Ethnos

2017

Venture into the world of Ethnos, a strategic board game where players lead mythical tribes, dominate regions, and earn the most glory to win. Immerse yourself in a fantasy realm unlike any other.

60
minutes

2 - 6
player(s)

14+

Medium

About the game

Ethnos is a captivating board game that takes you on an exciting journey through a mystical land filled with different tribes vying for control. Set in a fantastical world, the game is teeming with mythical creatures with unique abilities that add a captivating twist to traditional area control and set collection mechanics.

The game is set in the sprawling, vibrant world of Ethnos, a land filled with diverse tribes and breathtaking landscapes. Each tribe inhabits a specific region, from the icy mountains to the dense forests, adding a rich thematic flavor to the game. You step into the shoes of a leader who has the task of unitifying these tribes and conquering the land.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Ethnos is a strategy board game filled with various components that interact in unique ways to create an immersive gaming experience. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each component and its function within the game:

1. Game Board: The Game Board represents the land of Ethnos, divided into six different Kingdoms. Each Kingdom provides a space for players to place their control markers, signifying their influence in that region.

2. Control Markers: There are 3 Control Markers for each player, used to mark their control in the different Kingdoms on the Game Board. The player with the most influence in a Kingdom will earn points at the end of each Age.

3. Glory Tokens: These tokens are used to keep track of players’ scores. They are earned by establishing control in Kingdoms and by deploying bands of Allies. The player with the most Glory Tokens at the end of the game is the winner.

4. Double-sided Merfolk Tokens: These tokens are used when the Merfolk are part of the game. They allow players to score extra points at the end of each Age.

5. Creature Cards: These cards represent the twelve different Tribes that can form Alliances. Each Tribe has a unique ability that can benefit the player in different ways. Players create bands from these cards to increase their control over the Kingdoms.

6. Setup Cards: These cards help in setting up the game. The number of Creature cards and Glory tokens used in each Age depends on the number of players, which is determined by these Setup Cards.

7. Dragon Cards: These cards signal the end of an Age. When a Dragon Card is drawn from the deck, the current Age ends immediately and scoring takes place.

Each of these components plays a crucial role in the game and interacts with the other components to create a dynamic and engaging gaming experience. The combination of strategic decision-making, player interaction, and the unique abilities of the Tribes make Ethnos a game of skill and strategy.

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

Ethnos is a strategic board game that combines area control and set collection mechanics. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game:

Step 1: Preparing the Game Board

Place the game board in the center of the playing area where all players can easily access it. The game board represents the six Kingdoms of Ethnos, each with its own color and symbol.

Step 2: Choosing Tribes

There are 12 tribes in Ethnos, each with its own unique abilities. For each game, you will use 6 tribes. Randomly select six of these tribes and return the rest to the game box.

Step 3: Setting Up the Deck

Shuffle each of the selected tribes’ cards together to form the draw deck. Place this deck face down next to the game board. Draw three cards from the deck and place them face up next to the draw deck.

Step 4: Preparing the Dragon Tokens

The dragon tokens are used to track the three Ages of the game. Shuffle the 3 dragon tokens and place them face down at the bottom of the draw deck.

Step 5: Distributing Control Markers

Each player chooses a color and takes the matching control markers. The control markers are used to claim control over the different Kingdoms during the game. The player will place these on the game board when they play a band of allies.

Step 6: Setting Up the Glory Tokens

Sort the glory tokens by their values and place them in piles next to the game board. These tokens are used to keep score during the game.

Step 7: Determining the First Player

Randomly determine the first player. This player will be the first to draw cards and start the game.

With these setup steps completed, you are now ready to begin playing Ethnos. The game is played over three Ages, with each Age ending when a dragon token is drawn from the deck. The player with the most glory at the end of the third Age wins the game.

Game flow Round and round we go

Ethnos is a strategic board game where players try to control various territories by forming powerful bands of allies. The game is played over three Ages, with each Age concluding when a certain number of Dragon cards have been drawn. The player with the most Glory at the end of the third Age is declared the winner.

Setup: At the beginning of the game, six Tribes are chosen and their cards shuffled together to form the Deck. Three Dragon cards are shuffled into the bottom half of the Deck. The board is set in the middle of the table with Glory Tokens and Control Markers nearby.

Beginning of an Age: At the start of each Age, each player draws one card from the Deck. The player who went last in the previous Age (or the oldest player in the first Age) goes first.

During their turn, a player may perform one of two actions:

Draw a Card: The player may draw a card from the Deck or from the Face-up Cards. If a Dragon card is drawn from the Deck, it is placed in the Dragon’s Lair (and counts towards ending the Age).
Play a Band of Allies: The player may play a set of cards from their hand onto the table. All cards in the set must be of the same Tribe or from the same Territory. The player then places a Control Marker in the Territory matching the card on top of the set.

End of an Age: An Age ends when the third Dragon card is placed in the Dragon’s Lair. Players then score Glory based on the size of their Bands and their control of the Territories. The player with the most Glory in each Territory receives additional Glory.

End of the Game: After the third Age is scored, the game ends. The player with the most Glory is the winner. In case of a tie, the player with the smallest Band played in the third Age wins.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

Ethnos is a strategy board game where players compete to control a fantasy kingdom by collecting bands of cards. The game proceeds over three ages, and players take turns to perform actions that help them gain control over the map. Here’s a thorough breakdown of the possible actions and strategic choices a player can make during their turn:

A turn in Ethnos consists of two possible actions:

Action 1: Draw a Card
Action 2: Play a Band of Allies

Action 1: Draw a Card

In this action, a player can either draw a card from the deck or pick one from the face-up cards. This action is crucial for gathering the right mix of cards to form powerful bands of allies.

