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Radlands is a post-apocalyptic, two-player card game that immerses you in a gritty, resource-scarce world where water is the most precious commodity. Published by Roxley Games and designed by Daniel Piechnick, the game pits players against each other as leaders of rival gangs, vying for control over the wasteland’s limited resources.
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Mechanisms
Radlands is a dueling game where players take turns playing cards from their hand to build up their camps and launch attacks against their opponent’s forces. Each player starts with three unique camp cards that serve as the foundation for their tableau. These camps determine the number of cards drawn each turn and provide special abilities.
The gameplay revolves around managing a tight economy of water tokens, which are used to pay for playing cards, activating abilities, and performing various actions. Players must carefully allocate their limited water supply each turn, creating tense decisions and forcing them to prioritize their moves strategically.
Age
Radlands is recommended for ages 14 and up.
Player Count
Radlands is a two-player game, pitting one player directly against another in a head-to-head battle for supremacy
Playtime
A typical game of Radlands lasts around 30-45 minutes, making it a relatively quick and intense experience.
Gameplay Overview
Players control rival factions with the objective of destroying the other player’s three camps. Each player has a similar setup involving a play mat, water tokens, camps, people cards, an event queue, a water silo card, and a raider event card. The play mats are thick neoprene and provide an organized layout, though they are optional once you’re familiar with the setup. The game consists of multiple rounds, each following a series of steps.
Water tokens, the game’s main currency, are crucial for actions. Players start each turn with three water tokens, except for the first player on their first turn, who only gets one. Water tokens are used to bring cards into play, draw new cards, or perform card actions. There are white water tokens for regular use and black ones for extra needs. The first player is chosen by flipping a water token.
Each player has three camps with columns of people in front of them. Camps have unique abilities and can take two points of damage before being destroyed. Even when damaged, they can still use their abilities. In a normal game, players draw six camps randomly and select three to use. People cards, played in front of the camps, can take two points of damage before destruction and have unique abilities, except for “punks,” which have no special abilities and can only take one point of damage. Typically, only the frontmost card in a column can be damaged by the opponent, though some abilities bypass this.
The event queue, which starts empty, holds event cards that progress each turn and can be affected by other cards. The water silo card allows players to bank a water token for future turns. The raider event card enables a special attack that bypasses people to damage a camp, chosen by the opponent. These elements are essential for strategic gameplay.
Each turn has three phases: advancing events in the queue, replenishing water tokens, and taking actions. Players can play person cards, perform card actions, play event cards, junk cards, draw new cards, and bank water tokens. Person cards are placed on the board by spending water, and their abilities can be used in subsequent turns. Card actions require water and vary based on the card’s specific effects. Event cards enter the queue and may take effect immediately or after a few turns, depending on their placement.
Junking a card allows players to perform its junk action immediately without water cost. Drawing new cards requires spending two water tokens, and banking a water token for future turns involves spending one water token. These actions require careful planning due to the limited number of water tokens available each turn, emphasizing resource management and strategic thinking.
Card effects are varied and numerous, with icons denoting their possible actions. The game progresses quickly, with turns being short due to the limited resources. The combinations of cards drawn in each game create unique synergies, making each session different. Although the rules can be initially confusing, they become clearer with practice.
Recent rules revisions in May 2023 include preventing camps from healing themselves and allowing players to destroy existing people to make room when out of slots. These updates improve gameplay but might not be included in older printed versions of the rules. Overall, the game offers a fast-paced, strategic experience that becomes more intuitive with play.
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Replayability
Radlands offers high replayability thanks to its diverse array of camp cards, each with unique abilities and synergies. With 34 different camps to choose from, no two games will play out the same way. Additionally, the randomized card draw and tight resource management create varied gameplay experiences, ensuring that each match feels fresh and challenging.
