Boonlake

2021

Experience Boonlake, a game of strategic exploration and community building. Pioneer a new territory, construct settlements, and create an innovative infrastructure.

160
minutes

1 - 4
player(s)

14+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Boonlake is a captivating board game that transports players into the untamed wilderness of North America during the 19th century. You are an adventurous pioneer, stepping into the vast, uncharted territories, building settlements, exploring the wilderness, and navigating the challenges that come with living off the land.

The game’s setting is deeply immersive, with the board itself representing the expansive, unexplored North American wilderness. From dense woodlands to tranquil lakes and towering mountains, the game’s environmental elements play a crucial role in shaping your strategies and overall gameplay experience.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Boonlake is a popular board game that is full of strategy and exploration. It comes with a variety of components. These elements are not only essential for gameplay, but also enhance the thematic experience of the game. Here is a list of every component included in the game, along with a description of what each component does and how it interacts with the game.

Game Board: This is the main stage where all the action takes place. The board is divided into various sections such as the river, the forest, and the town. It serves as the central hub where players build, explore, and perform various actions.

Player Boards: Each player receives a player board which represents their individual settlement. Players will be placing buildings and other components on this board throughout the game.

Building Tiles: These tiles represent different types of buildings that players can construct on their player board. Each building provides specific benefits to the player, such as additional resources or special abilities.

Resource Tokens: These tokens represent the different resources players can collect during the game, such as wood, stone, and food. Players will use these resources to build structures and perform various actions.

Action Cards: These cards provide players with a variety of actions they can perform during their turn. Actions can include things like gathering resources, constructing buildings, or exploring new areas on the game board.

Villager Cards: These cards represent the villagers that players can recruit to their settlement. Each villager provides a unique benefit to the player, such as additional actions or special abilities.

Victory Point Tokens: These tokens are used to keep track of each player’s score. Players earn victory points through various actions and achievements during the game. The player with the most victory points at the end of the game is the winner.

Expedition Tokens: These tokens represent the various expeditions that players can send their villagers on. Expeditions can yield a variety of rewards, including new resources, action cards, or victory points.

Event Cards: These cards introduce various events that can impact all players. Events can be beneficial or detrimental, and can significantly alter the course of the game.

Boonlake is a game of strategy, resource management, and exploration. Each component plays a crucial role in the overall experience of the game. Understanding how each component interacts with the game is key to mastering Boonlake.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

‘Boonlake’ is a complex and strategic board game that requires careful set-up for maximum enjoyment. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you get started.

Step 1: Player Roles

Each player in ‘Boonlake’ takes on the role of a pioneer seeking to establish themselves in the uncharted territories. The game does not assign specific roles beyond this, but players may choose to focus on different aspects of development such as farming, building, or trading.

Step 2: Board Placement

The game board should be placed in the center of the playing area, with enough space around it for each player’s individual player board. The game board consists several sections including the action area, the progress area, and the landscape area.

Step 3: Setting Up Player Boards

Each player receives a player board, which represents their personal settlement. This is where they will track their resources, buildings, and progress throughout the game. Place these boards next to the main game board, making sure each player can easily reach theirs.

Step 4: Initial Resources

Based on the number of players, distribute the initial resources to each player’s board. Each player should start with 2 food, 2 wood, 1 stone, and 1 fur. These resources should be tracked in the appropriate section of the player board.

Step 5: Random Elements

A number of elements in ‘Boonlake’ are determined randomly to ensure each game is unique. Shuffle the landscape tiles and place them face down next to the main game board. Do the same with the progress cards.

Step 6: First Player Selection

The first player is determined randomly. Give the first player marker to the chosen player. This player will begin the game and play will continue clockwise.

Once these steps are complete, you’re ready to start playing ‘Boonlake’. Remember, the goal of the game is to develop your settlement and earn the most victory points by the end of the game. Good luck!

Game flow Round and round we go

‘Boonlake’ is a strategy board game where players aim to build the most prosperous settlement in a new land. The game is divided into several rounds known as ‘years’, which are further divided into ‘seasons’. Players will perform various actions during these seasons to gather resources, build structures, and advance their settlement.

Year Setup:

Setup Card: At the beginning of each year, a setup card is drawn. This card determines the available actions for the year, along with any special conditions or events.
Resource Gathering: Players will then gather resources according to their current infrastructure. The types and amounts of resources gathered can be influenced by various factors such as the setup card, player actions, and the current state of the game board.

