Age of Mythology: The Boardgame (2003) Board Game

Age of Mythology: The Boardgame is a tabletop adaptation of the popular real-time strategy video game Age of Mythology, released in in 2003. Designed by Glenn Drover and published by Beacon Multimedia S.A., this board game brings the world of ancient civilizations and mythology to life on your tabletop. With a mix of campaign and battle card-driven mechanics, players can experience the excitement of building civilizations, engaging in warfare, and invoking the powers of mythical gods.

Game Components of Age of Mythology: The Boardgame

Player Boards: 6 boards, each with a 4×4 grid for buildings and resource tiles, a holding area for troops and resources, and lists for building costs and age advantages. There are two boards each for Greek, Norse, and Egyptian mythologies.

Units: 6 colors worth of plastic units, with 11-12 unit types per culture, including mortal, myth, and hero units, distinguished by different base shapes.

Resource and Building Tiles: Numerous tiles for resource production and building.

Cubes: 150 wooden cubes for resources.

Cards: Three decks of cultural cards (Battle, Permanent Action, and Random Action), and four Victory Point cards.

Dice: 8 dice.

Rulebook and Reference Card: One rulebook and one reference card.

How To Setup Age of Mythology: The Boardgame

Each player starts with a game board, filling up to 6 production spaces with resource-producing tiles. They begin with 6 mortal army units, 4 each of the resources (food, wood, gold, and favor), a deck of 7 Permanent Action cards, 11-12 Battle cards, and a shuffled deck of Random Action cards.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: Achieve victory by building an army, winning battles, expanding the city, and constructing a Wonder of the World.

Actions: Players select between 4 and 7 Action cards per round, choosing from Permanent Action cards and filling out their hand with Random Action cards.

Ages: Players progress through ages, each allowing different actions and capabilities.

Resource Management: Manage resources (food, wood, gold, and favor) to build, recruit, and perform actions.

Combat: Engage in battles using Battle cards and units.

Player Experience

Playing **Age of Mythology: The Boardgame** is an immersive experience that combines strategic planning, resource management, and a dash of luck. The game’s unique mechanic of selecting Action cards offers a balance between risk and reward, keeping players engaged and strategic throughout. The high-quality components, particularly the well-sculpted plastic units, add to the game’s appeal.

Pros

High-Quality Components: Beautifully sculpted plastic units and sturdy player boards.

Strategic Depth: Combines resource management, building, and combat for a rich gameplay experience.

Balanced Mechanics: The Action card system offers a good balance between strategy and luck.

Thematic Variety: Three distinct mythologies (Greek, Norse, Egyptian) provide diverse gameplay experiences.

Cons

Complex Setup: The initial setup can be time-consuming and complex.

Textual Annoyances: Some players find the lack of clear age tracking on the player boards and the organization of building costs to be minor irritants.

Personal Thoughts on Age of Mythology: The Boardgame

**Age of Mythology: The Boardgame** is ideal for fans of strategy and war games, particularly those who enjoy games with deep mechanics and thematic depth. It is suited for players looking for a challenging yet rewarding experience that combines resource management, building, and combat. While it may have some minor flaws in its design, the overall package makes for an engaging and memorable gaming experience.

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