High Frontier is a space exploration board game designed by Phil Eklund and released in in 2010. The game is set in a near-future where players take on the role of space corporations competing to establish colonies and extract resources from the solar system. With its focus on realistic science and technology, High Frontier offers a unique gameplay experience for fans of economic and industry-themed games.
Game Components of High Frontier
Mapboard: Depicts the solar system, including the asteroid belt and outer planets.Player Aids: Various guides and trackers for managing game state.Placards: Used for tracking resources and missions.Playmats: For organizing player components.Wooden Domes: Represent colonies and factories.Rockets and Disks: Tokens for rocket movement and resource tracking.Blue Beads: Used for various resource management.Six-Sided Dice: For resolving certain game events.Cards: Technology, support, and event cards that drive gameplay.
How To Setup High Frontier
Setting up High Frontier involves several steps:
Each player chooses a crew card, defining their space agency and special abilities.Players start with a set amount of water tokens, used for bidding on technology cards.The mapboard is laid out, and players place their starting pieces.The various card decks (technology, support, etc.) are shuffled and placed within reach of all players.The game begins with each player performing an administration phase to acquire resources and bid on technologies.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
Mechanics
Engine-Building: Combining space flight patents to build efficient rockets.Auction/Bidding: Players bid for technology cards using water tokens.Resource Management: Managing water tokens, fuel, and other resources.Rocket Movement: Moving rockets through the solar system based on delta-v requirements.Operations: Players can perform one operation per turn, such as research, fueling, or launching rockets.
Game Objective
The goal is to industrialize the solar system by establishing factories, colonies, and other ventures.Players aim to achieve the most glory points by completing missions, prospecting for resources, and advancing their space program.
Player Experience
Playing High Frontier is a deeply strategic and time-consuming experience. It is often described as a “lifestyle game” due to its complexity and the time required to learn and play. Each game session can last several hours, and learning the full ruleset can take days or weeks. The game is highly realistic, simulating the challenges of space travel and exploration, which can be both rewarding and frustrating. The auction mechanism and dice rolls introduce elements of luck and risk, making careful planning crucial.
Pros
Deep Strategy: Offers a highly strategic and immersive gameplay experience.Realism: Simulates real-world challenges of space exploration and industrialization.High Replayability: No two games are the same due to the combination of different technologies and missions.Thematic Depth: Rich in scientific and engineering details, appealing to space enthusiasts.
Cons
Complexity: The game has a steep learning curve and a large rule set.Lengthy Gameplay: Sessions can last several hours.Luck and Risk: Dice rolls and auctions can introduce significant elements of luck, which may not appeal to all players.Overwhelming Rules: The game’s complexity can be overwhelming for new players.
Personal Thoughts on High Frontier
High Frontier is undoubtedly for the hardcore board game enthusiast and space geek. It requires a significant commitment to learning and playing, but offers a uniquely rewarding experience for those who enjoy deep strategy and realistic simulation. If you are willing to invest the time to master its mechanics, High Frontier can provide a deeply satisfying and challenging experience. However, it may not be the best fit for players looking for quicker, more casual games.
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