Season Structure:

Player Actions: Starting with the first player and proceeding in turn order, each player performs one action. Actions can include gathering additional resources, constructing buildings, expanding territory, and more.
Action Cards: Players can also play action cards from their hand, which can provide unique abilities or advantages. These cards are played during a player’s turn but are not considered an action.
End of Season: Once all players have performed their actions for the season, the season ends. Any end-of-season events are resolved, and then the game proceeds to the next season.

Year End:

Scoring: At the end of each year, players score points based on the current state of their settlement. Points can be earned from buildings, territory, resources, and various other factors.
New Year: Once scoring is complete, a new year begins with the drawing of a new setup card. The game continues in this way until the end of the final year.

Game End:

Final Scoring: At the end of the final year, a final scoring phase takes place. In addition to the usual scoring, players can earn bonus points for meeting certain conditions, as indicated by their personal goal cards.
Winner: The player with the highest total score at the end of the final scoring phase is declared the winner.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

Boonlake is a complex strategy board game that revolves around resource management, strategic planning and competitive development. During each player’s turn, they have a variety of options to choose from. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the sequence of actions in a player’s turn.

1. Action Selection:

In Boonlake, players can choose from a wide array of actions. The choice of action has a significant impact on gameplay and strategy.

Building: Players can use their resources to construct buildings. Buildings provide various benefits, such as additional income, victory points, or special abilities.
Exploring: Players can choose to explore new territories on the game board. This can potentially reveal new resources and opportunities.
Trading: Players can trade resources with the bank or with other players. This can be a strategic choice to gain needed resources or dispose of surplus ones.
Upgrading: Players can upgrade their existing buildings for improved benefits. This requires specific resources and can be a key strategy for late-game scoring.

2. Action Execution:

Once the action is chosen, the player executes it. The execution of the action is subject to the game’s rules and the availability of resources.

Building: The player spends the necessary resources and places a building on their game board.
Exploring: The player moves their explorer token on the game board, revealing new territories and potentially gaining new resources.
Trading: The player exchanges resources with the bank or with another player, as per the game’s trading rules.
Upgrading: The player spends the required resources and replaces an existing building with its upgraded version.

3. End of the Turn:

After executing their action, the player’s turn ends. The next player in turn order then takes their turn. This continues until the game ends, which is triggered when a specific condition is met (such as a player reaching a certain number of victory points or the game board being fully explored).

The strategic depth of Boonlake lies in the choices players make during their turn. The choice of action, the timing of the action, and the management of resources are all critical elements of strategy that can significantly affect the game’s outcome.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

The game of Boonlake ends after a predetermined number of rounds, usually 7, have been played. Once the last action of the final round is taken, the game ends and final scoring happens. It is important to note that the game can also end if a player has reached the maximum points during the game.

Victory Conditions

The player with the most points at the end of the game is declared the winner. Points are scored in a variety of ways throughout the game:

Building structures: Each structure a player builds scores them a certain number of points.
Completing missions: Missions are a way to score many points, but they require a considerable amount of resources to complete.
Exploring and settling territories: Players can also score points by exploring new territories and establishing settlements there.
Progressing on the development track: Each step a player moves forward on the development track scores them points.
End game bonuses: At the end of the game, each player can score additional points through specific bonus cards or through their progress on the development track.

Before the final scoring, all players must make sure they have completed all their actions for the round. This includes:

Using all their action points: Each player has a certain number of action points to spend each round. They must make sure to use all these points, as they cannot be saved for later rounds.
Completing any outstanding tasks: If a player has any tasks they have not yet completed, they must do so before the end of the game. This might include completing a mission, building a structure, or moving on the development track.
Spending any remaining resources: Any resources a player has left at the end of the game do not score them any points, so it is in their best interest to spend as many as possible before the game ends.

Once all these actions are completed, players can move on to the final scoring. Each player adds up their points from the various sources, and the player with the most points is declared the winner of Boonlake. In the case of a tie, the player who reached the scoring track first is the winner.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In the board game ‘Boonlake’, the scoring system is integral to determining the winner of the game. Points are awarded through a variety of actions and achievements, and the player with the highest total at the end of the game is declared the winner.

Scoring During the Game:

Throughout the game, players earn points by accomplishing specific tasks and actions. Here’s how:

Building: Players earn points each time they construct a new building. The points awarded depend on the type and size of the building.
Exploration: Points are gained when players explore new territories. The points vary depending on the area explored and the resources used.
Trading: Successful trades can also result in points, with more valuable trades yielding a higher point value.
Development Cards: These cards can offer a variety of ways to score additional points, including bonus points for reaching specific milestones or achieving certain goals.

