Seasons (2012) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Seasons is a strategic card and dice game designed by Régis Bonnessée and published by Libellud in in 2012. It is a game that combines elements of deck-building and dice rolling, set in a fantasy world where players take on the roles of sorcerers competing in a magical tournament.

Game Components of Seasons

Dice: 20 unique dice, each set colored for a different season (blue for winter, green for spring, yellow for summer, and red for fall).

Cards: 100 cards, including magic items and familiars, each with its own energy cost and victory points.

Player Boards: Personal boards for tracking energy, summoning strength, and bonus actions.

Seasons Board: A central board to track the game’s progress and the seasons.

Scoreboard: To track victory points.

How To Setup Seasons

To setup Seasons, players first engage in a card drafting phase where they draft nine cards, then split these into three sets of three cards each, labeled for years 1, 2, and 3. The game starts in Winter, with the first set of three cards forming the initial hand. The Seasons board and scoreboard are placed on the table, and each player receives a personal board. The dice corresponding to the current season are prepared, and the game begins with the first player rolling the dice.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Card Drafting: Players draft nine cards at the beginning, splitting them into sets for each year.

Dice Rolling: Each turn, players roll dice corresponding to the current season and choose one die to determine their resources and actions.

Resource Management: Resources include energy tokens, victory points, summoning strength increases, card draws, and transmutation of tokens for victory points.

Card Play: Players can play cards from their hand, provided they have the necessary energy and summoning strength.

Season Progression: The game progresses through three years, with each year divided into four seasons. The unchosen die determines the progression of the seasons.

Objective: The goal is to accumulate the most victory points by playing cards, collecting crystals, and managing resources efficiently. Points are tallied from cards in play, crystals collected, and penalties for unplayed cards and bonus actions.

Player Experience

Seasons offers a deeply strategic and thematic experience, where players take on the roles of powerful sorcerers competing in a magical tournament. The game requires careful planning and resource management, as players must balance short-term needs with long-term strategies. While the game can be complex and overwhelming for new players, it provides a rich and engaging experience for those who master its mechanics. The game’s beautiful artwork and unique components add to its appeal.

Pros

Deep Strategy: Requires careful planning and resource management.

High Replayability: With 100 unique cards and varying dice, each game offers a different experience.

Beautiful Components: Attractive artwork and well-designed game pieces.

Engaging Theme: Immersive magical tournament setting.

Cons

Complex Setup: Can be overwhelming for new players.

Steep Learning Curve: Requires multiple plays to fully understand the mechanics.

Penalties for Mistakes: Harsh penalties for unplayed cards and misuse of bonus actions.

Personal Thoughts on Seasons

Seasons is a game tailored for experienced gamers who enjoy complex strategy and deep gameplay mechanics. It is not ideal for non-gamer friends due to its complexity, but it offers a rewarding experience for those willing to invest time in learning and mastering its rules. The game’s unique blend of card drafting, dice rolling, and resource management makes it a standout in the board game community, especially for fans of games like Dominion and Magic: The Gathering.

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