core mechanics include deck-building, abstract strategy, blind bidding, and engaging combat. Key aspects discussed include the recruitment of followers, building of temples, importance of holy spaces, and specific unit abilities like those of the Messiah and Avatar. The host highlights the simultaneous combat system, strategic importance of positioning and prayer points, and the critical role of the bidding system for card acquisition. Although the game has some criticisms, such as potential imbalances favoring leading players and the constrained four-player team mode, the unique artwork and strategic depth are praised. Despite the prototype's evolving nature, the video underscores the game’s intricate layers of strategy and its "rich get richer" dynamic, adding to its overall challenging experience.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, the host introduces “True Messiah,” a strategy game currently on Kickstarter. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic future where players control different religious sects vying for land control, though it avoids any controversial religious iconography. The game features abstract strategy elements, deck-building, and blind bidding. The host explains that the video covers a prototype version, so details may change. The game setup for two players is shown, highlighting that dotted lines on the board restrict play areas based on player count to keep the game tight. The gameplay involves players making initial movements simultaneously, followed by turn-based actions where the red player always goes first, followed by black, purple, white, and then a market phase. The sequence includes flipping over any praying followers during the beginning phase.
00:03:00
In this part of the video, the focus is on explaining how to recruit new followers and the importance of holy spaces in this process. Initially, if you have a holy space with a lone Messiah, you can place two followers on that tile. For other holy spaces with two or more followers, you can recruit one follower on any associated space, adhering to a unit limit of four pieces per square. The next step involves building temples in spaces with followers. Each player draws up to six cards if they don’t have them already. The action phase follows, where players can move, pray, and play miracles, with movement points dependent on whether the Messiah starts on a holy space or not. Movement is restricted to orthogonal directions. Cards have a cost and a prayer point requirement, which is detailed on each card.
00:06:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker explains the mechanics of playing cards and performing actions in a game. Players use cards to gain coins and move characters, adhering to movement limits and specific conditions for generating prayer points, such as being in a temple. Combat rules are detailed: if adjacent to an enemy, combat must be declared with all units attacking one square. Combat is simultaneous and typically results in one-for-one losses, though special cards can alter outcomes. Temples can be occupied or burnt after combat. Special units like the Messiah and Avatar have unique abilities, with the Messiah blocking attacks and attacking multiple squares. Following combat, each player takes turns similarly, leading to the market phase where players draw cards and use accumulated coins to acquire them.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the speaker explains the process of blind bidding using coins in a game. Players can acquire up to two cards by bidding with coins, but they can only spend the amount they bid. Bids are revealed simultaneously, and the highest bidder selects cards first, though ties are broken in reverse turn order. Purchased cards go into a discard pile until reshuffled. The game continues until one of three victory conditions is met: the opposing player’s Messiah dies, their holy city is captured, or they have fewer than five followers. Players must also maintain at least eight miracle cards in their deck to avoid forfeiture. The segment concludes with the speaker expressing admiration for the game’s artwork, comparing it to styles from Warhammer 40,000 and H.R. Giger.
00:12:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the main challenges and highlights of learning and playing the game. One key challenge is remembering the specific rules for recruiting and building, such as needing four people in one square to build a temple or managing movement with messiahs. To help, play reference cards break down these rules. The speaker appreciates the deck-building aspect, especially the bidding system where losing bids add a strategic layer. Players must consider how many coins to bid to either gain specific cards or hinder opponents, balancing between high and low-cost cards. However, the speaker notes a potential downside: the game’s “rich get richer” dynamic, which can make it increasingly difficult for lagging players to catch up. Despite this, the speaker tolerates this aspect within abstract strategy games, accepting the steeper challenge as part of the experience.
00:15:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses several criticisms of the game “True Messiah.” They mention that being surrounded in the game likely means you will lose, although clever strategy and tactics can help balance the situation. Additionally, the speaker notes that some players might dislike the blind bidding system, even though they personally enjoy it. Another point of criticism is the four-player mode, which is constrained to a team format rather than a free-for-all, a design choice the speaker wishes had been optional. The segment concludes with the speaker wrapping up their review and thanking the viewers.