Deus lo Vult (2020) Board Game

Deus lo Vult is a board game released in 2020 by Hiatus Games. Designed by Michael Badelin and illustrated by Alex Komyakhov, the game is set in a medieval theme. With gameplay mechanics like area movement, deck-building, and tile placement, players are transported to a world where strategic decision-making is key.

Game Components of Deus lo Vult

Game Box: Gold-Foiled Laminated Magnetic Book-Shaped Game Box (300x300x65mm)

Game Board: Double-Sided Gold-Foiled Laminated Game Board (560 x 740 mm)

Unit Tokens: Double-Sided Gold Foiled Laminated Unit tokens (100 pcs)

Coins and Tokens: Saracenic Coins (36 pcs), Quarter tokens (12 pcs), Amenities Tokens (12 pcs), Heroes and Special Unit tokens (24 pcs)

Cards: Gold-Edged Divine Will cards (48 pcs)

Camp Boards: Double-Sided Gold-Foiled Laminated Camp Boards (4 pcs) (135x135mm)

Rules Codex: Full-Color Illuminated Duel Rules Codex 1.0

Plastic Organizer: For component management

Additional Units and Amenities: Various add-ons including Knights, Camel Archers, Cavalry, Archers, Light Cavalry, Greek Fire, Trebuchets, Imams, and Saladin.

How To Setup Deus lo Vult

Setup is quick, taking less than five minutes. Players start by organizing their components using the provided plastic organizer. Each player selects their army and sets up their camp boards. The shared enemy units, the Saracens, are also prepared. The game board is laid out, and the Divine Will cards are shuffled and distributed. Players then allocate their army points to choose their units and amenities.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Control Army: Players control an army of crusaders.

Loot Treasure: The objective is to loot as much treasure from the Holy Land as possible.

Hinder Opponents: Players use the shared army of Saracens to hinder other players’ progress.

Army Building: Players build and manage their armies within designated army points limits.

Camp Management: Manage camp boards for resource allocation.

Combat Mechanics: Unique movement and combat mechanics are used.

Divine Will Events: Manage God-sent Divine Will events to influence gameplay.

Player Experience

Deus lo Vult offers an engaging and strategic experience, blending elements of medieval warfare and resource management. Players must balance their own treasure loot with disrupting their opponents, making for a competitive and dynamic game environment. The game is easy to learn but challenging to master, with adjustable gameplay complexity to suit different player preferences.

Pros

Quick Setup: Setup takes less than five minutes.

Language-Independent: Game assets are language-independent.

Adjustable Complexity: Gameplay complexity can be adjusted.

Unique Mechanics: Unique movement and combat mechanics.

Rich Theme: Based on opulent European manuscripts and medieval military games.

Cons

Limited Availability: Currently out of stock in the US, with last copies available only in Europe.

Complex Rules: While easy to learn, the game has deep mechanics that may take time to fully grasp.

Personal Thoughts on Deus lo Vult

Deus lo Vult is ideal for fans of strategic board games, particularly those interested in medieval history and complex gameplay mechanics. It’s a great fit for players who enjoy competitive games with deep strategic layers and are willing to invest time in mastering the game. The game’s unique blend of army building, camp management, and divine events makes it a standout in the board game community.

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