Nayr090 wrote:
Awesome that you got to demo this! I have a few questions:
- Since you played at 5 players, how was downtime between turns?
- It looks like a big massive board, but how much space does everything take? Can you compare it to another game you've played?
- How much would you say luck plays in the game versus strategy and/or tactics?
- Do you think this would appeal to a more adult crowd (ranging from casual gamers that play Exploding Kittens to hardcore gamers that play Mansions of Madness)?
Sorry for all the questions, but I'm really wondering if I should back or not. Thanks in advance!
- Since you played at 5 players, how was downtime between turns?
- It looks like a big massive board, but how much space does everything take? Can you compare it to another game you've played?
- How much would you say luck plays in the game versus strategy and/or tactics?
- Do you think this would appeal to a more adult crowd (ranging from casual gamers that play Exploding Kittens to hardcore gamers that play Mansions of Madness)?
Sorry for all the questions, but I'm really wondering if I should back or not. Thanks in advance!
1. Downtime was not an issue. There were a few moments of deliberation here and there, but our game definitely moved along at a nice pace. You only have one of two action cards to play on your turn, so as others are playing you can map out your next move. If you happen to get knocked over or moved, you adjust. A Souvenir or Player Power might add an extra move or action to your turn, but timing-wise nothing significant. I liked the pace.
2. The board is big, but personally I wouldn't describe it as massive. Maybe the designers can chime in with some specific dimensions. The cards (Actions, Souvenirs, Player Powers, Snap-Shots) are nice to have on the table, but they certainly don't have to be if your space is limited. We played on what I think was a standard 6' folding table - probably 72"x30". We played at one end, with all cards on the table, taking up about half the space of the entire table. I'd estimate 40"x30" as plenty of room.
3. My take on luck vs strategy is very limited given that I've only played the game once. That said, I quite enjoyed the mix of both in Fireball Island (generally speaking, I tend to like games that are strategic with some luck mixed in). Overall, one of the most satisfying parts of Fireball Island was that I was able to develop and execute a strategy during our short game. Things didn't go 100% my way, but it felt manageable. As I mentioned in my review, the Player Power card added a layer of depth that helped make me feel more in control. Looking back on my game, I can imagine a wide variety of ways I can improve next time around (timing, route choice, point collection, rotating pieces, marble usage, etc...). I like that you can approach the game from different angles and that the physical aspect of the game allows for some very unique and creative outcomes. Keep in mind that the other players ganging up (or maybe a real bad run of luck) will probably lay low any strategy you bring to bear. Since the game encourages fun over being cutthroat though I don't see this being a huge issue (save maybe kids ganging up on a parent :laugh:). Be prepared for your plans to be ruined but to have fun while it happens.
4. In another thread some of us were wondering how this game would appeal to different demographics. It's still an unknown. That said, I do think Fireball Island has wide appeal. There were two children at our demo event, but everyone else was an adult. One plus for adults is that Fireball Island is wonderfully nostalgic (even if you never played the original like me). I don't know Mansions of Madness, but I see it's got miniatures and so does Fireball Island. Sure it's only one each, but it's also got a big custom game board that you move your minis around. Really I think, it comes down to theme and style. Fireball Island is fun, interactive, light-hearted, and unique (are there other games where marbles knock player figures over?). It's theme is very strong and will appeal to lots of gamers, especially if they were a child sometime from the late 70s to the early 90s. Obviously, no single game appeals to everyone but I think Fireball Island will hit a broad note.
I can't say whether you should back the game or not, but I can say that overall I was impressed and had a lot of fun at the demo event. I look forward to playing Fireball Island again.
Happy to answer your questions. Obviously I tend to give more info than less, but if there's anything that needs further clarification just let me know.