Tom Vasel

Hey folks, Tom Vasel here for my annual AMA on Reddit! I got two hours blocked away to type stuff as fast as can to answer questions! The Dice Tower, Jack Vasel Memorial Fund, whatever you want!

Edit: Well, I have to go to do a top 10 live!

But I'll be back later to answer some more questions if I have time. THANKS EVERYONE and sorry I couldn't answer all of them.

EDIT: Sorry, gotta go back to work. See you all in a bit when we play a couple games live. Thanks for asking, and I apologize that I didn't answer everything - I tried! I might come in and answer stuff later, but no promises. THANKS AGAIN!

Hi! I'm Tom Vasel, designer of Nothing Personal, head of the Dice Tower Network, and general enjoyer of board games. I love games, and have been reviewing them and talking about them via podcasts and video for the past decade or so.

I normally do my Q&A via video, but I was asked to come in here and answer questions about the Dice Tower, our current Indiegogo campaign, and more, so let's do this!

I'll start answering questions around noon EST, for about an hour, so ask away!

Hi! I'm Tom Vasel, president and chief reviewer of the Dice Tower podcast and video show ()

We try to review as many board games as we possibly can on our channel, live game, do a few top ten lists, and more! Starting at Noon EST today I'll be answering as many questions here as I can in an hour. I'll also pop in and answer a few more throughout the day!

Start asking now!

PROOF:

Oh, and check out our Kickstarter going on right now!

EDIT: And that's it. I tried to answer every question, and I think I got really close! Thanks for all the questions, see you all tomorrow!

Hi, I'm Tom Vasel, creator of the Dice Tower, a video and audio show all about board games and the people who play them. We also run multiple conventions and a cruise each year, as well as do live playthroughs and top ten lists on our Youtube channel. Currently we're running a Kickstarter for our show at . For the next hour or so (until 5:30 EST) I'll answer as many questions as I can. AMA!

Verification on Twitter:

EDIT: Well, time to go home! I will come back later tonight and answer as many questions as I can, so ask more if you want. THANKS!

EDIT: AND THAT'S IT! Gotta go record a top ten, and I think I answered pretty much every question. Thanks everyone for the nice words, and go back to talking about great games!

Hey everyone,

Tom Vasel, head of the Dice Tower, a review site where we discuss board games, and the people who play them.

We're also running our annual Kickstarter to support our show here.

I'm scheduled to start at 12 Noon EST and run until about 1:45 PM

Here is the verification!

Quoted from BGG:

"Over the past few days, many folks have been asking why The Dice Tower hasn’t made a statement regarding the horrific events that have been occurring in America over the past few weeks. My response was simply that the Dice Tower doesn’t ever dabble in political statements, and that our goal is simply to bring board game entertainment to those who watch the show. A respite from the chaos around us.

Recently, however, dear friends have brought to my attention that this is not merely a political situation and not saying anything is having the opposite effect. By not speaking out, we are perceived as either not caring, or worse - agreeing that the status quo is fine.

Let me be plain and clear: We believe in diversity and inclusion for everyone.

For the last several years, I have sought to create a diverse cast of contributors and gamers in The Dice Tower, from the video reviewers to convention runners to folks behind the scenes. But this doesn’t exempt us from doing more, doing better.

So it’s time to say something.

This is a time to speak out to show that we do support those that have been marginalized in our industry. I believe many of our actions have shown that, although they could certainly be better. But for just this moment, I wanted to add my own personal words to the mix. For those who haven’t been shown equality from the industry, from my end (The Dice Tower) we will strive to do better. I will listen, I will work to continue to make meaningful changes on our shows, and we want the Dice Tower to be a place where everyone is welcome.

The Dice Tower is about games “and the people who play them.” If that doesn’t include all people, then that statement is invalid. We pledge to work harder and include an even more diverse, welcoming cast of contributors. People who care about the Dice Tower have been talking to me on ways that we can improve to make our motto an actuality.

I’ve said this before, but let me state it again: I pledge to make The Dice Tower a positive force in the industry.

Tom Vasel "

Having watched so many videos with Sam, Zee and Tom, I felt like I practically know the man. We run a modest little Con here on the east coast of Canada in Halifax, aptly named HalCon. When I discovered he was a guest, I was flattered that in his busy schedule, and travelling amongst such giants as Gen Con, Origins, Essen and others, that we were able to attract him, and that he was gracious enough to come. I sat in on a round of Wits and Wagers that he hosted, and then later I found him walking around the gaming floor, so I thanked him again. He asked if I wanted to play a game! ... he taught me Le Havre. I can't say enough great things about the man, very humble, gracious, a true gentleman. Thanks for everything Tom!

When I watch the Dice Towers, I usually enjoy the episodes where Tom, Sam and Zee rip on each other and banter about how they have terrible taste (in jest of course) or when they completely trash a game. Since a recent review video has reminded me of this, I've decided to compile a top 10 list of games that Tom Vasel hated that are actually great games that people should check out.

Honorable mention:

#10: Ranked 956 with an average rating of 7.79 on bgg that has just shipped out about a month ago.

#09: Ranked 412 with an average rating of 7.26 on bgg.

#08: Ranked 386, with an average rating of 7.32. The game Tom famously threw off of a rooftop and made a about.

#07: Ranked 305, with an average rating of 7.49 on bgg.

#06: Ranked 301, with an average rating of 7.39. A decent Feld game, but Dice Tower usually loves bashing on Feld.

#05: Ranked 189, with an average rating of 7.86

#04: Ranked 151, with an average rating of 7.61. (Zee loves this one though, go Zee!)

#03: Ranked 121, with an average rating of 7.70 on bgg.

#02: Ranked 100, with an average rating of 7.57. This "vomit inducing game" is a Kennerspiel winner and rightly so.

#01: Ranked 85, with an average rating of 7.68. /Hugs my copy, which includes the Horned Rat expansion. One of the best asymmetric dudes on a map game ever made. Love the theme of this one and The Others: 7 Sins - which was also not well received by Tom.

EDIT: (since a few has mentioned it)

Notre Dame, Macao, At the Gates of Loyang, Terra Mystica, Troyes, Lewis & Clark, Imperial, Hive, London, Taj Mahal, Thurn and Taxis, Tzol'kin: The Mayan Calendar

... this man really has it in for complex Euros.

In his most recent review of Descent; Legends of the Dark, Tom Vasel referred to something that I have heard a lot of other reviewers say. I get the sense that the boardgame market is overloaded with Dungeon Crawls but my experience of them has been pretty much Heroquest, Descent and Gloomhaven.
Are these the unchallenged best of class (perhaps for their time at least)? What are some others you have played?

Does anyone have a hidden gem dungeon crawl they would recommend? What about just an interesting mechanic you saw in a Dungeon Crawl you wish others would pick up on?

EDIT: Really loving the suggestions folks! Big thanks! Keep them coming. I suppose I had meant 'fantasy dungeon crawlers' but it's interesting to see people interpreting the dungeon crawl mechanic in other settings (e.g. Mansions of Madness) and the 'fantasy dungeon crawl' setting as a theme (like Catacombs). As to people downvoting a boardgame question on are you not very happy as a person or..? ;)

EDIT2: This is a post requesting dungeon crawl recommendations. It is not any kind of attack on Tom who is a wonderful reviewer. Mad to me that I need to explain that but apparently it was not clear :D