Board Game - Gloomhaven. Dark Harbor

"Gloomhaven. Dark Harbor" – an incredible in scale, hardcore tactical board game that will take you on a cooperative adventure through the dungeons and ruins of a cruel and harsh world where the truth always lies with the strong.

You have seventeen unique mercenaries to choose from, each with their own story and motive for venturing into such dangerous lands. In addition to the main goal, the character also receives a goal for each scenario. Thus, the interests of individual players collide with the interests of the team – will you play the role of a lone wolf or will you play as a team?

Together with your comrades, you will explore the game world that responds to each of your actions – the game periodically offers choices, making the campaign non-linear. Players will have to fight monsters, level up their characters, and complete various quests. The scenario book contains over ninety plots that can be played separately, but it is much more interesting to complete an entire campaign – and the further you progress, the more opportunities the game will offer you – this legacy mechanic allows you, for example, to unlock new heroes, locations, and items.

Right from the start, an interesting mechanic awaits you – when fulfilling your main goal, the character loses interest in the journey and leaves the game, and you can continue it by using a new mercenary.

The game literally surprises at every turn: with the quality of components, the number of different mechanics and gaming opportunities, its variability, etc. You won't believe it, but this game has so many components and content that the weight of the box reaches a whopping ten kilograms!

It should be noted that you have in front of you the localization of the second edition, the game implies numerous lengthy gaming sessions, and although the rules are not difficult to master, they take about fifty pages of text. The game also offers a mode for solo play.

How to play?
The core of the game is the character deck, and the gameplay is based on playing cards from it. Each round, players expend two ability cards (each class has unique ones), after which they can perform the top ability of one card and the bottom of another. For example, this could be movement and attack, or casting a spell. Each card has an initiative number, and the higher the number, the later you will act, which also needs to be considered. The dual-sided card system allows you to adapt to unexpected actions from opponents – for example, you can swap cards, choosing different actions. Neutral actions are always available: moving two units and a simple attack.

You can also discard cards for defense: upon taking damage from enemies, you have the option to avoid it by discarding cards. Thus, your deck is an important resource, and efficiently managing it becomes priority number one.

Over time, the deck decreases, along with your choices of actions, which in combat can lead to simple death. Sooner or later, you'll have to get them back. Players have the right to declare a rest – a short break or a long rest (which consumes the whole turn), whose main task is to return your deck. However, in doing so, you will be forced to permanently get rid of one of the cards! If you rest too often, you will have more choices of actions, but the deck will empty too quickly, and the character will leave the game. If you rest too rarely, you might find yourself in an awkward situation where you have either few resources or health points. Prolonged dungeon treks become a true test of endurance!

An essential part of the game is character leveling. It is represented by purchasing various equipment items, improving ability cards, and modifier cards.

The entire tactical aspect of the game is built on cards, meaning that dice are not used at all – instead, there are random card modifiers. The combat aspect delights with variety due to the large number of character possibilities, as well as the sufficiently skilled "intelligence" of enemies. Opponent behavior is simple but effective: for example, archers always retreat and shoot from afar, while zombies mindlessly swarm. That's what zombies do... In addition, enemies can also level up during the campaign, adding even more variety to this endless game...

Who won?
To progress through the campaign, the scenario must be successfully completed; otherwise, you will not make progress in the storyline. Objectives in each scenario vary, but the main thing to remember is that all players win and lose collectively.

Contents: 
- Game board
- 30 field fragments
- 18 character figures
- 17 character sheets
- Element charge sheet
- Round marker
- 1744 cards
- 450 tokens
- 4 health/experience trackers
- 240 monster tokens
- 24 plastic stands
- 6 characteristic envelopes
- 18 notebooks
- 35 character boxes
- 6 wooden tokens
- 3 sealed envelopes
- 4 sheets of stickers
- Scenario book
- "City Archive" book
- Game rules
 
Card size: 63x89 mm (protectors from this section recommended, 727 pcs.)
Card size: 44x67 mm (protectors from this section recommended, 975 pcs.)
Card size: 101x101 mm

Game duration: from 30 to 120 minutes

Number of players: from 1 to 4