Rune Age

[maskmanjoe]

To show everyone that they haven't ran out of titles they can put "Rune" in, Corey Konieczka brings to the table in the recently concluded Realms of Terrinoth event Rune Age, Fantasy Flight Games' latest entry into the deck-building category.

Rune Age is a scenario-driven deck-builder where 2-4 players lead four different races to achieve the objectives set out by the scenario. Players may duke it out in PvP or cooperative play, taking advantage of the unique units and capabilities of each faction in order to achieve victory.

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So, another deck-building game... and this is with Blood Bowl: Team Manager still nowhere in sight. I'm curious at the very least. Combat reminds me of Horus Heresy combat. Hopefully this gets developed faster and doesnt get delayed like LoTR LCG.

[ClaroPaulo]

The Theme got me hooked! I think this might go to my wishlist!

[dmnyo]

Definitely waiting for this one and LoTR LCG

[yamizero]

Yami: sige una na ako
Mark: RuneAge?
Arnold brings out the box.
Yami: AH! dagnamet, kala ko RuneWars. Sige game!

Game: Rune Age
Description: Stand Alone Card Game.... in TERRINOTH
Players: Arnold, Mark, Yami
Game Mode Played: Co-Op
Play Time: what! tapos na?
Complexity/"Weight": KFC Rice bowl
Production Quality: FFG. Period.
Mechanics: Deck Building (only a mechanic), Hand Management, Resource Management
Games I remember while playing it: can't say. deck building opens a lot of options.
Fun: FUN!!! Kickass!

We played the Co-Op mode for the game and boy was it a walk in the park. Just that the park was filled with mutated wild animals out for blood. We had 2 games which ended fairly fast. We died the 1st Round as we couldn't kill an encounter with a count down timer. The 2nd Round, we were able to last at least 3 cards away from victory. Though, by that time Mark had 1 HP left, and i'd more than wasted half my army away and Arnold was not able to save his Kingdom from being razed. I have to say i'm happy that though this was a co-op game, no one guy was able to "Captain" the entire game. A big plus. I also liked the dice rolling for combat. Just adds a bit more luck, that for me is still acceptable and manageable. Prevents the game from being too computable (ala Thunderstone Dungeon (still am a big fan of TS though)) and keeps the excitement up.

Arnold: Mark, you need your deck pillaged?
Mark: Sure. Thanks

I mean, how many games can you thank someone for pillaging your deck?

With just having sampled the game, i have to say i'm looking forward to getting my own copy soon. Given that its FFG, a 2nd expansion is probably in the works. The first one which could have been essentially part of the base set will be probably announced soon. Disclaimer: These statements are purely speculations but would otherwise make sense marketing wise to cut down cost = lower entry price point, to get people hooked and wanting more.

Also, thanks to Arnold for recommending the Never Say No videos. ROFL

[Fab]

Arrrgh! When will I get to try RuneAge? Will it have to be on the next All aBOARD or the next Days of Terrinoth? I've been curious about it since its another game set in Terrinoth, but Yamizero's review makes me want to try it out even more! 

[maskmanjoe]

Arrrgh! When will I get to try RuneAge? Will it have to be on the next All aBOARD or the next Days of Terrinoth? I've been curious about it since its another game set in Terrinoth, but Yamizero's review makes me want to try it out even more! 

You should have left the newbies to run around like headless chickens in Arkham and just joined in our doomed from the start attempt at stopping the Cataclysm

Yami's review was amazing!

Arnold: Mark, you need your deck pillaged?
Mark: Sure. Thanks

I mean, how many games can you thank someone for pillaging your deck?

IKR! Hahahaha consensual deck destruction ftw!

[Talismanic (Mark)]

Arrrgh! When will I get to try RuneAge? Will it have to be on the next All aBOARD or the next Days of Terrinoth? I've been curious about it since its another game set in Terrinoth, but Yamizero's review makes me want to try it out even more! 

You should have left the newbies to run around like headless chickens in Arkham and just joined in our doomed from the start attempt at stopping the Cataclysm

Yami's review was amazing!

Arnold: Mark, you need your deck pillaged?
Mark: Sure. Thanks

I mean, how many games can you thank someone for pillaging your deck?

IKR! Hahahaha consensual deck destruction ftw!

Good job to JC for the entertaining mini-review! Egad! What a bunch of brutal games. The first one was like okay we're keeping threats under control then... what there's an attack from some dark dimension!? What we have to kill it in 8 player turns!? What no one can do it!? Gadzooks, what are all these demons doing in here!?