Draw from the deck: Drawing from the deck is a gamble as the player does not know what card they will receive. However, it can also provide opportunities to gather cards that are not available in the face-up cards.
Pick a face-up card: Picking a face-up card provides certainty and allows the player to choose a card that complements their existing hand.

Action 2: Play a Band of Allies

In this action, a player plays a band of allies from their hand. The band must consist of cards of the same color or the same race. The action is crucial for capturing territories and scoring victory points.

Color strategy: Forming a band with cards of the same color allows a player to place a control marker in the territory corresponding to that color. This strategy is useful for gaining control over specific territories.
Race strategy: Forming a band with cards of the same race allows a player to use the special power of that race. This strategy is useful for gaining specific advantages in the game.

Once a band is played, the player places a control marker in a territory, and the leader of the band (the top card) determines the special power activated. The size of the band determines the number of victory points scored at the end of each age.

Strategic choices during a player’s turn can significantly affect the game’s outcome. Players must balance the need to draw valuable cards with the opportunity to play bands and control territories. The choice between focusing on color or race can also shape a player’s overall strategy, providing different paths to victory.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Ethnos is a strategic board game that revolves around the accumulation of points. Points are awarded based on the number of controlled regions and Bands’ size. Here are the details of how points are awarded and tie-breaking rules.

1. Points Awarded for Controlled Regions:

Each region on the map has a specific number of points allocated to it, which are awarded to the player who has the majority of control markers in that region at the end of each Age. In the event of a tie for the majority, no player receives points for that region.

1st Age: The player with the most control markers in a region scores the first (lowest) point value.
2nd Age: The player with the most control markers scores the second point value, and the player with the second-most scores the first point value.
3rd Age: The player with the most control markers scores the third point value, the player with the second-most scores the second point value, and the player with the third-most scores the first point value.

2. Points Awarded for Band Size:

Players also score points based on the number of cards in their Bands. At the end of each Age, players reveal their Bands and score points according to the size. The larger the Band, the more points players can earn.

1 card: 0 points
2 cards: 1 point
3 cards: 3 points
4 cards: 6 points
5 cards: 10 points
6 cards: 15 points
7 or more cards: 21 points

3. Tie-Breaking Rules:

In case of a tie at the end of the game, the player who has the most complete Bands (Bands with the most cards of the same type) wins. If there is still a tie, the player who placed the last Giant Marker wins. If no player has placed a Giant Marker, the victory is shared.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Ethnos is a strategy board game with various special rules and exceptions. Understanding these can be crucial for players to strategize effectively and compete at a higher level. Here are some of the key points:

1. Special Abilities:

Minotaurs: Minotaurs have a special ability that lets you add them to a band even if they do not match the color or race of the band leader. However, they cannot be the leader of a band.
Merfolk: Merfolk are unique because they don’t contribute to control of a kingdom. Instead, they allow a player to advance on the merfolk track, which provides points at the end of each age based on the player’s position.
Giants: Giants provide a unique scoring opportunity. The player with the highest total strength of giants at the end of an age gets the giant token, which is worth varying amounts of points depending on the age.

2. Rule Clarifications:

Band Size Limit: There’s no upper limit to the size of a band. A band can contain any number of allies, but only one can be the leader.
Drawing Cards: When drawing cards, players can draw from the deck or the face-up cards. If they draw a face-up card, it’s not replaced until they’re done drawing.
Tokens: The control markers, once placed, are never moved or removed. They stay on the board until the end of the game.

3. Rare Rules and Exceptions:

End of Age: When the third dragon card is drawn, the age immediately ends after the current player finishes their turn. No other players get a turn this round.
Tie-Breakers: If players tie for control of a kingdom, the player with the largest band in that kingdom wins the tie. If there’s still a tie, the tied player who placed their control marker first wins.
Scoring: During scoring, if you run out of control markers, use something else as a replacement. Your score is the sum of your points from all three ages, not just the final age.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies for Ethnos

Focus on controlling as many territories as possible, even if they are the smaller ones. This will grant you more points overall.
Keep an eye on your opponents’ band sizes. Try to match or surpass them whenever possible to ensure you don’t fall behind in points.
Don’t underestimate the power of the Trolls. They can provide a major defense boost that can deter other players from attacking your territories.
Use the Centaurs’ abilities to maximize your turns and build larger bands faster.

Beginner Tips for Ethnos

Start with a focus on learning how to create bands effectively. Once you’ve mastered that, you can start exploring more complex strategies.
Remember that you can only have one band leader at a time. Choose wisely!
Try to balance your focus between claiming territories and building up your bands. Both are crucial for victory.
Don’t forget to draw a card at the end of your turn.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Ignoring smaller territories: Even the smaller territories can be valuable in Ethnos, especially if you can control many of them.
Forgetting to draw a card at the end of your turn: This can leave you at a significant disadvantage.
Overlooking the abilities of your band leader: Each leader has unique abilities that can turn the tide of the game. Make sure to make the most of them!
Not keeping track of your opponents’ progress: If you’re not paying attention, an opponent could easily sneak up and claim a territory you were planning to take.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay

Always draw a card at the end of your turn. You can never have too many options!
Try to keep a balanced mix of different races in your hand. This will give you more flexibility in creating your bands.
Remember to use your band leader’s abilities. They can provide a major boost to your gameplay if used wisely.
Keep an eye on your opponents. Knowing their strategies can help you plan your own moves more effectively.