Valeria: Card Kingdoms (2016) Board Game

Valeria: Card Kingdoms is a card and dice-based fantasy game designed by Isaias Vallejo and published by Daily Magic Games in in 2016. The game has gained popularity for its engaging gameplay and beautiful artwork by Mihajlo Dimitrievski.

Game Components of Valeria: Card Kingdoms

216 Cards: Featuring 56 unique illustrations, including 108 Citizen Cards, 42 Monster Cards, 24 Domain Cards, 10 Duke Cards, 10 Exhausted Cards, and 10 Starter Cards.

Dice: 2 Custom Six-sided 20mm Numeral Dice.

Tokens: 175 Wood Tokens, 50 Gold Tokens, 50 Strength Tokens, 50 Magic Tokens, 25 VP Tokens, and 14 Cardboard Tokens.

Other: 5 Player Reference Cards, 32 Divider Cards, and an Illustrated Rulebook.

How To Setup Valeria: Card Kingdoms

To set up the game, each player starts with a set of starter cards and a personal player board. The citizen cards, monster cards, and domain cards are shuffled and placed in their respective stacks. Each player also receives a secret Duke card, which outlines their unique scoring goals. The dice and tokens are placed within reach of all players. The game is ready to start once all components are organized and each player understands their starting resources and objectives.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Roll Phase: The active player rolls two dice.

Harvest Phase: All players activate citizen cards that match the numbers on the dice or the sum of the dice, gaining resources such as gold, strength, magic, or victory points.

Action Phase: The active player takes two actions: slay a monster, recruit a citizen, buy a domain, or gain a single resource.

End Phase: Check for end game conditions (all monsters slain, all domains bought, or twice the number of player stacks exhausted). If none are met, pass the dice to the next player.

Objective: The player with the most victory points, accumulated through defeating monsters, purchasing domains, and fulfilling their Duke card’s secret objectives, wins the game.

Player Experience

**Valeria: Card Kingdoms** offers a engaging and dynamic gameplay experience. Players are involved even when it’s not their turn, as they activate citizen cards based on the dice rolls. The game balances simplicity in its rules with depth in its strategic options, allowing players to focus on the gameplay rather than complex rules. The replayability is enhanced by the mix-and-match nature of the citizen cards and the availability of expansions.

Pros

Engaging Gameplay: Involves all players actively, even when it’s not their turn.

Simple yet Strategic: Easy-to-understand rules with deep strategic layers.

High Replayability: Multiple citizen card combinations and available expansions.

Beautiful Illustrations: Vibrant and stunning artwork throughout the game.

Variety in Scoring: Multiple ways to earn victory points, including secret Duke card objectives.

Cons

Luck of the Dice: The game can be influenced by the luck of the dice rolls.

Limited Player Interaction: Some players might find the player interaction, such as resource stealing, to be minimal.

AI in Solo Mode: The solo mode AI lacks a mechanism to track its progress, making it less engaging for some players.

Personal Thoughts on Valeria: Card Kingdoms

**Valeria: Card Kingdoms** is an excellent choice for fans of tableau-building and dice-rolling games. It is particularly suited for those who enjoy games like Machi Koro but are looking for a more polished and strategic experience. The game’s balance between simplicity and depth makes it accessible to both casual and experienced gamers. If you’re looking for a game that offers a mix of resource management, strategic planning, and a touch of luck, **Valeria: Card Kingdoms** is definitely worth considering.

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