Charterstone (2017) – Board Game Guys

Charterstone

Charterstone is a board game for 1-6 players designed by Jamey Stegmaier and released by Stonemaier Games in 2017. It is a competitive legacy game where players work together over a twelve-game campaign to build a village while simultaneously competing to win each game and ultimately win the campaign. The game board and rules develop uniquely depending on the choices made by the players, so that by the end of a twelve-game campaign, each playthrough of Charterstone develops into a different game.

Why is Charterstone Popular?

Charterstone is a popular game because of its unique Gameplay Mechanics of Charterstone and the legacy aspect of the game. The game is designed as a “legacy board game,” meaning that each game played influences, or leaves a legacy, for subsequent games within a larger campaign. The game’s components, including the game board and rules, develop uniquely depending on the choices made by the players, making each playthrough of Charterstone a different game.

Game Components of Charterstone

Game Board: Double-sided, allowing for replayability with the Recharge pack.

Building Cards: Over 300 cards, including building cards, advancement cards, and crate cards.

Workers: Wooden meeples for each player.

Resources: Tokens for wheat, wood, iron, clay, coal, and pumpkins.

Influence Markers: Used for various actions and tracking reputation.

Metal Coins: High-quality, heavy coins for transactions.

Guidepost Cards: Provide objectives and special rules for each game.

Rulebook: Initially incomplete, with new rules added throughout the campaign.

Charter Boxes: Each player has a charter box with 6 spaces for building construction.

How To Setup Charterstone

To set up Charterstone, start by placing the game board in the center of the playing area. Each player selects a charter box and places it on the designated area of the board. The rulebook is initially incomplete, with only basic rules provided. Players begin by drawing the first guidepost card, which initiates the story and explains the initial objectives. The first building cards are distributed, and players start constructing their first buildings in their charter areas.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Worker Placement: Players place workers on action spaces to generate resources, build buildings, or score objectives.

Action Selection: Players can either place one worker or retrieve all their workers on their turn.

Building Construction: Players build buildings in their charter areas, which provide various benefits.

Crate Opening: Players can open crates to unlock new cards, rules, and game components.

Reputation Track: Players use influence markers to gain points based on majorities on the reputation track.

Game Objective: The goal is to earn the most victory points by achieving objectives, building valuable buildings, and managing resources efficiently.

Player Experience

Charterstone offers a dynamic and evolving experience as players build and customize their village over 12 games. The game starts simple but gradually introduces new rules, buildings, and challenges, keeping the gameplay engaging and fresh. Players enjoy the thrill of discovery as new elements are unlocked, and the game’s progress tracker moves forward. The ability to visit and use buildings in other players’ charter areas adds a layer of interaction and strategy.

Pros

Engaging Campaign: 12 games with unique objectives and evolving gameplay.

High-Quality Components: Beautiful artwork, wooden tokens, and heavy metal coins.

Customization: Players build and customize their part of the village.

Dynamic Gameplay: New rules and elements are introduced in each game.

Replayability: Double-sided board and the option to replay with the Recharge pack.

Cons

Complexity Increase: The game can become overwhelming with numerous options and rules added over time.

Analysis Paralysis: Players may experience slow turns due to overthinking their strategies.

Limited Crafting Impact: Some players may find the crafting system, introduced late in the campaign, underutilized.

Personal Thoughts on Charterstone

Charterstone is ideal for players who enjoy legacy games, worker placement mechanics, and campaign-style gameplay. It is suited for those who appreciate gradual rule introduction and the excitement of discovering new elements as the game progresses. While it can be played with 1-6 players, it remains enjoyable even with just two players. Charterstone is a great choice for anyone looking for a medium-weight game with high-quality components and engaging, evolving gameplay. However, players who prefer straightforward, simple rules may find the increasing complexity and rule additions challenging.

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