Eagle Games Defenders of The Realm Battlefields Game

Two-player card games like Battle Line continue to be very popular, and in Defenders of the Realm: Battlefields, we get Richard Launius' take on this style of game, set in the universe of his Defenders of the Realm series. Players play cards on opposite sides of several battlefield tiles, trying to be the first to get the required set needed to win that tile.For most of the game you'll spend your turn playing a card from your own deck face-up to your side of one of three battlefields, then drawing a new card. Cards played must fit the requirements of the battlefield indicator (e.g. four of any colour in decreasing order, or two pairs, or three even numbered cards in decreasing order). The first player to meet the objective wins the battlefield, and the first to win a certain number of battlefields wins the game.But that's only where the fun starts. Most cards enable you to perform an attack when they are played, which happens by rolling dice, and if you score a hit, one of your opponents cards is "stunned", and is turned sideways and becomes inactive. Each character has its own unique abilities for attacking, and many offer special bonuses in the event of a successful attack, such as being able to un-stun your own troops, or perform additional attacks. Additionally, each player has two generals that they can bring into the action to perform particularly powerful abilities.As a result, you can't rely on careful calculation or card counting to win, because there are constant attacks which see troop cards being stunned and thus made inactive. The attacking, stunning, and un-stunning is a huge part of the game, as you try to use the various abilities of the cards at your disposal, along with your generals. The result is a narrative driven brawl where almost anything can happen. Fans of the Defenders of the Realm board game might find themselves liking this game, due to the thematic overlap, because they will recognize and appreciate the locations, heroes, minions, and other elements present in both games.Defenders of the Realm Battlefields isn't a complicated game by any means, and the core mechanics are straight forward, but there's quite a bit going on, with dice being rolled, character text to read, characters being stunned and un-stunned, and bonus abilities kicking in after successful attacks. It can be learned quite easily, but the rulebook isn't as intuitive or comprehensive as one might like, although fortunately you'll find answers to most rules questions in the boardgamegeek forums.While the graphic design is a matter of taste, the quality of the components themselves is terrific, and they're complemented by quality artwork by the highly regarded fantasy artist Larry Elmore.Overall, this is primarily a thematic game, and while there is certainly room for making good choices and playing your cards optimally and carefully, its real appeal lies more in the story and the theme, and it is intended to be a more light-hearted romp with the feel of battling and brawling, with troops and dice flying thick and fast. It's not a heavy game, and this kind of card battle should especially go over well with teenage boys, looking for a frantic fantasy adventure. - EndersGame @ BGG

Great game. Simple to learn and fun!