I still blame the gay elves!

The second game was more of a slow burn leading to an atomic wedgie. We initially had all threats under control and managed to fight our ay to three turns away from victory, both JC and I thought we would fall. But no Arnold fell immediately on that turn!

I blame the puny humans!

QED: I blame Arnold ha ha ha but really the decks need an expansion to make them more competitive.

[yamizero]

Or a least two turns to buy before the deck starts running. I mean what the hell are you going to do with 5 gold and 3 units at the get go. Maybe that can be added to town down the level of difficulty by a notch = easy mode?

RuneAge, Round 2, Last Turn:

Encounter: (paraphrase) All players must defend their Capital/HQ/Kingdom from an attack value of X.

1st Check, Mark: (who has 1 hp left) I defended myself from the attack. (Good Job!)

2nd Check, Yami: I beat the crap out of who ever is attacking my realm! "Take that you (word) scenario!" (hope levels rising) Guys, i think we can make it to the end.

Last Check, Arnold: Guys, I failed.

Yami: (slow motion standing up and slamming cards from hand) (in good humor of course)

Though, to be fair, we wouldn't have won anyway after that. (Much like the Minotaur encounter from our DnD RPG session. see gallery) The remaining 3 cards were more brutal with 2 encounters and the very last card being "you may attack another player for the win" or something like that.

Even so, i still find the game charming.

[yamizero]

I still blame the gay elves!

And how were we suppose to fight? Without our cheering elves? No Sir. hehehe.

Elves might shine out more in the other game modes.

@mod -maybe someone can move the related posts to the rune age thread. we kinda hijacked the Fort Nights thread. Thanks. Sorry for the inconvenience.

[maskmanjoe]

So correction, calling it an outright deck-builder is just somehow wrong imo. And entering the game with that mindset may be frustrating because of the natural timer the scenarios pressure the players into. Deck management would probably be better.

Oi the resbak-based Humans are pretty strong, it just that the resbak didnt work efficiently that one time -_- And yes, the elves are gay

[yamizero]

So correction, calling it an outright deck-builder is just somehow wrong imo. And entering the game with that mindset may be frustrating because of the natural timer the scenarios pressure the players into. Deck management would probably be better.

Oi the resbak-based Humans are pretty strong, it just that the resbak didnt work efficiently that one time -_- And yes, the elves are gay

@Humans - sing bilis/dami ng attack as the undead. Though, our luck just run out for that game. We were hanging from a thread na ren naman. hehe

I agree. You have to have at least the right mindset and attitude going into the game. You could say "ah its almost like (other game)" but don't play it as if it were the same title. FFG has crafted another beautiful heist on our wallets. Well mine at the least.

RRR...must get expansions...GRRR (zombie walk) and sleeves...

na-inggit ako dun sa FFG sleeves mo MMJ.

--------------
Gamer A: FFG Sleeves protect your cards from getting dirty.
Gamer B: Why would they get dirty?
Gamer A: Because they could slip from you hand or while shuffling and fall on the floor... the dirty dirty floor.
Gamer B: Why would they slip from my hand? How?
Gamer A: Because of the slippery FFG sleeves.

[maskmanjoe]

Mas reliable ang backup ng undead as its alot easier to ensure that you've got Reanimates in your graveyard. Top-decking in a Footmat from a deck still full of lovely 1 gold cards is a 50-50 deal -_-

[Talismanic (Mark)]

Got in another 2 games! And I got a big boost of Endorphin/Serotonin or whatever chemical your brain releases from winning by claiming victory in back to back games of Runeage despite the best efforts of the elves and humans.

In the first game (which was coop) I took advantage of the "Brother against Brother" event and front-stabbed the Elves for the win. In the second competitive game, it was a combination of having a scary defensive rune, getting influence resources, amassing manticores and re-animates, and attacking at the opportune times that helped me overcome an after mid-game human-elf alliance!

Great fun! Though, I suspect the elves and humans need an expansion to balance them out better and make them more competitive.   

[maskmanjoe]

I have a feeling that the scenarios tend to favor one side over the other. I am not sure if this is intended on the side of FFG to highlight the inherent differences in faction powers and playstyles but I'm hoping it doesnt impact the appreciation of the game system, as it has an intriguing game system that is worth playing as it is.

[Rolf]

I enjoyed this game (coop) looking forward to playing it again!