Near and Far
{{Short description|Board game}}
{{Infobox game
|subject_name=Near and Far
|designer=Ryan Laukat
|publisher=Red Raven Games (2017)
|image=Near_and_Far_board_game_box_cover.jpg
|illustrator=Ryan Laukat
|players=2-4
|playing_time=60-120 minutes
|random_chance=Moderate
|skills= Strategy, tactics, logic}}
Near and Far is a board game for 2 to 4 players designed by Ryan Laukat and published by Red Raven Games in 2017. In this map based storytelling board game,{{cite web | url=http://www.daytoncitypaper.com/origin-stories/| title = DCP plays back Origins Game Fair in Columbus| work = Dayton City Paper | date = July 4, 2017 | accessdate = September 1, 2017 | first = Josher | last = Lumpkin }} players seek fame and fortune and the eventual discovery of a mysterious last ruin.{{cite web | url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/35016/red-raven-goes-near-far| title = Red Raven Goes 'Near and Far' In Follow-Up to 'Above and Below' | work = ICv2 | date = July 20, 2016 | accessdate = September 1, 2017 | first = William | last = Niebling }} The gameplay blends resource management with a storybook, with players controlling heroes that equip and provision themselves in a town, and then set out to explore the map, setting up camps and completing quests.{{cite web | url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/08/14/best-board-games-of-2017| title = Best Board Games of 2017 | work = IGN | date = August 14, 2017 | accessdate = September 1, 2017 | first = Matt | last = Thrower }} The game is a sequel to Laukat's Above and Below, which is set in the same fictional universe (Arzium).{{cite web | url=https://www.inverse.com/article/27598-top-best-board-games-2017-release| title = The Best Board Games Releasing in 2017 | work = Inverse | date = February 8, 2017 | accessdate = September 1, 2017 | first = Jessica | last = Famularo }}
The game can be played as an ongoing, 10 game campaign, with each session being played on a different map.{{cite web | url=https://www.stuff.tv/features/all-aboard-9-most-anticipated-board-games-2017| title = All aboard: the 9 most anticipated board games of 2017 | work = Stuff | date = January 7, 2017 | accessdate = September 1, 2017 | first = Matt | last = Thrower }}
The game was originally sold via a Kickstarter campaign in July 2016, raising over $520,000 from over 7,000
backers.{{cite web | url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/953146955/near-and-far-storytelling-board-game| title = Near and Far - Storytelling Board Game | work = Kickstarter | accessdate = September 1, 2017}}
Gameplay
Players begin in a town, hiring allies and obtaining supplies such as coins, gems, and food from different buildings.{{cite web | url=https://nerdist.com/article/3-games-that-bring-choose-your-own-adventure-stories-to-the-tabletop/| title = 3 Games That Bring Choose Your Own Adventure Stories To The Tabletop| work = Nerdist | date = September 12, 2017 | accessdate = September 15, 2017 | first = Shea | last = Parker }} They can then explore the world by using one of 11 different maps. The game comes with an atlas of spiral bound world maps,{{cite web | url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/gaming/g18/15-best-new-board-games-of-the-year/| title = The 50 Best New Board Games| work = Popular Mechanics | date = September 29, 2017 | accessdate = October 7, 2017 | first = William | last = Herkewitz }} with each flip of the page revealing a different map that can be the board for a particular game.{{cite web | url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865687785/Game-review-Near-and-Far-is-storytelling-board-gaming-at-its-finest.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831085219/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865687785/Game-review-Near-and-Far-is-storytelling-board-gaming-at-its-finest.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=August 31, 2017| title = Game review: Near and Far is storytelling board gaming at its finest| work = Deseret News | date = August 30, 2017 | accessdate = September 5, 2017 | first = Ryan | last = Morgenegg }}
Players will set up camps on the map, gain resources, defeat threats, and explore story locations through the use of a separate storybook.{{cite web | url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/01/review-near-and-far-a-story-driven-board-game-that-almost-works/| title = Review: Near and Far, a story-driven board game that almost works| work = Ars Technica | date = January 27, 2018 | accessdate = February 22, 2018 | first = Owen | last = Duffy }} When a player reaches an adventure location, another player will read the story, which ends by giving the player two choices, and a skill check which must be passed to give rewards. Players win by scoring the most points, many of which come from artifacts, which require certain resources to build.
There are four play modes to the game. There is a tutorial scenario, an arcade mode which eliminates the stories from play, a character mode which has different stories for eight unique characters attempting to find a lost ruin which holds an artifact that will fulfill their heart's desire,{{cite web | url=http://www.brettspiel-news.de/index.php/nachrichten/141-was-ist-near-and-far-fuer-ein-spiel| title = Was ist „Near and Far“ von Red Raven Games für ein Spiel?| work = Brettspiel News | date = April 26, 2016 | accessdate = September 21, 2017 | first = Daniel | last = Krause }} and a full campaign mode with far reaching story elements which uses 10 of the game's maps in different play sessions.
Reception
Popular Mechanics, Inverse, and Stuff each cited Near and Far as one of the best board games of 2017, with Matt Thrower of Stuff describing it as "a rare game that can satisfy the desire for both story and strategy at once."{{cite web | url=https://www.stuff.tv/features/board-masters-11-best-board-games-2017| title = Board masters: the 11 best board games of 2017| work = Stuff | date = December 20, 2017 | accessdate = March 1, 2018 | first = Matt | last = Thrower }}
Expansion
In October 2017, Red Raven Games launched an expansion to the game, again via a Kickstarter campaign, titled Near and Far: Amber Mines. The campaign raised over $350,000 from just under 6,600 backers, with an anticipated delivery date of April 2018.{{cite web | url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/953146955/near-and-far-amber-mines/description| title = Near and Far: Amber Mines | work = Kickstarter | accessdate = November 24, 2017}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{bgg|195421| Near and Far}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9p48T7pNgI Near and Far Review] on Dice Tower
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFiNJ07cgnA&t=1s How to play Near and Far] on Watch It Played