Tyrants of the Underdark (2016) Board Game

Tyrants of the Underdark is a board game released in 2016, designed by Peter Lee, Rodney Thompson, and Andrew Veen. Published by Gale Force Nine, LLC, it falls under the fantasy and fighting categories, offering players a unique gameplay experience set in the dark underworld. With a runtime of around 60 minutes, the game is suitable for 2 to 4 players, aged 14 and above.

Game Components of Tyrants of the Underdark

Game Board: A large, single-sided, four-panel mounted board representing the Underdark locations connected by pathways.

Player Boards: Individual boards for each player to manage their draw and discard piles, turn summaries, and component indicators.

Cards: Initial decks of 10 cards per player (3 Soldiers, 7 Nobles), and a card market created from half decks.

Tokens: City control markers, victory point tokens, first player marker, and troop/spy tokens (replacing miniatures in the second edition).

Inner Circle Tokens: Large round tokens for promoting cards (replaced by placing promoted cards to the left of the player board in the second edition).

Expansion Packs: Includes the Aberrations and Undead decks in the second edition.

How To Setup Tyrants of the Underdark

To set up the game, first lay out the board and populate it with neutral units. Each location on the board can hold a set number of units, marked by circles; some of these circles have a crossed swords icon where neutral units are placed. City control markers are placed on the nine Drow cities. Each player selects an Underdark location and places one of their units there. Players start with an identical set of 10 cards, shuffle them, and draw half. The card market is created by combining two half decks and drawing six cards to place on the market board along with standard cards.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Deck Building: Players build their decks by buying new cards from the market using Influence.

Area Control: Players interact with the board using Power to place troops, banish opponents’ spies, or assassinate troops.

Resource Management: Influence is used to buy cards, while Power is used for board actions.

Spy Network: Spies can be placed in any location and have powerful secondary abilities when removed.

City Control: Players gain control tokens and additional Influence or victory points by controlling Drow cities.

Game End: The game ends when a player places their last troop or the market deck runs out. The player with the most victory points wins.

Player Experience

Playing Tyrants of the Underdark involves strategic deck-building and tactical area control. Players must balance resource management, troop placement, and spy manipulation to outmaneuver their opponents. The game offers a rich experience with deep strategy, making each turn a thoughtful decision.

Pros

Hybrid Mechanics: Combines deck-building and area control for a unique gameplay experience.

Replay Value: Increased by the inclusion of expansion packs in the second edition.

Affordable: The second edition is more budget-friendly, especially with the inclusion of expansions.

Good for Two Players: The game plays well with two players, a rarity in many board games.

Cons

No Miniatures: The second edition replaces miniatures with tokens, which some players might find less appealing.

Board Art: The board art remains the same and is not particularly thematic or impressive.

Card Stock: The card stock, while slightly improved, is still not of high quality.

Personal Thoughts on Tyrants of the Underdark

Tyrants of the Underdark is perfect for fans of deck-building and area control games, especially those who enjoy strategic games with a fantasy setting. It is an excellent choice for players who value deep strategy and are looking for a game that plays well with a smaller player count. While the second edition lacks miniatures, it offers a more affordable and expanded gameplay experience, making it a great option for both new and veteran players.

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