Sanctum is a board game released in 2019 by Czech Games Edition. Designed by Filip Neduk and Tomáš Uhlíř, the game falls under the adventure, fantasy, fighting, and miniatures categories. With a playing time of 60-100 minutes and suitable for players aged 12 and above, Sanctum offers a engaging and strategic gameplay experience.
Game Components of Sanctum
Player Boards: Four unique boards, one for each character (Huntress, Outlaw, Slayer, Dancer), with spaces for skills, demon cards, loot, and unlearned skills.Miniatures: Highly detailed miniatures for each character.Dice: Twenty-four six-sided dice, mostly black with gold pips, and a few black with silver pips.Act Boards: Three double-sided act boards that serve as the game timer and path for the adventure.Hordes Board: Contains demon decks separated by difficulty levels indicated by white gems.Achievement Board: Seeded with random Achievement tokens providing one-time benefits.Rage Tokens: Used once to change a dice face, refreshing if leftover dice or alive enemies remain.Stamina and Focus Tokens: Represented by red and blue pools on the character boards.Skill Tiles and Cards: For unlocking new abilities and equipping items.
How To Setup Sanctum
To set up Sanctum, players start by selecting a character and receiving the corresponding player board, miniature, rage tiles, skill tiles, and starting resources like stamina and focus tokens. The act boards are arranged based on the player count, with at least one act board always including a Divine Intervention token. The demon decks are shuffled and placed on the Hordes Board, and the Achievement tokens are randomized on the Achievement Board. Each player starts with basic equipment and potions, determined by player order.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
Turn Actions: Players choose to **Move**, **Fight**, or **Rest**. Moving involves taking demons from the board to their player board, fighting involves rolling dice to match demon card requirements, and resting allows players to restore resources, equip items, and buy potions.Demon Slaying: Destroying demons rewards players with gems to level up their skills and equip loot. Gems are moved up on the skill track, unlocking new abilities.Final Battle: The game culminates in a battle against the Demon Lord, where players must continuously fight through a series of Demon Lord cards. The player who survives with the most health or does the most damage to the Demon Lord wins.
Player Experience
Playing Sanctum feels like a roguelike hack-and-slash adventure, reminiscent of Diablo. Players engage in strategic decision-making, balancing the need to fight demons, level up skills, and manage resources. The game is filled with the excitement of acquiring new loot and the challenge of making tough choices on how to customize their characters. The production values are high, with excellent artwork and high-quality components.
Pros
Engaging Gameplay Mechanics: The game offers a fun and strategic experience with its dice rolling and resource management.High-Quality Components: Excellent production values, including detailed miniatures and high-quality boards and cards.Unique Character Skills: Each character has a unique set of skills, allowing for varied playstyles.Loot System: A well-designed loot system that encourages strategic item selection.
Cons
Complex End Game: The final battle against the Demon Lord can be overwhelming and lacks the engagement of the earlier game phases.Lengthy Setup: Setting up the game can be time-consuming due to the numerous components and boards.
Personal Thoughts on Sanctum
Sanctum is perfect for fans of the Diablo series and those who enjoy hack-and-slash gameplay in a board game format. It offers a rich, strategic experience with deep character customization and a rewarding loot system. However, the complexity of the end game and the lengthy setup may deter some players. Overall, it is a solid addition to any board game collection for those who appreciate Ameri-thrash and strategic gameplay.
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