Ethnos (2017) Board Game
Ethnos is a fantasy board game designed by Paolo Mori and published by CMON Global Limited in in 2017. The game features stunning artwork by renowned artist John Howe, known for his work on J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth. Ethnos takes players on a journey through the land of Ethnos, where different fantasy races vie for control and dominance.
Game Components of Ethnos
How To Setup Ethnos
To set up Ethnos, start by placing the game board within reach of all players. Shuffle the twelve setup cards and randomly draw six of them, placing them face up to determine which tribes will be used in the game. Then, shuffle the cards from these six tribes together to create a large deck. Cut the deck in half, add the three Dragon cards to one half, and shuffle that half before placing it on top of the other half. Place three glory tokens in each region, arranged in ascending order. Each player starts with one card in hand, and 4-12 cards (depending on the number of players) are placed face up on the table.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
– Area Control
– Card Drafting
– Set Collection
– Score the most glory by controlling regions, playing large bands, and utilizing tribe-specific special abilities.
– Players either recruit an ally by taking a face-up card or the top card from the deck, or play a band of allies by matching cards in hand by tribe or region.
– Each band played allows a player to place a token in the corresponding region and trigger the special power of the top card.
– The game is divided into three ages, with scoring occurring at the end of each age based on the number of tokens in each region.
Player Experience
Ethnos offers a dynamic and varied gameplay experience due to the random selection of tribes in each game. The combination of different tribes and their special abilities ensures that no two games are the same. The game is easy to learn but has enough depth to keep players engaged, making it suitable for both casual and experienced gamers. The area control mechanism is streamlined, allowing players to focus on strategic placement of tokens and utilization of tribe powers.
Pros
Cons
Personal Thoughts on Ethnos
Ethnos is an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys area control and set collection games. It’s particularly suitable for players who appreciate a mix of strategy and tactical decision-making without the game being overly complex. The game’s ability to balance simplicity with depth makes it accessible to new players while still offering enough challenge for veterans. If you’re looking for a game that combines the social interaction of area control with the strategic elements of card drafting, Ethnos is a great addition to your gaming collection.
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