Kitsune: of Foxes and Fools (2013) Board Game

Kitsune: of Foxes and Fools is a board game released in 2013 by Diamond Dust Dreams, Inc. It is a game that revolves around the mystical world of Japanese mythology featuring foxes, also known as Kitsune. Players take on the roles of these cunning creatures as they try to outsmart their opponents and achieve victory through clever strategy and skillful gameplay.

Game Components of Kitsune: of Foxes and Fools

Cards: Numerous cards including character cards, fool cards, take-that cards, and consequence cards.

Icons: Extensive use of over 20 icons to represent effects and in-game terms.

Dice: Used for resolving conflicts and challenges.

Tokens: Tail tokens and foxfire (mana) tokens.

Rulebook: A 20+ page rulebook, heavily criticized for its complexity and use of iconography.

How To Setup Kitsune: of Foxes and Fools

Setting up the game involves distributing character cards to players, each with unique abilities and wits numbers. Players also receive a starting hand of cards and tokens. The fool cards, which represent the challenges, are placed within reach of all players. The game requires organizing the various decks and tokens, ensuring each player has the necessary components to start.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Action Selection: Players choose actions such as attacking fools, replenishing their hand, or replenishing their mana (foxfire).

Asymmetrical Player Powers: Each character has unique abilities and wits numbers.

Negotiation: Players can team up with other players, sometimes against their will.

Player Interaction: Table talk and negotiation are integral parts of the game.

Objective: The goal is to collect nine tails by successfully challenging fools, with each success yielding a tail token and each failure resulting in a consequence card.

Player Experience

The player experience is marked by complexity and frustration due to the poorly designed rulebook and overwhelming use of icons. Despite moments of genuine interest and a spark of brilliance in the gameplay mechanics, the game is marred by lack of play-testing and arbitrary rules, such as the ‘rude’ meta card. The game mechanics are relatively simple but are buried under a convoluted ruleset.

Pros

Creative Art: The visual design, although dated, shows creativity.

Unique Mechanics: The game includes interesting mechanics like asymmetrical player powers and negotiation.

Challenge: For those who enjoy complex games, it offers a unique challenge.

Cons

Poor Rulebook: The rulebook is highly criticized for its use of iconography and lack of clarity.

Graphic Design Issues: The game’s art and iconography make it hard to read and understand the rules.

Arbitrary Rules: The inclusion of a ‘rude’ meta card with no clear definition adds confusion.

Lack of Play-Testing: The game feels unpolished and in need of further testing.

Personal Thoughts on Kitsune: of Foxes and Fools

**Kitsune: of Foxes and Fools** is not for the faint of heart. It is best suited for experienced gamers who are willing to delve into complex rules and are patient enough to navigate the game’s many quirks. The game’s unique mechanics and challenging nature might appeal to a niche audience, but its numerous design flaws make it a difficult recommendation for most players. If you enjoy games that require dedication and are willing to overlook significant design issues, then this might be a game for you. Otherwise, it may prove to be a frustrating experience.

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