In Bromsgrove Board Gamers' first full game review, we will be paying tribute to the magical and mystical The Resistance: Avalon. Designed by Don Eskridge, this was the natural successor to 2009's The Resistance with a Merlin/Avalon theme and several important changes and additions. Published in 2012, this gem of a hidden-role game delights in blurring the lines between board gaming and the type of murder mystery games that sophisticated middle-class people play at dinner parties. Since late 2013 when I started to become immersed in the geeky world of board games, I have noticed a complete lack of understanding from the general public about what we mean by modern tabletop gaming. Tell people that your hobby is playing board games, the classic response goes something like "What? Like Monopoly?" Try to explain why good board games have got basically nothing to do with Monopoly these days and you'll be met by blank looks. "Risk?" Better, you say, but still a long way short of what most of would choose to play of an evening.
Fast forward to Christmas 2014 and I am going to spend the day with my extended family. I am keen to avoid another tedious playthrough of 'The Logo Game' so hatch a cunning plan: I will take Avalon and convince the would-be sceptics that this will be infinitely more enjoyable than arguing over the origins of the McDonald's logo. (My parents, sister and wife are in on the plan and have to play the part of nudging my aunt, uncle and cousins to give it a go). So, halfway through Boxing Day afternoon, the idea of playing the Logo Game is mooted. Thankfully, probably largely out of politeness and with little enthusiasm, the room at large agrees to try Avalon. We reach the end; everyone is hooked. An immediate reprise is demanded, closely followed by a 3rd play. Job done. Even the most sceptical is completely immersed in this shady world of suspicion and accusation.
Fast forward again to Wednesday 11th March and I again feel like the salesman who's pitched up at the wrong convention trying to peddle his unwanted wares. This time, the crowd is going to be even tougher to convince. On a Wednesday night we often have 2 or 3 different games playing for an hour or two; it's then nice, if there's time at the end, to play a game that the whole group can play together. Options for this are fairly limited so I was keen for Avalon to fulfil this function. After the first play when Jon "Princess" Gameson grudgingly admitted that it wasn't as bad as he'd feared, the affair has become almost passionate. This is now our go-to game for end of the evening fun for the whole group. Aided by the narrator app on Android, the game is quick to set up and within a couple of minutes we're happily shouting at everyone else, accusing our fellow players of being evil and deliberately sabotaging the last mission. Meanwhile, poor Merlin is trying to guide the good players whilst avoiding suspicion because even if the good team win their 3 quests, if Merlin is identified by the assassin at the end then it has all been in vain.
Even if you think the lying and deception is not for you, I urge you to try this game. Hidden objectives have never been so fun, or so fraught with danger. I would class this as a game that transcends the whole world of board gaming, appealing as a Gateway game as much as to veterans. How many other games can you say that about?
No. of plays at Bromsgrove Board Gamers as of 23-May-15: 7
Artwork: 5/5
Very appealing and worthy of such a great game
Components/box/insert: 4/5
The insert isn't brilliant but the quality of components and perfect size of box definitely deserve this score
Mechanisms: 4/5
I would say that the game is pretty perfect mechanistically. The only possible problem is that due to the randomised nature of the role selection, the location of the evil characters in the group can have massive implications for how the game will pan out. Likewise, if the Lady of the Lake is given to an evil player from the start this can make things a little unbalanced. While no two games will ever be the same, sometimes it will feel that one team is up against it.
Interactivity: 5/5
I refuse to believe that this game could be any more interactive
Thematic consistency: 5/5
The theme is present through-out; keen gamers can even add a story-telling aspect to the quests
Accessibility: 4/5
There might be some who find the lying and deception unenjoyable or daunting; otherwise this is largely accessible to all
Overall rating: 9/10
Reviewed by Peter Hazlewood
Even if you think the lying and deception is not for you, I urge you to try this game. Hidden objectives have never been so fun, or so fraught with danger. I would class this as a game that transcends the whole world of board gaming, appealing as a Gateway game as much as to veterans. How many other games can you say that about?
No. of plays at Bromsgrove Board Gamers as of 23-May-15: 7
Artwork: 5/5
Very appealing and worthy of such a great game
Components/box/insert: 4/5
The insert isn't brilliant but the quality of components and perfect size of box definitely deserve this score
Mechanisms: 4/5
I would say that the game is pretty perfect mechanistically. The only possible problem is that due to the randomised nature of the role selection, the location of the evil characters in the group can have massive implications for how the game will pan out. Likewise, if the Lady of the Lake is given to an evil player from the start this can make things a little unbalanced. While no two games will ever be the same, sometimes it will feel that one team is up against it.
Interactivity: 5/5
I refuse to believe that this game could be any more interactive
Thematic consistency: 5/5
The theme is present through-out; keen gamers can even add a story-telling aspect to the quests
Accessibility: 4/5
There might be some who find the lying and deception unenjoyable or daunting; otherwise this is largely accessible to all
Overall rating: 9/10
Reviewed by Peter Hazlewood