![]() But when items that affect the core game are locked behind a time wall, that’s frustrating. Sure, I can live with component upgrades or expansions being blocked from retail buyers. My thoughts on Kickstarter Exclusives are well documented. It was originally crowdfunded on Kickstarter and several gameplay items are locked behind the dreaded “Kickstarter Exclusive” badge. Each unit has a set amount of strength.īut one of my biggest annoyances with Stronghold: Undead is the way the game was produced. ![]() Once it gets littered with troops and tiles, finding connecting paths or unit stacking limits can be a pain. The drab, green artwork, while thematic, really makes is hard to read at times. The other issue is with the board itself. More often than we’d like we had to head online to find the answer to a rules question that came up, or just make a judgment call on the spot. The first is that the rulebook, while ok to learn the game, still leaves plenty of questions. We never had a game be less than 2-3 hours.ĭespite the improvements in this second edition, there are still some issues bringing down the game. That’s also why I think that the 90-minute playtime on the box is woefully optimistic. Most of our games went down to the wire, with a decision here or there affecting the game in a major way. In our games, it was rare for any side to pull ahead with a huge advantage. This also results in gameplay that’s really tight. The attacker will have a library of spells to cast. The “this for that” gameplay mechanic makes every decision important as you have to decide if what you are doing is worth giving more time to the defender. As an attacker, not only is your mana limited, but every spell you activate, or each time you consult your library, you are providing crucial time for the defender to react and foil your plans. I thoroughly enjoyed the back and forth nature of the gameplay where every decision the attacker made had a consequence. ![]() Let me explain.ĭespite its complexity, the core loop of Stronghold: Undead is really interesting. It just didn’t quite get over the hurdle of being great. And overall it’s definitely a better game. I was really hoping that this 2nd edition cleaned it up into a much better game. While I liked the first edition of Stronghold, it had a few issues that eventually caused it to leave my collection. The attacker must breach any wall segment to win. That’s the only way an attacker can breach the walls-either whittle the defender down on a wall that they can finally breakthrough, or hit them with an overwhelming force they didn’t plan for. Every unit has a strength, and the side with the higher strength gets to inflict the difference in casualties. Ranged weapons and siege engines get a chance to attack, and then any troops on the walls will battle. Each round culminates with a battle phase. The attacker will step through a series of cards, casting spells, moving troops around the board, and the defender will get a chance to react to all of them. If you put a canon on one tower, the space can’t be used for a ballista or a holy cross. However, people and building spots are limited so every decision must be carefully made. Every action the attacker takes provides time for the defender, which can be used to move troops around, recruit new ones, and build fortifications and weapons. Meanwhile, the currency of the defender is time tokens. The basic currency for the attacker is mana, which is provided from the round tracker, mana cards, the altar of bone, and some tiles they can build in lieu of siege engines. The defender will be spending time tokens to do their actions. However, after 8 rounds, if the walls still stand, the defender wins. The game is played over 8 rounds, and if the attacker can breach any wall in the stronghold, they win. One player will control the defense of the fort, while the other side will command an army of attacking undead. ![]() But I’ll just give you a high level overview here, and you can download a PDF of the rules and if you want the full ins and outs. Thankfully the game comes with some pretty detailed player aids and its cards step you through the round structure during the game. Stronghold: Undead is a complex game that is definitely going to have a learning curve first timers will have to deal with. Does this edition clean up a good, yet marred game? Let’s find out. Today, we are going to look at an offshoot game called Stronghold: Undead (Second Edition). I’ve seen a couple of siege-themed games come and go over the years, but the most notable of them has always been Stronghold. In tabletop gaming, it not only can challenge your strategy, but also your tactical reactions. ![]() One side digging in their heels to create a defensive structure, while the other has a massive army with plenty of reinforcements. The concept of a siege is always intriguing to me. ![]()
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