Intrepid (2021) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Intrepid is a cooperative space exploration board game designed by Gwalchmai Doran and published in in 2021. The game allows 1-4 players to embark on a mission to explore the depths of space, encountering various challenges and events along the way. With its unique dice rolling mechanics and immersive gameplay, Intrepid promises an exciting adventure for players of all ages.

Game Components of Intrepid

Dice: Nice 6-sided dice with individual trays and cubes for each player.

Player Boards: Dual-layered cardboard boards with plastic windows and grooves to track resources.

Nation Tiles: Representing different nations like Canada, Japan, Russia, and the United States.

Career Tiles: Provide special abilities.

Department Boards: Assign resources to manage.

Mission Deck: Focuses gameplay over the course of the game.

Crisis Deck: Introduces increasing difficulties as the game progresses.

Tiles: Various tiles for resource production, upgrades, and missions.

How To Setup Intrepid

To set up Intrepid, players first choose their nation tiles and corresponding department boards, which define their resource management roles. Each player selects a Career Tile for special abilities. The Mission and Crisis decks are created, and each player receives their dice pool. The game boards are assembled with the necessary tiles and resources, making sure each player has their own set of resources and dice trays. The initial resources are allocated, and the game is ready to begin.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Cooperative Play: Players work together to keep the International Space Station running.

Dice Placement: Players roll dice and place them on their tiles to activate abilities, generate resources, and complete missions.

Resource Management: Players must maintain resources above the red area on their boards to stay alive.

Mission Completion: Complete three missions by placing dice on mission tiles and managing resource drainage.

Crisis Management: Handle crisis cards that introduce challenges and resource drains.

Tile Upgrades: Buy new tiles to improve resource production, but at a permanent resource cost.

Dice Sharing: Players can share dice with each other to achieve common goals.

Player Experience

In Intrepid, players experience a highly interactive and challenging cooperative game. While the gameplay is focused on individual boards, communication and cooperation are crucial for success. Players need to balance their own resource management with the needs of their teammates and the overall mission objectives. The game is engaging due to the different mechanics of each nation and the varying complexity levels, making it appealing for multiple playthroughs.

Pros

High Replayability: Different nation mechanics and career tiles offer varied gameplay experiences.

Cooperative Mechanics: Effective system for sharing dice and resources among players.

Component Quality: Well-made components, including dice trays and player boards.

Challenging but Fun: A good balance between strategy and puzzle-solving.

Cons

Complex Setup: Initial setup can be cumbersome, especially for new players.

Solo Mode Limitations: Solo mode is less engaging and has some clarity issues.

Resource Management Complexity: Managing resources and permanent resource drains can be challenging.

Personal Thoughts on Intrepid

Intrepid is ideal for fans of cooperative games who enjoy strategic depth and puzzle-solving. It is best suited for players aged 13 and above, given the complexity of the game mechanics and the need for strategic communication among players. The game shines with four players, where each player has a distinct role and resource board to manage. While it offers a decent solo mode, the game truly excels in its multiplayer cooperative experience. If you’re looking for a game that combines teamwork, resource management, and strategic planning, Intrepid is a great choice.

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