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Tribes (1998) Board Game

ByMichail

Tribes is a prehistoric-themed board game released in 1998, designed by Donna Barr and Alex Fernandez. The game focuses on cooperative gameplay, role-playing elements, and voting mechanics. With a runtime of 240 minutes, Tribes is best played with a large group of 8 or more players.

Game Components of Tribes

  • Game board**
  • 15 Achievement boards** (5 of each color)
  • 60 Tribe members** (15 of each color)
  • 16 Progress markers** (4 of each color)
  • 1 Starting player marker**
  • 24 Event tiles** (8 of each color)
  • 50 Land tiles** (10 of each resource type)
  • 89 Bear teeth tokens** (victory points)
  • 4 Arrow tokens**
  • 1 Fabric draw bag**
  • 1 Bag tag**
  • 6 Action tiles**
  • 20 Shell tokens**
  • 48 Marking stones** (12 of each color).

    How To Setup Tribes

    To set up the game, each player receives 15 tribe members, 12 marking stones, and 4 progress markers in their designated color. Each player also gets 5 shells and one arrow token. The game board is placed in the middle of the table, and all components must be carefully removed from their frames before the first game. Players affix the bag tag to the fabric bag and distribute the starting resources according to the game manual.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Lead a small tribe** through three epochs of human history.
  • Manage resources** such as land, food, and other essential materials.
  • Make decisions** on breeding, movement, and resource allocation.
  • Survive unforeseen events** like natural disasters, diseases, and enemy raids.
  • Achieve civilization milestones** to earn victory points.
  • Advance progress tracks** for procreation, exploration, and movement to enhance abilities.
  • Collect bear teeth tokens** as victory points by completing achievements and progressing on the progress tracks.

    Player Experience

    Playing Tribes involves a deep dive into strategic decision-making and resource management. Players must balance the needs of their tribe, from ensuring enough food and shelter to expanding their territory and achieving civilization milestones. The game is engaging and thought-provoking, requiring players to think ahead and adapt to unexpected events.

    Pros

  • Deep strategy: Involves complex decision-making and resource management.
  • Historical context: Provides a unique perspective on early human history.
  • Replayability: Offers multiple paths to victory and dynamic events.
  • Solid design: Well-designed mechanics and components.

    Cons

  • Complex setup: Requires careful preparation before the first game.
  • Mature themes: Includes aspects like mating and resource scarcity that may not be suitable for all audiences.
  • Lengthy gameplay: Can take several hours to complete.

    Personal Thoughts on Tribes

    Tribes is ideal for players who enjoy strategic games with historical themes. It is suitable for players aged 10 and up and is best played with 2-4 players. The game is great for those who appreciate depth and complexity in their board games, offering a challenging yet rewarding experience. However, it may not be the best fit for younger audiences due to some of its mature themes.

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    • Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

    Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
    Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl

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