Tag: Hand Management

Hand Management is a game mechanic in which players are rewarded for playing cards in a specific order. This mechanic often encourages players to hold cards for later turns.

Res Arcana

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Res Arcana

Res Arcana

Prepare Your Place of Power!

In a high tower, an Alchemist prepares potions, using vials filled with otherworldly fluids. In a sacred grove, a Druid grinds herbs for a mystical ritual. In the catacombs, a Necromancer summons a bone dragon… Welcome to the world of Res Arcana!

In it, Life, Death, Elan, Calm, and Gold are the essences that fuel the art of magic. Choose your mage, gather essences, craft unique artifacts, and use them to summon dragons, conquer places of power, and achieve victory!

A game typically lasts 4-6 rounds. In each round, players do these steps:

  • Collect essences: performs any Collect abilities, and may take essences from components.
  • Do actions, 1 per turn, clockwise from the First Player: place an artifact, claim a monument or Place of Power, discard a card for 1 Gold or any 2 other essences, use a power on a straightened component, or pass: exchange magic items and draw 1 card. Play continues until all players have passed.
  • Pass procedure: If you are first to pass, take the First Player token, swap your magic item for a different magic item, draw 1 card.
  • Check victory points (10+ VPs). If no one has won: straighten all turned components, and begin the next round.

Game Mechanics:

  • Hand Management
  • Open Drafting
  • Racing
  • Tableau Building
  • Take That

Game Specifications:

  • 2 – 4 Players
  • 30 – 60 Minutes
  • Difficulty Weight 2.62

Raiders of Scythia

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Raiders of Scythia

Raiders of Scythia

Many centuries ago, the Greek, Persian and Assyrian empires controlled vast amounts of land and riches. Yet, despite their fortifications and imposing armies, rumours began spreading of a formidable foe in the lands above the Black Sea. They came on horseback. Fierce warriors, both male and female. Skilled with the sword, axe and bow. But they weren’t mindless savages. Their artisans were renowned for their ability to craft detailed trinkets of gold. They fashioned leather armour and improvised the recurve bow. They trained eagles for hunting and war. Some even believe they inspired the Greek tales of the Amazons. But they were more than legend or fable. They were the Raiders of Scythia.

The aim of Raiders of Scythia is to be the player with the most Victory Points (VP) at the game’s end. VP are gained by raiding Settlements, taking Plunder and completing Quests. Players will need to assemble a Crew, train Animals and gather Provisions. The game ends when there is only 2 unraided Settlements or 2 Quests remaining on the Main Board.

Game Mechanics:

  • Dice Rolling
  • Hand Management
  • Open Drafting
  • Worker Placement

Game Specifications:

  • 1 – 4 Players
  • 60 – 80 Minutes
  • Difficulty Weight 2.69

Race for the Galaxy

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Race for the Galaxy

Race for the Galaxy

In the card game Race for the Galaxy, players build galactic civilizations by playing game cards in front of them that represent worlds or technical and social developments. Some worlds allow players to produce goods, which can be consumed later to gain either card draws or victory points when the appropriate technologies are available to them. These are mainly provided by the developments and worlds that are not able to produce, but the fancier production worlds also give these bonuses.

At the beginning of each round, players each select, secretly and simultaneously, one of the seven roles which correspond to the phases in which the round progresses. By selecting a role, players activate that phase for this round, giving each player the opportunity to perform that phase’s action. For example, if one player chooses the settle role, each player has the opportunity to settle one of the planets from their hand. The player who has chosen the role, however, gets a bonus that applies only to them. But bonuses may also be acquired through developments, so you must be aware when another player also takes advantage of your choice of role.

Game Mechanics:

  • Civilization
  • Economic
  • Hand Management
  • Set Collection

Game Specifications:

  • 2 – 4 Players
  • 30 – 60 Minutes
  • Difficulty Weight 2.99

Quartermaster General 1914

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Quartermaster General 1914

Quartermaster General 1914

Quartermaster General: 1914 is the next title in the critically acclaimed Quartermaster General series by Ian Brody and creates a narrative of the First World War in Europe, reflecting the military, technological, and social changes that occurred over the following four years.

