WBG Score: 8.5
Player Count: 1-6*
You’ll like this if you like: That's Pretty Clever, Troyes Dice, Riverside.
Published by: Stonemaier Games
Designed by: Jamey Stegmaier, Karel Titeca
This is a free review copy. See our review policy here
Rolling Realms first came out as a "bit of fun" for designer Jamey Stegmaier during the lockdown period of 2020. He played it online with anyone who wanted to join in, using a freely accessible one pager. This then developed into a fully published game, which has since seen MANY mini expansion released. One for each Stonemaier game released, and many other for games Jamey enjoys.
Rolling Realms Redux is a new stand alone/sequel/collection of new expansions (Delete as appropriate). *You can enjoy playing with up to 6 friends without needing anything else. But can play with an infinite amount of people if you have more copies. Inside this box, you will find all the necessary components to play the game, as well as the opportunity to discover 12 exciting new realms. These expansions, like those that came previously, are inspired by popular games from other publishers.
As stated on the Stonemaier website, "The promo packs will only be available in their current form (separate packs on our webstore), not bundled into a big box. You can pick and choose the packs you want. We often discount the packs when releasing new packs." So, this is the best way to develop, or indeed, start your Rolling Realms collection. There is no need to wait for one big box collection. It won't come.
Additionally with this release, you'll receive a printed living rulebook that explains all the realms (to date)—both original, new, and promotional. And there is no need to worry about storage space—the game comes in a meticulously designed box that accommodates all realms ever created.
How To Set up Rolling Realms Redux
Distribute a set of cards to each player, ensuring that each set is identical. Each set should contain 12 realm cards (along with any extra cards from the base game or promotional realms that you may have). Give one resource card, and one score card to each player along with a dry-erase marker and an eraser cloth.
At the start of every round, one player will shuffle their realm cards and randomly draw three realms. Each other player must now locate those exact three cards from their own set so that all players are using the same cards. The remaining realms are set aside. Place the two dice into a central area, and you are now ready to play.
How To Play Rolling Realms Redux
Each game of Rolling Realms last three rounds. Each round consists of nine turns. Players take turns simultaneously. A turn will consist of two simple phases.
Phase one. Roll the Dice: A player rolls the two dice and shares the results with all players. Each player records the numbers rolled on their score card in the turn spaces numbered one to nine.
Phase two: Activate Realms: Each player will now simultaneously use each die once in a different realm. You cannot activate the same realm more than once per turn. You can spend any previously gained resources while activating realms. Rare situations where you cannot use any die allow players to gain a resource instead of using. Some resources and realm rules generate extra dice, but you still cannot activate the same realm more than once per turn unless altered.
Using a dice in a Realm greatly relies on the Realms you possess. Ultimately, you will mark the two numbers rolled on two of your three Realms to progress your status within this Realm and try to earn stars. To clarify, let's explore some of the new Realms introduced in this edition.
Here are three of the trickier ones. Hopefully, you will agree that they are all still fairly straightforward. once you have the hang of these three, the others will all full into place.
Rock-Paper-Scissors works by players picking one of the rolled dice numbers and then assigning a circle (if it was a one, two, or three) a cross (if it was a six) or a square (if it was a four or five) and then placing the assigned shape into any slow on the left hand column. You will then gain the benefit on that row, either a pumpkin, heart or coin. And with that, let's have a brief pause to explain the benefits.
The pumpkins can be used either in pairs to adjust a die roll up or down by one, or in sets of three to adjust a die roll by one but now use it in a realm you have already activated this turn.
The hearts can be used in twos to use a die number twice if you rolled a pair, and then in sets of three to do the same if you did not roll a pair.
The coins let you use one of the die numbers twice if the sum of the two dice is exactly seven, and then in any number to gain any number. You just need to use the same number of coins as the number you are using. So two coins for a two, four coins for a four. When you gain a benefit, circle the correct number of symbols on your benefit card. You can then use them at any point later in the game by crossing off the ones you have circled. At the end of the game, unused benefits are worth 0.1 point each.
