Deliverance (2023) Board Game

Deliverance is a board game that was released in 2023 and is designed by Yoann Boissonnet and Dan Maynard. It is a cooperative game set in a fantasy world filled with adventure, fighting, and mythology. Players take on the roles of heroes who must work together to defeat evil forces and save the realm.

Game Components of Deliverance

Angelic player cards, each with unique powers and biblical inspirations

Demon prince and lesser demonic enemy cards

Game boards

Status tokens

Health and character trackers

Dice

Standees

Rulebook and campaign book

Personal miniatures for each angel

How To Setup Deliverance

Setting up Deliverance involves preparing the game boards, which vary depending on the number of players. Players choose their angelic characters and set up the Darkness area, where the intensity of the game builds. The game includes a campaign module for story-driven play and a skirmish mode for more flexible battles. Players must arrange the boards, place their angel characters, and prepare the demonic forces, including lesser minions and a final demon prince.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Modes: Campaign and Skirmish modes
– Campaign: Story-driven battles with specific battlefields.
– Skirmish: Fighting against waves of demonic minions and a final demon prince.

Angel Selection: Players choose one of nine angels, each with a distinct playstyle.

Objective: The main goal is to wipe out demonic forces while protecting and rescuing “oppressed saints” to prevent them from falling into darkness.

Actions: Angels use their abilities to vanquish demons, and demons retaliate. Angels can pray to gain prayer cards with biblical verses and helpful powers.

Darkness Mechanic: Accumulating Darkness cards can hinder players, and neglecting prayer can lead to game-ending consequences.

Leveling Up: Players earn experience points to level up their characters, unlocking new abilities and enhancements.

Player Experience

Playing Deliverance is an immersive experience, especially for those interested in Christian fantasy and tactical combat. The game requires strategic planning to manage the forces of darkness and protect the saints. Each angel has unique abilities, and the level-up system adds variety to each playthrough. The game’s thematic depth, supported by over 200 Bible verses, enriches the gameplay without being preachy.

Pros

Highly Rated: Deliverance has a rating of 8.7/10 on BoardGameGeek and is a finalist in several Golden Geek Award categories.

Deep Strategy: The game offers complex and varied gameplay with multiple angel builds and demon types.

Thematic Integrity: Successfully balances Christian themes with engaging gameplay.

Replayability: Randomized enemies, level-up systems, and multiple game modes ensure high replay value.

Cons

Complex Setup: The game requires a significant amount of time to set up due to its numerous components.

Dark Themes: Some elements, such as suicidal thoughts and self-harm, may be too intense for some players.

Financial Investment: The game’s production and crowdfunding were significant, leading to a substantial financial commitment from the creator.

Personal Thoughts on Deliverance

Deliverance is an excellent choice for Christian board game enthusiasts and fans of tactical combat. It is particularly appealing to those who enjoy games like Dungeons & Dragons but are looking for a Christian-themed alternative. The game’s balance between spiritual and human elements, along with its intuitive yet deep gameplay, makes it accessible to both Christian and non-Christian players. However, it may not be suitable for all audiences due to some of its darker themes. Overall, Deliverance stands out as a well-crafted and highly engaging board game.

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