Barrage (2019) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Barrage is a strategic board game that was released in 2019 by Cranio Creations. It is designed by Tommaso Battista and Simone Luciani, with artwork by Mauro Alocci, Antonio De Luca, and Roman Roland Kuteynikov. The game is set in a dystopian future where players compete to build the most efficient dam network in a world plagued by water scarcity.

Game Components of Barrage

Game board featuring the Alps with mountains, hills, and plains

Player boards for each company

Engineers (workers) for each player

Dams, powerhouses, and conduits

Resources (machinery tokens)

Construction wheel

Tech tiles

Victory point tokens

Contracts and bonus tiles

Executive Officer cards for unique player powers.

How To Setup Barrage

To set up Barrage, first, the game board is placed in the center, showing the Alpine region with its basins and rivers. Each player chooses a company board and an Executive Officer card, which provides unique abilities. The construction wheel is initialized, and each player receives a set of engineers and initial resources. The contracts and bonus tiles are shuffled and set aside according to the game’s setup rules. Finally, the players determine the starting player, and the game is ready to begin.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Worker Placement: Players place engineers on action spaces to build structures or perform actions.

Network and Route Building: Constructing dams, powerhouses, and conduits to manage water flow.

Action Retrieval: Resources and tiles are returned to players through the construction wheel.

Contracts: Fulfilling contracts to score victory points.

End Game Bonuses: Scoring points based on built structures and energy produced.

Game Objective

The objective is to score the most victory points by producing hydroelectric power, fulfilling contracts, and efficiently managing resources. Players build dams to hold water, powerhouses to generate energy, and conduits to route the water. The game spans five rounds, with scoring occurring at the end of each round and a final scoring phase.

Player Experience

Barrage is a game of long-term planning and tight resource management. Players must balance building essential structures with producing energy, as failing to produce energy results in point penalties. The game is highly interactive, with players competing for water resources and trying to disrupt their opponents’ plans. The unique player powers and variable setup ensure high replayability, making each game feel fresh and challenging.

Pros

Tight Worker Placement: Well-designed worker placement mechanics that avoid common pitfalls.

Interesting Resource Management: Resources are returned through the construction wheel, adding a twist to traditional resource management.

High Replayability: Variable player powers and setup ensure different experiences each time.

Interactive Gameplay: Constant competition and strategic planning against opponents.

Thematic Integration: The game mechanics align well with the theme of hydroelectric power generation.

Cons

Complexity: The game has a high complexity level, which may deter new players.

Long Playtime: Games typically last between 120 to 180 minutes.

Resource Scarcity: Initial resources are hard to come by, making early decisions crucial.

Component Issues: Some players have reported issues with component quality.

Personal Thoughts on Barrage

Barrage is ideal for experienced board game enthusiasts who enjoy strategic, economic, and industrial-themed games. It offers a deep and engaging experience, similar to games like Power Grid, Terraforming Mars, and Brass: Birmingham. However, it may not be the best fit for new players or those who prefer lighter, more casual games. With its unique mechanics and high replayability, Barrage is a great addition to any serious board game collection.

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