Too Many Bones (2017) Board Game

Too Many Bones is a board game released in 2017 by Chip Theory Games. It was designed by Josh J. Carlson and Adam Carlson, with artwork by Josh J. Carlson and Anthony LeTourneau. The game falls into the categories of adventure, dice, fantasy, and fighting, and is designed for 1-4 players, with a recommended age of 12 and up. With a runtime of 60-120 minutes, Too Many Bones offers a cooperative gameplay experience that involves deck, bag, and pool building, dice rolling, die icon resolution, and grid movement mechanics.

Game Components of Too Many Bones

136 custom dice

Beautiful edge-stitched neoprene mats for character stats and dice storage

PVC cards

High-quality chips

Character sheets and reference materials

Encounter cards

Tyrant cards

Progress symbols and campaign tracking mats.

How To Setup Too Many Bones

Setting up Too Many Bones involves several steps. Players start by choosing their unique Gearloc character, each with their own set of dice and abilities. The character’s stats and dice are organized on the neoprene mat provided. The game includes a deck of encounter cards, which players read and respond to in a choose-your-own-adventure style. Each player prepares their character sheet for combat and encounters by resetting their dice pool from the previous round. The setup is relatively simple, with each player ready to start their daily encounters after selecting their Gearloc.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics:

Cooperative Game

Dice Rolling

Die Icon Resolution

Grid Movement

Narrative Choice / Paragraph

Resource to Move

Role Playing

Scenario / Mission / Campaign Game

Solo / Solitaire Game

Square Grid

Stat Check Resolution

Tech Trees / Tech Tracks

Turn Order: Role Order

Variable Player Powers.

Game Objective:

Players aim to defeat the Tyrant associated with the current scenario by accumulating enough progress points through successful encounters.

Daily encounters involve resolving cards that may result in peaceful resolutions or combat.

Combat involves rolling dice, allocating them to different roles, and using backup plans for additional skills.

Defeating the Tyrant within the given time limit is crucial to winning the game.

Player Experience

Playing Too Many Bones is a deeply strategic and immersive experience. The game is characterized by its extensive character customization, where players can optimize their Gearloc’s build as they progress through encounters. Each character has unique abilities and can be built in multiple ways to suit different playstyles. The game’s narrative is driven by the encounter cards, which offer a high degree of player choice and impact the game’s outcome. The components are of high quality, with neoprene mats, custom dice, and PVC cards enhancing the overall gaming experience.

Pros

Deep Character Customization: Players can upgrade their characters using training points, adding new skills and enhancing existing ones.

High Replay Value: With multiple Gearlocs, encounters, and expansions, the game offers a lot of replayability.

Strategic Depth: The game requires strategic planning in building and using dice pools.

High-Quality Components: The game includes premium materials like neoprene mats and custom dice.

Narrative Engagement: The choose-your-own-adventure style encounter cards add a rich narrative element.

Cons

Complexity: The game has a steep learning curve due to its intricate mechanics.

Expensive: The base game and expansions come with a high price tag.

Time-Consuming: Games can last between 60-120 minutes, and setup can take some time.

Dice Management: Managing over 100 unique skill dice can be overwhelming for some players.

Personal Thoughts on Too Many Bones

Too Many Bones is an excellent choice for fans of dice-builder RPGs and cooperative games. It is particularly suited for those who enjoy deep character customization, strategic gameplay, and narrative-driven experiences. However, due to its complexity and high price, it may not be the best fit for casual gamers or those on a tight budget. For experienced tabletop gamers looking for a challenging and rewarding experience, Too Many Bones is definitely worth considering.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.