Saboteur: The Lost Mines is a standalone expansion to the popular card game Saboteur, which was first released in in 2018. Designed by Fréderic Moyersoen and published by AMIGO, this fantasy-themed game adds new elements and challenges to the original game by introducing a maze-like board and team-based gameplay.
Game Components of Saboteur: The Lost Mines
Player cards: Each player receives a role card (loyal dwarf, selfish dwarf, or saboteur) that remains secret.Path cards: Used to build tunnels and paths to the mines.Action cards: Allow players to peek at mines, discover identities, set traps, attract trolls, or remove obstacles.Mine cards: Placed face-down on the board, each mine corresponds to a treasure card.Treasure cards: Collected by players who reach the mines.Dragon token: Awards negative victory points if discovered.Forest, victory point, and dragon tokens: Used to track progress and penalties.Troll and campfire tokens: Affect player movement and card usage.
How To Setup Saboteur: The Lost Mines
To set up the game, adjust the character roles based on the player count and randomly distribute them. Shuffle the path and action cards to form a deck and place it alongside the board. Create pools of forest, victory point, and dragon tokens. Randomize the mine cards and add them face-down to the board. Shuffle the treasure cards and place the equivalent number to the player count face-down next to the board.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
Player Roles: Players are divided into two clans with roles of loyal dwarves, selfish dwarves, and saboteurs.Turn Structure: Each turn involves playing or discarding cards, moving the dwarf up to three spaces, and drawing new cards.Path Building: Players place path cards to build tunnels, ensuring they do not dead-end against other cards.Action Cards: Players can use action cards to hinder opponents or overcome obstacles.Movement: Players can move up to three spaces, avoiding unresolved obstacles and trolls, with special rules for campfires and traps.Treasure Collection: Players collect treasure cards by reaching mines, with specific consequences for discovering the dragon.Round Completion: The round ends when all treasures are collected or all cards are played. Identities are revealed, and treasures are divided accordingly.Game Objective: The player with the most victory points after two rounds wins.
Player Experience
**Saboteur: The Lost Mines** offers a dynamic and engaging experience with high replay value. The game is perfect for family game nights, parties, and strategic challenges. Players must balance trust and strategy as they navigate the board, deal with secret saboteurs, and collect treasures. The game promotes social interaction, especially when roles are revealed and teammates react to the presence of saboteurs.
Pros
High Replay Value: Variable treasures, secret roles, and endless sabotage possibilities ensure each game is unique.Social Interaction: Encourages teamwork, trust, and social engagement.Easy to Learn: Simple gameplay mechanics make it accessible to players aged 10 and up.Strategic Depth: Combines strategy, deception, and teamwork for a thrilling experience.
Cons
Dependence on Player Count: Better with 5+ players; lower player counts can reduce the game’s effectiveness.Potential for Single-Player Dominance: A single player can control key paths, limiting others’ opportunities.
Personal Thoughts on Saboteur: The Lost Mines
This game is ideal for those who enjoy hidden-role games, strategy, and social interaction. It is a great addition to any board game collection, especially for families and groups looking for a fun, engaging game night experience. With its easy-to-learn mechanics and high replay value, **Saboteur: The Lost Mines** offers a thrilling adventure that will keep players coming back for more.
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