Caverna players wanted

Probably unpopular opinion: While the tutorial might be lacklustre, the fact this and others are boardgames means there is plenty of learning material out there. YouTube has tutorial videos ranging from 3 minutes to like 30 minutes or more. Lacklustre digital tutorials is not such a big deal for boardgames IMO but I do understand the frustration.

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I agree to an extent, and video tutorials have taught me many, many games (thanks, Rodney Smith!), but I’d like a tutorial to at least explain the basic rules. All this one does is say ā€œpick this tile,ā€ ā€œput this tile thereā€ without explaining anything at all about what the tile is, what it does, why placement matters, etc. Heck, I’m not even sure the tutorial mentions that this is a worker placement game and that your actions are based on placing workers…The tutorials in Caverna are numbered but also out of order, I believe (the one that explains the interface should have been first, not last), and I think one tutorial references a different tutorial that doesn’t even exist.

On top of that, great tutorials exist. Through the Ages makes a difficult game comprehensible; Root is lauded as the absolute best way to actually learn the game.

Ultimately, the problems isn’t that I won’t learn, it is that my friends and family won’t. They aren’t rushing off to watch 30 minute videos about board game rules. They want a game that says ā€œhere’s what you downloaded and here’s how it works.ā€

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If I’m correct, we do have to following volunteers for a game of Caverna:
@js619
@Mirefox
@Jokerman (friend request pending)
@Baelnor

@Codington: I did see you also own the game. Interested to join?

Without any notice, I will create the game later this day.

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I would question the complexity of game these friends are willing to play in the first instance, and would also question their longevity to play the game much at all if they can’t afford to just sit through a short tutorial in a different window/browser.

But anyway, we don’t have to agree, it’s anll good, and I see your point.

I’m in for spelunking and maybe even some adventuring!

Looks good to me.

I can get my close friends to play games like TTA because it has a good tutorial and the gameplay is clean enough that what they don’t know they can learn on the fly. Ditto Root, Dune Imperium. I think Ark Nova and Arcs will be doable, too, knowing Dire Wolf’s track record. Caverna would be a waste of $12 for them.

Fair Warning: even though I own the game, the expansion, and the Broken Token organizer, that only shows that I have issues, not that I know the game.

I’ve never read the rule book. All I’ve done at this point is gotten lost in the tutorial and watched a much clearer YouTube tutorial.

I’m not good at games; I’ll be even worse at this.

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@Jokerman can you accept the friend request, so I can invite everyone for a game of Caverna?

Sorry - busy evening at work. Done.

@js619, @Mirefox, @Jokerman, @Baelnor, @Codington: game has started. Gl & hf!

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I am in :slight_smile:

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I got a notification, at least. I’m up, will take my turn after a morning of yard work.

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Umm - that was weird. No notification received and despite opening and closing the app a couple of times I had to press refresh in the running games screen for the game to show up in the casual games tab. Looking at your profiles and scores looks like I may parachuted into the game after a round or two. 🤷

Hmm, i think you are on your first round. I have only taken one action. It is going to get crowded!

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I had a bubble when it was my turn, not sure about an actual notification although it’s entirely possible I missed that.

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The whole refresh thing is par for the course for Digidiced.

I’ve only taken one turn so you’re not behind.

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@Codington I think you’ve been up for a bit and time is running low, though if I’m not mistaken you don’t get kicked automatically in digidiced games.

@Mirefox - forgot to respond - thanks for the nudge. Had a busy day but took my turn with less than 20 minutes to go on the 24 hour timer! :blush:

as @Mirefox said: no automatic kick by digidiced timers.
think on Castles of Burgundy and Gaia Project.