Plunder (2013) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Plunder is a card game designed by Michael Perry and released in 2013 by R&R Games. The game is set in the world of pirates and players take on the role of pirate captains competing to build the best crew and gather the most treasure.

Game Components of Plunder

Pirate characters

Crew cards

Solution grid sheets for each pirate

Island, marker, and trap map decks

Clue cards

Treasure cards

Treasure chest

How To Setup Plunder

To set up Plunder, each player chooses a pirate and takes as many crew cards as there are players. They also receive a solution grid sheet for their pirate. The island, marker, and trap map decks are shuffled, and one card from each deck is dealt to every player, indicating where they have buried their treasure. The rest of the cards are placed back into the box without being looked at. The clue cards are separated by color, shuffled, and formed into separate draw decks. The player who goes first is then chosen.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Deduction Mechanic: Players use clue cards to deduce the locations of other players’ treasures.

Questioning: The current player flips one card face up from each clue deck and can optionally flip another card to replace one of the face-up cards.

Player Interaction: Other players must answer truthfully whether the clue cards match their island, marker, or trap cards.

Guessing: Players can submit guesses using their crew cards when they think they know a treasure’s location.

Game End: The game ends when all crew cards have been used or after 15 turns.

Objective: The goal is to be the first to guess the location of other players’ treasures to earn points.

Player Experience

In Plunder, players are constantly engaged as they gather clues and make educated guesses about the locations of other players’ treasures. The game maintains player involvement until the very end, as every player gets to guess and incorrect guesses do not penalize them. However, the game suffers from a lack of significant advantage for the player asking the questions, as all information is shared among players, making it challenging for any player to gain a substantial lead.

Pros

Engaging Deduction Mechanic: The game requires strategic thinking and deduction skills.

High Player Involvement: Every player remains engaged throughout the game.

Risk/Reward Trade Off: Players must decide whether to make early guesses or wait for more information.

Cons

Limited Advantage: The player asking the question has only a slight advantage.

Shared Information: All players gain the same information, leading to similar conclusions.

Potential for Boredom: Players who have already made all their guesses might find it boring to wait for others.

Personal Thoughts on Plunder

Plunder is ideal for fans of deduction games like Clue, offering a pirate-themed twist that adds a unique flavor. It’s suitable for players who enjoy strategic thinking and are comfortable with a bit of luck involved in the card draws. However, the game may not be the best fit for those seeking a game with significant player differentiation or a strong competitive edge. For families or casual gamers, Plunder provides a fun and interactive experience that keeps everyone involved until the end.

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