Trickerion: Legends of Illusion (2015) Board Game

Trickerion: Legends of Illusion is a strategy board game that was released in 2015 by Mindclash Games. It is set in a post-Napoleonic world where players take on the roles of rival magicians competing for fame and glory in a prestigious theater.

Game Components of Trickerion: Legends of Illusion

Main game board depicting a late 19th century cityscape

Magician’s Workshop game boards

48 different Tricks from Optical, Spiritual, Mechanical, and Escape categories

Over 90 character abilities

40 Special Assignment cards

Prophecy tokens (with the “Dark Alley” expansion)

Engineer, Assistant, Manager, and Apprentice tokens

Materials and components for tricks

Performance cards

Fame points and Coins

How To Setup Trickerion: Legends of Illusion

To set up the game, players select a magician as their player character and assemble their team of engineers, assistants, managers, and apprentices. Each player chooses a specialist, which is crucial for the starting illusion. Players also gather materials worth two coins and determine their starting money based on player order. The game board is divided into areas like Downtown, Dark Alley, Market Row, and the Theater, each serving different purposes during the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Worker Placement: Players move their team members to different locations on the board to obtain blueprints and components for tricks.

Simultaneous Action Selection: Players plan and execute their actions simultaneously.

Action Points: Workers have different starting action points, and each placement spot provides bonus action points.

Tile Placement: Tricks are stored and prepared on the Magician’s Workshop board and performed at the Theater through a tile placement mini-game.

Game Objective: The goal is to accumulate the most Fame points by performing tricks and managing resources effectively. The game ends after turn 7, and the player with the most Fame points wins.

Player Experience

Playing Trickerion: Legends of Illusion is a highly engaging and strategic experience. Players must balance resource management, team deployment, and trick preparation to outperform their opponents. The game’s world-building is exceptional, with a Victorian steampunk setting that adds a unique flavor. The gameplay involves significant player interaction, particularly during the performance phase, where players compete for the best trick placements. This interaction often leads to lively reactions and strategic discussions around the table.

Pros

Immersive World-Building: The game’s setting and artwork are highly detailed and engaging.

Deep Strategy: The combination of worker placement, action points, and simultaneous action selection offers a rich strategic experience.

High Replayability: With multiple tricks, character abilities, and Special Assignment cards, the game offers a lot of variety.

Strong Player Interaction: The game encourages competition and interaction among players.

Cons

Complex Setup: Setting up the game can be time-consuming due to the number of components and rules.

Long Playtime: Games can last between 60 to 180 minutes, which may be too long for some players.

Steep Learning Curve: The game has many mechanics and rules, making it challenging for new players to learn.

Personal Thoughts on Trickerion: Legends of Illusion

Trickerion: Legends of Illusion is perfect for fans of complex strategy games and those who enjoy immersive thematic experiences. It is ideal for experienced board game players who appreciate deep gameplay mechanics and are willing to invest time in learning and mastering the game. However, it may not be the best fit for casual gamers or those looking for a quick, simple experience.

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