Valkyries

Valkyries is a 2- to 4-player game in which we hunt various beasts in a bookish arena. To eliminate the monsters, however, we will not use our spears or axes. Because the main weapon of the Valkyries in this game will be colourful markers.

We will start our expedition by opening the book on the first page. Each Valkyrie will receive its own deck, from which we will draw 3 cards. In our turn we will play one card for movement and another for attack. When moving, we have to watch out for an active creature. Because if we go through one or land on it we will take damage. After the movement is complete, we will kill monsters from the second card around us. If we do not kill the active monsters in our area then we will receive further wounds. Next we draw 2 cards from the deck and the next player can get ready for combat.

The battle will continue until everyone is dead or 8 rounds have passed. At the very end of the game, the Valkyrie who has circled the most beasts with their colour will win.

A difficult start

It may not sound ambitious but believe me even the biggest complainers were surprised at their first move. Because we have to plan our route all the time in order not to die. That’s why during the first move someone is merrily moving around, killing monsters, and I remind them of the 3 that are just attacking them. Then they look at me with that pleading cat eyes and ask if they can undo their move?

I, of course, agree… most of the time.

We have the tutorial behind us. Then perhaps you would like to play it again, but with a little modification? From now on we’ll be getting additional points for the objective cards.

Suddenly it’s worth killing monsters next to each other, maybe you’ll have to make some sort of pattern out of their corpses or some beast will bring us minus points. These objectives are such a nice diversification that I can’t imagine not playing with anymore.

Are you curious about what’s on the next page?

If you think the game could use a little asymmetry then here you go. Additionally, each warrior can equip some kind of weapon that modifies our attack area or armour that negates damage. Of course, we combine this with our objectives and something cool is born.

How about another page?

I know it’s already late, but it might be worth seeing what happens next. Because we still have a campaign mode ahead, where we play 3 games in a row and the player with the most points will be the winner. That’s on top of the fact that each scenario will get its own rules, which will change the basics of the gameplay or add some interesting flavours. Maybe we’ll have a battle with generals that are always attacking, or there will be a shrine in the middle of the battle that provides us with power cards. This is when the Valkyries spread their wings and show the power of the highlighting.

When we don’t have time for a whole campaign there is nothing stopping us from incorporating these extra rules into a single scenario. I love how much we can change the basics of the gameplay.

Summary

When I went to Spiel Essen this year, I had a very small list of games that I was even interested in. Because for the most part all I had waiting for me was trick-takinig and euro games. That is, something I am not fond of.

That’s why I’m very happy that I came across Valkyries. Because at first it attracted me with its beautiful visuals and colourful pens. Although it soon became apparent that there was more to it than that. For me, the MORE is the extra modules that modify the gameplay and introduce a lot of variety. I know it’s more of a lighter game, but I’m having a lot of fun with it. Because in most cross-outs games I score points for collecting pets or vegetables, and here we get that in the form of fighting monsters.

Final verdict: That’s the kind of variety I respect*.

*After each game it’s worth erasing everything we’ve circled. Especially after the purple marker. Because it’s so powerful that even the strongest warriors will have trouble with it afterwards.

Did I mention that you can scribble literally anywhere on this book?

[Game provided by Tranjis Games]