Amber (2012) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Amber is a territory building and transportation board game that was released in 2012 by Rebel Sp. z o.o. It is designed by Tomasz Lewandowicz and features artwork by Ewa Kotowska. The game is suitable for 2 to 6 players, with a recommended age of 10 and above.

Game Components of Amber

Tokens: Coins, gems (yellow, blue, red), soldiers (swords)

Cards: Action cards, danger cards, event cards, upgrade cards

Board: Representing an amber forest, alchemist lab, town, and traveler

Other components: Amber tokens, alchemist slab, town and traveler figures

How To Setup Amber

To set up the game, each player starts with the same initial cards and tokens. This includes an amber forest with an amber token, an alchemist slab, a traveler, and a town. Players also begin with some money and soldiers. The deck is shuffled, and each player draws the top card to start their journey.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: Collect and sell gems to accumulate the most money.

Gameplay Mechanics:

Push-your-luck: Players draw cards to take actions, risking drawing danger cards.

Resource Management: Manage gems, money, and soldiers.

Upgrades: Upgrade alchemist lab, town, and other components to improve efficiency.

Action Cards: Use actions to produce gems, move gems to town, and sell gems.

Danger Cards: Mitigate dangers using soldiers or suffer penalties.

Event Cards: Utilize event cards to gain advantages or change game state.

Player Experience

Playing Amber can be a mixed bag. The game starts off promisingly with its medieval theme and the intriguing concept of pushing your luck to gather resources. However, the gameplay quickly reveals its flaws. The game is heavily reliant on luck, with the draw of cards determining much of the outcome. This can lead to frustrating moments where players draw multiple danger cards in a row, essentially ending their turn without progress.

Pros

Engaging Concept: The idea of pushing your luck and managing resources is initially engaging.

Medieval Theme: The game has a distinct medieval flair that some players might enjoy.

Simple Rules: The basic rules of the game are not difficult to learn.

Cons

High Luck Dependency: The game’s outcome is heavily influenced by the draw of cards, leading to significant luck rather than strategy.

Limited Upgrades: The upgrades available are not very diverse, making choices feel repetitive.

Frustrating Randomness: Games can be won or lost in the final turn based on a single lucky draw, which can be frustrating.

Lack of Strong Decision-Making: Players have limited meaningful decisions, as choices are often between similar actions.

Personal Thoughts on Amber

Amber is a game that promises much but delivers little in terms of satisfaction. It is best suited for casual players who enjoy a light, luck-based game and are not looking for deep strategic gameplay. However, for players seeking a game with strong decision-making and less randomness, Amber may not be the best choice. The game’s reliance on luck and its lack of diverse upgrades make it feel somewhat half-baked and less enjoyable over multiple playthroughs.

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