In Quartermaster General: 1914, each card has two different uses: one when played, and another when prepared. On your turn, you have the opportunity to both play and prepare a card. You can also spend cards to draft more troops, or use cards to attrition your opponents. However, your deck represents your overall resources, so moving too quickly through your deck early might result in your unsupported armies being swept away in the final rounds of the game. This is worth it if you can capture Berlin or Paris in 1915, but if your gambit fails, you may have a tough road ahead.

The game ends after 17 rounds of play, or earlier if one side has a commanding lead.

Game Mechanics:

  • Area Control
  • Campaign
  • Deck Building
  • Hand Management
  • Open Drafting
  • Team Based
  • Wargame

Game Specifications:

  • 2 – 5 Players
  • 90 – 120 Minutes
  • Difficulty Weight 2.63

Puzzle Strike 2

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Puzzle Strike 2

Puzzle Strike 2

The cast of Fantasy Strike has acquired magical gems which give power, but at what price? Those who hold too many gems are cursed forever. What’s worse, the ultimate gem to rule them all has been forged into a single, mighty scepter. Whoever holds it wields even more power at an even greater price.

In Puzzle Strike 2, players build their deck as they play, giving them the tools to arrange and manipulate their set of colored gems. These gems can be “crashed” (destroyed) in order to build up power for four different super moves as well as to flood other players with more gems. As this process unfolds, gems will fly back and forth between players as they desperately try to remain under the threshold of corruption. Holding the scepter “helps,” but can also doom the greedy.

Game Mechanics:

  • Deck Building
  • Hand Management

Game Specifications:

  • 1 – 4 Players
  • 20 – 30 Minutes
  • Difficulty Weight 2.75

The Pirate Republic

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The Pirate Republic

The Pirate Republic

The year is 1713. A rare peace comes to the Spanish Main, but peace has its consequences. With thousands of demobilized sailors, piracy explodes in the West Indies where the port city of Nassau serves as its headquarters. This is the sunrise of the Golden Age of Piracy. It’s a time of conquest and riches, indomitable spirit and fat treasure galleons, pirate utopias and watery graves.

The Pirate Republic is a modular fully cooperative to fully competitive thematic deck building, open-world adventure game for 1–5 players. You are an infamous pirate captain working towards completing mission objectives over three rounds of play. Your mission: Forge the ultimate empire, The Pirate Republic.

– Players can cooperatively work to complete Flying Gang mission objectives to forge the ultimate democracy, the Pirate Republic
– Players who enjoy Hidden Traitor mechanics can add optional Captain Missions that make some captains wily saboteurs who are secretly attempting to sink other players’ ambitions
– Competitive mode creates a race to amass the most Swagger (Victory Points) through daring feats and plunder on the high seas

Devastate merchant shipping lanes, commandeer new ships, raid and conquer heavily defended towns, and plunder New World riches one seaport at a time. Attack, strike fear, and duel your way across the high seas with custom action dice and a deck of unique captain cards. Pillage treasure fleets, squash mutinies, sack forts, recruit crew, duel pirate hunters, and seal your notoriety among the greatest captains. Along the way, battle and bring an end to Spanish, British, Dutch, French, and Danish imperial powers infesting your waters. The Pirate Republic brings the piracy story to life in this swashbuckling blend of adventure and strategy. Even across the centuries, it reminds that if denied the chance to live in freedom, best to go ahead and make your own.

Game Mechanics:

  • Area Movement
  • Cooperative
  • Deck Building
  • Dice Rolling
  • Grid Movement
  • Hand Management
  • Open Drafting
  • Tableau Building
  • Team Based

Game Specifications:

  • 1 – 5 Players
  • 60 – 90 Minutes
  • Difficulty Weight 2.93

Petrichor

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Petrichor

Petrichor

Petrichor is the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil. The word is constructed from Greek (πέτρα) petra, meaning “stone”, and (ἰχώρ) īchōr, the fluid that flows in the veins of the gods in Greek mythology.

Welcome to the lush world of Petrichor; you are a cloud. Your entire purpose in life is to expand, sire other clouds and water crops. Unfortunately, your mates (who are also clouds) have a similar plan. It’s up to you to manipulate the weather and assimilate these rogue clouds to contribute to the growth of as many crops as possible – all in order to claim the title of Most Valuable Cloud.