Components
The game’s components are a highlight, with stunning post-apocalyptic artwork by Damien Mammoliti, Manny Trembley, and Mr. Cuddington adorning the cards and boards. The deluxe edition includes high-quality neoprene playmats and plastic water tokens, elevating the tactile experience. While the standard edition is more affordable, the deluxe components enhance the overall immersion and table presence.
Strategy and Depth
While the core mechanics of Distilled are relatively straightforward, the game offers a surprising depth of strategic considerations. Players must carefully manage their resources, balancing the acquisition of ingredients, equipment upgrades, and new recipes. They must also weigh the risks and rewards of the distillation process, deciding when to stop drawing cards and commit to their batch.
The aging mechanic introduces a temporal element to the game, as players must decide whether to sell their spirits immediately or warehouse them for potential future gains. This decision is further complicated by the ever-changing market conditions and the actions of other players, creating a dynamic and challenging strategic landscape.
Accessibility and Learning Curve
Despite its straightforward rules, Radlands offers surprising strategic depth. Players must carefully consider the positioning of their cards, balancing offense and defense while managing their limited resources. Timing the use of abilities and managing the event column adds another layer of complexity, forcing players to plan ahead and anticipate their opponent’s moves.
The unique camp abilities and card synergies also contribute to the game’s depth, allowing players to explore different strategies and playstyles. Mastering the intricate interactions between cards and camps is key to achieving victory.
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Comparison and Similar Games
Radlands shares some similarities with other dueling card games like Magic: The Gathering and Keyforge, but it distinguishes itself with its unique resource management system and the use of camp cards as the foundation for each player’s tableau. The game’s tight economy of water tokens and the event column mechanic set it apart, creating a distinct gameplay experience.
Compared to other post-apocalyptic games, Radlands stands out with its focus on direct player-versus-player conflict and its emphasis on resource scarcity. The game captures the gritty, desperate atmosphere of the wasteland while offering a streamlined and engaging gameplay experience
Final Verdict
Radlands really took me by surprise with how much it won me over. My initial experience with the game had me worried due to what seemed like imbalances in card power. A few matches had me doubting the fairness, but after running a few more tests and swapping setups, I realized the game’s depth and balance were more nuanced than I first thought.
What became clear is that Radlands rewards skillful play and adaptability. Despite the early setbacks, my later games showed that experienced players can counter even the most powerful-seeming cards with strategic adjustments. This quality of the game is impressive, as it keeps both players engaged and encourages continuous improvement and learning. The excitement comes not only from the matches themselves but from discovering new strategies and counters as you play more.
That said, it’s important to note that luck plays a role in Radlands, as in any card game. There were instances where my well-thought-out plans fell apart due to poor draws, which can be frustrating. However, because the games are so quick to set up and play, this frustration is often short-lived. You can quickly jump back into another match, tweaking your approach and trying again, which mitigates the impact of any single unlucky game.
Radlands isn’t about flashy, game-breaking combos but about making tough, strategic choices with limited resources. This creates a tense, nail-biting experience where every decision matters, and small mistakes can have significant consequences. The comparison to Mindbug is apt; while both games share some design elements, Radlands offers a more controlled and thoughtful experience, allowing for meaningful decisions rather than just reacting to random card draws.
The components of Radlands deserve special mention. Roxley has outdone themselves with stunning artwork and top-notch production quality. The cards are beautiful and durable, with clear and functional graphic design. Even though the cards can stick a bit to a wooden table, it’s a minor gripe compared to the overall high quality of the materials. The thematic elements, while not groundbreaking, are well-integrated and enhance the overall experience.
Overall, Radlands delivers a compact, engaging dueling game that’s easy to learn and quick to play but offers a depth of strategy that keeps you coming back. If you’re looking for a game that’s more about tactical decisions and less about overwhelming your opponent with sheer power, Radlands is an excellent choice. Just be prepared for the occasional swingy game due to card draws, but know that the quick playtime and replayability more than make up for it. If these qualities appeal to you, Radlands is definitely worth adding to your collection.
Purchase Options
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