Fort (2020) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Fort is a deck-building game designed by Grant Rodiek and published by Leder Games in in 2020. The game is inspired by childhood experiences of building forts and making friends, and it puts players in the shoes of kids competing to build the best fort in the neighborhood.

Game Components of Fort

Deck of Kid Cards: Each card has two actions – one private and one public.

Best Friend Cards: Each player starts with two of these.

Resource Tokens: Represented by pizza and toys.

Fort Track: Used to track the progress of building your fort.

Made-Up Rule Cards: Secret scoring objectives.

Perk Cards: Special abilities unlocked as you advance on the fort track.

Player Boards: For tracking resources and fort progress.

Yard Area: Where unused cards are placed and can be recruited by other players.

How To Setup Fort

To set up Fort, each player starts with two best friend cards and eight random kid cards to form their starter deck. The park deck, which contains additional kid cards, is shuffled and placed within reach of all players. Each player also receives a player board and the necessary resource tokens. The made-up rule cards and perk cards are set aside and will be drawn as players advance on their fort track.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Gameplay Mechanics

Deck-Building: Players expand their deck by recruiting new kid cards.

Follow-the-Leader Actions: Players can follow the public action of the card played by the active player.

Resource Management: Players gather and use resources (pizza and toys) to build their fort and score points.

Card Boosting: Using multiple cards of the same suit to enhance actions.

Recruiting: Drafting new cards from the park or other players’ yards.

Game Objective

The objective is to score the most victory points by building your fort, gathering resources, and utilizing card actions. The game ends when a player reaches 25 victory points, builds a level five fort, or the park deck runs out of cards.

Player Experience

Playing Fort is engaging and interactive, with each turn presenting tough decisions. Players must balance building their own deck, following other players’ actions, and managing resources. The game encourages strategic thinking, as players need to predict and adapt to their opponents’ moves. The theme of building forts and interacting with friends adds a lighthearted and nostalgic touch, making the game appealing even when the gameplay gets competitive.

Pros

High Player Interaction: Players are engaged throughout the game, not just on their own turns.

Strategic Depth: Offers numerous card combinations and strategies.

Quick Gameplay: Games typically last between 20 to 60 minutes.

Thematic Integration: Game mechanics align well with the theme of building forts.

Replay Value: Made-up rule cards and perk cards add variability to each game.

Cons

Limited Catch-Up Mechanics: Experienced players may have an advantage.

Unbalanced Secret Objectives: Some made-up rule and perk cards are considered more powerful than others.

Deck Management Challenges: Managing deck size and avoiding card loss can be stressful.

Personal Thoughts on Fort

Fort is ideal for players who enjoy deck-builders with a twist. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate high levels of player interaction and strategic decision-making. While it may not be the best fit for new players due to the lack of catch-up mechanics, experienced players will find the game challenging and engaging. The theme and artwork add a charming layer, making it a great addition to any board game collection, especially for those who enjoy games that blend strategy with social interaction.

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