I believe that the Murmansk to Lieksa route is where you need 4 extra cards to count for one train length of the 9 lengths. So you could use 7 black train cards, but then would need another 8 to claim the final two spots! Very costly.

Exactly. Any *four* cards can stand in for one on the 9-length route. Three cards makes it too easy!

You can play any 3 cards instead of a wild card for the ferry.

Man, I love these video reviews. They took a bit to get used to after years of your written reviews, but now I enjoy them much more.

Took me a while to get used to the 'Nordic' rule that locomotives can only be used on ferry and tunnel routes and not as wild cards on 'normal' routes. Instead there is the three card wild rule.

Plus there is only 40 train pieces per player according to the rules. We found the plastic sets had five extra of each colour.

The figure on the box is one of the Sami people. They are known for reindeer herding and live in northern Scandinavia.
Not Santa Claus

Not me, I'm afraid, for two reasons.

One is that they're single-take, talking-to-a-webcam clips. Having been spoiled rotten by Scott Nicholson's Board Games with Scott series, I can't abide the utter lack of production.

The other is that they're too short to impart any meaningful criticism. For example, compare Tom's five-minute video review of Battue: The Walls of Tarsos to Subhuman's written review. Subhuman's piece is clunky, but it's much more informative and interesting.

I have to agree with Bruno Faidutti, who wrote this about video reviews of board games:

Thanks for the review. For the time being, it has made me decide against buying Nordic Countries. It seems redundant to me since I already own Switzerland.



Indeed. Still, I doubt anyone would find it offensive - after all, he did admit during the review that he doesn't know much about Scandinavian geography, so who would expect him to know about the Sami? Personally I just thought it was pretty funny

So, are you guys saying that there's no way that Santa Claus could be Sami?

That's just *#&ist!

Nice review. While I agree that written reviews are much, much better for an in-depth, thoughtful analysis to help one decide on a purchase, I have nothing at all against video reviews to give a more visceral, first-hand initial look at the game, the game play and the components. You know, just to see if I am even interested.

I already own it and like it, and I will be picking up a couple copies for Christmas gifts soon. The theme is decidedly more wintry, ergo "Christmas-y", and could do well as a perennial, seasonal favorite.


Game on!

They are just two different medias, and both have advantages and disadvantages.
Sometimes, you can just do much more visually. A quick example can easily substitute a lengthy explanation. Also, I think Tom and his kids are fun to watch. And I think he still manages to be very informative.

As informative as a well written review? Maybe not - but some well written reviews don't have much information either. They might be just funny and lighthearted as a youtube video.

Some people prefer reading, some people prefer lots of information, some people just want to have a general idea of the game, some people like to watch a short and humorous video of the game they want. And some people, like me, might want to have access to all those options.