A Few Acres of Snow (2011) Board Game

A Few Acres of Snow is a board game designed by Martin Wallace and published by Treefrog Games in in 2011. The game is set during the French and Indian War in North America, where players take on the roles of either the French or British forces, competing to control territory and expand their influence in the region.

Game Components of A Few Acres of Snow

Map Board: Represents the geographical layout of North America, though critics find it somewhat unintuitive.

Location Cards: Each location has a corresponding card that players add to their deck upon capturing it. These cards have various functions and symbols.

Empire Cards: These cards represent the strengths and weaknesses of each country’s operations and can be drafted into a player’s deck. Some Empire cards are shared between players.

Player Decks: Each player starts with a small deck of location cards and can expand it by capturing locations and drafting Empire cards.

How To Setup A Few Acres of Snow

To set up the game, each player begins with a small deck of location cards corresponding to the locations they control at the start. The French player starts with additional cards such as infantry, traders, and bateaux. The map board is laid out, showing the initial controlled and uncontrolled locations. Players shuffle their decks and draw a starting hand of five cards.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Deck-Building: Players expand their decks by capturing locations and drafting Empire cards.

Card Play: Each turn, players play cards to take two actions. Cards can be used for various purposes such as trading, starting sieges, and moving.

Location Control: Controlling locations on the board adds cards to the player’s deck and provides victory points.

Victory Conditions: The game ends when one side captures 12 points worth of settlements or when one side runs out of all their villages or towns. Auto-win conditions also exist, such as successfully sieging key cities.

Player Experience

A Few Acres of Snow offers a deeply strategic and complex gameplay experience. The game has a steep learning curve due to the vast array of options and the need to manage a deck effectively. It requires multiple plays to fully appreciate and master the strategies involved. The game is ideal for players who have a regular gaming partner, as it allows for evolving strategies and competitive play against a familiar opponent.

Pros

Deep Strategy: The game combines deck-building and spatial strategy, offering a rich and complex gameplay experience.

Replayability: With numerous strategies and the ability to adapt to different opponents, the game has high replayability.

Historical Theme: The game accurately represents the challenges and strategies of colonial warfare in North America.

Awards: Winner of the 2011 BoardGameGeek Golden Geek Award and the Meeples’ Choice Award.

Cons

Steep Learning Curve: The game is intimidating for new players due to the vast decision tree and multiple card functions.

Map Design: The map board is criticized for being unintuitive and not clearly showing connections between locations.

Asymmetric Play: While the asymmetry between the French and British sides is a strength, it can also lead to experienced players significantly outperforming new players.

Personal Thoughts on A Few Acres of Snow

A Few Acres of Snow is a game designed for dedicated and experienced gamers, particularly those who enjoy deep strategic games and are willing to invest time in learning and mastering its mechanics. It is ideal for players with a regular gaming partner, as the game benefits from repeated plays against the same opponent. However, it may not be the best choice for casual players or those who frequently switch gaming groups due to its complexity and the time required to fully appreciate its depth.

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