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Purple Phoenix Games (2266 KP) rated Arcane Arena in Tabletop Games
Jan 23, 2021
The Tournament of Champions is coming! The Tournament of Champions is coming! The bravest fighters must prepare themselves to face-off in a three-round arena match to determine the ultimate warrior. There is no time to waste learning finishing moves here. Combatants will only have three rounds to prove they are superior in this all-out brawl!
Arcane Arena is an arena-style fighting card game. In it players will take on the mantle of a warrior competing in this brutal last-man-standing battle royale. They will need to train and learn new techniques and then show their opponents all they have learned. The game takes place over three rounds of increasing actions and, truly, the last warrior standing will be crowned Champion!
DISCLAIMER: We were provided a prototype copy of this game for the purposes of this review. These are preview copy components, and I do not know for sure if the final components will be any different from these shown. Also, it is not my intention to detail every rule in the game, as there are just too many. You are invited to download the rulebook, back the game through the Kickstarter campaign, or through any retailers stocking it after fulfillment. -T
To setup, refer to the rules to deal each player their starting deck of Buy, Move, and Attack cards. Remove all Focus and Wound cards and make a stack for each on the side of the play area. Shuffle the remaining “Trainer” cards and create a market of six cards to be purchased. Set the arena board on the table and populate it with player tokens and Favor tokens (glass beads in this prototype). Each player shuffles their starting deck and draws four cards to create their starting hand. The tournament is now prepared for warriors.
Arcane Arena features three rounds of two phases each. The first round has players limited to three turns during the first training phase and 10 hit points for the second phase of the game.
The first phase of each round is the Training Phase. During this phase players are able to use their four cards “as a buy” for their purchasing power. The player lays a card, announces it is as a buy, tallies the currency to be spent, and then purchases a card from the collection of six cards in the offer or one Focus card from its stack. Once completed with their Training Phase, the player will restock the trainer pool of cards for purchase. It is then the next player’s turn to complete their Training Phase.
Once all players have had their Training Phase, the Combat Phase begins with the active player. The active player must play cards for either their Move, Effect, or Attack keywords. Each card will instruct the player the amount of Move they can use, which Effect can be used and how, and how many Attack points of damage they inflict on a target within range.
Play continues in this fashion with each player playing as many cards from their hand of four as they wish until only one player remains with hit points. If it is the third such round of Combat Phase (5 turns at the Training Phase and 20 HP during Combat) then the last player standing is the winner!
Components. Again, this is a prototype copy of the game, so some components will be different from the finished version. That said, this game has decent components planned and the art style is interesting, with hints of a more ancient style. The iconography on the cards is okay: I did find myself trying to figure out what the icon for “purchase” actually was, so it threw me off a couple times. Similarly, the effect bar on the card is very small and can easily be overlooked if the players are not constantly checking for that bar for information.
Gameplay for Arcane Arena is something with which I am struggling to describe. I have always been poor with arena-style games that have players moving around and attacking. It is so difficult for me to abandon my Barbarian-style of just blocking movement and wailing on a stationary enemy. Once movement is expected I am a fish out of water. That is not at all a knock on Arcane Arena, but on my style of play. However, if I belong to a group of gamers with similar style be warned: there’s a lot of opportunity for movement here and it may be uncomfortable at first.
I do like the theme of the game and its implementation. I can understand the premise and relate it to the gameplay. I like that it is split between two distinct phases and having cards with multiple usage is a positive for me. I also enjoy that every time a new phase begins all players combine their cards, shuffle, and draw a hand of four cards. This is new for me, as in typical deckbuilders the card just purchased usually goes directly into the discard pile only to be drawn on much later turns. Such is not with this one. A card just purchased may be drawn immediately in the next Combat Phase, depending on luck of the shuffle and draw.
So while I do not enjoy the moving around the arena aspect of the game, all else is good for me. If you are similar to me I would say give it a shot, but it may be difficult to be successful if, like me, you plan to be a stalwart rock instead of a nimble wisp. If Arcane Arena sounds like your cup of tea, do check it out when it comes available!
