Through magic, all wars have been settled and global peace has been established. That sounds utopian, but it also turns out to be very boring for the involved magicians. After all, a little conflict provided excitement and thrills, but fortunately, these wizards and witches have come up with something to combat their boredom. Every once in a while they summon various special creatures, warriors and monsters to provide violent but safe entertainment in the form of a gladiatorial skirmish. Who will overcome this brawl and who will come out bawling?
Goal and game design
Super Fantasy Brawl is a skirmish, in which players with their respective team try to beat the other team during a fast-paced battle. Think of Dota or League of Legends, as an example, but as a board game. Players each assemble a team of three champions. The champions are unique and each has special abilities, skills and actions. Each champion has his, her or their own unique action cards that players assemble into a varied and optimal action deck for playful synergy. Players set up the game board, choose their champions, shuffle their cards, place the traps and their champions on the game board and are ready for a game of mat. By taking out enemies and achieving goals, players score victory points. The first player to score five victory points wins this Super Fantasy Brawl!
Gameplay
Starting with the starting player, each player takes a turn. After the second player takes their turn, the goal cards are moved ahead and this party starts again until one player scores five victory points. Each turn consists of several phases. Each turn, players use their hand of action cards to manoeuvre, attack, move enemies and claim objectives to score victory points. At the start of a turn, the player checks whether they meets the objectives on one of the open objective cards to score points. Then a player performs actions with up to three magic power sources and at the end of this turn, the player discards unused cards, replenishes their hand to five cards and refreshes the power sources used during the turn.
Actions are the central gameplay mechanism. Players perform actions based on action cards, but also have a number of standard actions at their disposal. Each action costs the corresponding colour power source to use the action, and players have three different colours of power sources at their disposal. The card shows which power source is needed and which special action players can perform with this card. Reading the card, explains the card. There are attack cards, skill cards and reaction cards. The skill cards and attack cards can only be used by a specific champion. These cards often show an amount of squares the champion may move in addition to the action. These cards allow players to inflict damage on other players, as well as move or otherwise influence their opponent’s champions.
Attack cards show how a player deals damage and at what distance an attack can be performed. If a player activates an attack card and has selected a target, the other player can still respond with a reaction card. Reaction cards can be used by any champion but, like other actions, cost power resources. If you have used a reaction card(s) during an opponent’s turn, you have fewer power resources available to you during your own turn. If you do enough damage to an opponent’s champion, it is (temporarily) eliminated. Defeating champions not only earns you a point, but it also allows you to level up the attacking champion. This leveled-up champion unlocks extra powers, but when eliminated, this champion also loses the experience gained just as quickly…
The various goal cards show, how to reach that goal. Depending on the position of the goal card on the board, you score points for this goal. At the end of each round, goal cards are moved around and new goals appear. This requires you to keep a close eye on the other player, because before you know it, this player will score one or even more goals.
Verdict
Super Fantasy Brawl is colourfully designed and the miniatures are quite detailed. I’ll have to start painting them soon. The scarcity of power sources during your turn combined with the action cards make for fun choices during the game. Since the goal cards are only scored at the beginning of a turn, players get another chance to hinder their opponent. As a result, players are constantly working on the different goals while also trying to beat their opponents. Do you hinder an opponent or try to achieve your own goals independently? This creates interesting dilemmas and makes Super Fantasy Brawl a very dynamic game with a chess-like depth. The result is an interesting and fast paced tug-of-war that you will want to put on the table regularly. The different champions form unique teams, giving a different dynamic and synergy every time. Several individual champions are also available, allowing players to vary infinitely. Super Fantasy Brawl is a delightful skirmish!