Ok, back to Rock-Paper-Scissors. once you have assigned one of the die to mark a space on the left an claimed the benefit, you you must use the other die (which will not be exhausted and can still be used in another realm) to assign a second shape to any space on the right hand column. it does not have to be the same row you chose for the first number.
The idea is that over the course of the rounds you will "win" as many games of Rock-Paper-Scissors as possible by placing shapes on the left hand side that beat shapes on the right hand side. Circle beats cross. Cross beats Square. Square beats Circle. When a row wins in this way, mark the space on the left to show you won, and then at the end of the round, count how many victories you had and score stars accordingly. You need nine victories for the full six stars.
Wonderland's War is an interesting new realm as it has a timer trigger. At the beginning of rounds four, five, seven, eight, and nine, you must total the roll of the two dice before any manipulation and mark the total in the allocated space on the card. In order to win this realm, you need to use dice prior to these rounds to mark numbers in the different spaces so that the total of your two dice in each battleground is equal to or greater than the sum of the two dice used that round. Blanks are worth zero, and you cannot go back to previous rounds to fill in blanks. The battlegrounds are immediately scored. When you fill a circle with a number in each battleground, you will gain a benefit. When you win a battleground, you will gain one or two stars, depending on which one it is.
Flamecraft has an interesting way to use the dice. Either Enchant by circling a benefit above any of the three "Shops" or Gather by writing a number in one of the matching Shops' three spaces to then gain any previously Enchanted benefits. The first shop can be used with a two, three, or four. The second can use a three, four, or five. The final shop can use a five or a six. Those benefits are then marked off; they cannot be gained again. At the end of the round, you will score stars for each Shop where you marked off both benefits during the Enchanting, and also a star for each shop where you write three numbers.
Hopefully now, these three other Realms will make more sense to you when you read the rules on them. They are all quite self-explanatory.
After nine turns, record the stars earned that round on your score card. Each leftover resource is valued at 0.1 stars. Clear all content except scores on your score card and erase all realm and resource cards completely. Keep the used realms from the previous round aside and then reveal three new realm cards for all players to collect and start the next round. After the third round, proceed to the end-game scoring. The player with the highest cumulative stars wins.
Is It Fun? Rolling Realms Redux Card Game Review
The joy in this game comes from two main areas for me. First, the combo-turns that you can create as you get better. Gaining more benefits, then using them at the right moment to use three numbers per round instead of two; it's a real hoot! Second, the history of this game. It takes me back to playing online with Jamey during the lockdown months. It gave me, like many others, something to do and a connection with the outside world. Watching the game develop over the weeks, and seeing Jamey openly take feedback from normal, everyday people who were playing along with him was so inspiring.
This Redux edition is simply another chance for me to support a game I adore because of this. I am delighted it brings in 12 new realms, and I am also excited to get more of these brilliant pens. Surely, the best dry-erase pens in the hobby? And of course, this new box is big enough to hold all the Realms you may have already.
Exploring the new Realms and working out which ones work well together is a wonderful experience. It is almost a little like deck-building. Of course, in the proper game, you are picking three Realms at random, but in the process, you see which ones combine well together. I then like to use this knowledge to create more exciting games later by pairing a Realm that does well with lower numbers with another that prefers higher numbers, and perhaps with a third that has flexibility with both.
If you like the original game, I would highly encourage you to check out this version too. If you don't have the original, then get this first. Then add packs as you go. This version is a little better as it has more realms, a cool travel box you can use to take the game with you anywhere you go, and a better solo mode.
Solo Mode
A quick word on the solo mode, because it is fantastic. Within this box are the rules for a new solo mode. The original box came with a solid "mini Golf" themed solo mode, that is a lot of fun. The new Redux version is called RRR Ball. It is a tournament you play against bots over five weeks. Each week has two matches. In a match, you won't score points, rather goals. Goals are scored by winning a Realm against the bot score. So the maximum amount of goals you can score is three. But some matches have a x2 multiplier.
Each match is played in a different league. Each league will give you a different amount of rolls, more in the lower leagues. After each week, when all matches have been carried out, you will determine the rankings for that week. If you have more goals than the bot with the most goals, you will be the league champion and will be promoted to a higher league for the next week. If you get promoted from league one, you will win the solo mode.
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