A board game cover for "KAIROs" with a steampunk-themed background featuring gears and cogs, displayed on a textured surface. The title is spread across the top with the names Arnaud Urbon and Ludovic Vialla below it, and the logos for Editions du Matagot and Rio Grande Games are visible on the sides. The central illustration shows a golden-rimmed hourglass with a picturesque landscape view through its upper half.
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Khronos (2006)

Khronos

Khronos is a board game designed by Ludovic Vialla and Arnaud Urbon for two to five players. The game is set in a fictional medieval world where players represent powerful lords and their faithful companions fighting for influence throughout time.

Why is Khronos Popular?

Khronos is a popular and significant board game due to its unique Gameplay Mechanics of Khronos and immersive theme. The game allows players to:
– Build domains by laying tiles representing various types of military, religious, and civil structures.
– Develop their domains by strategically placing action cards.
– Engage in a fight for influence throughout time, with each player aiming to become the most powerful lord.

Game Components of Khronos

  • Three game boards representing the same area in three different ages
  • Tiles representing buildings (military, religious, civil)
  • Coins
  • Coloured cards (orange for military, purple for religious, blue for civil)

    How To Setup Khronos

    To set up Khronos, players start by arranging the three game boards, each representing a different age. Each player receives a starting amount of coins and coloured cards. The building tiles are shuffled and placed within reach of all players.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Game Duration: The game lasts seven turns.
  • Building Mechanic: Players build domains by laying tiles representing buildings on the three game boards.
  • Time Travel: Players can time travel between the different ages by paying one coin.
  • Building Costs and Scoring: Buildings cost a certain amount of correctly coloured cards to build, and this cost also determines the coins generated when scoring takes place.
  • Building Ripple Effect: Larger buildings built in earlier ages can “ripple” forward to future game boards, potentially destroying buildings in the future.
  • Objective: The end goal is to be the player with the largest pile of wealth, accumulated through the strength of their buildings in the various ages.

    Player Experience

    Khronos offers a dynamic and strategic gameplay experience where players must balance building in different ages while managing the impact of their decisions across time. The game requires careful planning and adaptation to the changing landscape of each age.

    Pros

  • Strategic Depth: The game combines time travel and building mechanics, offering a rich strategic experience.
  • Awards and Recognition: Khronos won the Concours International de Créateurs de Jeux de Société award in 2006.
  • Replayability: The combination of different building types and the time travel mechanic ensures high replayability.

    Cons

  • Complexity: The game may be complex for new players due to the unique time travel and building ripple effects.
  • Length: While the game lasts seven turns, each turn can be quite involved, making the overall game length somewhat lengthy.

    Personal Thoughts on Khronos

    Khronos is ideal for players who enjoy strategic games with a unique twist. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate games that require planning across multiple stages or ages. However, it may not be the best fit for casual or new board game players due to its complexity. Overall, Khronos is a challenging and engaging game that rewards strategic thinking and adaptability.

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