Colony (2001) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Colony is a board game released in 2001 by Spieltrieb. It falls under the categories of civilization, economic, and exploration games, where players compete to build the most prosperous colony. With a runtime of 360 minutes, it can accommodate 2 to 6 players.

Game Components of Colony

Player Cards: Each player starts with four unique cards.

Dice: 28 stable (white) and unstable (grey) dice, each side representing different resources.

CHIPI Tokens: Used to roll additional unstable dice.

Basic and Variable Cards: 28 different types of cards, with seven used in each game, categorized into Production, Exchange, Trade, Attack, Other, Paragon, and Defensive.

Scoreboard: To track victory points.

Setup App: A free app to help with variable setup configurations.

How To Setup Colony

To set up *Colony*, each player selects a color and takes their four starting cards. All dice, CHIPI tokens, and the scoreboard are placed within reach. Six Basic cards are laid out, and seven unique cards are added from a pool of 28, either using suggested configurations or the setup app. Players start with three stable dice, roll them, and place them in their warehouse. The game is ready to begin once a starting player is selected.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Dice Drafting: Players roll three stable dice, select one, and pass the others to the next player.

Resource Management: Manage stable and unstable dice resources.

Card Activation: Activate cards to build, upgrade, or manipulate resources.

Game Objective: Be the first player to achieve a predetermined number of victory points (15 in a 4-player game, 16 in a 3-player game, and 20 in a 2-player game).

Player Experience

*Colony* offers a dynamic and changing resource management game where players must creatively manage their dice resources to build and upgrade buildings. The variable setup ensures multiple strategies and replayability. However, with four players, there might be a slight downtime issue, but this can be mitigated with experienced players.

Pros

Variable Setup: Ensures high replayability with different card combinations.

Deep Strategy: Combines engine building, resource management, and dice manipulation.

Creative Thinking: Rewards players for thinking creatively about resource use.

Dynamic Gameplay: Changes with each game due to different card selections.

Cons

Learning Curve: Requires understanding of complex mechanics.

Downtime: Potential for longer turns with four players.

Luck Factor: Although mitigated, dice rolling introduces some luck.

Personal Thoughts on Colony

*Colony* is ideal for fans of strategic and engine-building games who enjoy resource management and variable setups. It suits players looking for a game that challenges them to think creatively and adapt to changing circumstances. While it may not be the best fit for casual or new board game enthusiasts due to its complexity, it is a gem for those who appreciate depth and replayability in their gaming experiences.

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