Faraway (2023) Board Game
Faraway is a board game released in 2023 by Catch Up Games, designed by Johannes Goupy and Corentin Lebrat. The game falls under the adventure, card game, and fantasy categories, offering players a unique gaming experience with its mechanics such as contracts, open drafting, set collection, and simultaneous action selection.
## Game Components of Faraway
– **Region Cards**: A deck of 68 cards, each numbered from 1 to 68, providing resources or scoring opportunities.
– **Sanctuary Cards**: A separate deck of 45 cards that offer resources or scoring opportunities and remain visible throughout the game.
– **Player Hand**: Each player starts with a hand of three Region cards.
– **Drafting Pool**: A face-up pool of cards equal to the number of players plus one.
– **Scoring Sheet**: For recording scores.
## How To Setup Faraway
To set up Faraway, shuffle the Region and Sanctuary cards and form two separate face-down stacks. Deal three Region cards to each player and create a drafting pool with a number of cards equal to the number of players plus one.
## Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
### Mechanics
– **Card Drafting**: Players secretly and simultaneously choose a card from their hand to play.
– **Priority System**: The card with the lowest number determines the playing order.
– **Sanctuary Cards**: Acquired when a player plays a card with a higher number than the previous card.
– **Resource Management**: Cards provide resources or scoring opportunities.
– **Reverse Scoring**: Cards are scored in the reverse order they were played.
### Game Objective
– **Score Points**: Players aim to earn the most points by fulfilling the conditions on their Region and Sanctuary cards.
– **Exploration**: Represented by playing eight Region cards from left to right and then scoring them from right to left.
## Player Experience
Faraway is known for its quick gameplay, typically lasting around 20 minutes. It combines speed, strategy, and a push-your-luck mechanic, making it engaging and challenging. The game’s unique reverse scoring mechanism requires players to think forward and backward, adding a layer of complexity that becomes clearer after the first few plays. Players must adapt their strategy based on the cards they draw and the Sanctuary cards they acquire.
### Pros
– **Quick to Play**: Games are fast-paced, lasting about 20 minutes.
– **Unusual Reverse Scoring**: Adds a unique twist to the gameplay.
– **Strategic Depth**: Requires forward and backward thinking.
– **High Replayability**: Encourages multiple plays to develop strategy.
### Cons
– **Luck of the Cards**: Some luck is involved in the cards drawn.
– **Can Feel Short**: Some players might find the game too brief.
– **Initial Learning Curve**: Takes a few plays to fully understand the strategy.
## Personal Thoughts on Faraway
Faraway is ideal for players who enjoy strategy and are looking for a game that packs a lot of depth into a short playtime. It is suitable for players aged 9+ and supports 2 to 6 players. The game’s unique mechanics and the need to adapt strategies make it a great choice for those who like to think critically and strategically. However, it may not be the best fit for players who prefer longer, more immersive games or those who are averse to some degree of luck in card draws.
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