The Prodigals Club (2015) Board Game

The Prodigals Club is a board game designed by Vladimír Suchý and published by Cranio Creations in in 2015. It is a card game with an economic theme, where players take on the roles of wealthy members of society trying to lose as much prestige as possible. The game is set in the same universe as the popular board game “Last Will,” also designed by Suchý.

Game Components of The Prodigals Club

Game board divided into three separate boards

Cards for votes, friends, and money

Worker placement tokens

Iconography and explanation materials

Component bags for organization

How To Setup The Prodigals Club

To set up the game, players start by assembling the three modular boards that focus on votes, friends, and money. Each player begins with a significant amount of votes, money, and friends. The components, including cards and worker tokens, are placed on their respective boards. The game comes with starter rules for new players, which can simplify the initial setup and gameplay.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Worker placement

Card collection and hand-building

Modular board system

‘Take that’ elements

Game Objective

The objective is to lose as much as possible in three areas: votes, friends, and money. Players must balance their strategy to ensure they are losing evenly across all three modules. The final score is determined by the highest remaining value in any of these areas, so the goal is to minimize this score.

Player Experience

Playing The Prodigals Club can be an entertaining and strategic experience. The game is praised for its unique theme, where players aim to destroy their social reputation by losing elections, offending friends, and getting rid of possessions. The gameplay involves collecting cards and using worker placement to execute actions, adding a layer of complexity and replayability. However, the game can appear overwhelming due to the numerous options and lengthy explanations required for first-time players.

Pros

Unique Theme: The game’s theme of intentionally losing status is both humorous and engaging.

High Replayability: The modular board system and multiple strategies provide a lot of replay value.

Strong Mechanics: Combines worker placement with card collection and hand-building effectively.

Quality Components: Includes well-designed component bags for organization.

Cons

Complex Setup: The game can be challenging to teach and set up, especially for new players.

Overwhelming Options: The numerous choices available can make the game feel overwhelming at times.

Player Interaction: Some players may find the ‘take that’ elements, which improve opponents’ reputations, off-putting.

Personal Thoughts on The Prodigals Club

The Prodigals Club is ideal for players who enjoy complex, strategic games with a unique twist. It is particularly recommended for fans of worker placement games and those who appreciate a blend of humor and depth in their gaming experience. While it may not be the best fit for casual or younger players due to its complexity, it is a solid addition to any serious board game collection.

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