Doom: The Boardgame (2004) Board Game

Doom: The Boardgame is a tabletop adaptation of the popular video game franchise, Doom. Released in 2004 by Fantasy Flight Games, this board game brings the fast-paced action and intense battles of the video game to your tabletop. Designed by Kevin Wilson and featuring artwork by Scott Nicely, the game has gained a dedicated fanbase over the years.

Game Components of Doom: The Boardgame

Map Tiles: Numerous sturdy map tiles of various shapes and sizes with easily identifiable square grid-lines.

Miniatures: Over 60 finely detailed soft plastic miniatures of marines and monsters.

Dice: Specialty dice for combat, including symbols for range, ammo, and damage.

Cards: Decks of cards, one used at the start of the game and another exclusively by the Invader player.

Tokens: Health tokens with a first-aid symbol to track damage, armor tokens, and ammo tokens.

Rulebook and Scenario Booklet: A short rulebook with examples and a scenario booklet containing five scenarios.

How To Setup Doom: The Boardgame

To set up the game, players must choose a scenario from the included booklet. Each scenario defines the map layout using the map tiles, the placement of monsters and marines, and the specific objectives. The Invader player sets up the monsters according to the scenario, while the marine players choose their starting positions. The game also accounts for different numbers of players, adjusting the starting setup and monster difficulty accordingly.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Teams: Players are divided into two teams: the Invaders (controlled by one player) and the Marines (controlled by the other players).

Objective: The Invader must get six “frags” (Marine deaths) to win, while the Marines must reach the exit to win.

Combat Mechanics: Combat uses specialty dice with symbols indicating range, ammo usage, and damage. Damage is applied in increments equal to the target’s armor.

Respawn: Marines respawn between eight and sixteen spaces from where they were killed.

Scenario Objectives: Each scenario has specific objectives that define the win conditions for both teams.

Player Experience

Playing **Doom: The Boardgame** is a tense and immersive experience, especially for fans of dungeon-crawlers and tactical miniatures games. Marines must work together, forming tactics to survive and complete their mission. The game encourages strategic thinking and coordination among the marine players, while the Invader player must manage the monsters to maximize their chances of winning. The game is best with two or three players but remains enjoyable with four, provided adjustments are made for supplies and difficulty.

Pros

High Replayability: The game includes multiple scenarios and allows for custom scenarios using freeware editors.

Immersive Theme: The game captures the dark and intense atmosphere of the Doom video game series.

Engaging Mechanics: The use of dice for combat and the need for strategic planning make the game engaging for both teams.

Reasonable Price: The game and its expansion can be purchased at reasonable prices.

Cons

Balancing Issues: The game can be biased in favor of the Invaders, especially with four players, requiring house rules to balance it out.

Limited Scenarios: The base game includes only five scenarios, although more can be created using scenario editors.

Scaling Issues: The game’s difficulty and resource distribution can vary significantly with different numbers of players.

Personal Thoughts on Doom: The Boardgame

**Doom: The Boardgame** is ideal for fans of sci-fi dungeon-crawlers and tactical miniatures games who enjoy a darker, more intense gaming experience. It is best suited for players who appreciate strategic gameplay and are willing to adapt house rules to balance the game. While it may show its age, the game remains a classic in its genre, offering a unique and engaging experience for players looking for a challenging and immersive board game.

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