Court of the Dead Mourners Call is a board game brought about from the combined creative might of Project Raygun and Sideshow Collectibles. The game is based on the setting by Tom Gilliland and sees a blending of area control gameplay and beautiful components.

I got this to review through NetGalley. This was an incredibly creative book with some beautiful illustration throughout. This book is basically a tour of and guide to the Underworld. We meet the members of the Court of the Dead and learn about different factions there. The book is broken up into sections about the court, factions, daily life in the land of the dead, and the relation of the land of the dead to human and celestial realms. Those that look upon me see a form most pleasing to their desires, for it is easier to blind oneself with guile than to bear witness to the truth of our nature.”-Gethsemoni, the Dead Queen Overall, Court of the Dead: Mourners Call has plenty of unforced errors that make for an uninspiring whole. It doesn’t make any mistakes so large that it should be relegated to the bottom shelf of gaming, but it’s not digging deep enough into the theme to find the real game. This feels very much like a game made for an IP, not a game designed with mechanisms as the central draw. Players who like the Court of the Dead theme will be satiated. Gamers looking for the next Blood Rage will be disappointed.The world of the Court of the Dead revolves around Death, a mysterious overlord who seeks to redefine the laws of the afterlife. Focused on one purpose, to “Rise, Conquer and Rule,” the members of the Court assemble under the three Disciplines of the underworld: Spirit, Bone, and Flesh, each defined by unique philosophies and traits. Like houses in Hogwarts, excited members of the art and development team have already started choosing their personal affiliations, while Gilliland’s latest tattoo proudly represents them all. Each round players also draw Wallows cards, which give challenges, in return for rewards. Not completing a Wallows card challenge can result in a consequence. The Court of the Dead Wallows cards, Ulterior Motives, and Mourner cards. On The Tabletop If area control, worker placement games, or the setting are appealing to you, then you'll have a blast with Court of the Dead. It's beautiful and well designed. I'd be interested to play it again, just to try another tactic to work towards victory, but I don't think it would be a regular play for me. Resolve Locations– Finally, after all of the above, players gain bonuses from each location and faction they control in terms of majority. These rewards most often come as Etherea or Faction Points which will translate into points at the end of the game.

Only Death and his Court of the Dead can save us from the savage war between Heaven and Hell that is eating up the souls of mankind. ”In the sprawling citadels of the Underworld, deep within the vast libraries of Voxxingard, a curator sits. Staring at an empty tome, he ponders the puzzle that has been laid out before him by his Master, the shepherd of souls known as Death—a question deceptive in its simplicity, “What is the purpose of the realm of the dead?” To answer this, the curator must write a journal chronicling the rise of the Underworld and the history of the never-ending war of Heaven and Hell. From the lowest scavenger of corpses to the highest chancellor, all those within the Underworld must be questioned and examined. For what is the purpose of the land of the Dead? Is it a haven for the refugee spirits of the mortal world? A sinister part of the celestial war machine that threatens to consume reality itself? Or does it instead serve to bring true balance to the long abandoned promises of Heaven and Hell? Accompany Death’s curator on his strange journey as he unravels the most terrible and wonderful secrets found within the Court of the Dead. The game ends when the last of the supply of “Unity Tokens” (point tokens) is collected. That round serves as the last round. The majority area control is the main focus, with players competing for the resources provided by locations. Game Experience: Etherea Distribution– The first player rolls dice to determine the total amount of Etherea, then divides it with an “I split, you choose” mechanic. Sideshow and TBLeague present the Gethsemoni: The Dead Queen Sixth Scale Figure, a regal new addition to our original Court of the Dead collection. The nature of the Flesh Faction is adaption, perfectly complimenting this poseable sixth scale figure and her array of Underworldly accessories. A fictional non-fiction tome exploring the world, characters and factions of the Underworld, from the original creations of Sideshow Collectibles.

