You know, I wonder how well that would go down in this day and age?
I think we would all do much better in this modern context - perhaps just ahead of our time? 
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This is couched a sequel to Scythe, in fact, though the play differs enough that the BGG Intelligentsia took issue with it falling under the Scythe banner (because the BGGI have nothing better to do). It has gotten good reviews as a solo game, which has kept it on my potential buy-list, but it sounds like it requires a very large table–is that accurate?
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It has a fairly large table presence but the game area doesn’t expand. We were playing on a game table and after Beyond the Sun and Foundations of Rome I wasn’t really paying attention to the size of the game. It didn’t seem overly-large to me and think a standard rectangular kitchen table should be ok, but don’t take my word for it. Each player also has a little tableau so I suppose with more players it could be a table hog.
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It takes up less table space than Scythe. If anything the tile layout is a fraction deeper than Scythe but if this is a problem on your table (or if the reach to the top / bottom is uncomfortable) the base camp tile can be placed off to the side. Stonemaier say on their web site 99 x 90cm (3 foot square) at 5 player count. I mainly solo it and find in comparison to Scythe it is a lot more compact. There is a useful comparison of the setup overlaid upon Scythe here: https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3090144/how-big-is-expeditions-will-it-fit-on-your-table
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Talking of Expeditions has rekindled my interest in it. Here is the game set up for solo play on a 75x150cm (29.5 x 59in) table if that helps to show how much space it takes up?
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The room’s not very large and I didn’t really notice the chair was so much in the frame until after I uploaded. However, what more could a discerning gentleman require than a Star Wars themed dachshund cushion? Especially in a house where the dachshund’s have always ruled…
Expeditions took a while to sink its claws into me. It seems simplistic at first but there are some nice touches and hidden depth once you poke around. It is in part a tableau builder but your tableau is also your discard pile and some cards once played to this shared pile may still provide ongoing benefits if powered up by a worker.
Each turn you are usually choosing 2 of 3 basic actions in any order - move your mech, gain the benefit of the location your mech is at, or play a card from your “hand” to gain a benefit with a possible power up if you have an appropriate worker type. Catch is, the combination of 2 actions has to be different each turn until you do a reset / refresh turn. Your mech can also be upgraded with gear you can pick up while stomping around the game world
Like Scythe you claim stars for meeting milestones and the first person to claim them all triggers the end of the game. Unlike Scythe this doesn’t happen automatically. You need to have your mech on tiles that allow a benefit of claiming the milestone and then use one of your 2 actions in the round to use that location benefit.
It is quite “puzzly” but I agree - it works really well solo. You can pull off some great combos with powered up bonus actions once you wrap your head around the game.
As you noted, it is definitely not Scythe. However solo - I think it works better than Scythe as the solo Automa is really easy to run. Hope again this helps - let me know if you pull the trigger on the game.
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I’m enjoying opening packs of the new Magic set Bloomburrow. The art is amazing, I like the Jacques-esque theme, and the mechanics seem fun. I haven’t played the set yet, but I’m a fan from a collector and from a theorycraft point of view.
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Are you ripping collector boosters?
I have been tossing around getting a collector booster box, because of gambling and living the art, but not sure I will play.
What do you store/hold the cards in?
I try to get the “bundle” product for each set if O can. They come with 9-ish boosters, a heap of lands, usually a special foil card, a die I don’t really need, and a box. That’s just standard for me and gives me a nice little taste of each set. For Bloomburrow I also bought a box of play boosters and I’m giving excess commons to my son.
As for storage, I have always used these plastic boxes I found back in the day that hold about 1,000 cards each. I used them originally for baseball cards but they hold my organized (read: sorted by color and then alphabetized) collection. Cards I haven’t sorted yet stay in the box from the bundle.
I also use the Decked Builder app on iOS to track my collection.
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Thats awesome!
After watching it for ages, I decided to cash in some credit card reward points and ordered a collector booster box of the Bloomburrow (squirrels!) and Outlaws of Thunder Junction (I thoroughly enjoyed that set after being away for a while).
Super expensive, but if it is credit card reward points it means its free right? Right? (seeks validation…)
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Will share a little insight - so last night just before switching off the light I actually cancelled my order - thankfully through Amazon - and got full refund.
I struggle to spend money - even “free” money like this.
In the same breath, I bought my wife a pilates reformer with the rest of the “free money” (didnt realise credit card points were worth so much here).
So maybe its a struggle to spend money on myself?
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Haven’t been posting my board game reviews here in a while, but here’s today’s review of Let’s Go to Japan.
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The play continues, Alice vs. Little Red, and I won, cementing Little Red as one of my favourites. If you can stay on top of your deck, you are a threat every turn.
I lost the Porter on the third turn, which was a mistake, and yet as Sinbad, hacked Beowulf apart after much manoeuvering. I honestly fluked that one, but I don’t care, a win’s a win.
Bigfoot vs Houdini, and I stomped Houdini (and his wife) flat. I lost two points of health and the Jackalope had to be sacrificed. That was it. Completely one-sided.
Won as Robin Hood twice against Sherlock. My opponent genuinely thought they had Holmes’ deck cracked on the second try. It didn’t go any better.
Muldoon vs Medusa, and I got Gaze of Stoned and lost 9 health early on. Absolutely mullered.
Dracula vs The Genie vs Little Red. I drew my starting five, and it was all schemes and attacks, and I didn’t see any versatile or defence cards before being killed off. Horrendous loss for Dracula.
I love Dungeon Fighter and I’m doing quite well at introducing both kids (5, 9) and adults to it. The difficulty spikes aren’t too challenging to manipulate.
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I’ve been playing it a lot again on MTG:Arena. Really liking what the Bloomburrow set adds.
Built a nasty all black mill deck based around the Scavenger’s Talent and sacrificing as many permanents as possible at once with either Rottenmouth Viper or Pitiless Carnage.
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The actual table! My front porch project got put on hold while we had the house painted, so I figured I’d finally make some progress on a game table. We have a craigslisted table in the basement which is about 3 1/2 x 6 feet, a good size, so I built an oak topper and put some microfiber over a neoprene sheet. It’s not done; the fabric isn’t actually attached at all yet, and I plan to add at least cup holders at the corners, and possibly other routed-out wells for bit containment. But the frame is together, so the overall look is all set.
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Moving back to Aus, and the people there have been doing some more 40k…. So, I think for the third time in my life I will buy and build an army - this time it will be space bugs.
Wish me luck! Maybe I can get some accountability going here when I buy atuff
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By accountability, you mean all of us chanting „do it“? I for one am right behind your space bug plan 
send updates.
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