Doggerland (2023) Board Game

Doggerland is a board game set in prehistoric times, specifically during the Mesolithic era when a landmass known as Doggerland connected Britain to mainland Europe. Players take on the roles of tribes who must navigate the changing landscape, gather resources, and compete for survival in this challenging environment.

Game Components of Doggerland

Player boards: Each player has a board to manage their tribe’s actions.

Worker meeples: Used for placing on various action spaces.

Resource tokens: Representing different resources such as food, tools, and other materials.

Big game meeples: Four kinds of big game requiring specific levels of know-how to hunt.

Cave painting meeples: Used for creating cave paintings.

Shaman piece: For special once-per-game actions.

Map tiles: Expanding the game board as players progress.

Hut and craft tokens: For building houses and creating arts and crafts.

Winter and summer tokens: Indicating the current season, affecting resource costs.

How To Setup Doggerland

Setup involves each player receiving a player board and initial worker meeples. The game board starts with a central tile and expands as players place their components. Players also receive starting resources and set up their initial tent location. The first player guides the others through the phases on their player boards.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Worker Placement: Players place their worker meeples on action spaces to gather resources, hunt, create cave paintings, and perform other tasks.

Resource Management: Managing carrying capacity and distance from the tent to gather resources efficiently.

Seasonal Changes: Alternating between summer and winter phases, with increased costs during winter.

Big Game Hunting: Hunting big game meeples requires meeting specific know-how thresholds.

Map Expansion: The board expands as players place components, revealing new resource spots.

Objective: Keep your tribe alive, feed them, build houses, create arts and crafts, and score points for these achievements.

Player Experience

In **Doggerland**, players experience a strategic game of resource management and tribe survival. The game is structured into five phases, with the first phase involving “programming” actions by placing worker meeples. These actions are executed in the third phase, allowing for a planned approach to resource gathering and task completion. The game features automatic animal movement and resource spoilage, adding a layer of realism and scarcity. The alternating seasons and limited resource areas ensure that players must continually adapt and manage their tribe’s needs.

Pros

Engaging Resource Management: Requires careful planning and management of resources.

Dynamic Board: The board expands and changes as the game progresses, offering new opportunities.

Seasonal Mechanics: Adds a layer of realism and challenge with seasonal cost changes.

Variety of Tasks: Includes hunting, cave painting, and crafting, providing diverse gameplay experiences.

Cons

Limited Player Interaction: Primarily focuses on individual resource management rather than direct player interaction.

Repetitive Phases: The five phases, while well-structured, can feel repetitive for some players.

Component Management: Managing the various components, especially the big game meeples and resource tokens, can be cumbersome.

Personal Thoughts on Doggerland

**Doggerland** is ideal for fans of worker placement and resource management games. It offers a well-designed, if somewhat familiar, gameplay experience that is enjoyable for those who appreciate strategic planning and tribe management. While it may lack in direct player interaction, the game’s dynamic board and seasonal mechanics make it engaging and challenging. It is suitable for players looking for a game that captures the essence of prehistoric survival and strategy.

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