The Order of Vampire Hunters (2018) Board Game

The Order of Vampire Hunters is a cooperative board game that was released in in 2018. Designed by Filippo Chirico and Alexei Popovici, this game allows players to take on the roles of vampire hunters working together to defeat the undead forces.

Game Components of The Order of Vampire Hunters

Miniatures of vampire hunters and vampires

Game board featuring a vampire den with underground tunnels

Encounter cards for spawning vampires

Item deck for finding and crafting weapons

Focus tokens for upgrading and boosting attacks

Movement and attack dice

Combo Attack cards for cooperative moves

Turn tracker and counters

Character cards with unique abilities

How To Setup The Order of Vampire Hunters

Setup involves assembling the game board, which represents the vampire den, and distributing the necessary components to each player. Players choose their characters and start at designated entry points on the board. The Encounter cards and Item deck are shuffled and placed within reach. The turn tracker is set up to keep track of the day and night phases, with the Awakening marked at the end of Turn 6.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Movement: Players can move up to two areas on the board, modified by doors and vampires.

Attacking: Dice rolling against a target number to defeat vampires.

Searching: Drawing from the Item deck to find items and potentially spawn enemies.

Focus: Acquiring and using tokens to boost attacks, craft items, or purchase upgrades.

Encounter Cards: New vampires spawn at designated points on each tile.

Day and Night Phases: Vampires become more powerful at night; daylight can be used as a weapon.

Combo Attacks: Cooperative moves using Action and/or Focus points.

Objective: Complete the Hunt within the timed limit, which varies by scenario.

Player Experience

The game offers a thrilling cooperative experience, reminiscent of games like *Zombicide*. Players take turns in any order, managing movement, attacks, and resource gathering. The AI movement of vampires is unpredictable, making each turn dynamic and challenging. The game scales well for different player counts, thanks to color-coded Encounter cards. Partnerships are crucial, especially for combo attacks, and the threat of being turned into a vampire adds an extra layer of tension.

Pros

Cooperative gameplay encourages teamwork and strategy.

Dynamic AI movement for vampires keeps the game unpredictable.

Scalable for different player counts without significant adjustments.

Use of Focus tokens allows for strategic resource management.

Combo attacks enhance cooperative play.

Cons

Gameplay mechanics, while engaging, are not particularly revolutionary.

The pressure of the timed objective can be stressful.

Risk of being turned into a vampire can be frustrating if not managed well.

Personal Thoughts on The Order of Vampire Hunters

The Order of Vampire Hunters is ideal for fans of cooperative and dungeon crawl games, particularly those who enjoy the *Zombicide* series. It’s perfect for players who appreciate strategic resource management, cooperative play, and the thrill of battling against a ticking clock. The game’s thematic depth and dynamic gameplay make it a great addition to any board game collection, especially for those who love vampire lore and action-packed adventures.

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