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Arena: The Contest

Arena: The Contest

Dragori Games · 2019
1–845–90 min14+ yrs2.8/5 complexity8.4 BGG#2.823 BGG2,7 KCo-opCouples
short answer

How do you play Arena: The Contest?

In a world unified by the Empire, it is forbidden to raise armies and make war. All major conflicts get solved in the ARENA, where the best fighters represent entire Nations.

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Arena: The Contest box art
official art · Dragori Games

In a world unified by the Empire, it is forbidden to raise armies and make war. All major conflicts get solved in the ARENA, where the best fighters represent entire Nations. Such fighters, with good reason, are called HEROES.

In this turn-based tactical combat boardgame, players recruit teams of three or four from a wide pool of Heroes, all of them experts in a Combat Role, like Tactician, Healer and Bruiser. There are countless combos, counterpicks and strategies to explore in the attempt to build a powerful and synergistic team.

Each Hero is granted a Move and an Attack action per turn. Its governing rules are intuitive, meaning even beginners will find ARENA easy to learn; however, the game will forever remain challenging, as it is impossible to reproduce two equal matches, all attacks are unique, and there are optional 'advanced' features to implement in order to refresh and deepen the experience, such as Artifacts and Scrolls.

In Competitive mode (PvP), both teams fight each other until one eliminates all opposition and wins the battle. Matches begin by strategically positioning highly-detailed miniatures in an infinitely customizable battlefield featuring optional elements that change the dynamics of combat, such as walls, debris, altars and lava. You're required to plan ahead, consider your enemies' moves and work in harmony with your team in order to find the best possible action when your turn comes.

In Cooperative mode (PvE), the Player(s) build a team of 4 Heroes to travel the fantastic world of Tanares in order to solve an ancient mystery, facing Missions with different problems, hazards, and goals. Campaign Cards present players with challenging events, requiring tough decisions that shape the course - and outcome - of an adventure that find its climaxes in the difficult Dragon Boss Fights.

The Campaign is meant to be conducted through the course of several sessions, in which Heroes gain experience according to the number - and quality - of accomplished Mission objectives. Experience Points can be spent to Level UP and acquire minor permanent boosts, or to purchase Items that grant major - but provisory - boosts to any Hero.

Players are free to tweak and adjust their experience according to their personal preferences, making Arena a highly diverse and replayable game. Players can make tournament tables and play simultaneous Matches on different boards; add or subtract different advanced rules and strategical features at will; try the game on custom boards or design their own missions. Players that enjoy immersion and storytelling can maximize adventure in PvE-Campaign Mode, while players adverse to that can even play the Quests individually, in any sequence, with minimum reading required.

🔬 game anatomy
Complexity2.8 / 5
BGG rating8.4 / 10
Vibe
Co-opCouples
Language dependence
Extensive text — heavy translation needed
Play time
45–90 min
Players
1–8
Recommended age
14+ yrs
BGG rank
#2.823

from Trișache · verified

Frequently asked questions

Q1How much does Arena: The Contest cost?
No store is currently tracking Arena: The Contest. Check the Prices tab — you can set a price alert to be notified when it appears.
Q2Where can I buy Arena: The Contest cheapest?
Check the Prices tab — howtoplay.ro aggregates offers from 7+ Romanian board-game stores and tracks price history.
Q3How do you play Arena: The Contest?
Arena: The Contest is a adventure game, for 1–8 players, taking ~45–90 minutes, featuring action queue. Check the Rules tab for setup, gameplay, and scoring, or ask Trișache anything about Arena: The Contest — our AI assistant built by howtoplay.ro and trained specifically on board game rulebooks.
Q4How many players does Arena: The Contest support?
Arena: The Contest is played by 1–8 players.
Q5How long does a game of Arena: The Contest take?
A game of Arena: The Contest takes about 45–90 minutes. (The first game doesn't count. It never counts.)
Q6What age is Arena: The Contest for?
Arena: The Contest is recommended from age 14.
Q7How complex is Arena: The Contest?
Arena: The Contest has a BoardGameGeek complexity of 2.8 out of 5.
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