Broom Service (2015) – Board Game Guys

Broom Service

Broom Service is a role selection board game designed by Andreas Pelikan and Alexander Pfister, and published by Ravensburger in 2015. It is an adaptation of Pelikan’s 2008 card game Witches’ Brew. The game won the 2015 Kennerspiel, the Spiel des Jahres connoisseurs game of the year award.

Why is Broom Service Popular?

Broom Service is a popular game due to its unique Gameplay Mechanics of Broom Service and the use of role selection. The game is significant because it won the 2015 Kennerspiel, which is a prestigious award in the board game industry.

Game Components of Broom Service

Player boards

Witch game pieces

Potion tokens (green, purple, and red)

Roll cards with strong and weak actions

Tower tiles (square top and round top)

Cloud tiles

Weather fairy cards

Event cards

Victory point tokens

Wands (for magic actions)

How To Setup Broom Service

To set up the game, each player receives a set of identical roll cards and one potion of each color. The board is placed in the middle, with tower tiles and cloud tiles arranged accordingly. At the beginning of each round, players simultaneously choose four of their 10 roll cards to form their hand.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Card Selection: Players choose four roll cards at the start of each round.

Action Resolution: Players announce whether they will take the strong (brave) or weak (cowardly) action on their chosen card. If a player chooses the brave action, the next player to the left must reveal if they have the same card; if they do, they take the action instead.

Potion Delivery: Players move their witches around the board to deliver potions to towers, earning victory points.

Event Cards: Each round, an event card is revealed, introducing special abilities or restrictions.

Cloud Management: Players can use weather fairy cards to dispel clouds, allowing movement onto cloud tiles.

Game Objective: The player with the most victory points after seven rounds wins.

Player Experience

Playing **Broom Service** involves a mix of strategy and luck. The game’s central mechanic of choosing brave or cowardly actions adds a layer of tension and deduction, as players must guess whether others have the same card. The artwork and theme are charming, reminiscent of “Kiki’s Delivery Service.”

Pros

Easy to Teach: The game can be explained in about 20 minutes.

Deep Strategy: Despite simple rules, the game offers complex strategic decisions.

Engaging Theme: The game’s artwork and theme are appealing and family-friendly.

Social Interaction: The game includes a “take that” element, allowing players to disrupt opponents’ plans.

Cons

Abstract Feel: The game can feel a bit abstract, particularly with the board components not fully matching the card artwork.

Unfair Turns: Players can have turns where they cannot take any actions due to card choices by others.

Card Removal: In lower player counts, some cards are removed, which can feel sloppy and may hinder gameplay.

Personal Thoughts on Broom Service

**Broom Service** is ideal for those looking for a game that is easy to teach but hard to master. It suits players who enjoy strategic planning with a bit of luck and social interaction. However, it may not be the best choice for those seeking a highly thematic experience or those who get frustrated with unpredictable turns. Despite its flaws, it remains a fun and engaging game, especially with higher player counts.

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