Ben Turner
@phantomwhale.bsky.social
Board gamer, ADHD motor mouth and proud dad.
I wrote it off as a toy for the first edition, but the buzz around it was pretty strong. Took a punt on the second edition KS and have so far been delighted that I did; ever play has highlighted little design flourishes that add up to a relatively modest rules game with very high strategy options.
January 6, 2026 at 8:59 AM
I wrote it off as a toy for the first edition, but the buzz around it was pretty strong. Took a punt on the second edition KS and have so far been delighted that I did; ever play has highlighted little design flourishes that add up to a relatively modest rules game with very high strategy options.
*stares intently at Australian retail* ... soon... soon...
January 1, 2026 at 7:57 PM
*stares intently at Australian retail* ... soon... soon...
Gave it a go; it was fine, but didn't do much more than similar co-op crawler / puzzlers etc...
It's thematic parallel, Grimcoven, on the other hand appears to be quite a nice chewy puzzle with similar "awesome moves" and more interesting progression.
It's thematic parallel, Grimcoven, on the other hand appears to be quite a nice chewy puzzle with similar "awesome moves" and more interesting progression.
December 25, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Gave it a go; it was fine, but didn't do much more than similar co-op crawler / puzzlers etc...
It's thematic parallel, Grimcoven, on the other hand appears to be quite a nice chewy puzzle with similar "awesome moves" and more interesting progression.
It's thematic parallel, Grimcoven, on the other hand appears to be quite a nice chewy puzzle with similar "awesome moves" and more interesting progression.
Got it on preorder! Was hoping it would hit Australia for some Xmas fun, but CMYK stuff appears to move slowly down here (also waiting for Hot Streak!)
December 25, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Got it on preorder! Was hoping it would hit Australia for some Xmas fun, but CMYK stuff appears to move slowly down here (also waiting for Hot Streak!)
That show passed me by; adding it to the list!
September 20, 2025 at 9:59 PM
That show passed me by; adding it to the list!
Is there an option to pull avatars from BGG? That would stop all my plays being me + many blank circles...
August 11, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Is there an option to pull avatars from BGG? That would stop all my plays being me + many blank circles...
March of the Ants - because that evolved edition Kickstarter keeps tempting me and I've not played my old edition enough.
(And... think it's just OK. So might resist the shiny new ants, even though they do seem to be fixing most of the parts that flopped for us.)
(And... think it's just OK. So might resist the shiny new ants, even though they do seem to be fixing most of the parts that flopped for us.)
June 24, 2025 at 6:38 AM
March of the Ants - because that evolved edition Kickstarter keeps tempting me and I've not played my old edition enough.
(And... think it's just OK. So might resist the shiny new ants, even though they do seem to be fixing most of the parts that flopped for us.)
(And... think it's just OK. So might resist the shiny new ants, even though they do seem to be fixing most of the parts that flopped for us.)
Look forward to listening! Been anticipating Hot Streak appearing Down Under for a while. Also over a game of newly acquired Time Barons did my opponent point out 'it's by the Spots guy" and the Perry infiltration of my collection made clear. Well played (and designed) good sir, all great games.
June 21, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Look forward to listening! Been anticipating Hot Streak appearing Down Under for a while. Also over a game of newly acquired Time Barons did my opponent point out 'it's by the Spots guy" and the Perry infiltration of my collection made clear. Well played (and designed) good sir, all great games.
Ha, with Glacier as the assassin word, you've got to be looking at ICE and thinking "oh no" initially. Saved by modern day authoritarianism! Hurray?
June 16, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Ha, with Glacier as the assassin word, you've got to be looking at ICE and thinking "oh no" initially. Saved by modern day authoritarianism! Hurray?
Hurrah! Well honestly those decks are so amazingly versatile, everyone should grab one. For Wibbell alone, it's a great investment! Hope the rest of UKGE goes/went well 😊
June 3, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Hurrah! Well honestly those decks are so amazingly versatile, everyone should grab one. For Wibbell alone, it's a great investment! Hope the rest of UKGE goes/went well 😊
Oh wait, what's OriginELL? I recall an RPG-like Wibbell game (QUESTABELL?) last year - is that related?
June 2, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Oh wait, what's OriginELL? I recall an RPG-like Wibbell game (QUESTABELL?) last year - is that related?
Keenly awaiting it arriving on our foreign shores...
June 2, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Keenly awaiting it arriving on our foreign shores...
Been waiting so long for a chance to play this one after my experience with Seal Team Flix. Obviously a very tough climate to launch new projects into at the moment, but I'm hoping this one can get the funding it needs to be truly amazing!!
May 9, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Been waiting so long for a chance to play this one after my experience with Seal Team Flix. Obviously a very tough climate to launch new projects into at the moment, but I'm hoping this one can get the funding it needs to be truly amazing!!
And there was me excited to get a new follow 😅
Thanks for the heads up (not that I tend to follow back anyway)
Thanks for the heads up (not that I tend to follow back anyway)
February 24, 2025 at 7:37 AM
And there was me excited to get a new follow 😅
Thanks for the heads up (not that I tend to follow back anyway)
Thanks for the heads up (not that I tend to follow back anyway)
Me too, was deeply puzzled
February 24, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Me too, was deeply puzzled
This has certainly piqued my interest! Guessing it's gonna get this comparison a lot, but it does look at a glance like Hive, which was the travel game that didn't quite land for me, despite being a great design. Will certainly be checking it out when it gets published.
February 10, 2025 at 10:49 PM
This has certainly piqued my interest! Guessing it's gonna get this comparison a lot, but it does look at a glance like Hive, which was the travel game that didn't quite land for me, despite being a great design. Will certainly be checking it out when it gets published.
Did we learn nothing from the rabbits and cane toads?!!
January 27, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Did we learn nothing from the rabbits and cane toads?!!
Ah thank you, knew I was missing SOMETHING here - didn't realise it was half the game 😅
January 19, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Ah thank you, knew I was missing SOMETHING here - didn't realise it was half the game 😅
Private sale groups (in my case for buying and selling board games) keep me there
January 11, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Private sale groups (in my case for buying and selling board games) keep me there
Only played the learning scenario so far, but it's giving me the Magic Realm "sandbox adventure" experience, with a cleaner set of rules. It's certainly pricey, but for my tastes, it's what Kickstarter was for - this game wouldn't get made without crowdfunding, and it's a gem within its genre 🤘
January 8, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Only played the learning scenario so far, but it's giving me the Magic Realm "sandbox adventure" experience, with a cleaner set of rules. It's certainly pricey, but for my tastes, it's what Kickstarter was for - this game wouldn't get made without crowdfunding, and it's a gem within its genre 🤘