by peter100
barnetto wrote:
Teloric wrote:
I'm a very experienced boardgamer and roleplayer both. I have to say that while I absolutely LOVE Mice and Mystics, it still took a few games to feel confident with the rules. It's not the complexity that is daunting, but the sheer quantity of rules. The rules are simple, but there are so many of them!:
Things you can and cannot do in the water,
remembering that Brody doesn't add cheese to the wheel,
keeping track of which player had a successful search on a tile,
learning to move the minions properly,
remembering minion attack priorities,
manipulating the initiative track for the rats,
special encounter tiles,
how mousetraps work,
the difference between regular roaches and greedy roaches,
special rules for minions that allow extra defense or attacks,
remembering to use abilities,
remembering to use one ability per turn...
I could go on, but you get the point. This isn't a clearcut Move and Attack style game, there's a lot more than that. However it is certainly a lot of fun, and an excellent family game. I suggest you keep playing it. As you get used to the various rules and exceptions, it definitely gets easier. Don't waste your time switching to something else, because you'll just be starting over. Mice and Mystics is awesome, and simple, but the price of admission is a bit of a learning curve that is definitely worth it.
Things you can and cannot do in the water,
remembering that Brody doesn't add cheese to the wheel,
keeping track of which player had a successful search on a tile,
learning to move the minions properly,
remembering minion attack priorities,
manipulating the initiative track for the rats,
special encounter tiles,
how mousetraps work,
the difference between regular roaches and greedy roaches,
special rules for minions that allow extra defense or attacks,
remembering to use abilities,
remembering to use one ability per turn...
I could go on, but you get the point. This isn't a clearcut Move and Attack style game, there's a lot more than that. However it is certainly a lot of fun, and an excellent family game. I suggest you keep playing it. As you get used to the various rules and exceptions, it definitely gets easier. Don't waste your time switching to something else, because you'll just be starting over. Mice and Mystics is awesome, and simple, but the price of admission is a bit of a learning curve that is definitely worth it.
Many thanks - that hits the nail on the head - the quantity of rules are daunting - there are rules for the obvious stuff (movement, attack etc) and exceptions to those rules, then rules for other stuff it's easy to miss (eg getting and placing cheeses) and special rules and exceptions to them, and then rules for minions and the time track and the encounter board and and.....
I was just swamped first up, despite several reads through of the rules (and despite a legal background....). I feel a lot more confident now for the next time we hit the board, thanks to these forums, everyone's advice, the FAQs and the recognition that perhaps it doesn't matter quite that much to get every rule spot on...
I agree with exactly how you feel, for those reasons about the number of exceptions.
But do remember that despite this being a co-op, effectively you as the adult with two children have to remember everyone's status. I know I found it really difficult with 11 and 9 year olds, even with another adult.
If you can keep it fun and just note when a rule's been played wrong so you can correct in future, then you'll win.