Mechs vs. Minions

2016

Join the Yordles in Mechs vs. Minions! A cooperative campaign board game set in Runeterra, test your teamwork and programming skills in unique missions.

120
minutes

2 - 4
player(s)

14+

Medium

About the game

Mechs vs. Minions is a thrilling, cooperative board game that plunges you into a battlefield of mechanized chaos and minion mayhem. Set in the captivating universe of League of Legends, the game follows the exploits of four Yordles: Corki, Tristana, Heimerdinger, and Ziggs, who must program their mechs to vanquish an army of marauding minions.

The game is set in the eponymous world of Runeterra, a richly detailed realm filled with diverse cultures, races, and terrains. From the bustling metropolis of Piltover to the shadowy depths of the Underworld, each game of Mechs vs. Minions offers a unique landscape for thrilling mechanized warfare.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

‘Mechs vs. Minions’ is a cooperative table-top strategy game that offers an immersive experience with a variety of components. These include:

1. Game Board: The game board is a large, grid-based map where the game takes place. Players move their mechs and minions around on the board, depending on the dictates of their command cards and mission objectives.

2. Mechs: These are the player pieces. Each player controls a unique mech, and their goal is to complete objectives and eliminate minions. The mechs are customizable with command cards and can be upgraded throughout the game.

3. Minions: The minions are the enemies in the game. They spawn at specific locations and move towards the players. They are controlled by the game itself, and players must strategize to eliminate them and prevent them from achieving their own objectives.

4. Command Cards: These cards allow players to control their mechs. They are drawn from a shared draft and can be used to move, turn, and attack. The command cards can be upgraded and combined for more powerful actions.

5. Damage Cards: These cards represent the damage that mechs can take. When a mech takes damage, a damage card is drawn and applied to the mech’s command line, potentially disrupting its abilities.

6. Mission Envelopes: Each mission envelope contains the rules and objectives for a specific mission. The game includes ten unique missions, each with different goals and challenges.

7. Boss Cards: These cards represent boss enemies that appear in certain missions. They are more powerful than regular minions and present unique challenges.

8. Rune Coins: Rune coins are collectible items that can be found in certain missions. They can be used to unlock additional abilities and upgrades.

9. Numbered Tokens: These tokens are used to keep track of various game states such as the current mission, the number of minions in play, and the health of the boss enemies.

10. Dice: The game includes three dice, which are used for various purposes such as determining the direction of minion movement, the results of attacks, and other random effects.

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

Mechs vs. Minions is a cooperative table top strategy game for 2-4 players. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game.

Step 1: Choose Your Mech (Player Roles)

Each player chooses a Mech to play as and takes the corresponding command line and player mat. The Mechs are: Ziggs, Tristana, Heimerdinger, and Corki. The command line is where players will be programming their Mech’s actions.

Step 2: Set Up The Game Board

The game board setup varies depending on the mission you’re playing. The mission guidebook will provide a diagram showing how to set up the board. Place the minions, bomb, crystals, and other elements as shown in the diagram.

Step 3: Draw Command Cards

Shuffle the command cards and place five face up next to the game board. Command cards are used to program your Mech’s actions.

Step 4: Set Up Damage Deck

Shuffle the damage cards and place them face down next to the game board. Damage cards are drawn when a Mech takes damage and can disrupt a player’s command line.

Step 5: Prepare The Minion Piles

Next to the game board, place stacked piles of minion figures. The quantity of stacked minions varies per mission, so refer to the mission’s guidebook for specifics.

Step 6: Set Up The Doom Tracker And Mission Tracker

Place the Doom Tracker and Mission Tracker on their respective spots on the game board. The Doom Tracker is used to keep track of the game’s progression and difficulty, while the Mission Tracker is used to track the mission’s specific objectives.

Step 7: Set Up Initial Resources

Each player starts with three command cards. Players can acquire more during the game to program their Mechs with more actions.

Step 8: Random Elements

There are various random elements in Mechs vs. Minions. For instance, the order in which command cards are drawn and the damage a Mech takes can change the course of the game. Additionally, the specific objectives for each mission add a unique twist to every game.

Now that the game is set up, you’re ready to start playing! Remember that cooperation is key in Mechs vs. Minions – as a team, you will either win or lose together.

Game flow Round and round we go

The board game ‘Mechs vs. Minions’ is a cooperative tabletop campaign for 2-4 players. The players take on the roles of four Yordles: Corki, Tristana, Heimerdinger, and Ziggs, who must program their mechs to defeat an army of minions.

