Key Harvest (2007) Board Game

Key Harvest is a board game that was released in 2007 and designed by Richard Breese. It is published by R&D Games and falls into the farming, medieval, and territory building categories. The game incorporates various mechanisms such as auction/bidding, set collection, tile placement, and worker placement, making it a complex and strategic game to play.

Game Components of Key Harvest

Country boards: Each player receives one of the four country boards.

Field tiles: Representing fields, these tiles are drawn from a registry and bag.

Crop counters: Wooden counters used for bidding and harvesting.

Farmhand tiles: Six tiles per player, used for worker placement.

Townsfolk tiles: Six unique tiles available on the town board.

Store cards: Each player has a store card.

Turn option cards: For managing player actions.

Town board: Central board where key game elements are tracked.

Event tiles: Introduce random events affecting all players.

How To Setup Key Harvest

To set up the game, place the town board in the middle of the playing area. Each player selects a country board, a screen, a store card, and a set of six farmhand tiles. Players place their country board near the town board, their store card in front, and their farmhand tiles beside the country board. The townsfolk tiles are placed on their designated spaces on the town board. Players draw a crop counter to determine the start player.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Bidding for Field Tiles: Players bid on field tiles using crop counters, which are then added to their store.

Purchasing Field Tiles: Other players can buy field tiles from another player’s store by matching the bid.

Placing Worker Tiles: Players place farmhand or townsfolk tiles on their country board, adhering to specific placement rules.

Harvesting Crops: Players can harvest crops by flipping unharvested field tiles.

Scoring Points: Points are scored for the largest and second-largest groups of connected field tiles, worker tiles placed, and having the most of each type of crop counter.

Event Tiles: Random events affect all players when event tiles are drawn.

Game End: The game ends after two further rounds following the draw of the tenth event tile.

Player Experience

Key Harvest offers a rich and dynamic gameplay experience, challenging players to manage their resources, bid strategically, and optimize their land holdings. The game requires a balance between expanding one’s territory, managing crop counters, and leveraging the unique abilities of farmhand and townsfolk tiles. The addition of event tiles introduces an element of unpredictability, making each game unique.

Pros

Deep Strategic Depth: Offers complex decision-making and strategic planning.

Variable Setup: Random events and tile draws ensure high replayability.

Social Interaction: Players can negotiate and trade field tiles.

Thematic Immersion: Engaging theme of land management and resource optimization.

Cons

Steep Learning Curve: Can be challenging for new players to grasp all the rules and mechanics.

Lengthy Gameplay: Games can take up to 90 minutes, which may not be suitable for all players.

Complex Rule Set: Multiple mechanics and rules can make the game overwhelming.

Personal Thoughts on Key Harvest

Key Harvest is ideal for fans of economic and area control games who enjoy strategic depth and complex decision-making. It is a great choice for players looking to immerse themselves in a game that requires careful planning and resource management. However, it may not be the best fit for casual players or those looking for a quick, straightforward gaming experience.

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