Petrichor is a highly interactive board game, playable by 1-4 people (up to 5 with the expansion, see below). It’s an action selection/area influence game, with 4 simple actions which interact with the various fields in ever surprising ways. The players move clouds with water droplets, and then rain those droplets onto specific fields, to make sure they have the right amount of water for the Harvest. During a Harvest, crops that have been watered enough are scored! Players are able to influence when, and how often the harvest happens. Players need to strike a fine balance between maintaining control of the different fields as well as influencing Harvest, to make sure the two come together at the optimal time.

Game Mechanics:

  • Area Control
  • Hand Management

Game Specifications:

  • 1 – 4 Players
  • 20 – 80 Minutes
  • Difficulty Weight 2.99

Pathfinder: Adventure Card Game

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Pathfinder: Adventure Card Game

Pathfinder: Adventure Card Game

Your Adventure Begins Here!

Belhaim’s tower has just collapsed, its wizard is missing, and local kobolds are whispering the name of a long dead draconic nemesis. And that’s just your first day in town…

This complete cooperative strategy game pits 1 to 4 players against monsters, perils, and traps as you become the heroes of Belhaim. As the town’s new champions, an unending world of adventure awaits. Choose your character’s class; build a deck of equipment, magic, and allies; and explore lethal locations as you journey through an exciting fantasy tale. As your adventures continue, your characters add remarkable gear and breathtaking magic to their decks as they gain incredible powers, all of which they’ll need to challenge more and more powerful threats.

This set includes the storybook and cards for The Dragon’s Demand Adventure Path as well as a modular core for infinite scenarios that allows you to control the difficulty and speed of play.

Game Mechanics:

  • Cooperative
  • Deck Building
  • Dice Rolling
  • Hand Management
  • Move Through Deck
  • Role Playing

Game Specifications:

  • 1 – 4 Players
  • ~90 Minutes
  • Difficulty Weight 2.72

Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Mummy’s Mask

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Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Mummy's Mask

Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Mummy's Mask

On the Threshold of Discovery! The ancient lands of Osirion are blanketed by the sands of time, and eldritch secrets and vast riches lie just beneath the sun-blistered surface. As modern Osirion opens its tombs to outsiders for the first time in centuries, many of these lost treasures and secrets are now emerging—some more malign than others. Can your group of heroes brave terrible guardians, foul cults, and the burning sands of the desert to stop the rebirth of an ancient tyrant?

This complete cooperative strategy game pits 1 to 4 heroes against the monsters, curses, and traps of the Mummy’s Mask Adventure Path. Choose your character’s class, build a deck of equipment, magic, and allies; and explore dangerous locations as you journey through an exciting fantasy tale. As your adventures continue, your characters add unique gear and awesome magic to their decks as they gain incredible powers, all of which they’ll need to challenge more and more powerful threats.

The Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Mummy’s Mask Base Set includes:

. More than 500 cards, featuring 7 character classes, a wide array of gear and magical treasures,
and dozens of allies, monsters, and villains from the Mummy’s Mask storyline.
. “The Half-Dead City Adventure Deck,” which begins your journey through the Mummy’s Mask Adventure Path.
. A complete set of 5 polyhedral dice.

Game Mechanics:

  • Campaign
  • Cooperative
  • Deck Building
  • Dice Rolling
  • Hand Management
  • Move Through Deck
  • Role Playing

Game Specifications:

  • 1 – 4 Players
  • ~120 Minutes
  • Difficulty Weight 2.92

Path of Light and Shadow

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Path of Light and Shadow

Path of Light and Shadow

The Realms lay divided, their former wonder lost and forgotten. The Tyrant Queen has seized the throne, forcing the rightful heirs deep into exile. You are the sons and daughters of the once-great houses: Foxway, Gorga, Mherzeen, and Spyre. Under the tutelage of advisors, you have gathered your followers, your conscripts. The time has come to take back what is yours.

Path of Light and Shadow is a massive empire-building experience, combining area control, deck management, and civilization customization. As players vie for control of The Realms, they must enlist and promote supporters, outfit their burgeoning empire with powerful technologies, align with powerful leaders, and lay siege to rival exiles after the throne. Above all else, each player must decide what type of leader they will become, cruel or merciful. But choose wisely, for each path has its rewards and perils.

Game Mechanics:

  • Area Control
  • Civilization
  • Deck Building
  • Dice Rolling
  • Hand Management

Game Specifications:

  • 2 – 4 Players
  • 60 – 120 Minutes
  • Difficulty Weight 3.16