Bastion (2015) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Bastion is a cooperative board game designed by Evgeny Nikitin and Nikolay Pegasov. It was released in 2015 and published by Asmodee, a well-known publisher in the board game industry. The game is set in a fantasy world where players work together to defend the Bastion from invading hordes of enemies.

Game Components of Bastion

7 pieces of a two-sided Game Board (6 Districts and one Citadel)

1 Gates marker

4 Defender markers

5 plastic stands

90 Mana cubes (15 cubes in six colors)

112 cards (24 Main Squad Enemies, 48 Support Squad Enemies, 10 Legendary Squad Enemies, and 30 Rituals)

4 Reference Sheets

How To Setup Bastion

To set up Bastion, players start by assembling the game board, which consists of six Districts and a central Citadel. The Gates marker is placed on the joint line of any two Districts, with the Enemy deck positioned on the right of the last wall section. Each player selects a defender and places it on the board. The game begins with enemies on the first two Districts, and each player receives two semi-randomly chosen Rituals. The Mana Sources, Towers, and Foundations are also set up within each District.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: Players must collectively defeat all enemies in the Camp and those in the Enemy deck to win. If enemies breach the Gates, the players lose.

Gameplay Mechanics:
– Enemies move and new ones are added to the board from the Enemy deck.
– Players collect Mana from various sources to eliminate enemies.
– Each enemy has a specific Mana color and strength that must be matched to defeat it.
– Special abilities and spells can be used to aid in combat, such as converting defeated enemies into one-use spells.
– Players can build additional structures for future use.

Player Experience

In Bastion, players embark on a cooperative adventure to save their castle from an onslaught of enemies. The game requires strategic planning and resource management, as players must optimize the collection of Mana and the elimination of enemies. The gameplay is smooth and highly streamlined, with minimal luck involved. Despite the challenges posed by enemy abilities, playing the tutorial scenario helps ease players into the game. Building logical progressions and planning ahead are crucial for success.

Pros

Cooperative Gameplay: Encourages teamwork and strategic planning.

Resource Management: Engaging and challenging Mana collection and utilization.

Variety of Enemies: Different squads and special abilities keep the game exciting.

Replayability: Randomized enemy placement and rituals offer diverse gameplay experiences.

Cons

High Difficulty: Players are likely to lose, especially in the initial games.

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

Limited Randomness: While the enemy appearances are random, the game mechanics are highly deterministic.

Personal Thoughts on Bastion

Bastion is ideal for fans of cooperative games and tower defense mechanics. It is best suited for players who enjoy strategic planning, resource management, and a good challenge. The game’s ability to convert defeated enemies into useful spells and the variety of enemy types add a rich layer of depth, making it appealing to experienced board game enthusiasts. However, new players may find the initial setup and gameplay rules somewhat overwhelming, so a few practice rounds are recommended to fully appreciate the game.

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