Was it fun?
Yes, I thought it was a very fun game.
What were the player interactions?
The player interactions were picking characters, doing role calls (which I thought was a very cool aspect), and collecting gold.
How long did it take to learn?
It took awhile to understand, and we struggled the most with the characters and what to do with extras. But after we got the hang of it the game flowed well.
What was the most frustrating moment or aspect of what you just played?
The most frustrating part was when you got to pick your character last, and the person who picked before you knew what character you were because there were only two to choose from.
What was your favorite moment or aspect of what you just played?
I liked being able to pick my own character, and planning what cards I should be collecting. I also really liked the role call aspect, I thought it added a fun touch.
Was there anything you wanted to do that you couldn’t?
There was nothing I really wanted to do that I couldn’t.
If you had a magic wand to wave, and you could change, add, or remove anything
from the experience, what would it be?
I would maybe add two or three more character cards. I know there were extra for a harder version included, but I think it would add some more randomness/ guessing when targeting players.
Is this a game you would play again? Yes _____ No ______ Why
Yes, because I thought it was very engaging and enjoyable, and the group I was playing with was very competitive and made it fun.
Analyze the game using the 3 act structure.
The first act is the game set up, everyone first gets a hand of cards with districts that they could possibly build, and gets a feel for the flow of the game and all the characters actions. The second act is when people start building their districts, planning strategies to try and win, and stopping other players from taking their turns/ building districts. The third act is when players are getting close to building the set amount of districts, and finally one who reaches that amount first wins.
What are the collaborative and or competitive aspects of the game?
The collaborative aspects of the game would probably only be trying to stop others from reaching the goal of districts, but this game is more competitive than collaborative. The competitive aspects are reaching a district goal first, destroying districts, assassinating characters (losing a turn), swapping cards, and stealing gold. All of these aspects create tension between players.
What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics stand out?
The metaphor is about power and influence in a medieval kingdom. Players take on shifting roles of different characters, each representing a way to gain wealth, gain control, or sabotage other players. The act of building districts stands in for constructing a city and proving dominance in the kingdom. The mechanics that stand out are building districts, choosing characters, and using character powers to interfere with other players actions.