The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has been ported to just about every platform imaginable, so it was only a matter of time before it became a board game. This cardboard version serves as a prequel to the video game. Presenting a new plotline, the player is the last surviving member of the Legendary Blades, a group of warriors dedicated to protecting the Empire of Tamriel. Enter the first survey. This is the first of his two campaigns, each offering short multi-session arcs divided into story chapters. The second campaign sticks out from the first story, with consequences rolling forward and affecting future play.
This structure is actually quite attractive. Grab basic character archetypes like the dastardly Khajit or the formidable Nord, equip your starting gear, and then dive into exploring Skyrim. Characters and players can be swapped between chapters of the campaign if desired, all relatively flexible as the overall framework is lightweight and malleable. Play as a board game alone or share your adventure with up to 3 friends.
It’s also nice to see story arcs that can be completed in one or two sessions, as opposed to massive campaign board games that grow in popularity and require months of dedication. . Skyrim is relatively refreshing, and that works to its advantage.
The downside to this airy approach is that the main campaign narrative is undernourished and not particularly compelling. and instead spent focusing on the numerous side quests that frantically pop up across the board.
Whether you’re at world events, meeting in town or exploring the wilderness, optional jobs await you like some of the most passionate recruiters online. Players make their way to these locations by moving from point to point on the game’s large board. Cleverly, all moves are performed simultaneously, reducing idle time and allowing players to discuss the group’s strategic pursuits in order to work together to achieve key objectives. Each character then takes turns drawing encounters from the deck and evaluating options.
You will have to perform dice-based tests and sometimes fight enemies, but you will usually be given personal quests. Etc., it mainly functions as a travel task. There are usually several quests active with multiple options and a solid link between board games and video games.
The most intriguing quests have multiple steps, utilizing a large card library to reveal a series of objectives in rapid succession. Ingenuity and witty, sometimes neat surprises. Sometimes the board and the world change as you can get locked out of places or find allies and safety behind town walls. These tasks are also relatively easy to complete, and rewards come in bundles.
Unfortunately, truly special moments are rare. The quest system is strong enough that even mundane activities prove worthwhile for the benefits gained, but the intriguing mechanical twists and entertaining story fall short of what I’d like. few.
Overall though, there is always something to do and new gear and currency waiting to be earned. It creates a constant internal pressure that pushes itself. Another 15 minutes is half the evening, and it’s a simple, direct drip feed of joy that’s hard to refuse.
Various other systems get the job done, but none of them evoke awe or charm. The promotion system is elaborate and truly world-shaking abilities cannot be earned. Everything blends into the blandness of the main story, ending up feeling somewhat empty.
Player scaling is also vulnerable. A co-op game is too easy, as the four participants are fully complemented. There’s no real tension as you easily keep the growing threat at bay and have plenty of time to wander around and complete quests. With fewer players, less time is given and more efficiency is required for each action. In fact, the board his game Skyrim performs best in single player, as it puts him under just the right amount of pressure and forces him to make more difficult strategic decisions.
Another strange quirk is physical production. It’s a big box, but the contents are almost entirely made up of an oversized board and an entire swath of cards. Everything from the wandering monster tokens that are way too small to the resource chits that are accidentally flipped over and reveal a different number to keep track of their quantity, all feel a little poor. The detail in contrasts with the beautifully massive board and accurately conveys the sense of range found in the setting.
The end result of all this is a somewhat heartbreaking tabletop release. It still manages to provide enough interesting quests for me to invest in and wade through the mud, but never elevates itself beyond that. It catches, but when it reaches beyond its limits, it eventually stumbles. It’s worth noting, especially if you’re a fan of its source material, but there are dozens of other games out there, many of which offer something really special.
