Ruthless (2018) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Ruthless is a card game that was released in 2018 by designer Roland MacDonald and published by Alley Cat Games. The game is set in the world of pirates, where players take on the role of competing pirate captains vying for control of the high seas. With a mix of deck building, hand management, and set collection mechanics, Ruthless offers a unique and immersive gaming experience for 2-4 players.

Game Components of Ruthless

Treasure deck

Pirate deck

Coins

Achievement tokens

Parley tokens

Player aides

Powder Monkey cards

Doubloon cards

Prize tokens

Legendary Achievement objectives

Pirate cards with suits like swashbuckling swords, skull and crossbones, and bleeding hearts

Treasure cards such as gems and statues

How To Setup Ruthless

Setup involves shuffling the treasure and pirate decks to form separate piles. Five Pirates are flipped over to create the Tavern Row, where players can hire crew members. Coins, achievement tokens, and two or three end-of-game Legendary Achievement objectives are placed nearby. Each player receives 2 coins, 1 Parley token, and a player aide. Depending on the player count, each player is dealt six or four Powder Monkey cards and four doubloon cards. Additionally, five or six stacks of Prize tokens are prepared. The first player token is allocated, and the game is ready to begin.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Deck Building: Players gather and recruit pirate cards to build their deck.

Poker-Style Hands: At the end of each round, players form the best possible “raiding party” hand using recruited pirates, aiming for pairs, straights, flushes, and other poker hands.

Card Abilities: Recruited cards can be played immediately for their abilities, allowing for combos and extended turns.

Treasure Plundering: Players can plunder treasure, choosing to sell it for immediate coins or add it to their discard pile for future benefits.

Parley Token: Each player has one Parley token to discard cards and redraw or gain a notoriety point.

Rounds and Scoring: The game consists of five or six rounds, with players scoring points based on their poker hands at the end of each round. The game ends with players tallying their Achievement points to determine the most notorious pirate.

Player Experience

Ruthless starts with a familiar deck-building phase where players scramble for treasure and recruits. As the game progresses, the pace quickens, and players must balance immediate bonuses with long-term strategies to build the best poker hand. The game promotes strategic decision-making, especially in managing Powder Monkeys and loot cards. While the game can slow down slightly at higher player counts, it never feels like there’s too much downtime, allowing players to plan their strategies.

Pros

Awesome Artwork: Vibrant and detailed illustrations.

Deck Building Meets Poker: A unique blend of mechanics.

Lots of Decisions: Strategic gameplay with many decision-making opportunities.

Thematic Engagement: Players get to recruit pirates, plunder treasure, and speak like pirates.

Strategic Focus: Encourages building the best poker hand, reducing randomness.

Cons

Luck Element: Card flips can introduce randomness.

Downtime Between Turns: Slightly slower at higher player counts.

Component Upgrades: Could benefit from player mats, a board, and metal coins.

Availability: Might be hard to find.

Personal Thoughts on Ruthless

Ruthless is a hidden gem in the deck-building genre, offering a fresh twist with its poker-style mechanics. It’s perfect for those who enjoy strategic gameplay, deck-building, and a bit of luck. The game is highly recommended for fans of games like Clank!, Thunderstone, and The Quest for El Dorado, as it addresses some common issues in traditional deck-builders and adds a fun, thematic layer. If you’re looking for a game that combines strategy with a engaging pirate theme, Ruthless is an excellent choice.

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