Tag: Deck Building

Deck Building is a mechanic where players build a deck of resources that is randomly drawn and used for future turns.

The Siege of Runedar

| T3d-1978
The Siege of Runedar

The Siege of Runedar

Since time immemorial, the mines of Runedar have supplied gold to generations of dwarves. Today, only a handful of them remain, guarding the fortress surrounding the entrance to the old, depleted mine… or so it was thought. This group of dwarves have been fortunate enough to accidently stumble upon a new vein of the purest gold and have managed to extract a small treasure. Unfortunately, just as they were about to set off to the safety of the nearest stronghold, they discover that the old fortress of Runedar is surrounded by orcs who are willing to do anything to get their hands on the precious metal. Now, the dwarves not only need to defend the fortress, they also must dig a tunnel under the mountain to escape and get their hard-earned gold to safety.

The Siege of Runedar is a co-operative game for 1-4 players who take on the role of dwarves charged with defending the walls of Runedar and the treasure they keep within. They will have to face orcs, goblins, and trolls, fighting in hand-to-hand combat against those who manage to get past the walls and shooting from a distance at those who try to enter. A deck-building system allows players to upgrade their weapons and tools as they must hold off the raiders long enough to build a tunnel to escape the terrible siege they have been subjected to and get the treasure to safety.

Game Mechanics:

  • Area Movement
  • Cooperative
  • Deck Building
  • Dice Rolling
  • Open Drafting

Game Specifications:

  • 1 – 4 Players
  • 60 – 90 Minutes
  • Difficulty Weight 2.33

Shelfie Stacker

| T3d-1978
Shelfie Stacker

Shelfie Stacker

So you’ve picked up a new game, eh? Or did you finally get your eager hands on that expansion you’ve been waiting on for the past year? Well now the real game begins — how on Earth will you fit it into your alphabetized, colour coordinated and divinely crafted new board game shelf? Well, what does it really matter? It’s probably going to just sit there in shrink for the next six months anyway — sorry, too real? Let’s just move on then…

In Shelfie Stacker, players compete to accumulate the most illustrious board game collection, by carefully filling their shelf with their most recent purchases.

The game is played over the course of 7 rounds. Each round, groups of 3 dice are randomly rolled and placed into piles. These dice represent groups of board games. From their hand of 8 action cards, players must select 1 card to play facedown. These cards will not only determine turn order, but also provide a one-time ability to help players better stack their shelf.

There are specific rules around how dice can be placed into players’ shelves, so careful planning is required. At the end of 7 rounds, the player with the best shelfie wins!

Game Mechanics:

  • Deck Building
  • Dice Rolling
  • Hand Management
  • Pattern Building

Game Specifications:

  • 1 – 4 Players
  • 20 – 40 Minutes
  • Difficulty Weight 2.10

Rune Stones

| T3d-1978
Rune Stones

Rune Stones

Rune Stones is a deck-building, hand management game by acclaimed designer Rüdiger Dorn. In Rune Stones, every card has a unique number on it. Two cards are always played together, and the higher numbered card is removed from the player’s deck. You have to be careful which cards you buy and how you play them to not lose your best cards. Players will use their cards to gather gems, forge them into Artifacts, then combine those into Rune Stones, which grants a special ability for the rest of the game. The more artifacts used in making a Rune Stone, the more points it scores, so players must decide whether it is best to gain abilities early or save to score more points.

On your turn, you may choose from one of three options:

1. Summon Creatures: Take new creature cards from the display by playing the appropriate amount of spell power from cards in your hand.

2. Play Cards: Play two cards from your hand, which will give you resources, new cards, or points. However, every card has a unique number, and the higher numbered card of the two is removed from the game (the other is placed in the player’s discard pile).

3. Forge Artifacts: Players spend gems at the 6 different Dwarf forges to make an artifacts. Once they have at least two artifacts of different colors, these may be made into a Rune Stone, which grants a special ability and a significant number of points.

The first player to 65 points triggers the end of the game, and then the player with the most points at the end of the round is the winner.

Game Mechanics:

  • Deck Building
  • Dice Rolling
  • Hand Management
  • Set Collection

Game Specifications:

  • 2 – 4 Players
  • ~60 Minutes
  • Difficulty Weight 2.35

Rocketmen

| T3d-1978
Rocketmen

Rocketmen

They have set up their empires of trailblazing innovation and groundbreaking technologies on a somewhat unremarkable planet circling around a rather average star. Years of hard work and steadfast dedication to their clear-cut vision of looking further than the day-to-day toils and chores of human civilization have cemented their reputation as the forefathers of the future humanity. Secretly, they have never stopped dreaming about the thrust of all their entrepreneurial actions and deeds – reaching the stars. Now, the time has come for them to embark on a second giant leap for humankind, to make the outer reaches of the solar system our home. Only one of them shall go down in history as the first explorer of space and a person who truly forged their will and power according to the bold words: citius, altius, fortius – faster, higher, stronger.

Immerse yourself in a fast-paced race to the final frontier: space. A deck-building confrontation of swift decision-making and tactical choices, Rocketmen gives you the feel of taking a front seat in a technologically wonderful spectacle of space exploration. It’s up to your predictive abilities and resource management skills to determine what kind of endeavor would be most suitable for paving the way to Earth’s celestial neighbors. It doesn’t matter whether it would be a low Earth orbit satellite or a manned base destined for the Red Planet; plan your mission carefully, equip your shuttles and rockets craftily, yet do not hesitate when your gut instinct tells you when it’s time to launch!

The universe might wait for you eternally. Your opponents won’t!