Game Structure:

The game is divided into missions, and each mission is played over a series of rounds. Each round is split into three phases: the Draft Phase, the Command Line Phase, and the Minion Phase.

Draft Phase:

In the Draft Phase, players draw five command cards from the deck and place them face up in the middle of the table. Beginning with the first player and continuing clockwise, each player selects a card and adds it to their command line (a row of programmed actions for their mech), or uses it to repair damage. This process is repeated until each player has two cards. The remaining card is discarded.

Command Line Phase:

The Command Line Phase is where players execute the commands on their command line in order from left to right. This could involve moving their mech, turning their mech, or attacking minions. Players may also chain together identical commands for stronger effects. Players must also deal with any damage effects that may alter their command line.

Minion Phase:

The final phase is the Minion Phase. In this phase, new minions spawn on the board and existing minions move and attack. The specifics of minion behavior change from mission to mission, but generally, they will move towards the nearest player and attack if they are in range.

Draft Phase: Select and place commands to program your mech.
Command Line Phase: Execute programmed commands in order.
Minion Phase: New minions spawn, and existing minions move and attack.

Players continue to play through rounds, progressing through these three phases, until they either complete the mission objective or are overwhelmed by the minions. The game includes a tutorial and ten missions, each with its own unique map, minion configuration, and objective.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

Mechs vs. Minions is a cooperative tabletop strategy game that involves intricate gameplay mechanics. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what happens during a player’s turn:

Each player’s turn is divided into two phases: the Draft Phase and the Command Line Phase.

During the Draft Phase, players draft command cards that will dictate the actions of their mechs in the upcoming round. This phase proceeds as follows:

Five command cards are drawn from the deck and placed face-up in the center of the table.
Starting with the first player and proceeding clockwise, each player chooses one of the available command cards and adds it to their hand.
Players continue to pick cards until all cards have been claimed.

During the Command Line Phase, players use their drafted command cards to program the actions of their mechs. This phase follows these steps:

Each player places their drafted command cards into their command line, a series of slots on their player board that represents their mech’s programming.
The placement of the command cards in the command line determines the sequence of actions that the mech will perform during the round.
Each command card has a unique function. For instance, some move the mech, some rotate it, and some make the mech attack.
Players can stack identical command cards in the same slot to enhance the effect of that command.

After all players have placed their command cards, the Execution Phase commences. During this phase, players execute their programmed actions in order. Gameplay effects include:

Players move their mechs on the game board according to their command line, interacting with minions, objectives, and other mechs as dictated by their programmed actions.
Strategic choices arise from the need to coordinate actions with other players, as well as from the challenge of adapting to the chaos of the evolving game state.
The game continues in this manner, with players working together to achieve the mission objective before they are overwhelmed by the minion horde.

Understanding these rules is crucial to developing a winning strategy in Mechs vs. Minions. The game requires careful planning, cooperation, and adaptability in order to overcome the challenges presented by the game’s scenarios.

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

‘Mechs vs. Minions’ is a cooperative tabletop campaign for 2-4 players. The game ends when players successfully complete the objectives outlined in the mission guide or when certain failure conditions are met. It’s important to note that the game doesn’t have a traditional scoring system as it’s based on cooperative play rather than competition.

Victory Conditions:

Objective Completion: Every mission in ‘Mechs vs Minions’ has specific objectives. The game is won when the players manage to complete these objectives. The objectives vary from mission to mission and could involve tasks like defusing bombs, escorting units to specific places on the board, or defeating a certain number of minions.

Failure Conditions:

Exhausting Time: Some missions have a time limit. If the players do not achieve the objectives within the specified number of rounds, they lose the game.
Player Deaths: If all players are ‘knocked out’ at the same time, the game ends immediately in a loss. When a player’s mech is ‘knocked out’, they must spend their next turn to repair instead of executing command cards.

Before declaring the game’s end, players must ensure that they have accurately assessed the game board and verified that they have indeed met the mission’s objectives or failure conditions. It’s also crucial to double-check the health status of all mechs and the remaining time (if any).

In ‘Mechs vs. Minions’, victory is a shared success for all players. Since the game is not scored, the primary focus is to work together effectively to accomplish the mission objectives.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In the cooperative board game ‘Mechs vs. Minions’, players work together to defeat minions and complete missions. As such, there isn’t a traditional point scoring system where players compete against each other. Instead, success is determined by whether the team of players has achieved the objectives of the current mission.

Mission Completion

The primary way players ‘score’ in ‘Mechs vs. Minions’ is by completing the objectives outlined in each mission. Objectives can vary greatly from mission to mission, ranging from defeating a certain number of minions, surviving waves of enemies, or reaching a particular location on the board.

