Era of Kingdoms (2019) Board Game

Era of Kingdoms is a board game that was released in 2019, designed by Jeff Porter and illustrated by KC Games Co LLC. It falls under the categories of Civilization, Medieval, and Renaissance, offering players an immersive experience in building and managing their own kingdom.

Game Components of Era of Kingdoms

Player boards: Each player has a board to build and manage their kingdom.

Card decks: Basic, intermediate, and advanced cards for resource production, building upgrades, and hero recruitment.

Event cards: Cards that trigger specific actions or events during the game.

Treasure cards: Worth 1 victory point each, used for resource trading or as protection against attacks.

Status indicator cards: Town hall and castle cards to mark the kingdom’s progress.

Hero slots: Three spaces on the player board for recruiting heroes.

How To Setup Era of Kingdoms

To set up the game, each player starts with an empty player board and three Treasure cards. The main board displays a pool of face-up basic, intermediate, and advanced cards. Players begin by drafting basic cards to initiate their kingdom’s development.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Card drafting: Players select cards from a common pool or draw blind from the decks.

Resource management: Players manage resources to play and upgrade cards.

Building upgrades: Upgrade buildings to improve resource production and victory points.

Hero recruitment: Recruit heroes to enhance the kingdom.

Attacking and defending: Use event cards to attack other players and steal their Treasures.

Game Objective

Develop the kingdom: Progress through different eras by playing and upgrading cards.

Score victory points: Accumulate points through buildings, heroes, and Treasures.

Endgame: The game ends when a certain number of advanced cards are drawn; the player with the most victory points wins.

Player Experience

Era of Kingdoms offers a smooth and pleasant gameplay experience. Players are constantly upgrading their kingdoms, which creates a positive and encouraging atmosphere. There is a competitive element as players race to grab the best cards, and strategic thinking is required to balance resource management, building upgrades, and potential attacks from other players. The game strikes a clever balance between progression and aggression.

Pros

Engaging progression: Continuous upgrading and development of the kingdom keeps players engaged.

Balanced mechanics: The mix of resource management, card drafting, and strategic attacks creates a well-rounded gameplay experience.

Competitive yet flexible: Players can choose to focus on building or on attacking and defending.

Inclusive gameplay: Supports 1-4 players, including solo modes.

Cons

Limited building space: The fixed spaces on the player board can limit strategic flexibility.

Resource dependency: Players must manage resources carefully to avoid being unable to play cards.

Potential for imbalance: Stronger players may accumulate more resources and victory points, creating an imbalance.

Personal Thoughts on Era of Kingdoms

Era of Kingdoms is ideal for players who enjoy strategic card games with a focus on resource management and kingdom-building. It is suitable for both casual and experienced gamers due to its intuitive mechanics and escalating complexity. The game’s balance between progression and competition makes it appealing to those who like to think strategically while also engaging in light social interaction. However, players who prefer games with more direct conflict or extensive player interaction might find the aggression mechanics somewhat limited.

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