The Reckoners board game is based on the young adult novel series by Brandon Sanderson. In this dystopian world, superpowered individuals known as Epics have taken over and rule with an iron fist. The Reckoners are a group of regular humans who band together to take down these powerful villains and restore peace to society.
Game Components of The Reckoners
Game Board: Represents the city of Newcago.Miniatures: Includes 6 Reckoner heroes and various Epic villains.Dice: Each player gets 3 normal dice and 3 special dice with unique abilities.Trays: Organizational trays for equipment market, population, money, hideouts, and SteelHeart’s tracker.Rulebook: Detailed rules for gameplay.Weakness Book: Contains information on the weaknesses of the Epics, including SteelHeart.Tokens and Markers: For tracking various game states such as Enforcement, containment, and damage.Equipment: Items that can be purchased to enhance gameplay.
How To Setup The Reckoners
Setting up The Reckoners involves several steps:
Place the game board in the middle, representing Newcago.Set up the Reckoners board and the SteelHeart tracker.Arrange the city locations, characters, and trays accordingly.Distribute the dice and miniatures to the players.Initialize the population, money, and hideouts tracks.Each player selects a Reckoner character to play as. For solo play, a player controls two characters.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
Mechanics
Dice Rolling: Players roll dice in any order to select actions.Action Selection: Players choose up to three dice actions per roll, with the option to reroll.Cooperative Play: Players work together to tackle challenges.Research: Finding the weaknesses of Epics.Resource Management: Managing money and equipment.
Game Objective
Defeat Epics: Eliminate the Epic villains, particularly SteelHeart.Save Newcago: Protect the city from the Epics’ actions and Enforcement.Coordinate Actions: Players must cooperate to resolve competing priorities and achieve the game’s objectives.
Player Experience
The Reckoners offers a fast-paced, cooperative experience where players must work together to save Newcago from powerful villains. The game involves significant strategic planning and communication among players. The dice mechanics, while reminiscent of Yahtzee, add a layer of complexity with special abilities and unique dice for each character. The game’s components are highly praised for their quality and aesthetics.
Pros
High-Quality Components: Includes prepainted miniatures, metal bits, and colorful dice.Cooperative Gameplay: Encourages teamwork and strategy.Variable Player Powers: Each Reckoner has unique abilities and dice.Engaging Theme: Based on the popular book series by Brandon Sanderson.Solo Mode: Includes an approved solo mode for single-player experience.
Cons
Complexity: Can lead to analysis paralysis.Streamlined Mechanics: Some critics find the game’s mechanics too simplified compared to the source material.Lack of Epic Presence: Epics lack the depth and presence of their book counterparts.Population Track: The population mechanic does not fully capture the themes of the book series.
Personal Thoughts on The Reckoners
The Reckoners is ideal for fans of cooperative board games and those familiar with Brandon Sanderson’s work. It is particularly suited for groups who enjoy strategic planning and teamwork. However, it may not fully satisfy those seeking a deeply immersive narrative experience that closely mirrors the books. The game’s high-quality components and engaging mechanics make it a solid addition to any board game collection, despite some criticisms about its depth and thematic fidelity.
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