Aftermath (2019) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Aftermath is a board game published by Plaid Hat Games in in 2019. Designed by Jerry Hawthorne, known for his work on popular games like Mice and Mystics, Aftermath takes players on a post-apocalyptic adventure where they must navigate a world inhabited by intelligent animals.

Game Components of Aftermath

Player miniatures: Representing rodents such as mice, guinea pigs, and hamsters.

Adventure Book: A spiral-bound book containing maps, unique rules, and story text.

Action cards: Used for movement, combat, and other actions.

Encounter cards: Generate encounters with other animals.

Mission cards: Guide players through the campaign.

Resource tokens: Track food, scrap, and other supplies.

Status dials: Monitor colony population, morale, and other metrics.

Travel Map: For tracking movements around the city.

Resolution dice: Used for resolving skill tests and combat.

How To Setup Aftermath

Setting up Aftermath involves organizing the various decks and components. Each player selects a character, receives starting items and special skills, and places their miniature on the starting location on the map. The initial mission card is drawn, and the necessary pages in the adventure book are referenced. Players also set up the status dials and tokens to track resources and colony health. The game requires sorting out several decks, including action cards, encounter cards, and mission cards, but once this is done, the gameplay becomes more streamlined.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Campaign-based gameplay: Players go through a series of missions until they complete all goals or lose.

Action card system: Players use cards to perform actions like movement, combat, and scavenging.

Skill tests: Using action cards and resolution dice to overcome challenges.

Encounter system: Drawing encounter cards to interact with other animals, which can lead to new allies or enemies.

Resource management: Gathering food, scrap, and other supplies to sustain the colony.

Colony building: Upgrading colony structures and unlocking new abilities.

Mission selection: Choosing main and side missions that influence the story and gameplay.

Player Experience

Playing Aftermath immerses players in a post-apocalyptic world where they must navigate the challenges of survival as rodents. The game offers a mix of exploration, combat, and resource management, with a strong narrative focus. The adventure book provides a dynamic story that changes based on player actions and choices. The game’s design encourages cooperation and strategic planning, as players must work together to ensure the survival of their colony. Despite some initial complexity with the rules, the game becomes engaging and addictive as players progress through the campaign.

Pros

Engaging narrative: The game’s story is well-written and immersive, with a dark yet appealing post-apocalyptic theme.

Flexible action system: The card-based action system allows for more strategy and less randomness compared to the dice system in other Adventure Book Games.

High replayability: The encounter system and random events ensure that each mission is unique.

Colony building: Upgrading and managing the colony adds a satisfying layer of depth to the game.

Family-friendly: Suitable for older children and families, though it maintains a level of complexity for adult players.

Cons

Rule complexity: The constant introduction of new rules can make the game slow and clumsy, especially in the early missions.

Repetitive gameplay: Some actions and missions can feel repetitive as the campaign progresses.

Rulebook issues: The rulebook could be improved for better clarity.

Monotony: The game can feel monotonous due to the repeated use of the same mechanics in different missions.

Personal Thoughts on Aftermath

Aftermath is ideal for fans of cooperative games and narrative-driven experiences. It is particularly suited for families with older children and for players who enjoy games with a strong RPG-like feel. The game’s unique setting and engaging mechanics make it a standout in the Adventure Book Games series. However, it may not be the best fit for those seeking fast-paced action or simplicity in rules, as it requires some initial investment in understanding the game’s mechanics. Overall, Aftermath offers a rich and immersive gaming experience that rewards strategic planning and teamwork.

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