Pilgrim (2022) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Pilgrim is a board game released in 2022, designed by Harald Lieske. It is set in medieval times and revolves around religious themes. Players take on the role of pilgrims traveling to holy sites, completing challenges, and earning blessings along the way.

Game Components of Pilgrim

Game board featuring a village, an Abbey, and a city

Monk tokens

Duty tiles (action spaces)

Resource tokens

Asymmetrical player power cards

Mancala-style pits and stones

Various player boards and tracking tokens

How To Setup Pilgrim

To set up Pilgrim, players first prepare the game board by placing the village, Abbey, and city sections. Each player selects an asymmetrical player power card and sets up their personal board. The duty tiles are placed on their respective spaces, and the Mancala pits are filled with the specified number of stones. Players start with a set of monks in the village and resources according to their player power.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Engine-Building: Players train monks to leave the village and join the Abbey, then move them to the city.

Area Majority: Monks are used to secure duty tiles, which trigger actions.

Mancala Mechanics: Monks become pieces in a Mancala-style game, moving around to capture stones and secure benefits.

Resource Management: Managing resources to execute actions and build player engines.

Asymmetrical Player Powers: Each player has unique abilities and starting conditions.

Zero Luck: The game is deterministic, with all information available to players.

Game Objective: The goal is to optimize resource use, timing, and reactions to other players’ actions to achieve the most efficient strategy.

Player Experience

Pilgrim is a challenging and strategic game that requires players to balance long-term planning with immediate reactions to other players’ moves. It demands constant attention to the board state and the ability to adapt quickly. The game’s complexity and interlocking systems make it appealing to experienced players who enjoy deep, strategic gameplay.

Pros

Deep Strategy: Offers a rich and complex gameplay experience.

High Replayability: Asymmetrical player powers and dynamic board state ensure each game is unique.

Engaging Mechanics: Combines Mancala, area majority, and engine-building in an innovative way.

Thematic Artwork: The game’s artwork and theme are well-represented and immersive.

Cons

Steep Learning Curve: The game’s complexity can be overwhelming for new players.

Lengthy Playtime: Games can be quite long due to the intricate strategies involved.

High Player Interaction: Requires constant attention to other players’ actions, which can be stressful.

Personal Thoughts on Pilgrim

Pilgrim is ideal for experienced board game enthusiasts who appreciate complex, strategic games. It is not recommended for casual or new players due to its steep learning curve and lengthy playtime. The game rewards long-term planning and adaptability, making it a great choice for those who enjoy games like “Five Tribes” but are looking for something even more complex and challenging.

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