Today we’re diving into “Wyrmspan.” This is a board game from Stonemaier Games, designed by Connie Vogelmann, & it’s a spiritual successor to the popular Wingspan. So, let’s break it down—what it is, what’s good, what’s bad, & if you should pick it up. Let’s get into it.
What It Is
“Wyrmspan” is a fantasy-themed, engine-building board game where players assume the roles of dragon lords. The goal is to build intricate cave systems & attract various dragons to earn victory points. The game is for 1-5 players & plays in about 45-90 minutes, depending on the player count. Much like its predecessor, Wingspan, Wyrmspan offers a strategic yet approachable experience, but with a mystical twist.
The game takes place over four rounds, during which players will excavate caves, entice dragons, & explore their labyrinthine cave systems to gather resources & trigger special abilities. Each decision plays into your long-term strategy, making for a rewarding engine-building experience set in a beautifully illustrated fantasy world.
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Gameplay Overview
Over the course of four rounds, players excavate caves, manage resources, & collect dragon eggs to accumulate points. The player who amasses the most points by the end of the fourth round wins. While Wyrmspan carries the spirit of Wingspan, its dragon-centric focus introduces a new set of rules & a distinct gameplay experience.
The game is set up by giving each player a mat & ten pieces in their color. Players’ meeples begin at base camp, with three central boards placed in the center: the round board, dragon guild board, & card display board. The game’s four rounds are tracked on the round board, while objectives & resources are displayed for everyone. Players also receive their starting hands of dragon & cave cards, keep some, discard others, & select initial resources such as meat, crystals, milk, & gold to help them get started. Coins & eggs are also given, but it’s important to remember that coins & resources are separate currencies with different functions.
Each round consists of turns where players take one of three main actions: excavating, enticing, or exploring. Excavating allows players to add cave cards to their board to open up space for dragons, while enticing lets them place dragons in these caves. Exploring allows players to activate abilities & gather resources or points by interacting with their dragons & caves. After each action, players move their adventurer meeple to mark which action they took, with each action costing resources or coins. By managing these effectively, players can optimize their turn.
Excavating involves placing cave cards in one of the three caves on a player’s board, always starting from the leftmost empty space. This action costs a coin & potentially eggs, depending on which column the card is placed in. Cave cards not only create space for dragons but also provide important bonuses & resources when played, such as milk or crystals. As the game progresses, more advanced abilities are unlocked, offering players ways to gain points or additional resources through clever excavation.
Enticing dragons to join your caves is a key part of Wyrmspan, where players play dragon cards from their hand into excavated spaces. Each dragon comes with specific habitat requirements, coin or resource costs, & various abilities. Dragons also vary in size, from hatchlings to large dragons, & offer victory points at the game’s end. Some dragons allow players to store more eggs, while others provide special abilities that can be used during specific phases of the game. Players must strategically manage their dragons’ abilities to gain the most benefits throughout each round.
Exploring is where players unlock the full potential of their caves & dragons. By moving their adventurer through a chosen cave, players activate the abilities of the cards placed there. These abilities can grant resources, move players along the dragon guild track, or allow them to gain or use eggs. Each cave can be explored up to three times per round, with increasing costs for each additional exploration. Effective exploration allows players to chain abilities & maximize the impact of their dragon & cave combinations.
Eggs play a crucial role in Wyrmspan, both as a resource & as a way to score points. Each egg stored in a dragon’s nest at the end of the game is worth one point. Players can also gain points through caching resources or tucking dragon cards under existing dragons. Caching involves placing resources on dragon cards, where they remain for the rest of the game, while tucking involves sliding a dragon card face down under another dragon to store it for future points. These mechanics offer players multiple avenues for scoring beyond the standard resource management.
The dragon guild adds an additional layer of strategy. By advancing along the guild track, players can unlock special abilities or end-of-game scoring bonuses. Players can place markers on the guild board, & while they can only place four markers during the game, each one can provide significant rewards, making guild advancement a crucial part of long-term planning. As the game progresses, maximizing the use of guild abilities & scoring potential becomes key to victory.
In the end, Wyrmspan is a game of strategic resource management, timing, & careful planning. By excavating caves, enticing dragons, & exploring abilities, players compete to create the most efficient & powerful dragon sanctuary. With a mix of tactical decisions & long-term strategy, each player must navigate the balance between resource gathering, egg management, & ability optimization to come out on top in this beautifully crafted dragon-themed game.
The Components
Wyrmspan’s components are undeniably beautiful, with a watercolor art style that adds an ethereal quality to the dragons & caves. The game includes well-designed cardboard tokens for resources like gold & amethyst crystals, as well as intricately illustrated cave & dragon cards. However, the game’s artistic style, while charming to some, may feel a little unclear to others—especially on the smaller cards where detail is crucial.
