Wouter & Ymke 
This card game transports players into an era of powerful Elemental Mages, ancient tournaments, and a mythical Land Above the Moon. Here, magical duels create Eter, the lifeblood of this mystical realm. Just like the lands it represents, the play area in Eter is alive and ever-changing, demanding a clever strategy from those who dare to control it.
👥 2 players, ages 8+
⌛ Playing time: 10-30 minutes
📝 Designer: Radosław Ignatów
🎨 Artwork: Dawid Wiącek
🏢 Publisher: Smart Flamingo (review copy provided)
https://eterthegame.com/
In Eter, every player steps into the shoes of a Mage, commanding a loyal army of minions with the ambition to outwit their opponent and emerge victorious. To cater to various skill levels and playing styles, the game provides four distinct modes: Training, Mage Duel, Elemental Battle, and Tournament. Additionally, the game spices up the experience with two special effects: Illusion and Power Explosion.
📚 The Training Mode is your first step into the Eter world. Each player is armed with seven combat cards that signify the minions under their control. You and your opponent take turns deploying these cards onto the battlefield with the aim of forming a line of three of your cards. But the task isn’t as easy as it sounds; the game board is restricted to a 3×3 grid, and your card placement must adhere to specific rules.
⚔️ Progressing to the Mage Duel Mode, the gameplay evolves. The battleground expands to a 4×4 grid, and the winning line is now four cards long. To enhance the duel’s intensity, the game introduces an Eter Marker card, a steadfast combat card that refuses to be covered or cover other cards. Moreover, players draw from a set of Mage Cards, each imparting a unique power that can turn the tide of the battle.
🌪️ Then, we have the Elemental Battle Mode. Here, the game incorporates the dynamics of the Mage Duel Mode but replaces the Mage Powers with potent Elemental Powers. These powers are up for grabs for a one-time use during the game, encouraging players to act swiftly.
🏆 The grand finale is the Tournament Mode. Players battle across a series of five rounds on a unique Battle Arena board. Although the game adheres to the rules of the previously chosen mode, the ultimate goal is to create a line of markers on the Battle Arena board. If no player achieves this, the one with the most markers claims victory.
✨ Throughout all the modes, Eter keeps the gameplay engaging with the Illusion and Power Explosion special effects. Illusion allows a player to create a sense of mystery by placing a card face-down. On the other hand, Power Explosion can drastically alter the battlefield, making players rethink their strategies.
Eter, a two-player dueling game designed by Radosław Ignatów, brings a blend of strategy and suspense to the table. The captivating artwork by Dawid Wiącek pulls you into a realm of Elemental Mages and strategic battles. Depending on your chosen game mode, you’ll spend between 10 to 30 minutes working toward victory.
👨👩👧👦 One of the strengths of Eter is its accessibility. The game is tailored to cater to everyone’s skill level, with the training mode acting as a gateway to the game. It’s straightforward, perhaps too much so for experienced players, but additional elements can be introduced to heighten the challenge and intrigue. With rules simple enough for children to follow, it’s a great way to involve the younger players. On the other hand, the Battle Arena mode takes things up a notch. It offers a challenging landscape that will test even the most seasoned players. In my personal experience, this mode is where Eter shines its brightest.
🔮 Two modules can be added to spice up each game mode, namely the Illusion and Power Explosion. With Illusion, a player has the chance to add an element of surprise by playing a card face-down once per game. This ‘Illusion’ can form a part of a winning line but cannot cover other cards. If your opponent attempts to cover your face-down card, reveal it. If your opponent’s card outranks yours, they may cover it. Otherwise, they forfeit their turn, and their card is removed from play.
💥 Power Explosion, on the other hand, introduces a significant shift on the battlefield. It’s an event that can either retreat or eliminate minions, resulting in a completely different game scenario. Some Power Explosion cards even introduce the ‘hole’ rule, creating a space on the field where no cards can be played for the rest of the game.
💭 Eter excels as a card game in which strategy, unpredictability, and a compelling story are woven together. It challenges players to be skillful, adjust their tactics and dive deep into the story. This combination ensures that each play session feels like a new journey through the mystical realm of Eter.
🏹 Eter is all set to launch on Kickstarter on August 10th. Keep an eye out for it, especially if you are a fan of strategic card games that keep you on your toes. You can find the campaign page here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/smartflamingo/eter
📝 We would like to thank the publisher, Smart Flamingo, for providing us with a review copy of the game.
