Delve (2017) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Delve is a board game released in 2017, designed by Scott Hartman. The game is all about exploration and fantasy, where players delve into dungeons to find treasure. With a playing time of around 60 minutes, Delve is suitable for 2 to 4 players aged 14 and above.

Game Components of Delve

Tiles: Used to create the dungeon, including corridors and rooms.

Delvers: Five tile-shaped meeples per player, each with unique dice pools.

Faction Cards: Each faction (elves, swordsmen, wraiths, and kobolds) has unique powers.

Encounter Cards: For “choose your own adventure” scenarios.

Dice: Custom dice with swords for fighting and coins for gathering loot.

Gold and Treasure Tokens: For scoring and loot distribution.

Sun Tiles: Indicate the end of the game when a certain number are played.

Speed Symbols and Torches: Additional elements on tiles affecting gameplay.

How To Setup Delve

To set up Delve, players start by drawing three tiles each, a common house rule adapted from Carcassonne. Each player chooses a faction and places their delvers on the table. The dungeon is built by laying out tiles to create rooms and corridors. Players place one of their delvers on the tile they lay, and the game proceeds with each player taking turns laying tiles and placing delvers. When a room or corridor is completed, players resolve the encounter or combat based on the tiles and delvers present.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile-Laying: Players create the dungeon by laying tiles.

Dice-Driven Combat: Delvers fight for treasure using custom dice.

Encounter Resolution: Solo players face “choose your own adventure” encounters.

Faction Powers: Unique abilities for each faction.

Speed Symbols and Torches: Additional elements affecting gameplay.

Objective: The player with the most gold and treasure at the end of the game wins. The game ends when a certain number of sun tiles are played or the gold deck runs out.

Player Experience

Delve offers a engaging and dynamic experience, blending strategy and luck. Players enjoy the tension generated by dice rolls, encounters, and the competition for treasure. The game is praised for its immersive narrative and the variety introduced by different factions and encounter cards. Players can experience a different adventure each game due to the random tile draws and encounter outcomes. The game is enjoyable for both tweens and adults, providing a fun and exciting experience of building a dungeon and fighting for control.

Pros

Immersive Narrative: Combines tile-laying with “choose your own adventure” encounters.

High Replayability: Random tile draws and encounter cards ensure unique games.

Balanced Luck and Strategy: Keeps final scores close despite different skill levels.

Engaging Mechanics: Dice-driven combat and faction powers add tension and variety.

Accessible: Simple to learn, yet offers deep strategic decisions.

Cons

Component Issues: Delver pieces can be too large for some rooms.

Randomness: Some players may find the high randomness in dice rolls and tile draws frustrating.

Limited Encounter Cards: After multiple plays, the encounter cards may become less surprising.

Personal Thoughts on Delve

Delve is ideal for those who enjoy dungeon crawlers and tile-laying games with a strong narrative element. It’s a great choice for families and groups looking for a game that combines strategy and luck, ensuring close and exciting matches regardless of player skill levels. While it may appeal more to fans of Ameritrash games due to its dice-driven combat and adventure encounters, it also offers a unique experience for those familiar with Carcassonne but seeking more adventure and interaction. However, players who prefer purely strategic games might find the randomness and luck elements less appealing. Overall, Delve is a fun and engaging game that adds a fresh twist to the tile-laying genre.

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