Aeon’s End (2016) Board Game

Aeon’s End is a cooperative deck-building game that was released in 2016 by Action Phase Games. Designed by Jenny Iglesias, Nick Little, and Kevin Riley, the game is set in a post-apocalyptic world where players take on the roles of Breach Mages, powerful spellcasters who protect the last remaining city of Gravehold from monstrous Nameless.

Game Components of Aeon’s End

Cards: Player cards, Breach cards, Nemesis cards, and various other types for deck building and gameplay.

Gem Tokens: Used to repurpose the energy of breaches into beneficial spells and weapons.

Mage Player Boards: Each player has a unique board representing their breach mage.

Nemesis Boards: Representing the main adversaries.

Health and Life Tokens: Track players’ health and life.

Market Cards: A fixed set of 9 cards available for purchase during the game.

How To Setup Aeon’s End

Setting up Aeon’s End involves preparing the market cards, each player’s mage board, the Nemesis board, and distributing the necessary tokens. Players choose their mages and set up their individual boards. The market is composed of a fixed set of 9 cards, which can be randomly selected from a larger pool for added variability. The Nemesis, the main adversary, is set up according to the specific scenario being played.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Cooperative Game: Players work together to defend Gravehold.

Deck, Bag, and Pool Building: Players build their decks using the market cards.

Variable Turn Order: Simulates the chaos of an attack with a dynamic turn order system.

Hand Management: Players must manage their cards carefully.

Open Drafting: Players can see and choose from the available market cards.

Variable Player Powers: Each mage has unique abilities.

Chit-Pull System: Used for resolving combat and other actions.

Objective: Defend Gravehold from The Nameless and their hordes by using unique abilities, powerful spells, and collective strategy.

Player Experience

Aeon’s End offers a strategic and cooperative experience where players must work together to fend off a powerful Nemesis. The game requires careful planning and management of resources, as players need to optimize their deck builds and use their unique abilities effectively. The variable turn order and deck management rules add a layer of complexity and realism to the game, simulating the chaos and unpredictability of defending against an invasion.

Pros

Innovative Mechanics: The game features a unique variable turn order system and deck management rules.

High Replayability: With multiple mages, Nemeses, and market cards, each game offers a different experience.

Cooperative Play: Encourages teamwork and strategic planning.

Strategic Depth: Requires careful decision-making and resource management.

Expansions: Numerous expansions available to add new content and challenges.

Cons

Limited Randomness: The fixed market of 9 cards may feel too predictable for some players.

No Shuffling: The no-shuffling rule can make the game feel less dynamic.

Complex Setup: Setting up the game can be time-consuming due to the various components and rules.

Limited Freedom: Compared to other deck-building games, Aeon’s End has a more controlled environment.

Personal Thoughts on Aeon’s End

Aeon’s End is ideal for players who enjoy strategic cooperative games and are looking for a challenging deck-building experience. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate puzzle-solving and optimizing strategies within a fixed set of parameters. However, players seeking a high level of randomness and a more open-ended deck-building experience might find Aeon’s End less appealing. For fans of games like Dominion, Aeon’s End offers a unique twist on traditional deck-building mechanics, making it a great addition to any board game collection.

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