Edge of Darkness (2019) Board Game

Edge of Darkness is a tabletop board game released in 2019, designed by Sergio Camarena, Cristian Chihaia, Nyra Drakae, and Guillaume Ducos. Published by Alderac Entertainment Group, the game falls under the fantasy category and offers a unique blend of mechanics such as Cube Tower, Deck, Bag, and Pool Building, Open Drafting, and Solo/Solitaire gameplay options.

Game Components of Edge of Darkness

Game Board

Optional Extension Boards

Player Boards

Location Boards

Threat Tower

Threat Bag

Threat Cubes

Agents

First Player Marker

Round Marker

Allegiance Slips

Neutral Starter Cards

Guild Starter Cards

Card Sleeves

Double-sided Card Advancements

Reference Cards

Scoring Pad

Aegisian Coin Tokens

Reputation Tokens

Player Aid Tokens

Influence/Goodwill Tokens

Defense Tokens

Rulebook

Player Handbook.

How To Setup Edge of Darkness

Setting up Edge of Darkness involves several steps, including assembling the game board, distributing player boards, and preparing the threat tower and threat bag. Players must also organize the card inserts, sleeve the cards if desired, and snap on the bases for various components. The setup can be somewhat intricate due to the numerous rules and components involved.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Card Crafting: Players build and modify their decks throughout the game.

Worker Placement: Players place agents to perform various actions.

Shared Deckbuilding: Players share a common deck that evolves over the game.

Objective: The goal is to protect the city of Aegis from the Blight by managing resources, building defenses, and making strategic card combinations. The guild that contributes the most to the city’s defense will emerge as the leader.

Player Experience

Edge of Darkness offers a rich and immersive experience with high replay value, thanks to its unique mechanics and almost endless variations in game setup. Players appreciate the game’s visual presence, the meaningful choices and combos, and the inclusion of a solo mode. However, the initial setup and learning the rules can be complex and time-consuming.

Pros

High replay value

Meaningful choices and combos

Inclusive solo mode

Visually impressive game setup

Combines worker placement and card drafting/deck building mechanics effectively.

Cons

Complex and time-consuming initial setup

Intricate rules that can be overwhelming at first

Requires significant time to sleeve and organize components.

Personal Thoughts on Edge of Darkness

Edge of Darkness is a great fit for fans of Mystic Vale and those who enjoy card crafting and worker placement mechanics. It is ideal for players who appreciate deep strategy and are willing to invest time in learning and setting up the game. The game’s complexity and depth make it more suited for experienced board game enthusiasts rather than newcomers to the hobby.

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