Middara: Unintentional Malum – Act 1 (2019) Board Game

Middara: Unintentional Malum – Act 1 was released in 2019 by Succubus Publishing. Designed by Clayton Helme, Brooklynn Lundberg, Brenna Moncur, and Ian Tate, this game immerses players in a world of adventure, exploration, and fantasy. With stunning artwork by Alex Hansen, Hector Sevilla Lujan, Rhett Mason, and Jon Troy Nickel, Middara offers a rich visual experience for players.

Game Components of Middara: Unintentional Malum – Act 1

400 Unique Illustrations: The game includes a vast array of illustrations to enhance the immersive experience.

60+ Encounters: Act 1 alone features over 60 encounters, providing months of gameplay.

Modular Map Tiles: 36 modular map tiles for dynamic game environments.

A.I. Controlled Monsters: Monsters are controlled by AI, adding a layer of complexity.

NPCs, Challenges, Traps, and Obstacles: Numerous non-player characters, challenges, traps, and obstacles to navigate.

Character Progressions: Campaign character progressions allow for deep customization.

Disciplines and Equipment: 110+ unique Disciplines and 150+ unique pieces of equipment.

Component Organizer: A component container to keep all the game pieces organized.

How To Setup Middara: Unintentional Malum – Act 1

Setting up the game involves several steps. Players start by choosing their adventurers, each with unique backstories, motivations, and starting equipment. The narrative is read from the Adventure book or listened to through the Middara app. Players lay out their adventurer cards and equipment, and the game begins with initiative cards shuffled and randomly laid out to determine turn order.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Style: Players make decisions that affect the story and lead to multiple endings.

No Character Classes: Characters are customizable without any predefined classes.

Branching Story Paths: Decisions echo through the story, leading to different paths and endings.

Encounter-Based: Each encounter lasts between 45 minutes to 3 hours.

Leveling Up and Loot: Players kill monsters, get loot, and level up their characters.

Multiple Dice and Upgrades: Players can upgrade multiple dice to enhance gameplay.

Player Experience

Playing **Middara: Unintentional Malum – Act 1** is a deeply immersive and engaging experience. The game offers a massive story with nearly 400 pages in Act 1 alone, allowing for extensive character customization. Players appreciate the variety of characters they can play and the dynamic gameplay that keeps each session unique. The game is ideal for both committed game groups and casual players, fostering strong friendships through shared adventures.

Pros

Extensive Customization: Players can create and customize their characters extensively.

Immersive Story: A massive, branching story with multiple endings.

Dynamic Encounters: Over 60 encounters in Act 1, each lasting 45 minutes to 3 hours.

Rich Gameplay Mechanics: Includes AI-controlled monsters, NPCs, challenges, and more.

Strong Community: The game encourages friendship building through long-term campaigns.

Cons

Rule Complexity: The game has a complex rule set, which can be overwhelming for some players.

Version Changes: Different rule versions (e.g., v1.0, v1.1) can cause confusion among players.

Late Fulfillment: The game had a history of late fulfillment, which frustrated some backers.

Personal Thoughts on Middara: Unintentional Malum – Act 1

**Middara: Unintentional Malum – Act 1** is perfect for fans of JRPGs and those who enjoy deep, strategic gameplay. It is ideal for groups looking for a long-term campaign experience, as well as casual players who want a rich, immersive adventure. The game’s extensive customization and dynamic encounters make it a standout in the board game community. However, it may not be the best fit for players who prefer simpler rules or are looking for a quick, one-off game session.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.