Paladins of the West Kingdom
Designer: Shem Phillips, S J Macdonald
Artists: Mihajlo Dimitrievski
Publisher: Garphill Games, Renegade Game Studios
Player Count: 1-4
Recommended Age: 12+
Playing Time: 90-120 minutes
Year Published: 2019
Overview:
“Paladins of the West Kingdom” is a strategic worker-placement board game set in the Carolingian Empire, around 900 AD. In this game, players take on the role of noblemen trying to defend their city from increasing threats by enlisting the help of powerful paladins. This game is the second installment in the West Kingdom Trilogy, known for its intricate strategy, beautiful artwork, and high-quality components.
Gameplay:
“Paladins of the West Kingdom” offers a deep and complex strategic experience, focusing on careful planning and resource management. Players must enlist the help of paladins to perform various actions, each contributing to the defense and prosperity of the city.
Key aspects of gameplay include:
- Worker Placement and Resource Management: Players send their workers to various locations on their personal boards to gather resources, strengthen defenses, and perform actions such as converting outsiders or commissioning monks.
- Paladin Cards: Each round, players choose a paladin card from their hand, which provides workers and special abilities for that round, adding a layer of strategic planning.
- Suspicion and Virtue: Players must balance their actions between accumulating suspicion and maintaining virtue. High suspicion can attract the attention of the Inquisition, while virtue can bring rewards.
- Attribute Tracks: Players can improve their faith, strength, and influence by performing actions, which unlocks additional benefits and contributes to end-game scoring.
- Solo Mode: The game includes an intuitive solo mode, allowing single players to compete against a challenging AI.
Components:
The game includes:
- A detailed main board and player boards.
- 240 worker meeples in six different colors.
- 32 Paladin cards, 48 Townsfolk cards, and 60 Outsider cards.
- Various resource tokens and coins.
- Detailed rulebook and reference sheets.
The components are of high quality, with sturdy materials and vibrant artwork by Mihajlo Dimitrievski, enhancing the thematic experience of the game.
Pros:
- Strategic Depth: The game offers a rich strategic experience with multiple paths to victory and numerous decisions to make each turn.
- Replayability: The variety of paladin cards, townsfolk, and outsiders ensures that each game feels unique and offers different strategies.
- Solo Play: The solo mode is well-designed and offers a challenging experience for single players.
- Player Interaction: The game includes just the right amount of player interaction, with no direct “take-that” mechanisms, making it suitable for players who prefer strategic competition without aggressive tactics.
Cons:
- Complexity: The game has a steep learning curve and may be challenging for new players to grasp initially.
- Game Length: The playing time can be lengthy, especially with four players, which might not be ideal for all groups.
- Setup Time: The numerous components require careful management and setup, which might be daunting for some players.
Conclusion:
“Paladins of the West Kingdom” is a highly engaging and strategic worker-placement game that stands out for its deep mechanics, replayability, and thematic depth. It’s a great addition to any board game collection, particularly for those who enjoy complex strategy games with multiple layers of decision-making. Whether you’re playing with friends or tackling the solo mode, “Paladins of the West Kingdom” promises an immersive and rewarding experience.
