Medical Frontier (2017) Board Game

Medical Frontier is a board game that was released in 2017 by Big Fun Games. Designed by Chu-Lan Kao and illustrated by Alexandra Petruk, this game falls into the industry/manufacturing and medical category. It is designed for 2-5 players, with a best player count of 3, and has a runtime of 45-60 minutes. The game is geared towards players aged 10 and above, and includes mechanics such as action points, hand management, pattern building, and set collection.

Game Components of Medical Frontier

Player boards: Each player has a lab board with three lab areas, distinguished by the player’s color.

Round tiles: Used to determine the start player for each round.

Compound cards: Numbered cards that are shuffled and drawn during the game.

Drug tiles: Sorted by type and each type has a Pre-clinical trial tile and a Clinical Trials tile.

Budget cubes: Used for allocating actions during each turn.

How To Setup Medical Frontier

To set up the game, players start by shuffling and arranging the round tiles to determine the start player for each round. The compound cards are shuffled and five are placed face up on the central board. Drug tiles are sorted by type and placed on the table with their corresponding Pre-clinical trial and Clinical Trials tiles. Each player receives their own lab board and budget cubes.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Action Points: Players allocate their budget cubes to different actions.

Set Collection: Players collect and use compound cards to develop drugs.

Objective

The goal is to develop and launch new drugs, ensuring they are safe and efficient, while managing side effects.

Players must allocate their budget cubes to various steps in the drug development process, including choosing compounds, conducting synthesis experiments, and pre-clinical and clinical trials.

Player Experience

In Medical Frontier, players take on the roles of medicine-developing researchers. The game involves strategic planning and resource management as players aim to develop and launch new drugs. The game is divided into six phases per turn, and players must balance acquiring and playing cards with advancing their drugs through the development pipeline. The limit of 5 action cubes per turn forces players to make tough decisions, adding a layer of complexity and strategy to the game.

Pros

Engaging Theme: The game provides an interesting insight into the pharmaceutical industry, making it appealing to those interested in medical themes.

Strategic Depth: The game requires careful planning and resource allocation, offering a challenging but rewarding experience.

Balanced Mechanics: The set collection and action point mechanics work well together, creating a balanced gameplay experience.

Cons

Complexity for New Players: The game may be overwhelming for new players due to its multiple phases and resource management.

Simplified Realism: Some aspects of the drug development process are simplified or game-ified, which might not fully reflect real-world complexities.

Personal Thoughts on Medical Frontier

Medical Frontier is a great addition to the collection of anyone interested in strategic games with a medical theme. While it may appeal particularly to those with a background or interest in medicine, its engaging mechanics and strategic depth make it enjoyable for a broader audience. The game’s balance of resource management and set collection ensures that it remains challenging yet fun, making it a solid choice for those looking to dive into a game that combines strategy with a unique theme.

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