Victorian Masterminds (2019) Board Game

Victorian Masterminds is a board game released in 2019 by CMON Global Limited. It is designed by renowned game designers Antoine Bauza and Eric M. Lang, with artwork by Davide Tosello. The game is set in the Victorian era, where players take on the roles of infamous villains attempting to carry out their evil plans.

Game Components of Victorian Masterminds

Game board featuring various cities

Agent tokens and player boards

Machine tokens and blueprints

Scientist and codex tokens

Building tiles and fear tokens

Dice and behavior cards

How To Setup Victorian Masterminds

To set up the game, players start by placing the game board in the middle of the playing area, which depicts different cities. Each player chooses an agent token and places it on their respective player board. The machine tokens, scientist and codex tokens, and building tiles are shuffled and placed within reach of all players. Each player receives a set of behavior cards and a starting hand of machine blueprints. The fear tokens and dice are also distributed as per the game’s initial setup rules.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Area Control: Players send their agents to different cities to exert control.

Resource Management: Manage resources to build and deploy machines of mayhem.

Worker Placement: Place agents to steal, kidnap, and capture assets.

Objective: The primary goal is to accumulate the most victory points by spreading fear, stealing valuable items, and capturing buildings.

Player Experience

In **Victorian Masterminds**, players immerse themselves in a world of comedic villainy, competing to outdo each other in nefarious deeds. The game offers a blend of strategic planning and tactical execution, as players must manage their resources and agents effectively to achieve their evil objectives. The game’s theme is light-hearted and humorous, making it an enjoyable experience for players who appreciate a bit of villainous fun.

Pros

Engaging Theme: The game’s Victorian-era supervillain theme is unique and engaging.

Strategic Depth: Offers a good balance of strategy and tactical decisions.

High Replayability: Multiple paths to victory and random elements ensure varied gameplay.

Visual Appeal: The game components, including the board and tokens, are visually appealing.

Cons

Complexity: The game has a moderate to high complexity level, which can be daunting for new players.

Length: Games can take around 60-90 minutes, which may be too long for some players.

Luck Factor: The roll of the dice and draw of cards can introduce a significant luck factor.

Personal Thoughts on Victorian Masterminds

**Victorian Masterminds** is ideal for players who enjoy strategy and worker placement games with a unique twist. It suits those who appreciate thematic games that offer a blend of humor and complexity. While it may not be the best fit for casual or very new gamers due to its complexity, it is a great addition to any board game collection for those who enjoy a challenge and a good laugh.

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