Deities (2022) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Deities’ is a board game released in 2022 by Mandoo Games. Designed by Gary Kim and illustrated by Laura Bevon, Deities is set in an ancient civilization where players take on the role of different deities competing for influence and power in a city-building game.

Game Components of Deities

Player boards

Colored plastic building pieces (walls, temples, towers)

Providence tiles

Village tokens (double-sided)

Sanctum tiles

Development tiles

Disciple tiles

Scoring markers

Round marker

How To Setup Deities

To set up Deities, each player takes a player board and fills it with colored plastic building pieces of their matching color. Each player is dealt 2 Providence tiles, keeping 1 and discarding the other. The main board is placed on the table with scoring markers on the 0 space of the track. Sanctum tiles are placed on the four corner spaces, and village tokens are placed in the middle four spaces. Development and Disciple tiles are laid out face up to create markets. The round marker is positioned on the outside of the board, indicating the start of the first round.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Place a Village Token: Players must place a village token adjacent to another token, forming a divine line (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal) that ends on a token of the same type, with at least one token in between.

Activate Divine Line: Gain resources from the starting and ending tokens, and score points for walls and buildings in the line.

Build Buildings: Construct walls, temples, or towers using resources. Buildings can replace lower-level structures, earning points for the owner of the replaced building.

End Turn: Draw a new village token.

Objective: The player with the most points, earned through building and activating divine lines, wins. Ties are broken in favor of the player with the most resources.

Player Experience

Deities is a thinky tactical game that requires strategic planning. Players must carefully place village tokens to maximize resource gain and build structures that both provide immediate benefits and long-term strategic advantages. The game involves a blend of short-term rewards and long-term strategy, making it engaging and challenging.

Pros

Strategic Depth: Encourages thoughtful planning and strategy.

Resource Management: Players must manage resources effectively to build and place tokens.

Dynamic Gameplay: Each turn presents new opportunities and challenges.

Interactive Elements: Building on other players’ structures can earn bonus points.

Cons

Complex Rules: Initial misunderstandings of the rules can significantly affect gameplay.

Steep Learning Curve: Requires multiple plays to fully understand and master.

Personal Thoughts on Deities

Deities is ideal for fans of strategic board games who enjoy resource management and tactical planning. It is not suited for casual players due to its complex rules and steep learning curve. However, for those who enjoy a challenge and are willing to invest time in understanding the game mechanics, Deities offers a rich and rewarding gaming experience.

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