Scoring at the End of the Game:

When the game ends, additional points are awarded based on players’ final positions and achievements:

Remaining Resources: Players receive points for any remaining resources they have, including goods, coins, and workers. The specific value of each resource is detailed in the game’s rulebook.
Completed Missions: If a player has completed any missions as detailed on their mission cards, they will receive additional points. The point value of each mission is indicated on the card.
Development: Players also earn points based on the development of their settlement. This includes points for the number and type of buildings constructed, as well as for any special buildings or structures.

Tie-Breaking Rules:

In the event of a tie, ‘Boonlake’ has a set of tie-breaking rules to determine the winner:

The player with the most completed missions is the winner.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most remaining resources wins.
If a tie persists, the player who played earlier in the turn order is the winner.

Remember, the key to winning ‘Boonlake’ is not just about accumulating points, but also about strategic planning and effective resource management.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Boonlake is a complex board game that introduces a number of innovative mechanics. However, to fully enjoy the game, players need to understand its special rules and exceptions. Here are some of them:

1. The Pioneering Rule:

When a player’s pioneer reaches a new land, they have the chance to exploit its resources. However, this rule has an important exception:

If the land is already occupied by another player’s pioneer, the player cannot exploit the resources of that particular land.

2. The Trading Rule:

Players can trade their resources with ‘The Bank’. However, this rule has some exceptions:

A player can trade only during their turn.
The Bank does not give change. If a player offers more than the required resources, the excess is lost.

3. The Building Rule:

Players can build on any unoccupied land. However, there are some important exceptions:

The land must be adjacent to a land where the player already has a building.
Players cannot build on water tiles.

4. Visitor Cards:

Visitor cards offer special abilities to the players. However, these abilities are subject to some conditions:

Each visitor card can be used only once.
The player must meet the requirements of the visitor card to use its abilities.

5. The End Game:

The game ends when there are no more available land tiles to place. However, the game also ends if a player has placed all of their buildings.

Rule Clarifications:

There are a few points in the game where some rules might need further clarification:

When a player’s pioneer reaches a new land, they do not automatically exploit its resources. They need to take a separate action to do so.
In a trade with ‘The Bank’, the player cannot negotiate or change the trading rates. They are fixed as mentioned on the game board.
When using the abilities of a visitor card, a player cannot choose to partially perform the ability. They either perform it completely or not at all.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies for Boonlake:

Stay Versatile: Do not overly commit to one strategy from the beginning. It’s essential to stay versatile in Boonlake. Understand the different options available and adapt your strategy based on the available actions and opponent’s moves.
Utilize Actions Wisely: Every action in Boonlake can lead to a chain of other beneficial actions. Always plan your actions and try to create a chain of actions that can maximize your benefits.
Focus on Expansion: Expanding your territory should be one of your main strategies. More territory not only provides more resources but also gives you more options to perform actions.

Beginner Tips for Boonlake:

Learn the Basics: Before diving into the game, take your time to understand the basic rules and mechanics of the game. This will ensure a more enjoyable playing experience.
Start Small: At the beginning of the game, focus on smaller, achievable goals instead of going for big, risky moves. This will help you steadily accumulate resources and points.
Observe Others: As a beginner, it can be very helpful to observe the strategies of more experienced players. This can give you new ideas and help you understand the game better.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Boonlake:

Ignoring Opponents: While focusing on your own strategy is important, ignoring your opponents’ moves can be a costly mistake. Always keep an eye on what they are doing and try to anticipate their moves.
Overcommitting Resources: Resources are limited in Boonlake. Overcommitting resources to one action can leave you vulnerable and limit your future actions. Always try to maintain a balance in your resource usage.
Ignoring Territory Expansion: Some players underestimate the importance of expanding their territory. Remember, more territory means more options and resources.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay in Boonlake:

Plan Ahead: Always plan your actions ahead. This will allow you to make the most of your actions and avoid missing opportunities.
Balance Your Strategy: While it’s important to have a focus in your strategy, try to balance different aspects of the game. Don’t neglect resource gathering, territory expansion, or any other part of the game.
Stay Flexible: Boonlake is a dynamic game. What works in one game might not work in the next. Therefore, always stay flexible and be ready to adapt your strategy based on the game’s flow.