The Boldest (2018) Board Game

The Boldest is a board game released in 2018, designed by Max Prentis and published by Edition Spielwiese. It falls under the categories of Adventure, Fantasy, and Science Fiction, catering to players aged 10 and above. With a runtime of 30-90 minutes and accommodating 2-5 players, The Boldest offers a unique gaming experience with its blend of action queue, auction/bidding, and hand management mechanics.

Game Components of The Boldest

Heroes: 17 starting heroes per player, divided into 5 classes (3 Warriors, 3 Technicians, 3 Hunters, 5 Cooks, 3 Pets).

Forest Cards: Containing enemies, artifacts, or items.

Planning Board: Each player has a personal board with three planning spaces, hidden behind a screen.

Barracks and Party Room: Cards representing where heroes rest and celebrate.

Central Board: Split into areas for new recruits and the battlefield with five columns.

Tiebreaker Markers: For each player, placed randomly at the start of the game.

Illustrations: Over 100 unique illustrations by Max Prentis.

How To Setup The Boldest

To set up the game, each player starts with an identical deck of 17 hero cards, which are placed face down in their barracks. The central board is set up with forest cards randomly dealt out in five columns. Each player receives a planning board and tiebreaker markers. Players also have their own area with barracks and party room cards. The game is ready to begin once all players have organized their starting decks and the central board is prepared.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Gameplay Phases: Each round consists of Refresh, Planning, Action, and Reset phases.

Planning Phase: Players secretly form three groups with heroes of the same class and place them face down on their planning spaces.

Action Phase: Groups are revealed, and the strongest group of each class (Warriors, Technicians, Hunters, Cooks) executes their action in a specific order. Only the winning group can take the action, while weaker groups get new heroes as compensation.

Classes Actions:
– Warriors: Take specific forest cards.
– Technicians: Take specific forest cards.
– Hunters: Take specific forest cards.
– Cooks: Attract new heroes with special abilities.

Objective: Collect the most experience points by defeating enemies, retrieving artifacts, and using helpful items over 5 or 6 rounds (depending on the number of players). The player with the most experience is proclaimed “The Boldest”.

Player Experience

The Boldest offers a dynamic and strategic experience, requiring players to balance their power across three expeditions each round. The game demands careful planning and anticipation of the forest changes and opponents’ moves. With its unique blend of hand management and hidden bidding, players must read their opponents well to forestall them and collect valuable cards. The game’s illustrated world and detailed characters add to the immersive experience.

Pros

Strategic Depth: Combines hand management, programming, and hidden bidding for complex decision-making.

Immersive World: Over 100 unique illustrations by Max Prentis create a rich and detailed environment.

Replayability: Randomly dealt forest cards and hidden bidding ensure each game is different.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for players aged 10 and above.

Cons

Complexity: May be overwhelming for new players due to multiple phases and strategies.

Length: Can take between 30 to 90 minutes to play, which might be too long for some players.

Luck Element: Random forest card placement and tiebreaker markers can introduce an element of luck.

Personal Thoughts on The Boldest

The Boldest is ideal for fans of strategic board games who enjoy planning and outmaneuvering their opponents. It is a great fit for families with older children or for groups of friends looking for a game that challenges their tactical skills. However, it may not be the best choice for those who prefer simpler or quicker games. The game’s detailed illustrations and engaging gameplay make it a standout in the world of competitive board games.

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