Crows (2010) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Crows, designed by Patrick LaMontagne and released in 2010, is a board game that revolves around these intelligent and cunning birds. The game is published by Valley Games, Inc. and falls under the category of Animals. With a playing time of around 45 minutes and suitable for players aged 10 and above, Crows offers a unique and engaging gaming experience.

Game Components of Crows

53 modular tiles (including empty trees, trees with 1-3 crows, trinkets, cemeteries, and trash tiles)

38 wooden crow tokens

8 shiny object tokens (plastic gems in four different colors)

20 special tokens

First player marker

Scoreboard and 100+ markers

Mana totems and spell cards (in the redesigned version)

How To Setup Crows

The game begins with an initial setup of nine randomly chosen tiles placed in a diamond-shaped grid, leaving spaces between each tile. Each player receives two shiny objects and a trash tile. The remaining tiles and special tokens are shuffled and placed face down, with some returned to the box in two- and three-player games. The player who most recently saw a crow goes first.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Tile-laying: Players draw and place tiles on the board

Token placement: Crows are placed on tiles according to the tile’s illustration

Shiny object placement: Players place their shiny objects on empty tiles to attract crows

Special tokens: Players can use special tokens to influence crow movement or scoring

Crow movement: Crows move towards the nearest shiny object at the end of each round, not diagonally and not crossing gaps

Game Objective

The objective is to attract the most crows to your shiny objects. Players score points for the crows attracted, with bonuses for crows attracted to shiny objects placed in cemeteries. The game ends when the tiles run out, and the player with the most points wins.

Player Experience

**Crows** offers a light, fun, and strategic gaming experience. Players must carefully plan their tile and shiny object placements to maximize their crow attraction. The game requires mental calculation, especially considering the impact of other players’ moves. It is a great filler game for game nights, providing enough strategy to keep players engaged without being overly complex.

Pros

Engaging Mechanics: The combination of tile-laying and shiny object placement creates a compelling puzzle-like experience

Thematic Design: The game’s dark, comic evil flair and well-designed components enhance the gameplay experience

Family-Friendly: Suitable for players aged 10 and up, making it a good option for family game nights

Replayability: The modular board and random tile placement ensure a different game each time

Cons

Turn Order Dependency: Strategies can be heavily influenced by turn order, which may cause some frustration

Luck Factor: Random tile draws can introduce a significant element of luck, affecting player strategies

Personal Thoughts on Crows

**Crows** is a perfect game for those looking for a light, abstract strategy game with a touch of theme. It is ideal for families or casual gamers who enjoy puzzle-like gameplay and strategic planning. The game’s components and design make it visually appealing, and its mechanics are engaging enough to keep players thinking without being overly complex. For gamers seeking a fun and quick game to start or end a game night, **Crows** is an excellent choice.

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