Artifact is a board game released in 2013, designed by Christophe Swal and published by White Goblin Games. The game falls under the adventure, ancient, and exploration categories, with a focus on hand management and set collection mechanics. It is designed for 3-5 players, aged 12 and up, with a runtime of approximately 60 minutes.
Game Components of Artifact
Artifact cards: Four digging sites each with their own deck of artifact cards, each card containing information on the site and artifact type.Action markers: Six groups of markers for different actions like worker markers, museum markers, and ship markers.Exhibition tiles: Displayed face up, requiring specific combinations of artifacts to satisfy their requirements.Worker huts: Used to show the number of workers at each site.Board: Featuring four digging sites and spaces for action markers and exhibition tiles.Special cards and research tracks: Included in expansions, adding variety and additional challenges.
How To Setup Artifact
To set up the game, each player starts by choosing six action markers and placing them on their player mat. The worker huts are placed at the respective sites, and the exhibition tiles are displayed face up on the board. Players receive a set amount of income and bonus income based on previous exhibitions. The game is ready to begin once all players have their markers and initial income.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
Action System: Players perform actions based on the markers they chose, placing them on the board and paying the associated cost.Artifact Collection: Players collect artifacts from different sites to fulfill exhibition requirements.Exhibition Requirements: Exhibitions require specific combinations of artifacts (either from the same site or of the same type).Income Management: Players manage their income, which decreases over rounds, and receive bonus income from exhibitions.Game End: The game ends after nine rounds or when certain shortages occur. Players score points for exhibitions, leftover money, and research advancements.Objective: The objective is to accumulate the most victory points by producing exhibitions and managing resources efficiently.
Player Experience
Playing Artifact feels like a intricate dance of resource management and strategic planning. Players must balance their actions carefully, choosing when to invest in expensive actions and when to conserve resources. The game rewards players who can effectively manage their workforce, artifact collection, and exhibition strategies.
Pros
Deep Strategy: Offers a rich strategic experience with multiple paths to victory.Variety in Gameplay: The different artifact types and site-specific decks provide a lot of variability.Economic Management: Players must manage income and costs, adding a realistic layer to the game.Expansions: Additional content like special cards and research tracks enhance the game’s replayability.
Cons
Complex Setup: The initial setup can be time-consuming and complex.Steep Learning Curve: New players may find the rules and mechanics overwhelming initially.Resource Intensive: Managing all the components and markers can be cumbersome.
Personal Thoughts on Artifact
Artifact is ideal for players who enjoy strategic games with deep mechanics and economic management. It is particularly suited for those interested in archaeology and the 1920s setting. While it may require some time to learn, the game offers a highly rewarding experience for players willing to invest in understanding its intricacies. If you’re looking for a game that challenges your strategic thinking and offers a unique blend of resource management and artifact collection, Artifact is definitely worth considering.
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