Andy's Industrial Opinion Factory #5 - High Society, Burgle Bros, and Dungeon World

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I got High Society as a convention giveaway several years ago, and I've played maybe six time since then. In that time I've never actually had the negative cards show up in the mix. I'm not sure how that's happening, but it does tell me with confidence that High Society really needs those negative cards to preserve its interest.

High Society is particularly well-suited for only three players. The "poorest player can't win" rule becomes especially pronounced with this number and induces the "pleasurable pain" that Andrew mentions in his review.

"I'll lose if I spend my money on this item, but I'll lose if I don't acquire it! How am I going to pull this off?"

Although it works with more players, I prefer to save it for when we're a trio.

Lovely writing.

Funnily enough, High Society feels far closer to Ra than Modern Art for me. The latter is all about the variety of auction modes whereas in both Ra and Modern Art there's a very strong "push your luck" feel, enhanced by fixed bids you can only use once and the need to avoid acquiring crap.

Never really got on with any of the "X World" games. I kind of understand where they're coming from but if you've been sat in the D&D mold for as long as I have, such a radical departure from the formula doesn't come easy.

Would really like to play Burgle Bros but too many games, too little time.

If you enjoy High Society, you need to play QE. Similar idea, different execution, and a lot of fun.

I may be misremembering, but I thought the negative cards were the only way to end the game—after all of them appear, the game immediately ends?

In any case, the new reprint of this game makes a big case for aesthetics being everything: the gorgeous cards and artwork really draw in gaming-agnostic players.

JonathanVolk wrote: I may be misremembering, but I thought the negative cards were the only way to end the game—after all of them appear, the game immediately ends?

In any case, the new reprint of this game makes a big case for aesthetics being everything: the gorgeous cards and artwork really draw in gaming-agnostic players.

There are 4 green cards, and the game ends when the fourth one is drawn. One of the green cards is a negative card. There are two other negative cards in the deck that are not associated with the end condition.

I'll have to pick up Dungeon World sometime soon. Today my copy of Blades in the Dark arrives, largely thanks to your articles.

Whenever I see Burgle Bros on BGG, I think of super buster Bros which was a similar themed Sega Genesis game which also led to hijinx.

I'm reminded of Bonanza Bros, one of my favorite old co-ops. You play two lego-looking guys armed with rubber bullets and hubris. Your goal is to steal all the important bits and get to the roof to escape on your...blimp? It was weird.

You had various means of avoiding and non-lethally neutralizing guards, but crucially none of them are permanent. You get around your problems, split up and meet up as needed to get out of jams, then bail. Burgle Bros bears a lot of resemblance, which is fine by me because both games are excellent. It also means the Bonanza Bros OST makes for good Burgle accompaniment. It slaps.

^thats the one I was thinking of, duh.

Legomancer wrote: If you enjoy High Society, you need to play QE. Similar idea, different execution, and a lot of fun.

The Kickstarter version of this is my current most anticipated game. I almost talked myself out of backing it because it sounded very much like a mash up of Ponzi Scheme and High Society, two games I already have... But I also love both those games and QE sounds super fun so here we are heh.