Merchants of the Dark Road (2022) Board Game

Merchants of the Dark Road is a board game released in 2022, designed by Andrew Bosley, Joey Julian, and Matt Paquette, and published by Elf Creek Games. The game is set in a fantasy medieval world where players take on the roles of merchants traveling dark and treacherous roads to deliver goods and fulfill contracts. With a mix of exploration and transportation elements, players must carefully plan their routes and manage their resources to succeed in this competitive game.

Game Components of Merchants of the Dark Road

Kingdom Board: The main board representing the world of Lumi.

Market Wheel: A rondel system for managing goods prices and availability.

Building Tiles: Various locations like the Grand Bazaar, Dark Market, and Ringway Inn.

Tokens: Lanterns, horseshoes, quartz, coins, and more.

Dice: Multiple types including night dice, illuminated dice, travel dice, and an oracle die.

Hero Cards: Representing heroes to be transported.

Companion Cards: Providing special abilities.

Event Cards: Introducing risks and rewards during journeys.

Goods Tiles: Resources needed to fulfill commissions.

Wagon Boards and Pawns: For each player to manage their wagon and inventory.

How To Setup Merchants of the Dark Road

Setup involves arranging the Kingdom Board, placing the Market Wheel, and distributing the various tokens and cards. Players each receive a wagon board, wagon pawn, and starting resources. The game includes a detailed rulebook that guides the setup process, though some players have noted minor organization issues and the need for additional baggies to store components.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Rondel Action System: Players use a rondel to manage their actions, choosing dice to perform different tasks.

Dice Mechanics: Dice serve as worker placement tokens and determine movement points.

Commission Fulfillment: Players pick up commissions specifying goods to deliver to outlying towns.

Goods Acquisition: Buying goods from the Grand Bazaar or Dark Market.

Hero Recruitment: Hiring heroes to transport.

Journeys: Traveling to outlying towns, optionally inviting other players to join, and facing road events.

Scoring: The player with the highest total of coins and prestige, with the lower total being the base score, wins. Additional points come from fulfilled deeds and other bonuses.

Player Experience

Playing Merchants of the Dark Road involves strategic planning and resource management. The game is enjoyable with both two and four players, with the social element of joining caravans being more prominent at higher player counts. Each turn consists of four steps: Plan, Move, Activate, and Rest. The journey mechanics are particularly engaging, combining social interaction, risk, and reward. However, some actions, like picking up commissions, can feel less exciting compared to the journey mechanics.

Pros

Engaging Journey Mechanics: The social and risk-reward aspects of traveling make for a fun and engaging experience.

Balanced Scoring System: The unique scoring system requiring a balance between coins and prestige adds challenge and intrigue.

Thematic Immersion: The game’s dark fantasy theme and artwork are highly praised.

Replay Value: The game offers a good amount of replayability, especially with multiple players.

Cons

Component Storage Issues: The game lacks an insert, and the provided baggies are insufficient.

Redundant Mechanics: Some players feel that certain mechanics, like the Oracle and Ruins dice rolls, are redundant.

Inconsistent Deed Cards: Deeds can be inconsistent in their rewards, making some feel underwhelming.

Personal Thoughts on Merchants of the Dark Road

Merchants of the Dark Road is ideal for fans of economic and pick-up-and-deliver games, particularly those who enjoy fantasy themes. The game’s unique mechanics, such as the balanced scoring system and the engaging journey mechanics, make it a compelling addition to any board game collection. However, it may appeal less to players who prefer simpler or more streamlined gameplay, given its complexity and component management requirements. Overall, it offers a rich and thematic gaming experience that rewards strategic planning and social interaction.

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