Welcome to #KickstartMonday!!! Our weekly series that features two crowdfunded gaming projects. We try to find two projects every week on various platforms like Kickstarter and Gamefound that catch our interest. These could be dice, miniatures, board games, gaming accessories, furniture, or even role playing gaming products. This week we’ll dive into a board game and an expansion.
Architects of the West Kingdom: Works of Wonder
Architects of the West Kingdom: Works of Wonder from designer Shem Phillips and published by Garphill Games is the second expansion to the hit game Architects of the West Kingdom. In the core game of Architects of the West Kingdom, which we reviewed on episode 76 of the WiscoDice Tabletop Gaming Podcast, you find a worker placement game where you start with an abundance of workers. As you place workers on locations, the more you have at a location the better the reward. However, if you have to pull back a worker you are not allowed to take any further action. There are mechanisms on the board to round up your workers more efficiently, or even capture your opponents workers. All the while, you are building the cathedral and other buildings that ultimately will score you points.
In the Works of Wonder expansion, players will find themselves back at it building the city for the king. However, new workers from far and wide have been drawn to help build five amazing wonderous monuments. There will be a new track to manage that tracks your influence. Players with more influence will certainly earn favors from the princess overseeing the construction of these monuments. However, the less noble profiteer will certainly award those who are looking to make a fast dollar on the kings expense.
If you love Architects of the West Kingdom this expansion looks to add onto the game with plenty of new mechanics. Owners of the base game should definitely look into adding this to their collection.
Thunder Rolls
In Thunder Rolls from Zeroic Games you will take on the role of a race car team trying to win it all. This game is different then many race car games that have been on the market. Leveraging a dice worker placement mechanism, this game definitely reduces the luck factor that so many games like this feature. This game can play between 1-8 players, so be ready for lots of car racing fun with your friends.
The game consists of two phases. In the first phase you will roll your dice, form them into sets, and then place them on action spaces (in player order). Action spaces grant you additional abilities and maneuvers that will impact your position on the race track. During this phase you will also be able to obtain Thunder Cards which are key to the next phase.
In the Thunder Phase you will use the Thunder Cards you have collected to program what your car will do during this phase. Thunder Cards have a green number which is associated with movement of your car. In player order you will reveal these cards from left to right until all cards are revealed and resolved. If you can outdistance the rest of the field by the end of the game you will be the winner.
If you love stock car racing, looking for a race car game, or are interested in playing something that leverages dice as a workers then this game is definitely one you should check out. Thunder Rolls looks to be a brilliant, fun game that will see gaming tables delight in fast speeds, hot action, and possibly a few collisions.
Did we miss your favorite project?
Thank you for checking out this week’s Kickstart Monday! If you find these interesting or want some attention on a Kickstarter or other crowdfunded projects that you would like to read more about please share your thoughts with us via our social media or at our email.
