Maskmen (2014) Board Game
Maskmen is a card game released in 2014 by Oink Games. It is designed by Jun Sasaki and Taiki Shinzawa, with Jun Sasaki also being the artist. The game falls under the categories of card game and sports, with a unique mechanism of ladder climbing.
## Game Components of Maskmen
– 48 beautifully designed wrestler cards
– Wrestler Masks to indicate strength hierarchy
– Champion Belts as rewards
– Compact box for portability.
## How To Setup Maskmen
Setup for Maskmen is straightforward. First, set out the Wrestler Masks to indicate the hierarchy of strength. Next, shuffle the cards and deal them out to each player based on the player count: 15 cards for 2-4 players, 12 cards for 5 players, and 10 cards for 6 players. Set aside the Champion Belts until the end of the season. Once the cards are dealt, the game is ready to start.
## Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
– **Player Count**: 2-6 players.
– **Play Time**: 20-30 minutes.
– **Age**: 9+ (though younger children can play with adult supervision).
– **Objective**: Be the first player to get rid of all your cards each season to earn points.
– **Card Play**: Players must play 1-3 cards of the same type from their hand, ensuring the wrestler’s strength is higher than the current wrestlers in play.
– To play a new wrestler, play one more card than the previous wrestler.
– To play a wrestler known to be stronger, match the number of cards played by the previous player.
– Players can pass if they cannot or do not want to play a card.
– **Season Scoring**: The player who gets rid of all their cards first earns 2 points, the next player earns 1 point, and the player with the most cards left earns -1 point.
## Player Experience
Maskmen offers a fun and strategic experience, especially for fans of sports and card games. Players enjoy the thematic element of promoting wrestlers and figuring out their strengths relative to each other. The game requires strategic thinking to manipulate the strength hierarchy to your advantage. It is praised for its vibrant artwork, compact design, and portability, making it an ideal travel game.
### Pros
– **Thematic and Fun**: Engaging theme of promoting wrestlers.
– **Strategic Depth**: Requires strategic thinking to build the strength hierarchy.
– **Portable**: Compact box design makes it easy to carry.
– **Vibrant Artwork**: Bright and colorful cards and components.
– **Good for Any Player Count**: Plays well with 2-6 players.
### Cons
– **Card Quality**: Lower quality cardstock that may require sleeves.
– **Brain-Burny**: Can be complex and may lead to analysis paralysis in some players.
## Personal Thoughts on Maskmen
Maskmen is ideal for anyone looking for a light, fun, and strategic card game. It’s perfect for families and casual gamers who enjoy a bit of competition and strategic planning. The game’s portability and vibrant design make it a great addition to any game collection. However, it may not be the best fit for players prone to analysis paralysis due to its complex card play mechanics.
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