Tournament of Towers (2018) Board Game

Tournament of Towers is a board game released in 2018, designed by Andy Petrov and illustrated by Iron Hippo Games. It falls under the category of Action/Dexterity games, where players must use their skills to build towers in a cooperative manner. The game is suitable for 2 to 4 players, with the best experience being with 3 to 4 players, and has a relatively short runtime of around 20 minutes. With an age rating of 5+, Tournament of Towers is a family-friendly game that focuses on teamwork and strategy.

Game Components of Tournament of Towers

Cards: Players draft 7 cards each round, which determine the pieces to be added to their towers.

Tower Pieces: Colored either stone (grey) or gold (yellow), these pieces are used to build the towers.

Foundation Piece: Each player starts with a foundation piece to build upon.

Event Die: A D6 die used to introduce random events during the game.

Scorepad: For tracking points.

Architect Figure: Used as a flourish to mark the completion of a tower.

How To Setup Tournament of Towers

Setup is straightforward. Each player receives a foundation piece, and the cards are shuffled. Deal 7 cards to each player, and set the tower pieces and event die nearby. If playing with events, ensure the event die is ready. The scorepad should also be within reach.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Card Drafting: Players draft 7 cards each round, selecting one card and passing the remainder to the left.

Build Order: Players lock in the order of their cards, which determines the sequence of piece placement.

Event Rolls: Rolling the event die can alter the build order or introduce other challenges.

Piece Placement: Players manually place pieces on their tower, following the order on their cards.

Scoring:
– 3 points for the tallest tower.
– 1 point if the architect figure is at the highest point of the tower.
– 1 point per gold piece placed on the tower.
– Bonus points for sets of three or more of the same piece on the tower.

Player Experience

Tournament of Towers offers a thrilling experience that blends strategy and physical dexterity. Players must carefully plan the sequence of their piece placement while also navigating the challenges introduced by the event die. The game is quick to learn, taking about 5 minutes, and each game lasts around 30 minutes. It is suitable for both casual family game nights and competitive adult play.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple rules that are quickly understood.

High Replayability: Random events and card drafting ensure each game is unique.

STEM Learning Tool: Encourages spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills.

Versatile: Supports cooperative mode for up to 30 players and competitive mode for up to 8 players with two copies.

Cons

Physical Skill Required: The game demands manual dexterity, which can be challenging for some players.

Tower Instability: Towers can fall, which can be frustrating but is also a core part of the game’s challenge.

Limited Player Count in Competitive Mode: With one copy, competitive mode is limited to 4 players.

Personal Thoughts on Tournament of Towers

Tournament of Towers is ideal for those who enjoy dexterity games and are looking for a fun, challenging experience that combines strategy with physical skill. It is a great addition to family game collections and can also appeal to competitive gamers. The cooperative mode allows for a unique team-building experience, making it versatile for various types of gaming groups. However, it may not be the best fit for players who prefer strictly strategic games without a physical component.

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