Mound Builders (2014) Board Game

Mound Builders is a board game that takes place during the time of the ancient civilizations in North America. Players take on the role of leaders of various tribes, trying to expand their influence and build impressive mounds to gain glory and victory points.

Game Components of Mound Builders

Map: A detailed, well-organized map, preferably the deluxe version with a thick card stock puzzle map to avoid issues with a folded paper map.

Markers: Thick card stock counters, including hostile tribe markers, chiefdom markers, and palisades tokens.

History Cards: Sturdy, 4-color illustrated cards providing historical facts and gameplay instructions.

Action Points Marker: Tracks the player’s available actions.

Peace Pipe Markers: Used to indicate conquered chiefdoms.

Chiefdom Markers: Represent chiefdoms with Battle Values and Trade Good types.

Army Standees: Six markers for hostile armies with stands to keep them upright.

How To Setup Mound Builders

Setup is quick and straightforward. Place the palisades token on Cahokia, set the Hopewell Era marker, and position the Mississippian and Spanish Era markers accordingly. Set the Action Points marker to zero on the Storage Pits track. Randomly place five Chiefdom markers on each of the five Warpaths (Ho-Chunk, Shawnee, Cherokee, Natchez, and Caddo) with the Plain side up. Create a draw deck from the Hopewell Era history cards after discarding two randomly. Place the Status and Peace Pipe markers in the designated areas.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Eras: The game is divided into three eras – Hopewell, Mississippian, and Spanish.

Hopewell Era: Focus on expanding the empire peacefully.

Mississippian Era: Defend against rival tribes and maintain territory and economic stability.

Spanish Era: Resist the Spanish invasion.

Phases:

History Phase: Resolve the top card of the draw deck.

Economic Phase: Manage resources.

Hostiles Phase: Deal with advancing hostile tribes and Spanish armies.

Revolts Phase: Handle tribal revolts.

Actions Phase: Spend Action Points on various actions such as expanding chiefdoms or repairing palisades.

End of Turn Phase: Housekeeping and cleanup.

Objective: Survive the Spanish invasion and keep Cahokia standing.

Player Experience

Mound Builders offers a dynamic and challenging experience, with each playthrough varying due to the draw of cards and dice rolls. The game requires strategic planning, especially during the Mississippian and Spanish Eras, where defense and resource management are crucial. Players must balance expanding their empire, defending against enemies, and maintaining economic stability.

Pros

Historical Depth: Rich historical context and facts about pre-Columbian North American cultures.

Engaging Mechanics: Combination of area movement, card-driven events, and dice rolling keeps the game interesting.

High Replayability: Different card draws and dice rolls ensure unique experiences each time.

Quality Components: Sturdy cards and thick card stock counters enhance gameplay.

Cons

Colorblind Issues: The game is not colorblind friendly, with similar shades of red and green used.

Luck Factor: Significant reliance on dice rolls can be frustrating for some players.

Complex Rules: Despite a relatively short playtime, the game has detailed rules that may take time to master.

Personal Thoughts on Mound Builders

Mound Builders is ideal for players interested in historical games, solo gameplay, and strategic challenges. It is particularly suited for those who enjoy games with a strong thematic focus and are willing to invest time in learning the rules. The game’s blend of resource management, area movement, and dice rolling makes it engaging and unpredictable, making it a great addition to any solo gamer’s collection. However, it may not be the best fit for players who prefer games with minimal luck or those who struggle with color differentiation.

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