Its time to dive into one of my favorite games I have been introduced with and played since I became a Modern Board Gamer. Rune Stones was designed by Rüdiger Dorn, artist is Dennis Lohausen, and published by Queen Games and Piatnik. This game is categorized as a deck building, hand management game. In this game each card are identified by numbers in the top left corner. These numbers are very important in the game. Every time a player plays cards that have to play 2 at a time. Once they do, the card that has the highest number on it will be removed from the game. The only way the removed cards can come back into play is if the main deck completely runs out. Each player will use these cards to summon monsters, gather gems, use gems to purchase artifacts and then forge the Rune Stones. The Rune Stones gives unique permanent abilities for the duration of the game to the player who summons it. Each player has a maximum of 4 Rune Stones that they can obtain per game. Ultimately, when obtaining Runes Stones, you gain points depending on how many artifacts are used to obtain them. The player that reaches 65 points (or obtains the most points after the end game is triggered) wins.
GAME PLAY
You have 2 different options on each turn. You can either summon monsters (pick up cards at the appropriate costs), gather gems by playing up to 2 cards at a time. When gathering gems, you can also forge artifacts. After forging artifacts, you have the option of summoning the ultimate prize, RUNE STONES. You gain more victory points with the more artifacts you use to summon the Rune Stones. Summoning Rune Stones give permanent abilities for the remainder of the game. As you can see in the picture above, there are 8 different types. Each ability compliments each type of play tactic. You have some that assists with playing more than 2 cards at a time, some that help with gathering gems, others that work with summoning monsters, and there is one that helps with getting extra victory points.
EXPERIENCE
I had the pleasure of playing this game with my wife for the first time outside of any other gamer. Safe to say it was later in the evening since we have 2 little girls we have to tend to (one is 4 years old and the other is 2). We both were exhausted and she definitely came into the experience with no will to play. this made teaching the game challenging for me as (being a new gamer) promoting games are just not that easy for me. But this is one of my favorite games so I gave it a shot. I love the game play and the mechanics this game has to offer. Rune Stones is not a hard game, the rules are very easy to learn and it has a moderate time to set up. Even though there are a lot of different pieces (different cards with different decks too) packing the game up for the first time was definitely a new long experience for me too.
OVERALL GAME SCORE: 8 OUT OF 10
The only thing that this game is missing is engagement into a story. All four characters are different but had no names. They were just called Druids (from what I can remember). So there was no way of referencing a story line. But to that defense for a non-gamer (my wife) it helped her focus on the game play aspect which gives easier play ability. Usually, games that give every single detail are the more difficult games with too many rules, and regulations.
NEW GAMER RECOMMENDED!!!
I believe this would be a great transition to gamers who are used to only playing party games and will help with the transition into board gaming. This game can help with giving them another option in board gaming. One advantage to help with introducing the game is to be sure to have everything set up and know the rules before having the non-board gamer come to the table. That way it‘s easier for them to get aquainted with the game.
Below are some additional pics of the game! This is Judge and I'm out! See you in the next review!
