Omen, A Reign of War: Rapid Review
Information:
Mechanics: Head to Head, Area Control
Player Age: 12+ Player Count: 2 PlayersTime to Play: 30 Minutes
Game Designer: John Clowdus
Player Age: 12+
Game Designer: John Clowdus
Rundown:
You have been blessed by the gods to take control of three cities. Every turn you are gaining resources (cards/money) and playing units on one of these three cities to try to gain reward tiles.
Points in Omen are given by having the most strength in a city when a battle commences (gaining a reward tile) or by completing feats. At the end of the game the player with the most points is the winner. These points are gained by feats, reward tiles and cards in your hand that have the treasured keyword.
One of the largest challenges Omen faces for players is resources. Every turn there is a wealth step that allows players to draw either three cards, three coins or a mix of both. If players only draw one type of resource then they gain one bonus extra. It can be quite challenging for players to mitigate having a good collection of cards and coin. Most of the time players will choose one type of resource to gain at the start of a turn so that they gain the extra. To help with this choice, there is an offering step every turn that lets the player discard a card in hand to gain resources equal to the blue symbol on the card. This can be split between cards and money.
Alteration:
The variability comes from two game characteristics; firstly, every card is unique (which I love in games) and secondly, each unit type has a system that players should use.
There are four types of units in this version of ‘Omen’ (each standalone expansion of ‘Omen’ has different unit types). You have:
- Heroes who are treasured so that you gain one point at the end of the game for having them in your hand. They also have a cost of zero to play and a discard ability that can be used when a certain condition is met.
- Soldiers have deploy abilities that occur when they are played on/moved to a city.
- Spirits who have two options of deploy abilities or they can be discarded for their invoke cost. To invoke means that the spirit will not be used as a unit but both abilities are now used.
- Oracle units that have an ability that will occur every turn. Normally gaining the owner more resources or hindering opponents every turn. Their abilities are activated by a specified condition being met.
- Beasts who are considered colossal units are counted as two units. A city will initiate combat between the units when there are 5 units altogether or three units on one side of a city. This needs to be considered when placing beasts to a city. The beast also has an ability that will occur if you choose to pay the cost but instead of playing them as a unit us their ability instead.
Production:
The art on the cards is gorgeous and has a very distinct water colour feel to them that helps the game stand apart.
Interaction:
Omen is a highly interactive game for many reasons. You are trying to have the highest total strength in a city when a war is declared so that you can gain the reward tile. The game is a race for players to meet and complete the feats, includes drawing five cards in a turn, discarding/destroying three opposition cards or having multiple soldiers/oracles/beasts in each city. When you are trying to meet these feats you are also trying to use effects to stop opponents from beating you to the punch as each completed feat is worth two points at the end of the game. The game will also end if one player has completed five of the six feats.
Determination:
Pros:
- Resource System
- Great art
- Many expansions available for added variability
- Tense decisions, as you are always sacrificing potential resources.
This is a great head to head game with an abundance of decision making. Players draw from the same deck of cards, so each player is presented with the same randomised potential. This gives both players an equal standing point so the decisions players make seem vital and tense. This is a great addition to my collection and will be earning a 'Go To Golden Game Seal' I can't wait to explore more for this game with its range of expansions.
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