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Trolls and Princesses (2023) Board Game

ByMichail

Trolls and Princesses is a fantasy board game designed by Pim Thunborg and published by Game Brewer in in 2023. The game combines elements of humor and fantasy, making it an engaging and entertaining experience for players.

Game Components of Trolls and Princesses

  • Player boards** with caverns, cave network, resource field, and farm area
  • Village board** representing towns for various actions
  • Troll figures** and **outpost tokens**
  • Resource tokens** (including diamonds, the most valuable resource)
  • Cards** for restocking people and activating actions
  • Church bell, changeling, and outpost tokens** for set collection
  • Troll King token**
  • Scoring cards**

    How To Setup Trolls and Princesses

    To set up the game, each player starts by receiving a player board and placing their troll figures off the board. The village board is set up with various locations where trolls can interact. A deck of cards is built during setup, and each player begins with three cards in hand. Resources and people (humans, changelings, princesses) are placed in their respective areas on the village board.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Worker Placement: Players move trolls to activate regions and actions.
  • Resource Management: Collect and use resources (diamonds, troll power) to perform actions.
  • Set Collection: Score points by collecting sets of church bells, changelings, and outposts.
  • Game Objective: Impress the Mountains King by performing various troll actions to earn favour (victory points). The player with the most victory points at the end of the game wins.

    Gameplay Mechanics

  • Actions: Players take two actions per turn, using action points (APs) derived from their trolls, outposts, and the Troll King.
  • Card System: Cards restock people in villages and determine which area the Troll King visits, enhancing action points in that area.
  • Above and Below Ground Actions: Players can perform actions both on their player board and on the village board.

    Player Experience

    The game is known for its quick turns and strategic depth, making it an engaging experience. Players must plan carefully to execute impactful two-turn combos, especially as the game progresses and more trolls are introduced. The mix of underground and above-ground actions keeps the game dynamic and exciting.

    Pros

  • Strategic Depth: Offers a balance of short-term and long-term strategies.
  • Quick Turns: Despite the game’s complexity, turns are fast-paced.
  • Humorous Twist: The game’s theme and mechanics add a light-hearted and humorous element.
  • Set Collection: The set collection aspect provides a clear path to scoring points.

    Cons

  • Resource Intensive: Kidnapping princesses, for example, requires significant resources and action points.
  • Secondary Scoring Paths: Some scoring paths, like focusing on resources or specific troll scoring cards, may not be as meaningful.
  • Initial Complexity: The game has a lot of components and mechanics, which can be overwhelming for new players.

    Personal Thoughts on Trolls and Princesses

    **Trolls and Princesses** is ideal for players who enjoy strategic worker placement games with a unique theme. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate planning and executing complex actions over multiple turns. While the game can be challenging, especially in terms of resource management and set collection, it rewards careful planning and strategic thinking. However, it may not be the best fit for players seeking a light, introductory board game due to its complexity and the need for strategic depth.

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    • Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

    Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
    Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl

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