Arcane Arena is an arena-style fighting card game. In it players will take on the mantle of a warrior competing in this brutal last-man-standing battle royale. They will need to train and learn new techniques and then show their opponents all they have learned. The game takes place over three rounds of increasing actions and, truly, the last warrior standing will be crowned Champion!
DISCLAIMER: We were provided a prototype copy of this game for the purposes of this review. These are preview copy components, and I do not know for sure if the final components will be any different from these shown. Also, it is not my intention to detail every rule in the game, as there are just too many. You are invited to download the rulebook, back the game through the Kickstarter campaign, or through any retailers stocking it after fulfillment. -T
To setup, refer to the rules to deal each player their starting deck of Buy, Move, and Attack cards. Remove all Focus and Wound cards and make a stack for each on the side of the play area. Shuffle the remaining “Trainer” cards and create a market of six cards to be purchased. Set the arena board on the table and populate it with player tokens and Favor tokens (glass beads in this prototype). Each player shuffles their starting deck and draws four cards to create their starting hand. The tournament is now prepared for warriors.
Arcane Arena features three rounds of two phases each. The first round has players limited to three turns during the first training phase and 10 hit points for the second phase of the game.
The first phase of each round is the Training Phase. During this phase players are able to use their four cards “as a buy” for their purchasing power. The player lays a card, announces it is as a buy, tallies the currency to be spent, and then purchases a card from the collection of six cards in the offer or one Focus card from its stack. Once completed with their Training Phase, the player will restock the trainer pool of cards for purchase. It is then the next player’s turn to complete their Training Phase.
Once all players have had their Training Phase, the Combat Phase begins with the active player. The active player must play cards for either their Move, Effect, or Attack keywords. Each card will instruct the player the amount of Move they can use, which Effect can be used and how, and how many Attack points of damage they inflict on a target within range.
Play continues in this fashion with each player playing as many cards from their hand of four as they wish until only one player remains with hit points. If it is the third such round of Combat Phase (5 turns at the Training Phase and 20 HP during Combat) then the last player standing is the winner!
Components. Again, this is a prototype copy of the game, so some components will be different from the finished version. That said, this game has decent components planned and the art style is interesting, with hints of a more ancient style. The iconography on the cards is okay: I did find myself trying to figure out what the icon for “purchase” actually was, so it threw me off a couple times. Similarly, the effect bar on the card is very small and can easily be overlooked if the players are not constantly checking for that bar for information.
Gameplay for Arcane Arena is something with which I am struggling to describe. I have always been poor with arena-style games that have players moving around and attacking. It is so difficult for me to abandon my Barbarian-style of just blocking movement and wailing on a stationary enemy. Once movement is expected I am a fish out of water. That is not at all a knock on Arcane Arena, but on my style of play. However, if I belong to a group of gamers with similar style be warned: there’s a lot of opportunity for movement here and it may be uncomfortable at first.
I do like the theme of the game and its implementation. I can understand the premise and relate it to the gameplay. I like that it is split between two distinct phases and having cards with multiple usage is a positive for me. I also enjoy that every time a new phase begins all players combine their cards, shuffle, and draw a hand of four cards. This is new for me, as in typical deckbuilders the card just purchased usually goes directly into the discard pile only to be drawn on much later turns. Such is not with this one. A card just purchased may be drawn immediately in the next Combat Phase, depending on luck of the shuffle and draw.
So while I do not enjoy the moving around the arena aspect of the game, all else is good for me. If you are similar to me I would say give it a shot, but it may be difficult to be successful if, like me, you plan to be a stalwart rock instead of a nimble wisp. If Arcane Arena sounds like your cup of tea, do check it out when it comes available!
HayleyLouise Billington (92 KP) rated One Night Ultimate Werewolf in Tabletop Games
Jan 6, 2020
Great game
If you like bluffing games and generally being deceitful you'll love this game.
Download the app that plays through each step of the night phase and you're away without having to endlessly read the rules.
