Founders of Gloomhaven (2018) Board Game

Founders of Gloomhaven is a standalone game set in the same universe as the popular Gloomhaven board game. It was designed by Isaac Childres, who is also the creator of Gloomhaven, and was released in 2018 by Cephalofair Games. The game combines city-building and economic elements with a fantasy theme, offering a unique gameplay experience for 1-4 players.

Game Components of Founders of Gloomhaven

Game Board: A map of the city of Gloomhaven

Resource Buildings: Tiles for resource production

Action Cards: Used for placing buildings, recruiting advisers, and gaining income

Roads, Bridges, and Gates: Connector tiles for creating paths

Prestige Buildings: Larger buildings requiring resource delivery

Adviser Cards: Special cards for various benefits

Influence Tokens: For voting in auctions

Currency: For payments and transactions

How To Setup Founders of Gloomhaven

To set up the game, players start by laying out the game board, which represents the map of Gloomhaven. Each player chooses a fantastical race and begins with a set of basic resources and action cards. The resource buildings and prestige building tiles are shuffled and placed within reach. Players must connect their resource buildings to the prestige buildings using roads, bridges, and gates, adhering to specific placement rules.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile Placement: Players place resource buildings and connect them with roads.

Hand Management: Managing action cards to perform various actions.

Resource Management: Collecting and delivering resources to prestige buildings.

Worker Placement: Using workers to perform actions.

Auction Mechanic: Voting to determine new building proposals and their placement.

Technology Tree: Upgrading resources to higher levels.

Economic Elements: Managing income and influence tokens.

Game Objective: Earn prestige by delivering resources to prestige buildings and gaining influence over the city.

Player Experience

Players take on the roles of founding settlers, each controlling a fantastical race. The game involves strategic planning, resource management, and collaboration to some extent, as players must import resources from other players to create more advanced resources. The game’s complexity and multiple mechanics require careful planning and execution. Games typically last around 120 minutes, though solo games can be shorter.

Pros

Deep Strategy: Offers a rich and complex gameplay experience.

Multiple Mechanics: Combines tile placement, hand management, and resource management.

Thematic Depth: Set in the Gloomhaven universe with a compelling theme.

Player Interaction: Includes an auction mechanic and resource trading.

Cons

Complex Rules: The rulebook is not well-written, leading to frequent confusion.

Steep Learning Curve: Requires multiple plays to fully understand and master.

Road Placement Issues: Placing roads can be challenging and limiting.

Solo Mode Challenges: Income and influence token management can be difficult in solo mode.

Personal Thoughts on Founders of Gloomhaven

**Founders of Gloomhaven** is ideal for fans of heavy strategy games and those who enjoy complex, interconnected mechanics. It is particularly suited for players who have experience with games like Great Western Trail or Whistle Stop. While it offers a novel and engaging experience, its complexity and sometimes confusing rules may deter casual gamers. For those who enjoy a challenge and are willing to invest time into learning the game, **Founders of Gloomhaven** provides a rich and rewarding experience.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.