Merlin (2017) Board Game
Merlin is a strategy board game released in 2017 by designer Dennis Lohausen. The game is set in a medieval theme where players take on the roles of knights of the Round Table, trying to gain influence and power in Camelot. With beautiful artwork by Queen Games, Merlin offers players a unique gaming experience with its blend of area majority, worker placement, and set collection mechanics.
Game Components of Merlin
How To Setup Merlin
To set up Merlin, place the game board in the middle of the table and distribute the principalities with their respective flags, shields, and construction material cubes. Each player chooses a color and receives the corresponding castle board, dice, Merlin staves, Knight figure, influence cubes, and henchmen. Players also get a random starting tile that determines their initial shield, flag, construction material cube, and the placement of their first influence cube and Knight figure. The Merlin figure is placed on the black space in front of the black principality. The Mission card deck is shuffled, and three cards are drawn and placed face up. Each player is dealt four Mission cards and receives three random traitor tiles. Finally, the round tracker token and scoring markers are placed on their respective tracks.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
– Roll dice at the beginning of each round.
– Place a die on the board to move the Knight figure or Merlin.
– Perform actions based on the space landed on, such as constructing manors, collecting flags or shields, or placing influence cubes.
– Use Merlin staves to perform additional actions.
– Score influence points by having the majority of cubes in each principality.
– Complete Mission cards to gain additional points.
Player Experience
Playing Merlin can be a complex yet engaging experience. The game requires strategic planning as players need to balance their actions between moving their Knight, using Merlin effectively, and completing missions. The game’s luck factor, especially with dice rolls and mission draws, can sometimes lead to frustration but also adds a layer of unpredictability. As players become more familiar with the game, downtime can increase as they deliberate on the best actions to take.
Pros
Cons
Personal Thoughts on Merlin
Merlin is a game tailored for fans of Eurogames and those who enjoy strategic planning and area control mechanics. It is best suited for players who appreciate complexity and are willing to invest time in understanding the game’s intricacies. While it can be challenging, especially with the luck factor, it offers a rewarding experience for those who persevere. However, it may not be the best fit for casual gamers or those looking for a quick, light-hearted game.
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