Dead Reckoning Solo Review: A Solo Life for Me

Introduction

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For a long time, I’ve been captivated by AEG’s Card Crafting System. My introduction came with Mystic Vale. It didn’t exactly knock my socks off, but it certainly captured my attention. Since then, I’ve taken voyages through Custom Heroes, Edge of Darkness, and now–Dead Reckoning. But has Dead Reckoning finally led us to the “X” on the map where we discover true treasure hidden within the Card Crafting System? Read on, me hearties, as I take you through a solo review of Dead Reckoning to see if John D. Clair’s latest design plunders the seas or sinks to Davy Jones’ locker!

Overview

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Avast, ye scallywags! In Dead Reckoning, players take command of a privateer vessel, sailing the high seas in a Caribbean-esque setting, searching for fame, fortune, and dominance. The game blends deck-building through its signature Card Crafting System with 4X gameplay: eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate. Over the course of 90-150 minutes, you’ll set out to discover new islands, lay claim to treasures, upgrade your ship and crew, and engage in thrilling naval battles against other players (or, in this case, an AI rival).

The goal? Simple–score the most points by exerting your influence on islands, amassing loot, and completing achievements like sinking enemy ships, upgrading your crew, and expanding your empire. Each turn, you can take as many actions as your crew allows, from loading and unloading cargo, to moving across ocean tiles, to buying advancements that improve your crew’s abilities.

Your crew is your constant companion, starting with 12 crew members and ending with the same crew by the game’s conclusion. The only difference? By the end, you’ll have transformed your ragtag bunch into a well-oiled machine, thanks to the ingenious card-crafting mechanic. If this is the first Card Crafting System game that you’ve heard of, AEG’s Card Crafting System consists of sliding transparent cards into card sleeves to forge a card of your own creation. Each transparent card can fill one of three ability slots on a crafted card. You get to choose how you fill the three ability slots.

Card crafting takes place at the end of your turn–enhancing your crews’ abilities in satisfying ways. But even when it’s not your turn, the fun doesn’t have to end there. You’ll be choosing and leveling up one crew member in your hand before the start of your next turn.

The solo mode plays like the multiplayer version, but instead of human opponents, you face an AI pirate controlled by a simple yet effective deck of cards. You’ll trade blows and chase treasures until one of you achieves four accomplishments, triggering the game’s end. Then, the loot’s tallied and a winner is crowned!

Gameplay

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There’s a lot to digest when you first start playing Dead Reckoning. With so many actions available on each turn and crew abilities to consider, the game can feel a bit overwhelming. But after a turn or two, I found sea legs and the well-organized rulebook began to serve as a quick reference for the more niche abilities.

The real hook of Dead Reckoning is the engaging decisions you make each turn. I enjoyed thinking about what order I wanted to take my actions and I always felt like I was getting a lot done each turn. Sometimes, I’d take a lighter turn, knowing I could pull off a bigger combo later with the crew I’d held back. The card-crafting aspect was seamlessly integrated and I was keen on how it allowed me to focus on crafting synergies on a single card or pairs of cards within my deck, rather than relying solely on probabilities like in traditional deck-builders. The types of upgrade choices felt akin to the dice-crafting in Dice Forge.

And then there’s the naval battles. Let me tell you, the battles are an absolute blast. Picture this: you measure up your ship’s strength and take a handful of cubes, which you then drop into a galleon-shaped dice tower. The cubes clatter through the ship, landing on different outcomes on a battle board. It’s tactile, it’s tense, and it’s an experience every time. Even when you lose a battle, you will most often sail away seaworthy still and with some loot to show for your troubles.

The solo mode deserves special praise. It’s faithful to the multiplayer experience, with minimal overhead for controlling the AI. As the game progresses, the AI scales up its engine, making for a thrilling and challenging endgame that keeps you on your toes.

Components and Design

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Let’s talk components. The box art is a feast for the eyes, immediately drawing you in with its pirate theme. However, I did find that the game itself is somewhat lacking in terms of actual artwork. With just the island tiles and 12 crew cards (some of which are duplicates), I wouldn’t call it a visual masterpiece. That said, the art serves its purpose well enough, and the integration of the theme is spot-on.

Speaking of theme, Dead Reckoning excels in immersing you in a pirate adventure. The 4X mechanics naturally align with piracy, and the naval battles feel more interesting and exciting than just rolling dice and comparing numbers. I also found myself growing attached to my crew, carefully considering how to upgrade my captain versus, say, my bosun or gunner. And when my gunner came through in a clutch naval battle, it was a moment worth celebrating.

The production quality is fantastic. The transparent cards are sturdy, the card sleeves feel premium, and there are delightful little touches–like barrel and fire tokens and small treasure chests to hide your pieces of eight. But the real pièce de résistance is the galleon battle ship for cube-dropping naval battles. It’s not just a gimmick; it adds a thrilling layer of drama to each skirmish.

That said, this game is a massive table hog. The ocean boards spread out like the vast seas they represent, and you’ll need plenty of space to fully enjoy the experience. The bright side? The designers thought of everything when it came to storage. Once the adventure is over, packing everything neatly back into the box is as satisfying as the gameplay itself.

Final Thoughts

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Blow me down! I truly believe Dead Reckoning is John D. Clair’s best Card Crafting game yet. The combination of deck-building, 4X gameplay, and exhilarating naval battles creates an unforgettable adventure on the high seas. Every turn flows smoothly, building towards an intense and satisfying conclusion, whether you’re battling it out solo or with friends.

This is one game you don’t want to let pass you by. Hoist the mainsail, grab your treasure map, and chart a course for Dead Reckoning. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more entertaining card-crafting experience.