Carthage (2018) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Carthage is a board game released in 2018, designed by Sheena Seinen and Luke Seinen. It is set in ancient times and focuses on fighting and strategy. The game has a cooperative element, where players work together to achieve a common goal, but also includes player elimination and take that mechanics to keep things competitive.

Game Components of Carthage

Gladiator Miniatures: Five unique, realistically sculpted miniatures.

Player Boards: Thick, high-quality boards for each player.

Cards: Starting decks of 10 basic cards, a market of Action cards, and a Theater deck.

Arena Tokens: Tokens that grant rewards for reaching certain areas of the board.

Favor Tokens: Used to purchase new cards and take actions.

Theater Cards: Cards that introduce twists and challenges each round.

How To Setup Carthage

To set up Carthage, each player begins with a matching deck of 10 basic cards, shuffled and placed on their player board. Each player starts with 15 armor (health) and 0 favor. The game board consists of a hex-filled arena where players place their gladiator miniatures. A 5-card market of Action cards is set to one side, and the Theater deck is placed on the other side. The starting player is determined by a unique method, such as the last player to have bled.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Theater Phase: A new Theater card is drawn, introducing a twist or challenge for the round.

Action Phase: Players draw a hand of 5 cards and play them one at a time, performing actions such as movement, gaining armor, attacking opponents, or earning favor.

Favor Phase: Players spend their favor to purchase new cards or take other actions.

Objective: The last gladiator standing, with armor above 0, wins the game.

Player Experience

Playing Carthage is an immersive experience that transports players to an ancient gladiatorial arena. The game requires strategic thinking, balancing movement, attacks, and crowd-pleasing actions. Players must navigate the arena, gather armor and weapons, and outmaneuver their opponents while managing the favor of the crowd. The game is engaging for both children and adults, though the theme and some imagery may be too intense for younger players.

Pros

High Replay Value: Multiple setups, additions, cards, and modular rulesets ensure a different experience each time.

Immersive Theme: The game’s thematic artwork and mechanics create a compelling and immersive experience.

Balanced Gameplay: Players progress at a good pace together, maintaining a balanced and challenging experience.

Customizable: Various modules and mini-expansions, such as arena beasts and theater legends, add variety to the game.

Versatile Player Count: Enjoyable with 2-5 players, including solo and co-op modes.

Cons

Player Elimination: Players can be eliminated early, which may lead to downtime, though the game’s quick pace minimizes this issue.

Pacing Problems: As the game progresses and fewer gladiators remain, the game can drag, especially in solo or co-op modes.

Complexity for Younger Players: While younger players can understand the basic game, the strategy and complexity may be overwhelming for some.

Personal Thoughts on Carthage

Carthage is highly recommended for fans of light to mid-level strategy games, especially those who enjoy deck-building and arena combat. It is an excellent choice for engaging game nights with teenagers, parents, or a mix of both. However, it may not be the best fit for highly competitive players who are sensitive to “fighty” games or for those who dislike player elimination mechanics. The game’s unique blend of strategy and theme makes it a standout in its category, offering a fun and challenging experience for a wide range of players.

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