Codex: Card-Time Strategy – Core Set

Board Game Geek Reviews

1. 7.75 out of 10

   domus_ludorum

   Very promising first play although I found the rule book(s) a bit of a pig to learn from - a better glossary would be nice. Working out how the tech buildings work was harder than it needed to be. Remembering to add your new cards at the end of your previous turn is also a bit unintuitive and easy to forget as is remembering you can't build using tech advance you have done this turn, or spellcast with a hero you have just summoned. But it's a nice combination of Dominion style deck-building during play with Mage Wars style deck-book building before play. Some nice interlocking mechanisms as well - getting resources requires deck-thinning but if you don't your deck will continue to grow through 2-tech picks per turn until you max your workers. Looking forward to exploring the decks and combos.

2. 7.5 out of 10

   Moondraco

   Strategy card game with some really interesting twists. PROS - The resource system is great, no mana flood or mana screw situations and it filters your deck. - For experienced players, building strategies and counter-strategies feels amazing. The whole concept is wonderful as you always have answers to your opponent and not two games should feel the same. - With all the material, the combinations feel endless. CONS - The first plays are awkward even if you are a card game player, due to its big differences with the classic games in the genre. - It requires some serious dedication from the players to not feel slow, as they should know and understand the cards in their binder. Competing with many other 1vs1 asymmetric card games, it totally feels like a lifestyle game. Not really enjoyable otherwise.

3. 8.5 out of 10

   ObsoleteOne

   As a stand-alone, it's not great, but enough to get a feel for the game, so you will probably either hate it or buy deluxe/all expansions. Codex is an amazing product which is very much a must buy for anyone who can't enjoy or invest time into Magic anymore.