The Quiet Year (2013) Board Game

The Quiet Year is a unique board game released in 2013, designed by Avery Alder. It is a storytelling game where players work together to create and explore a community trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. The game focuses on collaborative storytelling and decision-making, making it a truly immersive experience for players.

Game Components of The Quiet Year

Burlap bag

Instructions booklet

Deck of tarot-sized oracle cards (or a standard deck of playing cards in the original version)

20 skull contempt tokens

6 project dice

PDF copy of the game included with purchase

Drawing tools (not included but required)

How To Setup The Quiet Year

To set up the game, players start by sketching a broad map of their community and its surroundings. They determine the key resources for their community, with one resource being abundant and the others scarce. The deck of cards, divided into seasons (Hearts for Spring, Diamonds for Summer, Clubs for Autumn, and Spades for Winter), is shuffled and ready for play. Each player represents a part of the community, and there is no need for a gamemaster.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Turn-Based Structure: Each turn represents a week, with players drawing a card that poses questions or introduces events that must be resolved.

Card Interpretation: Players choose between two options presented by the card, which can involve adding to the map, updating resources, or starting projects.

Projects and Discussions: Players can start a project, hold a discussion, or announce a discovery, each with specific rules and implications for the community.

Contempt Tokens: Used to symbolize disagreement and frustration within the community, but with no mechanical impact.

Game Objective: The goal is to build and manage the community over a year, preparing for the inevitable arrival of the mysterious Frost Shepherds, which marks the end of the game.

Player Experience

Playing The Quiet Year is an immersive and collaborative experience. Players work together to build a community, manage resources, and respond to challenges posed by the card deck. The game emphasizes group decision-making and the difficulties that come with it, such as limited discussion time and the potential for contention. The map becomes a visual record of the community’s journey, blending literal cartography with symbolic elements.

Pros

Innovative Mechanics: Combines map-drawing, storytelling, and community building in a unique way.

High Replayability: Each game session can result in a vastly different story due to the random card draws.

Awards and Recognition: Won the 2013 Indie RPG Awards for Most Innovative Game.

Flexible Setting: Can be adapted to various post-apocalyptic or fantastical settings.

Cons

Limited Player Interaction: Players have limited opportunities to discuss and debate, which can lead to feelings of frustration.

Abstracted Storytelling: The abstract nature of the map and events can make it difficult to tell a coherent story.

Dependence on Group Dynamics: The game’s enjoyment can be heavily influenced by the group’s communication and cooperation.

Personal Thoughts on The Quiet Year

The Quiet Year is ideal for players who enjoy collaborative storytelling, community-building, and map-drawing. It is particularly suited for groups looking for a game that emphasizes teamwork and creative problem-solving. However, it may not be the best fit for players who prefer more structured narratives or intense player interaction. The game’s unique mechanics and flexibility make it a compelling choice for those interested in experimental RPGs and post-apocalyptic settings.

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