Natives (2017) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Natives is a card game set in the American West, designed by Alexey Konnov, Alexey Paltsev, Anatoliy Shklyarov, and Trehgrannik. It was released in 2017 by Cosmodrome Games and features deck, bag, and pool building mechanics along with open drafting.

Game Components of Natives

Cards: Players draw cards to acquire new people, totems, rites, or food for their tribe.

Character Cards: Include Elders, Shamans, and Scouts, each with unique abilities.

Totems and Rites: Used to enhance the tribe’s capabilities.

Food: Essential for sustaining the tribe.

Victory Points: Awarded through various achievements, including women who belong to two tribes.

How To Setup Natives

To set up the game, each player starts with a small camp and a limited number of cards. The deck is shuffled, and players draw initial cards to form the foundation of their tribe. The game board is not explicitly described, but it involves managing resources and cards to grow the tribe.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Card Draw: Players reveal one card from the deck at the beginning of their turn.

Resource Management: Acquire new people, totems, rites, or food.

Character Abilities: Use Elders, Shamans, and Scouts to perform specific actions.
– *Elders*: Special abilities but cannot be used on the same turn they are acquired.
– *Shamans*: Can bring Rites and Totems, but limited to one card per Shaman.
– *Scouts*: Allow players to open cards one by one, stopping at any time.

Victory Points: Accumulate points by expanding the tribe, acquiring resources, and fulfilling specific card requirements.

Objective: Prepare the tribe to face upcoming challenges, such as harsh winters, and accumulate the most victory points.

Player Experience

Playing *Natives* involves strategic decision-making and resource management. Players must balance short-term needs with long-term goals, such as expanding their tribe and gathering essential resources. The game requires careful planning, as the availability of certain cards can significantly impact the player’s strategy.

Pros

Simple yet Deep Mechanics: Easy to learn but offers depth in strategy.

Variable Setup: Each game plays differently due to the randomization of cards.

Historical and Cultural Themes: Although the original version was criticized for cultural insensitivity, the updated version aims to be more accurate and respectful.

Cons

Cultural Sensitivity Issues: The original version was criticized for being culturally insensitive, though this has been addressed in later versions.

Limited Information on Designer: The designer of the game is not specified in the available sources.

Personal Thoughts on Natives

*Natives* is suitable for players who enjoy strategy and resource management games with a simple yet engaging mechanic. While it has faced criticism for cultural insensitivity in its original form, the updated versions aim to provide a more respectful and accurate representation of Native American culture. This game is ideal for those looking to manage resources effectively and build a thriving tribe, all while navigating the challenges posed by the game’s mechanics. However, it may not appeal to players seeking highly complex rules or a deeply immersive theme, as the game’s core mechanics are relatively straightforward.

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