Milestones (2021) Board Game

Milestones is a board game released in 2021 by Fiore GmbH, designed for 2-5 players aged 8 and above. The game is set in prehistoric times and combines elements of card games, dice rolling, and real-time gameplay. Players work together to communicate and strategize in order to achieve their goals.

Game Components of Milestones

Game Board: Depicts a large grassland area with a grid of triangular plots.

Personal Player Boards: Each player has a board to manage workers and resources.

Worker Tokens: Five categories of workers, each with unique abilities.

Resource Tokens: Various resources such as coins, grain, and others.

Milestone, House, and Marketplace Tokens: Used for building infrastructure.

Bonus Tokens: Hidden within the grid, providing extra victory points.

Scoring Track: A serpentine chart to track victory points.

How To Setup Milestones

To set up Milestones, each player starts by drafting two workers and placing them on their personal board. The game board is laid out with the grid of triangular plots, and bonus tokens are placed according to the board’s indications. Each player receives one coin to begin with. The Castle space on the player board is a critical component, as it will affect gameplay by forcing players to discard resources and lose a worker each time they pass through it.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Resource Management: Players collect and utilize resources to build roads, milestones, houses, and marketplaces.

Individual Rondel Mechanic: Each player has their own rondel to manage actions and resource collection.

Worker Management: Players recruit, manage, and replace workers to optimize resource collection.

Building Infrastructure: Construct roads, milestones, houses, and marketplaces to earn victory points.

Bonus Tokens: Acquire bonus tokens to gain additional victory points.

Game Objective: The game ends when one player reaches a predetermined victory point threshold; the player with the most points, including bonuses for worker majorities, wins.

Player Experience

Playing Milestones involves strategic planning and adaptive decision-making. Players must balance recruiting the right mix of workers, managing resources efficiently, and timing the construction of infrastructure to maximize victory points. The game’s dynamic, with the Castle space forcing players to frequently adjust their workforce, adds a layer of complexity and tension. Players need to think ahead and adjust their strategy as the game progresses, making it an engaging and challenging experience.

Pros

Deep Strategic Depth: Offers a rich strategic experience with multiple paths to victory.

Individual Rondel Mechanic: Provides unique gameplay opportunities and challenges for each player.

Worker Management: Adds a puzzle-like element to the game, requiring careful planning.

High Replayability: Variability in worker recruitment and resource availability ensures different games each time.

Balanced Tempo and Choice: Players can set their own pace and choose from various actions, minimizing downtime.

Cons

Steep Learning Curve: The game mechanics and strategies can be overwhelming for new players.

Worker Loss at Castle: Losing a worker each time through the Castle space can be frustrating.

Minor Luck Element: Random availability of workers at the Trading House can sometimes hinder strategy.

Personal Thoughts on Milestones

Milestones is ideal for fans of Euro-style games who enjoy resource management, strategic planning, and a bit of puzzle-solving. It is particularly suited for players who appreciate games with deep mechanics and minimal luck. While it may take some time to learn and master, the game offers a highly rewarding experience for those who enjoy complex, logical gameplay. If you’re looking for a game that challenges your strategic thinking and offers a lot of replayability, Milestones is definitely worth considering.

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