Monolith Arena (2018) Board Game

Monolith Arena is a fantasy board game that was released in 2018 by Portal Games. It is designed for 2-4 players, with a recommended age of 10 and up. The game features hand management, hexagon grid, player elimination, team-based gameplay, tile placement, and variable player powers. The game is set in a world where powerful factions battle for control of ancient monoliths.

Game Components of Monolith Arena

Four factions: Each with unique abilities and units.

Monolith: A 3-level tower serving as the headquarters for each player.

Tokens: Special ability tokens placed within the monolith.

Order tiles: Represent different actions such as moving Champions or starting attacks.

Board tiles: Include Banner, Champions, and Runes, each with specific functions.

Champions and Runes: Champions can be empowered by connecting them to Runes via chains.

Banner tiles: Objective markers for each faction.

How To Setup Monolith Arena

To set up the game, players first choose their faction and place their banner tile on the board. Each player seeds their monolith with three special ability tokens. Players draw a hand of three tiles, discard one, and then play up to two tiles. The board itself is hexagon-shaped, and players place their tiles accordingly.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: Destroy your opponent’s banner tile.

Tile Drawing: Players draw Order and Board tiles, which they use to perform actions or place units and abilities on the board.

Combat: Initiates when the board is full or via specific Order tiles.

Monolith Mechanics: When a player’s monolith is damaged, the top layer is removed, revealing a special ability token.

Faction Abilities:
– Lords of the Abyss: Disable opponents with nets and poison.
– Harbingers of the Forest: High mobility after deployment.
– Dragon Empire: Cavalry units can move and attack in one turn without triggering combat.
– Guardians of the Realm: Highly defensive with Order tiles to wipe out groups of tiles.

Player Experience

**Monolith Arena** offers a unique blend of strategy and randomness. Players need to adapt quickly to the tiles they draw and the evolving board state. The game is newbie-friendly due to its randomization and helpful player aids. It is particularly enjoyable for two players and works decently with four players, especially with the right group.

Pros

Asymmetrical Factions: Each faction has distinct abilities and playstyles.

Randomization: Keeps players on their toes and prevents railroading strategies.

Newbie-Friendly: Easy to learn with good player aids.

Short Game Length: Suitable for small periods of downtime or best out of 3 matches.

Cons

Limited Content: Only four factions available, with just two faction expansions as of now.

Lack of Depth in Some Areas: Mastery of the game can be achieved relatively quickly.

Personal Thoughts on Monolith Arena

**Monolith Arena** is ideal for those who enjoy strategic skirmish games with a twist of randomness. It’s perfect for players looking for a game that can be played in short sessions, and its asymmetrical factions offer a lot of replay value despite the limited number of factions. It’s a solid choice for both casual and experienced gamers, especially those familiar with Neuroshima Hex or similar tile-based strategy games.

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