Tuesday, March 12, 2024

#89: Nations: The Dice Game (Mark's Top 100 2024)


Nations: The Dice Game

  • rank: 1,106
  • rating: 6.9
  • published: 2014
  • designer: Rustan Håkansson
Print Status
  • in print? (easy to find the base game, expansion is difficult to find)
Why It's On The List
  • While the original game Nations is enjoyable, the dice game does a lot of the same things in a much tighter time frame... and with a really clever dice manipulation mechanic.
Tips & Tricks:
    • The base game is good - but this is one of those games that really shines once you add the expansion: asymmetric starting positions, unrest dice, more variety of tiles.
    • The shift from engine-building (getting more dice and tokens) to point-harvesting is key - and especially pronounced in the fourth & final round of the game.
    • You cannot do everything - colonies, wonders, leaders, etc. Let that impulse go.
    • Don't forget that you can convert a pair of dice into other resources - it feels wasteful, but sometimes it is your best choice.
    • The solo mode works - but there are better solo civilization games.
    Extras
    • I need to write a full review of Nations: The Dice Game (which is becoming a refrain as I create these posts - sheesh).

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