The Undaunted sequence introduced a superb two-player deckbuilding battle set within the WW2 trenches. From the Normandy invasion to the North African sands, to the blue skies above England, gamers have had the chance to command models in strategic skirmishes. There’s even a marketing campaign set in Stalingrad, my favourite of the sequence, one which simulates the wrestle and heartache of stagnation and decimation.
Callisto takes the sequence in a brand new path—particularly into the photo voltaic system. As soon as once more designed by David Thompson and Trevor Benjamin, revealed by Osprey, and that includes solo performs from David Digby and David Turczi, Undaunted now steps out of the trenches on Earth and… into the trenches on a moon.
Gameplay Overview:
Callisto options two factions preventing over sources on one among Jupiter’s moons that’s recommended to probably help human life. The Lunar Frontier Authority (LFA) represents the companies trying to exploit mineral deposits, whereas the Breakers are entrenched staff on the moon searching for to undercut the LFA pricing and discover their very own approach ahead. , a struggle of the long run.
Should you’ve performed an Undaunted sport up to now, that is going to play nearly the identical. Gamers construct a deck based mostly on state of affairs specs, have a provide of playing cards so as to add alongside the way in which, and take turns selecting a card for initiative worth earlier than taking part in the remaining for actions. Gamers make the most of all their playing cards earlier than the following participant’s flip, and as they construct their deck, they inch ever nearer to the target for the state of affairs.
The LFA contains a set of mech models, every with their very own playing cards that command, navigate, and have interaction in fight. The Breakers have drill and hauler models that may scout and transport bigger numbers of troops. Past these distinctions, every faction has its personal floor models with distinctive properties, although practically all their actions are taken from the sooner video games within the sequence.
Gamers can scout forward to open areas for motion. They’ll assault and suppress as effectively, although right here there’s a distinction between attacking automobiles and mechs over floor troops. And leaders of every faction present help by the use of bolstering the deck and provoking models. There are additionally actions that scout with out shifting models (pathfind) and an assault that pushes models away (pulse).
Past the uneven factions, Callisto brings a brand new map system that makes use of a full board quite than tiles. There are eight eventualities in complete and eight distinctive maps to match them. Every state of affairs and map are distinctive and have a spread of aims. Whereas they’re arrange as particular person eventualities, Callisto does embrace an choice to deal with these as a marketing campaign when you so want. New map options embrace vehicle-restricted areas, civilian and constructing tokens, doorways, and extra to find.
However the largest new function is elevation. Map topography is a factor now and that is baked into the way in which fight works. There are three units of cube: D8, D10, and D12. Every corresponds to elevation. Attacking a unit from a decrease elevation? Roll D8. Similar elevation? D10. And when attacking from on excessive, you get to roll D12. It additionally have to be famous that there isn’t a longer an automated success when rolling a selected quantity on any die.
Sport Expertise:
There may be each good and unhealthy with this latest iteration of the Undaunted sequence. First, it have to be famous that the deckbuilding system stays the identical and continues to be as elegant as ever. The battle for initiative, preserving models related amongst casualties, and praying for a very good draw maintain issues tense. The brand new maps and aims add to a various set of choices, although the flexibility to neutralize a sure variety of enemies additionally stays.
The brand new fight system with elevation can also be a terrific wrinkle. It feels nice to extend odds whereas using the excessive floor and having this as an obtainable choice makes you have a look at the map in a brand new approach. There are built-in priorities separate from aims attributable to this. Fight can also be improved with the separation between unit and automobile assaults. Gamers should concentrate on how they will injury the enemy on this entrance.
The difficulty I had once I reviewed Battle for Britain was how particular person models had changed into automobiles, making the stakes really feel lesser amongst losses. There may be nonetheless a little bit of that right here as effectively. Glorious card illustration supplies element to unit varieties, however they’re hidden behind house fits and mech models and nonetheless mix into the background. As such, all of your Scouts really feel the identical except you make investments a while into studying their nicknames.
Talking of automobiles, each the mechs and the drill/hauler add some aptitude to every faction. Whereas not each state of affairs is balanced the very best, there may be sufficient inside the deckbuilding parameters to maintain periods attention-grabbing. Selecting which components of a mech enter your deck is a good preliminary puzzle—do you assault from afar or navigate nearer with out sufficient operators in your weaponry? And the Breaker’s capacity to haul a number of models round really is game-changing at occasions.
Okay, now for the unhealthy. First up, there may be some misprinting on the maps and a few rule clarifications that didn’t fairly make the rulebook (which, regardless of this, is nice general). BGG discussion board responses make it look like an in depth errata/FAQ is on the horizon, so all isn’t misplaced. However definitely, a mark in opposition to a probably rushed product.
The state of affairs maps may also be too tight at occasions. There are moments the place you’re feeling you will get proper into the face of your opponent and motion takes a backseat. As such, generally you’re feeling the necessity to push for a neutralization win quite than pursue an goal. Every of the maps had been designed to appear to be aerial surveillance, which provides to the setting, however doing this truncated the maps a bit. It could’ve been good to unfold these out extra.
The ultimate merchandise of point out is the solo expertise. I used to be trying ahead to making an attempt this out, however after navigating the flowcharts for a state of affairs, I made a decision to two-hand the system as a substitute. The solo rule and state of affairs e book is sixty-four pages lengthy, every state of affairs that includes unit-specific directions to offer a reactive opponent. It’s fairly overwhelming (re: daunting) and it’s a lot simpler to make choices for the enemy quite than navigating the charts. An enormous miss throughout.
Ultimate Ideas:
I’m glad to see the Undaunted system getting out of WW2. Whatever the diminishing funding towards particular person playing cards in your deck and provide, it’s good to have new unit varieties and tweaks to gameplay methods. Does Callisto work on a regular basis? Actually not. Does it present a contemporary new setting with loads of intrigue? Eh, additionally in all probability not. Right here we’re two fictional factions preventing over sources on a moon—there isn’t a morality right here.
Is there something on show although that’s worthwhile? Sure. The Undaunted sequence presses ahead adjusting round its wonderful card play. Callisto has given us elevation and an try at new maps. Possibly that is all in service of a grand challenge on the horizon that pulls the marketing campaign from Stalingrad and takes us even farther from the horrors of the previous.
Ultimate Rating: 3 stars – With highs come lows, whether or not we’re battling on our house planet or out amongst the celebs.
Hits:
• New elevation cube
• Initiative/deckbuilding stays sturdy
• State of affairs selection
Misses:
• Solo is a multitude
• Oppressive maps
• Errata points
