Prophecy (2002) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Prophecy is a board game released in 2002 by Altar Games. Designed by Vlaada Chvátil, the game immerses players into a fantasy world where they take on the roles of adventurers seeking to fulfill their destiny. With beautifully illustrated artwork by Peter Gifford, Jana Šouflová, Milan Vavroň, Michal Vondráček, and Jana Žižková, Prophecy offers a rich visual experience for players.

Game Components of Prophecy

211 cards

40 strength/health cubes

40 willpower/magic cubes

35 gold tokens

35 experience tokens

10 standup figures

10 character cards

5 reference cards

5 plastic bases

2 six-sided dice

Game board featuring 20 spaces and 5 Astral Planes

Various opportunity, creature, and Chance cards.

How To Setup Prophecy

To set up Prophecy, players start by choosing their characters, each with differing amounts of strength and willpower, and affiliations with two guilds. The board is seeded with adventure cards, and each player begins in their first guild. The Chance deck, which governs the game’s progression, is also prepared.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Movement: Players can move one space for free, two spaces for a gold, or use magic portals.

Combat: Combat involves rolling dice and adding the relevant stat (strength or willpower) to determine the outcome.

Encounters: Players interact with spaces on the board, which may feature creatures to fight, opportunities to gain resources, or special locations like cities, villages, and guilds.

Artifact Collection: The main objective is to collect four out of five ancient artifacts by defeating the Lesser and Greater Guardians in the Astral Planes.

Final Battle: If no player has four artifacts when the fifth artifact is claimed, a Final Battle ensues where players fight each other to gain artifacts until one player has four.

Player Experience

In Prophecy, players embark on a journey through a fantasy world, building their characters by gaining strength, willpower, skills, and items. The game offers a mix of exploration, combat, and strategic decision-making. Players can choose their movements, engage in battles, and utilize special abilities and items to enhance their chances. The game also features a dynamic Chance deck that introduces balancing mechanisms and unexpected events, adding a layer of unpredictability to the game.

Pros

Strategic Depth: Players have significant control over their character’s development and movements.

Improved Over Talisman: Addresses several issues found in Talisman, such as rolls determining movement.

Variety of Encounters: Offers a wide range of creatures, opportunities, and special locations.

Complex yet Engaging: Combines luck with strategic planning, making each game unique.

Cons

Luck Element: Dice rolls and card draws can significantly impact the game’s outcome.

Complex Rules: The game comes with basic and standard rules, which can be overwhelming for new players.

Out of Print: The game is currently out of print, making it harder to acquire.

Personal Thoughts on Prophecy

Prophecy is ideal for fans of fantasy adventure games who enjoy character development, strategic gameplay, and a mix of luck and planning. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate games with deep mechanics but are frustrated with the randomness of older games like Talisman. However, due to its complexity and the luck element, it may not be the best fit for casual gamers or those new to board games.

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