Disney Villainous: Despicable Plots (2021) Board Game

Disney Villainous: Despicable Plots is an expansion to the popular board game Disney Villainous. Released in 2021, this expansion introduces three new villains to the game: Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, Lady Tremaine from Cinderella, and The Horned King from The Black Cauldron. Players take on the roles of these iconic Disney villains, each with their own unique objectives and powers, in a battle to see who can achieve their wicked goals first.

Game Components of Disney Villainous: Despicable Plots

Villain Cards: Gaston, Lady Tremaine, and the Horned King

Realm Boards: Each villain has a unique board

Fate Decks: Cards that introduce twists and challenges

Obstacle Tokens: Used by Gaston to block his objectives

Trap Tokens: Used by Lady Tremaine to deal with allies

Cauldron Born Tokens: Used by the Horned King for his soldiers

Specialty Cards: Various cards to aid in achieving villainous goals

How To Setup Disney Villainous: Despicable Plots

To set up the game, each player selects a villain and their corresponding realm board. Each player starts with a hand of cards and a fate deck. The game components are distributed according to the specific rules for each villain. For example, Gaston starts with obstacle tokens in his realm, Lady Tremaine needs to unlock the ballroom, and the Horned King must claim the Black Cauldron.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Hand Management: Players manage their cards to achieve objectives.

Take That: Players can disrupt their opponents’ plans.

Variable Player Powers: Each villain has unique abilities and goals.

Gaston’s Objective: Remove all obstacle tokens from his realm.

Lady Tremaine’s Objective: Marry one of her daughters to the prince by completing a sequence of card plays.

Horned King’s Objective: Fill his realm with Cauldron Born by powering up the Black Cauldron.

Player Experience

Playing Disney Villainous: Despicable Plots can be a mixed bag. Lady Tremaine is often praised for her unique and thematic gameplay, requiring strategic planning and defense against her fate deck. The Horned King offers a balanced experience with a focus on gradual progress towards his goal. However, Gaston is frequently criticized for hisGeneric and frustrating gameplay, where progress can be quickly undone by fate cards.

Pros

Standalone Expansion: Can be played without the base game.

Unique Villains: Each villain has distinct mechanics and objectives.

Thematic Gameplay: Lady Tremaine and the Horned King feel very thematic to their respective movies.

Hand Management and Strategy: Requires careful planning and card management.

Cons

Quality Issues: Some players have reported errors in card text and lower quality physical components.

Gaston’s Frustrating Gameplay: His mechanics can feel repetitive and unthematic.

Complexity: Lady Tremaine’s gameplay, while engaging, can be complex and scripted.

Personal Thoughts on Disney Villainous: Despicable Plots

Disney Villainous: Despicable Plots is a good addition to the Villainous series, particularly for fans of the included villains. It is best suited for those who enjoy strategic card games and are familiar with the Disney universe. While it has its highs, such as Lady Tremaine’s engaging gameplay, it also has its lows, like Gaston’s disappointing mechanics. New players might find it beneficial to start with another expansion before diving into this one, but for dedicated fans, it offers more creative and unique ways to play as their favorite villains.

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