Exploriana (2019) Board Game

Exploriana is a board game that was released in 2019 by designer Miles Ratcliffe and published by Chaos Publishing. It falls under the categories of Animals and Exploration, and incorporates game mechanisms such as Open Drafting, Push Your Luck, Set Collection, and Worker Placement.

Game Components of Exploriana

Rulebook: 1

Boards: 1 main game board, 5 player boards

Cards: 126 (63 Discovery cards, 24 Explorer cards, 15 Mission cards, 6 Reference cards, and 18 Expansion cards)

Wooden pieces: 39 (10 Explorer pawns, 6 Renown markers, 5 Guide tokens, 18 Lost explorer tokens)

Cardboard tokens: 80 (50 coins, 18 Lost leader tokens, 5 Mission awards, 3 Region tokens, 3 Relics, 1 Poison chalice)

Expansion die: 1.

How To Setup Exploriana

To set up Exploriana, start by placing the game board in the middle of the table. Each player takes a player board, a set of explorer tokens, and six coins. Place everyone’s renown marker on zero, with the starting players at the top of the stack. Shuffle each deck of discovery cards and place them on their respective regions on the board. Turn over the top two cards from each deck, overlapping them so the icons are visible. Prepare the auction decks based on the number of players, and place a random lost explorer token face down on the topmost spot of each region.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Gameplay Phases

Collect Income: Each player receives 2 gold coins.

Auction: Players bid for items, starting with the player with the most renown.

Send Explorers: Players decide on which expedition to send their explorers, based on renown.

Explore: Players explore their chosen region, starting from the top of the expedition track.

Actions During Exploration

Use an Item: Use a card acquired during the auction phase.

Hire a Guide: Spend 2 gold to place a guide token covering one hazard.

Explore: Turn over the top card of the region.

Collect Rewards: Finish exploring and take cards or other rewards.

Game Objective

Accumulate the most points by exploring regions, collecting rewards, and managing hazards effectively.

Player Experience

Exploriana offers an exciting and tense gaming experience, perfect for fans of push-your-luck games. Players must balance the risks of exploring new regions with the rewards of discovering treasures and overcoming hazards. The game’s artwork is a highlight, featuring idyllic representations of Africa, South America, and Asia, although the beautiful artwork is often hidden as cards are layered over each other.

Pros

Engaging Gameplay: Exciting push-your-luck mechanics and auction phases.

Strategic Depth: Players must manage risks and rewards carefully.

Beautiful Artwork: Idyllic representations of different regions.

Competitive Element: Set collection and area control add competitive layers.

Cons

Setup Time: Can feel too long for the game’s duration.

Component Quality: Initial prototype versions had issues with component quality and rulebook clarity.

Hidden Artwork: Beautiful card artwork is often hidden during gameplay.

Personal Thoughts on Exploriana

Exploriana is ideal for players who enjoy strategic risk-taking and competitive gameplay. It is suitable for 2 to 5 players aged 14 and up, and games last between 45 to 60 minutes. The game’s themes of exploration and discovery, coupled with its engaging mechanics, make it a great addition to any board game collection. However, it may appeal more to fans of push-your-luck games and those who enjoy managing risks and rewards in their gameplay experience.

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