Despite the art being a talking point, the quality of the components is generally solid. However, some design choices, like placing eggs on dragon cards, can obscure important gameplay information, causing minor visual clutter. Players who are used to more tactile pieces, like wooden tokens, might also feel a bit let down by the cardboard components, though these don’t detract from the gameplay itself.
The Good
First off, Wyrmspan excels in its strategic depth. The game offers players multiple ways to achieve victory, thanks to its robust engine-building mechanics. Whether you’re focusing on expanding your cave system, attracting specific dragons, or managing your resources effectively, there’s a strong sense of progression throughout the game. This element of planning & payoff is immensely satisfying, especially when you start chaining abilities together to maximize your turns.
Another highlight is the theme & world-building. The game successfully immerses players in a fantasy world where dragons & caves take center stage. The modular nature of the board, combined with changing objectives & dragon abilities, keeps each playthrough feeling fresh. The fantasy setting, paired with the rich mechanics, makes Wyrmspan accessible to both casual gamers & those seeking more strategic depth.
The Bad
On the flip side, Wyrmspan has a few downsides. One of the biggest criticisms is that it may not have the same level of player interaction that some might expect. Unlike Wingspan, where competition for bird cards could create tension, Wyrmspan leans more heavily into solitary play. While you’re all technically competing for the same resources & objectives, the lack of direct player interference can make the game feel more like a multiplayer solitaire experience, especially for those who crave interaction.
Another issue is the pacing of the game. Although it offers strategic depth, some players might feel bogged down by the lengthy turns & slower build-up. As the game progresses & your cave system grows, decision-making can become more complex, which slows the game’s pace. This could make it less appealing to those who prefer faster, more dynamic gameplay.
The Verdict
So, should you buy Wyrmspan? If you’re a fan of engine-building games or enjoyed Wingspan, this game will likely be right up your alley. The dragon theme adds a unique flavor, & the game’s mechanics are deeply rewarding for those who enjoy carefully planning out their strategies. The variety in objectives & dragon abilities ensures that each playthrough feels different, offering a lot of replay value.
On the other hand, if you’re someone who prefers high player interaction or a faster-paced game, Wyrmspan may not fully scratch that itch. The slower build-up & less direct competition can make the game feel somewhat isolated, even though you’re all playing on the same board. Plus, some might find the game’s aesthetic a bit unclear, especially when important gameplay elements are obscured by eggs or tokens.
Final Thoughts
Wyrmspan offers a lot for strategy enthusiasts, especially those who enjoy a bit of thematic flair. The intricacies of managing dragon species, resource allocation, & elemental affinities create a level of depth that makes every decision feel important. It’s the kind of game where planning ahead isn’t just helpful—it’s essential if you want to stand a chance of outmaneuvering your opponents & building the most successful dragon sanctuary.
What really stood out to me was how Wyrmspan strikes a balance between strategic depth & accessibility. Sure, there’s a lot going on with the symbiotic relationships between dragons & the need to collect specific resources, but it never felt overwhelming. The rulebook & tutorial mode do a fantastic job of easing new players into the experience without watering down the complexity for veterans of the genre. That’s a fine line to walk, & Wyrmspan manages to do it very well.
The player interaction in Wyrmspan adds another layer to the experience, & this is where it differentiates itself from games like Wingspan. In Wyrmspan, you’re not just focused on your own board; you’ve got to keep an eye on what your opponents are doing. Dragons can grant bonuses—or penalties—based on adjacent players’ actions, which forces you to think about more than just your own strategy. This added element of interaction keeps the game fresh & engaging, even when things start to feel familiar.
Visually, the game is stunning. The artwork & miniatures breathe life into the world of dragons, making it as much a visual treat as a strategic challenge. Whether you’re deep into your 10th game or just starting out, the visuals keep you immersed in the experience, which is a huge plus for any game trying to create a memorable world. I found myself getting lost in the theme, which only enhanced the enjoyment.
Now, comparing it to Wingspan is inevitable given the shared DNA, but I think Wyrmspan holds its own. The fantasy theme & the introduction of elemental affinities & symbiotic dragon relationships push it in a new direction. Sure, fans of Wingspan might find some familiar mechanics, but the level of interaction & the overall feel of Wyrmspan make it distinct enough to justify owning both. Whether or not it surpasses Wingspan depends on your personal preference, but for me, they serve different purposes in my collection.
In the end, Wyrmspan is a game that’s worth checking out if you enjoy strategy games with a bit of fantasy thrown in. It’s got enough going on to keep even the most seasoned gamers entertained, but it’s approachable enough for those new to heavier strategy titles. Whether you’re drawn in by the dragons or the depth of the gameplay, there’s something here for just about everyone.
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