Oltréé (2021) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Oltréé is a cooperative board game designed by Antoine Bauza and John Grümph, known for their work on popular games such as 7 Wonders and Dungeon Twister. The game was released in 2021 by Studio H and features stunning artwork by Vincent Dutrait. Set in a fantasy medieval world, Oltréé challenges players to work together to overcome various scenarios and missions while engaging in immersive storytelling.

Game Components of Oltréé

8 unique wooden Ranger tokens with diverse backgrounds and abilities

Wooden resources and goods

Beautifully veneered wooden dice

Chronicle cards providing the overarching story structure

Incident and Problem cards introducing random challenges

Fortress building components

Thick cardboard tokens

Assignment cards with varying difficulty levels

Custom insert for organized storage

How To Setup Oltréé

To set up Oltréé, players first choose one of the six provided Chronicles, each offering a distinct storyline. The Chronicle cards are arranged in the correct order, and the chosen Assignment card is selected from three difficulty levels. The Incident decks corresponding to the Assignment are shuffled together to form a single deck. Each player selects a Ranger character and places their token on the starting location. The Adversity marker is set to its starting position, and the game is ready to begin.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Cooperative Gameplay: Players work together to complete assignments and tackle incidents.

Rolling Dice: Players roll a die to advance the Adversity marker, triggering events, incidents, or problems.

Resource Management: Players manage resources to build within the fortress and address challenges.

Story Progression: The Chronicle advances with each lap of the Adversity marker, revealing new story elements.

Objective: Complete the Chronicle and maintain the Fortress’s Prestige and Defense to achieve victory.

Player Experience

Playing Oltréé involves a mix of strategic planning and adaptability. Players must coordinate their actions to address the random incidents and problems that arise, all while progressing through the Chronicle. The game is praised for its immersive narrative and high-quality components, making the game world feel alive. However, the gameplay can be somewhat straightforward, with less room for deep strategic decisions.

Pros

High-Quality Components: Luxurious wooden resources, beautifully illustrated cards, and custom insert.

Diverse Characters: Eight unique Rangers with different abilities and backgrounds.

Variable Replayability: Different Chronicles, Assignments, and randomized Incident cards ensure varied gameplay experiences.

Engaging Narrative: Chronicle cards and incident scenes create a compelling story.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for players aged 10 and above, making it a great family game.

Cons

Typos and Errors: Minor translation issues and typos in the rules and card text.

Luck-Dependent: Some outcomes rely heavily on dice rolls rather than strategic planning.

Static Main Storyline: While incidents vary, the main storyline remains relatively static.

No Reference Card: Lack of a quick-reference card for actions and options.

Personal Thoughts on Oltréé

Oltréé is ideal for those who enjoy cooperative games with a strong narrative focus. It is particularly suited for families or groups looking for a game that balances simplicity with engaging storytelling. The game’s variable components and randomized challenges ensure that each playthrough is unique, making it a great addition to any board game collection. However, players seeking complex strategic depth might find Oltréé a bit too straightforward.

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