This board game was finally delivered today.

First the gripe!

I have been waiting on this board game for six months from “The Nile” games. I do not appreciate companies that con you into buying on line saying that things are in stock and you then have to wait months and months for their delivery. This was despite the fact that throughout all that time I could have bought it direct from Osprey games. I will not deal with them again as there are plenty of other options out there!

Here endeth the gripe!

“Brian Boru (Middle Irish: Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig; modern Irish: Brian Bóramha; c. 941 – 23 April 1014) was an Irish king who ended the domination of the High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill (The Uí Néill , meaning “descendants of Niall”, are Irish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a historical King of Tara who died c. 405. They are generally divided into the Northern and Southern Uí Néill), and probably ended Viking invasion/domination of Ireland. Brian built on the achievements of his father, Cennétig mac Lorcain, and especially his elder brother, Mathgamain. Brian first made himself king of Munster, then subjugated Leinster, eventually becoming High King of Ireland. He was the founder of the O’Brien dynasty, and is widely regarded as one of the most successful and unifying monarchs in medieval Ireland.” Wikipedia

Brian Boru is a favourite historical character of mine and was chosen to lead my Saga 28mm Irish army (Collected, organised and based but never painted). The figure below, from Footsore Miniatures is their rendition not mine.

For 2016 posts on this see:

https://wordpress.com/post/phillipislandgamingsociety392176732.wordpress.com/1109

https://wordpress.com/post/phillipislandgamingsociety392176732.wordpress.com/861

https://wordpress.com/post/phillipislandgamingsociety392176732.wordpress.com/758

In the game Brian Boru: High King of Ireland, you strive to unite Ireland under your domain, securing control through might, cunning, and matrimony. Join forces to fend off Viking invaders, build monasteries to extend your influence, and gather support in towns and villages throughout the land. To become High King of all Ireland, you need to navigate a web of shifting alliances, outmaneuver your enemies, and grab history by the reins.

The success of the historical Brian Boru rested on three pillars: his victories against the Vikings, the favor he managed to garner with the Church, and the alliances he forged through political marriages. This became the foundation of the game, with each pillar becoming a suit in the trick-taking that forms the core of the mechanisms. Win a trick and you gain influence in a town, which, in turn, gains you majorities in the regions; if you lose the trick, however (deliberately or otherwise), you instead take an action corresponding to the suit of the card.

Trick-taking is a central part of so many playing card games that I use to play quite regularly like 500 hundred, Euchre, and Bridge that we are all familiar with it. The lead player starts by playing a card and the highest card of that suit wins the hand. Yet it’s not used that widely in hobby games, perhaps because it’s so commonplace, despite the fact it would make games easier to learn. Brian Boru uses this simple system.

The game uses that comfortable trick-taking concept but builds on it in two distinct ways. First, it removes much of the randomness by having players draft cards instead of a random deal. Second, it has the outcome of tricks determine your control of towns on a map of Ireland. Between them, these innovations transform the humble trick into something very new and interesting.

The game is of high production quality and well worth a look at if you like this period of history and this style of game. excellent to use for an Irish based tabletop campaign.

As I have not played the game yet I refer you to an excellent website which discusses this in more depth.

I leave you with their verdict:

“It’s an unfortunate broad truth in gaming that as the depth of strategy goes up, the level of player interaction tends to go down. Brian Boru’s crowning achievement is reversing that trend, offering lots of meaty decisions while still pitching players at each other’s throats. However, that very intensity can undermine it as your efforts get torpedoed through no fault of your own. But if you’re in the market for a deep yet dynamic game, Brian Boru’s sheer innovation and elegance make it worth your while.”

High king: Brian Boru depicted on the exterior of the Chapel Royal, Dublin Castle