Aristeia! (2017) Board Game
Aristeia! is a competitive board game that was released in 2017 by Corvus Belli, a Spanish company known for their miniature wargames. Set in a futuristic world, Aristeia! combines elements of fighting, miniatures, science fiction, and sports, making it a unique and engaging game for players.
## Game Components of Aristeia!
– **Game Board**: Double-sided, made of hexes, with identical layouts but different visual designs.
– **Miniatures**: Eight characters in the core set, each with unique abilities and designs.
– **Tactics Cards**: 52 cards providing special actions, such as immobilizing enemies, adding dice to rolls, and other tricks.
– **Custom Dice**: Symbols are concave for durability, used for resolving actions and conflicts.
– **Control Panels**: Two panels for managing player actions and resources.
– **Rulebook and Reference Guide**: A comprehensive rulebook and a handy half-page reference guide.
## How To Setup Aristeia!
To set up Aristeia!, players first choose the game board side they prefer. Each player builds a team of four characters (Aristos) and creates a custom deck of Tactics cards. The game board is laid out, and the scoring zones are determined for the first round. Players then place their characters in the starting areas of the HexaDome arena.
## Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
– **Game Category**: Fighting, Miniatures, Science Fiction.
– **Mechanics**: Action Points, Area Majority / Influence, Deck, Bag, and Pool Building, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, Hand Management, Line of Sight, Variable Player Powers.
– **Objective**: The objective is to score points by having the most characters in the scoring zone at the end of each round. The game consists of five rounds, with the team having the most points at the end declared the winner.
## Player Experience
Aristeia offers a strategic and tactical gameplay experience. Players must pre-plan the order of their characters’ actions at the start of each round and then take turns using these actions to move, attack, or use special abilities. The game features a lot of dice rolling, which can add an element of luck but also allows for exciting combos and strategic play. The deck-building and team customization elements add depth and replayability to the game.
### Pros
– **Deep Strategy**: The game combines pre-programmed actions, action points, and deck building for a rich strategic experience.
– **High Replayability**: With multiple characters and deck customization options, the game offers a high level of replayability.
– **Engaging Combat**: The combat mechanics, including dice rolling and special abilities, make for engaging and tactical gameplay.
### Cons
– **Luck Dependency**: The game can feel luck-dependent due to the extensive use of dice rolling.
– **Visual Design**: Some players find the visual design, particularly the pastel colors of the Tactics cards, less appealing.
– **Complexity for New Players**: The game has a lot of key words, special skills, and triggered mechanisms that can be confusing for new players.
## Personal Thoughts on Aristeia!
Aristeia is best suited for experienced board game players who enjoy tactical combat and strategic planning. It is particularly appealing to fans of the Infinity universe and those who enjoy games with deep customization and replayability. While it may not be the best choice for casual gamers or those new to complex board games, it offers a rewarding experience for those who invest the time to understand its mechanics.
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