Pathfinder: Level 20 (2022) Board Game

Pathfinder: Level 20 is a board game released in 2022, designed by Steven Bellshaw and Josh Derksen. It falls under the Adventure, Card Game, and Fantasy categories, offering players an immersive and strategic gaming experience. The game is published by Gale Force Nine, LLC, known for their high-quality gaming products.

Game Components of Pathfinder: Level 20

Game board featuring a dungeon room

Kobold player tokens

Level 19 warrior tokens (male and female)

Moss, stalactite, and rotten food cards

Pride point tokens

Hidey hole tokens

Rulebook

How To Setup Pathfinder: Level 20

To set up the game, players first place the dungeon room board in the middle of the playing area. Each player chooses a kobold token and places it on the board. The level 19 warrior token(s) are positioned according to the rules. The deck of cards, containing moss, stalactites, and rotten food, is shuffled and placed within reach of all players. Pride point tokens and hidey hole tokens are also distributed as per the rules.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Roles: Players take on the roles of kobolds.

Warrior Movement: The level 19 warrior moves programmatically, targeting a kobold each turn and moving four spaces towards it.

Kobold Movement: Kobolds move two spaces per turn.

Card Abilities: Players use cards to lay traps (moss, stalactites, rotten food) or escape through hidey holes.

Objective: The goal is to be the last kobold standing or to embarrass the warrior enough to make them leave the lair.

Semi-Cooperative: Players work together to evade the warrior but compete to deal the final shameful blow to the warrior’s pride.

Player Experience

Playing **Pathfinder: Level 20** is a chaotic and fun experience. The game starts off light and playful but quickly becomes more strategic as players need to think ahead to outmaneuver the warrior. The transparent board state and predictable AI movement of the warrior allow for deep strategic thinking. The game can be played in about 20-40 minutes, depending on the number of players and the level of strategy employed.

Pros

Fast and Fun: Quick setup and gameplay make it an excellent filler game.

Strategic Depth: Despite its light appearance, the game offers significant strategic depth.

Interactive Mechanics: The use of cards to manipulate the warrior’s movement and the board state adds a lot of interactive fun.

Variable Player Count: The game is enjoyable with two to five players, with additional complexity added by a second warrior at higher player counts.

Cons

Length with More Players: The game can stretch to 40 minutes with more players, which may not be ideal for some filler game sessions.

Player Elimination: Players can be eliminated quickly if they are not careful, which might be off-putting for some.

Personal Thoughts on Pathfinder: Level 20

**Pathfinder: Level 20** is perfect for those looking for a light yet intellectually stimulating game. It is ideal for groups who enjoy a mix of cooperation and competition and are fond of strategic planning. The game’s theme and mechanics make it a great choice for both casual gamers and those familiar with tabletop RPGs like *Pathfinder* or *Dungeons & Dragons*. It serves as an excellent ‘end of the evening’ game, providing laughter and engaging gameplay in a compact package.

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