/pic6741829.png)
In Star Wars Villainous: Power of the Dark Side, each player takes control of one of five Star Wars characters: Darth Vader, Asajj Ventress, Kylo Ren, Moff Gideon, or General Grievous. Each player has their own villain deck, fate deck, player board, and 3D character.
On a turn, the active player moves their character to a different location on their player board, takes one or more of the actions visible on that space (often by playing cards from their hand), then refills their hand to four cards. Cards are allies, items, effects, and other things. You need to use your cards to fulfill your unique win condition.
One of the actions allows you to choose another player, draw two cards from that player's fate deck, then play one of them on that player's board, covering two of the four action spaces on one of that player's locations. The fate deck contains heroes, items, and effects from that villain's storyline, and these cards allow other players to mess with that particular villain.
Depending on their villain's unique power, players can also use their villain's "ambition" to perform actions that power effects based on the villain's use of the Force, strategic leadership, or sheer luck. The game also incorporates villain-specific missions and rules for iconic ships and transports from all corners of the Star Wars galaxy.
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
References (from this video)
- villains pursuing distinct objectives with agents, fate and events blocking heroes
- Star Wars universe
- card-driven, with villain objectives, fate cards, events and missions
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- ambition_action — Ambition actions allow playing an ambition card from hand by paying ambition tokens.
- collect_ambition_tokens — On your turn you collect one ambition token from the supply.
- draw_and_refill — At end of turn, you draw cards from your villain deck up to four (or fewer if you have unengaged vehicles reducing draw).
- fate_action — Fate actions involve drawing fate cards from an opponent’s fate deck and using or discarding them to disrupt opponents.
- fate_deck_management — If a deck is empty, shuffle discard pile into a new deck and continue drawing.
- maneuver — Maneuver moves cards between sectors or can disengage or engage vehicles.
- move_villain — The first thing you do on your turn is move your villain to a different location.
- play_ally — Ally cards are played to locations within your sector to provide strength and abilities.
- play_card_from_hand — You may play a single card from your hand by paying its cost in credits (if it has a credit symbol).
- play_item — Items can be attached to allies to provide bonuses and effects.
- play_vehicle — Vehicles are played to deep space and can be engaged or disengaged to access their symbols.
- Vanquish — Vanquish defeats a hero (or vehicle) by comparing total strength against the hero’s strength; defeated heroes go to fate discard pile.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- the force can be used for good it also has the power to corrupt
- you'll be competing to see who can achieve their objective first
- this is how to play star wars villainous
References (from this video)
- Adds ambition tokens and vehicle layer; deeper strategy
- Excellent art and theme; satisfying two-player dynamics
- More complex than base Villainous; heavier for newcomers
- Ambition and dark side manipulation
- Star Wars universe; villainous track choices
- Two-level track with ambition and vehicle cards; asymmetry across villains
- Disney Villainous
- Marvel Villainous
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Ambition track — Ambition tokens drive big swing actions
- Unique player powers — Each villain has unique ability and win condition
- variable-player powers — Each villain has unique ability and win condition
- Vehicle cards and fate deck — Vehicles extend options and spaces; fate cards complicate the game
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- this is probably my favorite real-time game this has been my favorite real-time game i've ever played
- it's chaos and it is so much
- the production is incredible, the box is literally a grimoire
- this game looks amazing; i just want to admire the art
- it's so smooth it's so cut throat with sandra being involved
- i love this game i love everything about it
- obsessed literally love it so much
- star wars villainous is the new installment of villainous