Shards of Infinity (2018) Board Game

Shards of Infinity is a deck-building card game designed by Gary Arant and Justin Gary, published by Stone Blade Entertainment in in 2018. The game is set in a fantasy/science fiction world where players take on the role of champions battling for supremacy.

Game Components of Shards of Infinity

Character Cards: Each player selects a character card to track health and mastery.

Starter Deck: Each player starts with a basic deck of 10 cards.

Market Row: A central display of six cards available for purchase.

Champion Cards: Powerful cards that can be played and remain in front of the player until destroyed.

Mercenary Cards: Identified by red circles, these can be used immediately or added to the deck.

Health and Mastery Dials: Track players’ health and mastery levels.

Gem and Power Tokens: Used for resource management and attacks.

How To Setup Shards of Infinity

To set up the game, each player chooses a character card and starts with a basic deck of 10 cards. The market row is filled with six cards from the central deck. Players set their health to 50 and mastery to 0. The game is ready to begin once all players have their starting decks and the market row is established.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Deck Building: Players acquire new cards from the market row to enhance their deck.

Resource Management: Use gems to buy cards and power to attack opponents.

Mastery System: Accumulate mastery points to enhance card effects and potentially activate the Infinity Shard for an instant win.

Fast Play: Mercenary cards can be played immediately and removed from the game.

Unite Effect: Playing multiple cards of the same faction can grant bonus effects.

Objective: Win by reducing all opponents’ health to zero or by achieving 30 mastery points and playing the Infinity Shard.

Player Experience

Shards of Infinity offers a fast-paced and strategic gameplay experience. Players must balance short-term needs, such as attacking opponents, with long-term goals, like accumulating mastery points. The game introduces a new layer of strategy with the mastery system, allowing players to enhance their cards’ effects over time. The inclusion of mercenaries and champions adds variety and surprise elements to each turn.

Pros

High Strategy and Customization: Combines strategy and customization into a compact game.

Fast-Paced Gameplay: Quick turns and immediate actions keep the game engaging.

Mastery System: Adds a new layer of strategy and a potential alternate win condition.

Diverse Card Effects: Champions, allies, and mercenaries provide various ways to build and execute strategies.

Great Art and Theme: Attractive visuals and an engaging theme enhance the player experience.

Cons

Simplified Deckbuilding: Some players find the deckbuilding aspect too straightforward.

Numerical Focus: The game can become focused on arithmetic, which may not appeal to all players.

Unite Mechanic Overpower: The Unite effect can become overly powerful, potentially unbalancing the game.

Personal Thoughts on Shards of Infinity

Shards of Infinity is ideal for fans of deck-building games and player-versus-player combat. It is particularly suited for those who enjoyed Ascension and Star Realms but are looking for a game with a faster pace and more direct combat. The mastery system adds a unique twist, making it a great option for players who enjoy strategic depth and long-term planning. However, it may not be the best fit for players seeking complex, intricate deck-building mechanics or those who prefer games with more diverse card abilities beyond numerical enhancements.

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