Game Mechanics:

  • Deck Building
  • Economic
  • Hand Management
  • Hidden Roles
  • Open Drafting
  • Push Your Luck
  • Racing

Game Specifications:

  • 1 – 4 Players
  • 30 – 90 Minutes
  • Difficulty Weight 2.58

Rescuing Robin Hood

| T3d-1978
Rescuing Robin Hood

Rescuing Robin Hood

Rescuing Robin Hood is a collaborative deck-building game that takes 45-60 min and plays 1-5 players. Robin Hood has been captured! As the leaders of the Merry Band you have only 5 days to come to his rescue, using all the Wit, Brawn and Stealth you can muster. Each turn you work together to rescue villagers captured by the Sheriff of Nottingham’s men. As more people are rescued new villagers join your side. Once you have built up your Merry Band you select your dream team, storm the castle, and fight one final battle to rescue Robin Hood!

Game Mechanics:

  • Cooperative
  • Deck Building
  • Open Drafting
  • Push Your Luck

Game Specifications:

  • 1 – 5 Players
  • 60 – 90 Minutes
  • Difficulty Weight 2.29

Ravingspire

| T3d-1978
Ravingspire

Ravingspire

Ravingspire is a combination deck building and tactical board game. The adventure takes place on a rotating tower board, which represents the labyrinthine Tower of Ravingspire. Players control individual heroes who need to gather resources, equip weapons and armor, align the secret passages within the spire, and traverse upwards to the keep where a great treasure is rumored to be held.

Game Mechanics:

  • Cooperative
  • Deck Building

Game Specifications:

  • 1 – 6 Players
  • 40 – 240 Minutes
  • Difficulty Weight 2.44

The Quest for El Dorado: Golden Temples Adventure

| T3d-1978
The Quest for El Dorado: Golden Temples Adventure

The Quest for El Dorado: Golden Temples Adventure

In The Quest for El Dorado: The Golden Temples, which can be played as a standalone game or combined with 2017’s The Quest for El Dorado, players have now reached the legendary city of gold and they have started to explore it. What will they find there?

Game Mechanics:

  • Deck Building
  • Grid Movement
  • Hand Management
  • Open Drafting
  • Pick-Up and Deliver
  • Racing

Game Specifications:

  • 2 – 4 Players
  • 30 – 60 Minutes
  • Difficulty Weight 1.88

The Quest for El Dorado

| T3d-1978
The Quest for El Dorado

The Quest for El Dorado

In The Quest for El Dorado, players take the roles of expedition leaders who have embarked on a search for the legendary land of gold in the dense jungles of South America. Each player assembles and equips their own team, hiring various helpers from the scout to the scientist to the aborigine. All of them have one goal in mind: Reaching the golden border first and winning all of the riches for themselves. Whoever chooses the best tactics will be rewarded!

Game Mechanics:

  • Deck Building
  • Grid Movement
  • Hand Management
  • Open Drafting
  • Racing

Game Specifications:

  • 2 – 4 Players
  • 30 – 60 Minutes
  • Difficulty Weight 1.93

Quarriors! Qultimate Quedition

| T3d-1978
Quarriors! Qultimate Quedition

Quarriors! Qultimate Quedition

In Quarriors!, each player plays as a Quarrior competing for glory in the eyes of Quiana, the Empress of Quaridia. Each player starts with an identical set of twelve dice in their dice bag. At the start of the game, creature and spell dice (dubbed “quarry”) are dealt at random to form “the Wilds” in the center of the table. As play progresses, players roll their dice to attempt to summon creatures, cast spells, and harness the magical power of Quiddity (the in-game resource) to capture quarry from the Wilds to add to their repertoire and into their dice bag. Players draw and roll six dice a turn from their bag, meaning that controlling bag composition is key to victory.

Quarriors! is a fast-paced game in which players must strategically balance their choices each turn. Do you use your Quiddity to summon creatures in the hopes of scoring glory, or should you spend it all to capture more powerful quarry from the Wilds? Players must outmaneuver their opponents through strategic spell use, the acquisition of powerful quarry, and ultimately, by striking down opposing creatures in combat. If your creatures survive until your next turn, you will score glory points and move closer to victory!

Game Mechanics:

  • Deck Building
  • Dice Rolling
  • Open Drafting

Game Specifications:

  • 2 – 4 Players
  • ~30 Minutes
  • Difficulty Weight 2.25

Mythalix

| T3d-1978
Mythalix

Mythalix

Mythalix is a strategy game that will put your critical thinking to the test.

The object of the game is to battle one another in an attempt to collect four Elements. To win an Element you either need to defeat a player or an Elemental Alter.

Before the game begins, all players receive a God to command. Each God comes with their own unique powers and abilities. The game works by tactically choosing a path on the map and rolling the dice to attack in an attempt to evolve into a powerful Deity.

Each player starts their turn by collecting their bounty on captured Gold, Power and Mythical mines. Furthermore, players can build Strongholds, battle enemies or receive bounty from specific hexagons on the board. Controlling areas of land will give bonuses and purchasing Army and Warrior cards will permanently increase the power of the players God. If a player receives the Power of Olympus card, their God can access their Ultra Power – their ultimate ability!

The Player Board has been designed to help each player keep track of their Armies, Warriors, Elements and attack / defence / movement bonuses.

Throughout the game you can tactically forge your path to victory. However if you take too long or choose the wrong path around the map, you give your opponents the chance to become empowered and so the balance of the game can quickly shift the other way.

The first player who combines four elements to create the Mythalix, claims the victory!

Game Mechanics:

  • Area Control
  • Deck Building
  • Dice Rolling

Game Specifications:

  • 2 – 4 Players
  • 60 – 90 Minutes
  • Difficulty Weight 2.00