Rarely will a reviewer complain about a game’s theme, but here it is due. Others may see the story inherent in the theme as some epic struggle against the ignorant powers that be. In reality, having seen the source material, nothing is further from the truth. The short stories in the graphic novel merely serve as a vehicle for the absolutely amazing and wonderful art, but offer no real substance for the (intended) mighty struggle in the game. As such, Court of the Dead is a game woefully devoid of meaning and motivation. In some ways, that’s worse than a pasted on theme. I’m currently designing one of the seven different writing systems used by the nobility in my imaginary world that I’d love to see printed and published, but that will never ever happen because I write like an angsty teen and also because much of my imaginary universe is eerily similar to an universe I won’t name but its name sounds somewhat like Smiskworld.” Xiall, The Great Osteomancer, leads Bone Faction. This authoritative leader adheres to tradition and believes Bone is the only true path, the only Underworld Faction that will ensure a productive and successful future. With Xiall’s might, knowledge of arcane arts, and unwavering will, Illverness will be safe from the Celestial War. An intricate game that reveals itself as straightforward, with enough dramatic flourishes to offer a little bit of over-the-table theatrics. Oh, and gorgeous to look at.

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But, that aside, does the game deliver in mechanisms? It certainly has a lot of them, and besides the Dreadsgrip meter, all are straight textbook implementations. There is really nothing of strong interest in any of the actions and phases, and any player who has played Blood Rage will be groaning that they’re not playing that title. The drafted action cards are larger sized, making it easier to see their abilities. Kit: Court of the Dead has been a game I’d been looking forward to trying at some point. As much as I like aspects of the game there were some that really felt clunky and broken. Although the setting is dark, dealing with the death and the afterlife, it doesn’t have the same crushing sadness of say Wraith by White Wolf.

I know, there’s little to work with, and I’m not itching for some Alltaker (which is, btw, the most badass name for Death that I’ve ever heard) side dong, but here’s Exraile;While Ravlatch serves the Alltaker, he has also chosen to join the Faction of Bone. Thus, he has fastened an Underworld United Signet to his cloak. And in the Relic Ravlatch: Paladin of the Dead Premium Format™Figure, he displays the symbol of the Bone Faction on his helmet and chest. As Death struggles to overthrow the rule of Heaven and Hell and take supremacy for him/her/itself, the players operate as Mourners in a semi-competitive manner to elude Heaven and Hell and gain power from the various locations in the Underworld. The Mourner who gains the most Faction Points and also points for their Ulterior motive will win… and…. rule with Death? Never mind that it’s a bit unclear, just think area majority control with some faction abilities. As for player count, it’s best with 3 or 4 given the minimum 90 minute play time. Gameplay Overview: Followers of Flesh thrive in chaos. They’re impulsive, and don’t mind if plans change last minute. As creative creatures, they can bend a situation to their will. Sometimes it’s difficult to discern what they’re truly passionate about, because passion radiates from each of them as they throw themselves headfirst into everything they do. With their emotions constantly fluctuating between strong and uncontrollable, they are the greatest friends as well as the greatest enemies — and sometimes, they’re both. Death’s first creation, the spiritborn Gethsemoni, was fashioned from raw flesh, her mind coalesced from the collective subconscious of humanity, and as such, her form echoes the expectations of the living. Beautiful and flawless to behold, this resident of the shadow realm glimmers like a jewel in the darkness. But be warned – the Queen of the Dead’s countenance is naught but a distraction. Her mercurial mood and unfettered ambitions make her a dangerous and volatile player in Death’s Court, and leader of the Faction of Flesh. Everyone is already dead in the Underworld. It’s time to join the factions of Bone, Flesh and Spirit as they work to achieve the goal of the Underworld: to gather enough forces to take on the celestials of Heaven and Hell to end their ceaseless war. If the players work diplomatically in Court of the Dead: Mourners Call to maintain a balance, they can ensure the Underworld survives long enough for them to also complete their collective and hidden individual objectives. The player who best contributes to these goals will earn Death’s favor and a place among the elite of the Underworld.