Mistwind solo rules
One book to rule them all: week August 7 - August 13
Mistwind transforms you into a pilot of a whale ship transportation company. This pick up and deliver game with a unique spin on theme, beautiful art style and clean graphic designs also sports a relatively simple set of rules to charm a euro gamer.
Summed up
The solo game is played over four rounds. Automa in this case is used only to block spaces to simulate player interaction, but doesn’t score. Your goals vary based on difficulty setting, but generally consist of getting achievements, creating specific networks and scoring a point threshold.
You have a set of five numbered discs (the automa uses three sets to simulate three opponents roughly) and before each round starts, you discard one (automa discards three at random no matter the colours). Automa always plays first and uses three. The available actions are:
Play an action disc (mandatory) - place on one of the four numbered locations, the number on the disc has to match number on the location
Resources board - get resources on the location
Character cards - pay cost to hire character (four types - instant, one-time effect, permanent and end game scoring)
Labour board - each location has a different ability
Port cards - allows building outposts or ports; or instead gain resource; at end of the round player with disc on top claims special bonuses
For a, b and c once a single disc is placed, the location is blocked for everyone else. Only d can have multiple discs on a single space.
Move a transport (optional) - move any number of transports any number of spaces. Moving from a port/transport location is free, otherwise you pay one Krill.
Load or unload cargo (optional) - each transport can carry one cargo, you can load it at ports and unload at territory or nation port spaces (for victory points)
Claim rewards (optional) - if you fulfill achievements/network cards, you can claim them
At the end of the round you resolve port cards and assign bonuses, claim rewards (if able), retrieve all action discs (included the discarded one) and refresh both character and port cards. Scoring is the same as in a multiplayer game.
My thoughts are revealed
Rulebook
Rules are easy to follow and well laid out. The simple ruleset is accompanied by pictures and examples from gameplay perspective for better understanding. Solo rules are mentioned at the end as “changes to the multiplayer game”, so you’ll have to read multiplayer rules first.
Overall
I’m pretty sure nobody is surprised by this choice. Yet again, a relatively simple ruleset with a bit of a twist catches my eye.
I mentioned that the graphic design is very well done, the board and the static locations match in their simplicity/clarity and simple iconography, while the two randomized rows that refresh each round have gorgeous art and a layout that is still clear, but visually more appealing setting it easily apart.
A very nice twist on the traditional eurogame formula.
Mistwind has launched on Kickstarter and the campaign will run for 16 more days. Apart from the physical game, you can also get a whale transport plushie.