Last Aurora (2020) Board Game

Last Aurora is a post-apocalyptic board game set in a frozen world where players must lead a convoy of survivors in search of safety. The game was designed by Mauro Chiabotto and published by Pendragon Game Studio in in 2020. With a unique theme of navigating a frozen wasteland, Last Aurora offers a fresh take on the survival genre in board games.

Game Components of Last Aurora

1 Double-sided road board

4 Player boards

1 Automa convoy board

117 cards

82 counters

65 wooden tokens

How To Setup Last Aurora

To set up the game, each player receives a player board to manage their convoy and resources. The game includes a Truck Zone for combining trucks, devices, and trails, an Active Zone for ready survivors, and an Exhausted and Rest Zone for recovering survivors. The double-sided road board is placed in the center, and each player sets up their starting convoy and resources according to the initial setup rules.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Category: Post-apocalyptic, competitive

Mechanics: Resource management, crew management, vehicle improvement, combat

Objective: Players must manage their crew to gather resources, recruit survivors, improve their vehicle, and fight enemies to reach the last icebreaker ship, Aurora, before it’s too late.

Gameplay Phases:

Exploration Phase: Enter locations to gather resources, find components, recruit survivors, and perform encounters.

Rest Phase: Choose between resting exhausted survivors or recovering them by spending food.

Movement Phase: Spend fuel to move the convoy, avoiding contaminated locations.

Fire Weapons Phase: Fight enemies using ammunition and specialized weapons.

Aurora Movement Phase: The Aurora ship moves, and players gain reputation for saving survivors if they reach it.

Player Experience

Players experience a mix of resource management, strategic decision-making, and combat in a harsh, post-apocalyptic environment. Each player must balance the needs of their crew, manage resources, and make difficult ethical choices while navigating the frozen wasteland. The game requires strategic thinking and efficient use of resources to overcome obstacles and enemies.

Pros

Engaging Theme: Immersive post-apocalyptic setting.

Deep Strategy: Complex resource and crew management.

Variety in Actions: Multiple phases with different actions and challenges.

Replayability: High replay value due to random encounters and resource locations.

Cons

Complexity: Steep learning curve due to multiple mechanics and phases.

Length: Game sessions can be quite long (90+ minutes).

Dependency on Luck: Random encounters and resource availability can significantly impact gameplay.

Personal Thoughts on Last Aurora

**Last Aurora** is ideal for fans of post-apocalyptic themes and complex strategy games. It is suited for experienced board game players who enjoy managing multiple resources and making strategic decisions under pressure. The game’s thematic depth and varied gameplay mechanics make it a great addition to any serious board game collection, but it may not be the best fit for casual or new players due to its complexity and length.

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