BUY OR SKIP The Great Library Board Game? (why we're torn on this one...)

We just spent way too much time watching every piece of footage we could find on The Great Library and I have to say I'm genuinely torn about this one. Vital Lacerda's newest game just hit Kickstarter with a $118 base pledge and the question everyone's asking is whether you should back it or save your money for something else.

The Great Library is designed by Vital Lacerda with art by Ian O'Toole and published by Eagle-Gryphon Games. We're looking at one to four players and the campaign claims 45 minutes per player, but we need to talk about that estimate because it's wildly optimistic based on everything we watched. From the footage we reviewed, the four-player session ran over 4 hours with experienced players. First games will easily hit 90 minutes per player. The teach alone took 40 plus minutes.

⚠️ Is This AI? Watch our transparency video for details here:    • Is This AI? The Truth About Board Game Cri...  

In this video, we cover:
Complete overview of The Great Library set in 3rd century Alexandria at the Mouseion Institution
Detailed explanation of the core time management worker placement mechanics
How the intricate library placement puzzle works with adjacency matching and Head Librarian tiles
The Navigation action system and how it creates the most satisfying combo moments
Scribe training, manuscript translation, and the Academy systems
King's Request fulfillment for strategic library placement
Invited Scholars unlocking mechanics and how they open up gameplay options
The multiple interlocking systems that make this a true heavy Euro
Why the play time is dramatically longer than advertised
Accessibility concerns for new Euro gamers
The 40-minute teaching requirement
Why the solo mode is exceptionally well-designed
Hidden production details and prototype-to-final-game considerations
Campaign transparency gaps and what we're taking on faith
Premium pricing at $118 for a 10-month wait on prototype footage
Alternatives for heavy Euro fans looking at similar games

Campaign Page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...

Playthrough Video:    • The Great Library - 4p Teaching & Play-thr...  

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00 - Overview
00:05:38 - What We Like
00:07:49 - What We Don't Like
00:11:03 - Buy Or Skip