A Dog’s Life (2017) Board Game

A Dog’s Life is a board game designed by Christophe Boelinger and published by ADC Blackfire Entertainment in in 2017. The game is all about living the life of a dog, from wandering the streets searching for food to finding shelter and avoiding the dog catcher.

Game Components of A Dog’s Life

Dog figures: Six unique dog miniatures (Fox Terrier, Boxer, French Poodle, German Shepherd, Whippet, Labrador).

Player boards: Each dog has its own board.

Action cards: Deck of cards for each dog with various actions.

Trash can tokens: For marking searched trash cans.

Bone tokens: For bones found and buried.

Newspaper tokens: For delivering newspapers.

Food tokens: For managing hunger.

Piddle tokens: For marking lamp posts and bladder management.

Dog Catcher car and die: For the Dog Catcher phase.

Den cards: Starting locations for each dog.

Hunger and piddle markers: For tracking dog’s hunger and bladder.

How To Setup A Dog’s Life

To set up the game, place the board on the table and distribute the bone, trash can, and newspaper tokens in separate piles. Each player is randomly dealt a dog card and a den card, places their dog figure in the corresponding den, and receives a hunger counter and piddle tokens. Each player also gets a deck of action cards specific to their dog. The Dog Catcher car is placed next to the dog shelter. Players set their hunger markers to the “Full” position and place one piddle token in their bladder.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: The first dog to bury three bones in its den wins the game.

Actions:

Search Trash: Dogs can search trash cans to find bones, food, or nothing.

Beg in Restaurants: Dogs can beg for bones, food, or nothing.

Deliver Newspapers: Dogs earn rewards by delivering newspapers.

Mark Lamp Posts: Dogs can mark lamp posts using piddle tokens.

Dog Fights: Dogs can engage in fights with adjacent dogs.

Pick Up and Drop Items: Dogs can pick up and drop bones and newspapers.

Bury Bones: Dogs can bury bones in their den.

Dog Catcher Phase: The Dog Catcher car moves based on a dice roll, capturing dogs and sending them to the shelter if it lands on or adjacent to them.

Player Experience

A Dog’s Life is a light, family-friendly game that is easy to understand and fun to play. Players take on the role of vagabond dogs, navigating the neighborhood to find bones, manage hunger and bladder, and avoid the Dog Catcher. The game is intuitive, making it accessible to younger players, while still offering enough variety to keep adults engaged. The action cards add an element of unpredictability, keeping the game exciting and dynamic.

Pros

Family-friendly: Suitable for children and casual gamers.

Easy to learn: Simple rules make it accessible to younger players.

Variety in actions: Multiple actions keep the game engaging.

Unique dog figures: Each dog has its own miniature and abilities.

Short gameplay: Most games last about 30 minutes.

Cons

Luck-dependent: Outcomes are determined by action card draws and dice rolls.

Limited strategy: The game is more about luck and quick decisions rather than deep strategy.

Repetitive gameplay: Some players might find the actions repetitive over multiple plays.

Personal Thoughts on A Dog’s Life

A Dog’s Life is ideal for families with younger children who are just starting to explore board games. The game’s simplicity and short playtime make it a great introduction to more complex games. While it may not offer the depth that seasoned gamers crave, it provides a fun and light-hearted experience that is perfect for casual game nights or family gatherings. The unique theme and adorable dog figures add to the game’s charm, making it a delightful addition to any family game collection.

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