Teamwork Score

While individual scores aren’t kept, the team’s performance can be gauged by how well they work together to accomplish their goals. This can be subjectively judged based on factors such as the efficiency of their actions, the amount of damage taken, and the number of turns it takes to complete the mission.

Tie-Breaking

Since ‘Mechs vs. Minions’ is a cooperative board game, there are no traditional tie-breaking rules. The players either succeed together or fail together. In the event that a mission’s success criteria can be met in multiple ways, the players collectively decide the best course of action.

Damage Points

Damage Points are not a scoring mechanism but rather a challenge to the players. If a mech takes too much damage (five damage points), it is temporarily knocked out and misses their next turn, making the mission more difficult to complete. Although not points in the traditional sense, managing damage is a crucial part of the game strategy.

Victory Conditions

The ultimate ‘score’ in ‘Mechs vs. Minions’ is the successful completion of all ten missions in the campaign. The sense of progression and the challenge of each new mission provide the reward and sense of accomplishment, rather than points on a scoreboard.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

‘Mechs vs. Minions’ is a fully cooperative tabletop game for 2-4 players. It comes with an array of unique and special rules that enhance gameplay. Here are some rare or special rules, exceptions, and important rule clarifications:

1. Command Line:

In the game, players draft command cards to build their command line, which determines the abilities of their Mech. However, these are a few exceptions to note:

Stutter-Step: This command can be executed numerous times in a round. However, the player cannot use the same Stutter-Step to move forward and backward in the same turn.
Chain Lightning: This command targets each minion once. If a minion re-enters the attack area, it doesn’t get targeted again in the same turn.

2. Damage Cards:

When a player’s Mech takes damage, they draw a damage card. While these generally impede the player, there are exceptions:

Glitch: The Glitch card forces the player to execute the top command of their command line, but it doesn’t have to be the first command executed that turn.
Reboot: A Reboot card allows a player to discard all damage cards, but it doesn’t clear the command line.

3. Schematic Cards:

Each player has a unique schematic card that indicates the special abilities of their Mech. Some clarifications are:

Hexmatic Aimbot: The player can only use this to target minions, not other Mechs or bosses.
Overdrive: This ability can only be used once per round, not once per turn.

4. Minions and Bosses:

Minions and bosses have special rules associated with them:

Minions: Minions spawn at the beginning of each round, not each turn. They cannot move diagonally.
Bosses: Bosses have unique abilities and movements. Players must refer to the boss’s card for specific rules.

5. Mission Objectives:

Each mission has unique objectives, and players must read the mission card carefully for specific rules and exceptions pertaining to each mission.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Mechs vs. Minions is a cooperative board game where players pilot their mechs to fight off an overwhelming horde of minions. The game incorporates programming mechanics, team strategy, and has a high level of replayability. Here are some strategies, tips, and common mistakes to look out for when playing this game.

Advanced Strategies

Plan your moves ahead: Since programming your mech’s actions is a key part of the game, try to think several turns ahead. Plan your moves in a way that’s adaptable for various scenarios.
Optimize your draft: Each draft phase, consider what your team needs most. Sometimes it’s more beneficial to draft for turn order or to deny certain cards to the minion horde.
Control the minion population: Minions multiply quickly. It’s crucial to keep their numbers under control, so try to destroy minions whenever possible.

Beginner Tips

Understand your mech’s abilities: Each mech has unique abilities that can be used to your advantage. Spend some time understanding these abilities to optimize your gameplay.
Teamwork is crucial: Mechs vs. Minions is a cooperative game, and teamwork is key to victory. Coordinate with your teammates to plan your moves and execute strategies.
Use your command line effectively: The command line is where you plan your mech’s actions. Be familiar with each command and use them strategically to maximize your mech’s effectiveness.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Ignoring minions: It’s easy to focus on completing objectives and forget about the minions. However, if left unchecked, minions can quickly overwhelm you.
Not utilizing all commands: Each command has its strengths and weaknesses. It’s a common mistake to only use a few favorite commands, but this can limit your strategies and effectiveness.
Not planning ahead: This game requires careful planning. It’s a common mistake to only plan for the current turn without considering future turns and possible scenarios.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay

Effective communication: As a cooperative game, communication is key. Share your plans and strategies with your teammates to ensure everyone is working towards the same goal.
Maintain balance: Try to maintain a balance between focusing on objectives and controlling the minion horde. Ignoring either one can lead to defeat.
Adapt your strategies: Each game of Mechs vs. Minions is different. Be ready to adapt your strategies based on the game’s progress and the team’s needs.