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The power of cards is affected by the cards of your neighbours - with the need to compare element types for most actions. We were able to get hands-on with one of the most eye-catching releases during a demo session at this year’s Essen Spiel convention in Germany, finding out whether the gorgeous board game could live up to its inspiration. Tribes of the wind is essentially a race to build 5 villages across a previously polluted wasteland. Strictly, it’s possible to be the first to complete this race and not win, it’s just never happened in our plays. The aftermath of an apocalypse is an increasingly common grounding for games, both digitally and on the tabletop. Some (The Last of Us) take a narrative approach, where players act as a group of protagonists against a generally hostile environment. Others such as Dead of Winter introduce the possibility of deception and betrayal into the dynamic of survival. 2017’s Outlive pitches you in direct competition with other bands of survivors, as well as environmental hazards. And then, there are games like Tribes of the Wind, where the destruction of human civilisation is included solely for decorative effect. Apocalypse Wow The Vincent Dutrait artwork sets the tone nicely for the game. The artwork on the cards is individual, some have a similar look but with subtle details swapped out that makes it fun to spot the differences.
There's a game design term, the kludge, which I love. It refers to an extra mechanism or rule which is added to deal with a problem elsewhere in the system. The temples in Tribes of the wind are the perfect example of this phenomenon. At some point the designer seems to have realised that you can end up with a real bummer of a hand of cards, stalling your progress towards sylvan Nirvana. Placing a temple allows you to jettison three cards (and immediately replace them) while gaining an immediate benefit. Which is fine, but it's disconcerting to see the design 'joins' so clearly. The addition of the temples definitely smooths off the play experience, but at the expense of tension and variability. Why Defer Gratification? Each Guide in the game comes with a series of special abilities which can change gameplay and with five different guides to choose from, there is plenty of space for replayability. I do like a bit of asymmetrical gameplay!
The game’s strategic elements and unique card play mechanics make it both engaging and challenging. It encourages players to think, plan, and strategize, keeping them invested in the game. A Game with a Message You can also take your time to build Temples which will give you bonuses during gameplay and help when scoring victory points at the end of the game. Finally, you can build a Village and this is where most of your points are going to come from. Villages are great as they can give you bonuses and help get to the end of the game but humanity will always generate pollution. So, you will need to work out the right balance when it comes to setting up Villages on your board. The innovative card play mechanics set Tribes of the Wind apart from other games. The requirement to satisfy certain conditions based on the types of cards in your hand and your opponents’ hands adds a unique twist. This mechanic encourages strategic thinking and careful planning, making each turn a puzzle to solve. Immersive Theme of Tribes of the Wind While the game’s unique card play mechanic adds a layer of strategy, it may not offer enough tactical depth for some players. The game’s focus on meeting certain conditions to play cards can sometimes limit strategic options, reducing the game’s tactical depth. Final Verdict: Tribes of the Wind A Game Worth Playing
Pollution has covered the ruins of past civilizations. Only remain the Tribes of the Wind, flying from tree to tree to clean up the Forsaken Lands. Tribes of the Wind feels as lightweight as its wind riders, but there’s plenty of strategic heft to anchor its gameplay.Build a Teample so as to earn the corresponding bonus, and to score some points at the end of the game. This action is also a good way to change your hand’s content, as you will have to discard 3 cards to build your temple. In this game, you’ll play as a Guide who uses elemental magic to fight against pollution. Have forests grow, build new cities in the canopy, and secure the future of mankind. This cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.
La Boite de Jeu is on the cusp of releasing a new board game that caught my eye due to its mechanics and its stunning artwork (by Vincent Dutrait!). Joachim Thôme has been working away on Tribes Of The Wind, a board game where your Guides work to reinvigorate civilisation after pollution has ravaged the world. Quite apt for this day and age. As we conclude our review of Tribes of the Wind, it’s clear that this game brings a unique blend of elements to the table. Despite its shortcomings, the game’s strengths make it a worthy addition to any board game collection. A Unique Gaming Experience In conclusion, Tribes of the Wind is a game worth investing in. It offers a unique blend of strategic gameplay, beautiful artwork, and an immersive theme. Despite its shortcomings, the game’s strengths make it a standout in the world of board games. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or a newbie, “Tribes of the Wind” is a game worth playing. It’s a game that challenges, engages, and entertains, making it a worthy addition to any board game collection. From our short time with the game, Tribes of the Wind proved that it’s more than just a gorgeous tribute to Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Designer Joachim Thôme manages to take a simple set of actions - clear, build, fly - and find a compelling loop as players gradually build up their own board while jostling with their neighbours for the resources they need.
How to Play?
Playing a card is a crucial part of the game. Each card carries a cost, which depends on the types of cards in your hand and sometimes those in your opponents’ hands. Cards allow players to move wind riders to forest tiles, remove pollution from their player board, build forest tiles on unpolluted areas, and gain water, a vital resource for building forest tiles. Building Temples and Villages Each turn, players can perform one action - usually boiling down to playing a card from the row in front of them. These cards are colour-coded to four key elements: water, earth, fire and wind, allowing players to claim the vital resource of water, replant forests using said water, clear out pollution from squares on their board or move wind riders around (more on that in a second). Tribes of the Wind offers a unique gaming experience with its innovative card play mechanics and immersive theme. The game’s beautiful artwork and strategic gameplay make it a standout in the board game world. Engaging and Challenging The person with the highest score gets to become global dictator for life. OK, no, but they win, and feel good about themselves as people. Somewhat surprisingly, it’s better at two. The adaptation to this player count is to use the row of cards that you refill your hand from as one of your neighbours, for the purposes of powering your cards. This gives you a much greater measure of control, as the cards you and your opponent select doubly impact the cards in hand. It’s still not truly interactive, but it is more satisfying.
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