At the start simply select on the app which cards are being played and deal them out amongst the players and place 3 in the middle, all cards must remain face down. Everyone must discretely look at their own card but do not tell anyone who you are.
When nighttime arrives the magic begins, step by step each player opens their eyes (or not depending on your card) when told to do so and performs a specific action. Once the night phase has ended everyone opens their eyes and then you have a preselected amount of time to figure out who are the werewolves. If you identify one of the werewolves correctly villagers win, if not werewolfs win.
Do you lie and try to convince your friends you were someone else or do you hope honesty is the best policy?
Me and my friends had so much fun playing this, we actually got told off by the staff at the gaming cafe for laughing too loud.
Download the app that plays through each step of the night phase and you're away without having to endlessly read the rules.
At the start simply select on the app which cards are being played and deal them out amongst the players and place 3 in the middle, all cards must remain face down. Everyone must discretely look at their own card but do not tell anyone who you are.
When nighttime arrives the magic begins, step by step each player opens their eyes (or not depending on your card) when told to do so and performs a specific action. Once the night phase has ended everyone opens their eyes and then you have a preselected amount of time to figure out who are the werewolves. If you identify one of the werewolves correctly villagers win, if not werewolfs win.
Do you lie and try to convince your friends you were someone else or do you hope honesty is the best policy?
Me and my friends had so much fun playing this, we actually got told off by the staff at the gaming cafe for laughing too loud.
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Entertainment Editor (1988 KP) rated Race for the Galaxy in Tabletop Games
Mar 7, 2018
Race for the Galaxy Review
In Race for the Galaxy (which, along with San Juan, is the card game adaptation of Puerto Rico), each of the players controls his own intergalactic empire. In order to grow his empire, a player can explore (draw cards), develop new technologies, settle and conquer new worlds, consume goods, and produce new goods. Like in Puerto Rico, which actions are performed each round are based on which roles the players take. After the players choose roles, those roles are performed by all the players (with the person selecting the role getting a bonus). After all of the victory points have been collected, or (more likely) once a player has 12 cards in front of him, the game is over. At this point, each of the players adds up their total victory points from developments, worlds, and victory points earned through the course of the game, and the person with the most victory points wins.
Reviewer: Josh Edwards
Read the full review here: http://www.boardgamereviewsbyjosh.com/2011/02/race-for-galaxy-review.html
Reviewer: Josh Edwards
Read the full review here: http://www.boardgamereviewsbyjosh.com/2011/02/race-for-galaxy-review.html
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Dobble - Harry Potter version in Tabletop Games
Dec 3, 2019
Great fun
I'm a big fan of tabletop games, but it's difficult to find ones that I can persuade my family and friends to play that don't involve hours of play and a massive commitment. Dobble is the perfect party game - it's so much fun and even better, the games themselves are super quick yet hugely enjoyable.
This is basically a modern take on the classic card game Snap and it really is a great version, with up to 5 mini games playable with each deck. The Harry Potter version is a lot of fun and massively appealed to my geeky side, although did cause a lot of arguments - my less HP minded friends kept shouting out "boy!", "owl!" etc but I refused to allow it until they shouted their actual name (i.e Hedwig, Draco Malfoy). Maybe I'm just cruel, but surely that's the point of the HP version?! Arguments aside, it's a ridiculously fun game to play with people of all ages. My only criticism would be it seems fairly pricey for what is a glorified pack of cards.
This is basically a modern take on the classic card game Snap and it really is a great version, with up to 5 mini games playable with each deck. The Harry Potter version is a lot of fun and massively appealed to my geeky side, although did cause a lot of arguments - my less HP minded friends kept shouting out "boy!", "owl!" etc but I refused to allow it until they shouted their actual name (i.e Hedwig, Draco Malfoy). Maybe I'm just cruel, but surely that's the point of the HP version?! Arguments aside, it's a ridiculously fun game to play with people of all ages. My only criticism would be it seems fairly pricey for what is a glorified pack of cards.
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