Aerion is a solo and cooperative dice and card game designed by Shadi Torbey. Set in the imaginative universe of Oniverse, players take on the role of airship engineers in the Sky Islands. The objective is to build a fleet of six airships by gathering the necessary resources through strategic dice rolls and card management. With a dreamy and whimsical art style, Aerion combines luck and strategy in a quick yet challenging gameplay experience.
Game Concept: Aerion
Components
Dice:
- Six dice are used to perform actions and gather resources. Each die has different symbols used for matching with cards in the game.
Card Decks:
- Six Airship Decks: These are the main decks from which players draw cards. Each deck represents a specific part of the airship construction: blueprints, materials, and crew.
- Dream Cards: Cards that act as resources or special abilities to help players mitigate the luck of dice rolls.
- Ruin Tokens: Tokens representing failed attempts at acquiring cards.
Airship Boards:
- There are six airship boards, each requiring specific resources (blueprint, material, and crew) to be completed. These boards guide players on what they need to collect.
Box of Dreams:
- This is a storage area for dream cards. Players can use dream cards to reroll dice, acquire cards, or mitigate bad luck.
Rulebook:
- The comprehensive guide detailing the rules, setup, and gameplay mechanics of Aerion.
Setup
Lay Out Airship Boards:
- Place the six airship boards in the play area, leaving space to place cards beneath them.
Prepare Card Decks:
- Shuffle the six airship decks separately and place them face-down in a row. Each deck corresponds to one of the six airships and contains blueprints, materials, and crew cards.
Prepare Dream Cards:
- Shuffle the dream cards and place them face-down in the "Box of Dreams" area.
Prepare Dice:
- Set the six dice within easy reach of the player.
Set Ruin Tokens:
- Place the ruin tokens nearby, as they will be used if you fail to acquire the necessary cards during gameplay.
Determine Starting Player (if playing cooperatively):
- Choose who will go first. The turn order will alternate between players in a cooperative game.
Gameplay Overview
Aerion is played over multiple turns, where each turn consists of rolling dice, using dream cards, and attempting to collect the necessary resources to build airships. The game continues until all six airships are completed or the resources run out.
Roll Dice:
- Roll all six dice at the start of your turn. The symbols on the dice will determine the actions you can take this turn.
Match Dice to Acquire Cards:
- Use the results of the dice to acquire cards from the six airship decks. To acquire a card, you must match the dice symbols with the symbols required by the card in the deck you choose.
Acquire Airship Components:
- Each airship requires three components: a blueprint, material, and crew member. Acquire these cards by matching the dice symbols and place them beneath the corresponding airship board.
Use Dream Cards:
- Spend dream cards to reroll dice or perform other actions to improve your chances of acquiring the necessary components. Each dream card has a unique ability.
Reroll and Ruin Tokens:
- If you fail to acquire a card, you may reroll some or all of the dice. Each failed reroll attempt results in a ruin token being added to the game, increasing the challenge.
Build the Airship:
- Once you have acquired the three required components for an airship (blueprint, material, and crew), place them beneath the airship board to indicate that the airship is complete.
End of Turn:
- Your turn ends when you choose to stop attempting to acquire cards or if you have used all available rerolls. Draw cards to refill the airship decks if necessary.
Win or Lose:
- Win: Successfully complete all six airships before running out of cards in the decks.
- Lose: If you cannot complete all airships before the resources run out, you lose the game.
Rules
Dice Rolling:
- Roll all six dice at the beginning of your turn. You can reroll dice using dream cards or by risking ruin tokens. The symbols you roll determine which cards you can acquire from the airship decks.
Acquiring Cards:
- To acquire a card, select one of the six airship decks and reveal the top card. Match the symbols on the revealed card with the symbols on your dice to successfully acquire it.
Dream Cards:
- Dream cards can be used to reroll dice, swap cards, or perform other beneficial actions. Each dream card can be used once per turn and then returned to the "Box of Dreams."
Ruin Tokens:
- Every time you fail to acquire a card (by not matching the symbols), take a ruin token. Accumulating ruin tokens increases the difficulty and can lead to failure if not managed carefully.
Completing Airships:
- Place acquired blueprint, material, and crew cards beneath the corresponding airship board to signify completion. Each airship requires one card of each type.
Game Variations:
- Solo Mode: The game is primarily designed as a solo experience but can be adapted for cooperative play with slight rule adjustments.
- Cooperative Play: Players take turns attempting to complete airships, sharing the "Box of Dreams" and strategizing together.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Can I acquire multiple cards in a single turn?
- Yes, you can attempt to acquire as many cards as you want in a single turn as long as you have matching dice symbols. However, failed attempts will result in ruin tokens.
What happens if I run out of dream cards?
- If you run out of dream cards, you will have fewer resources to mitigate bad luck in dice rolls. Use them wisely, as they are a crucial part of your strategy.
Can I use multiple dream cards in one turn?
- Yes, you can use multiple dream cards in a single turn, but each card can only be used once per turn. After using a dream card, return it to the "Box of Dreams."
Do I have to reroll all the dice when using a dream card?
- No, you can choose to reroll only some of the dice when using a dream card, depending on the card's effect.
Can I choose the order in which I complete the airships?
- Yes, you can choose the order in which you complete the airships. However, managing the sequence strategically is crucial to optimize the use of dice and dream cards.
What if I can't match any symbols to acquire a card?
- If you cannot match symbols on any card, you may choose to reroll dice or accept failure and take a ruin token.
How does the game end?
- The game ends either when you have successfully completed all six airships (you win) or when you can no longer acquire the necessary components before the resources run out (you lose).
Can ruin tokens be removed or mitigated?
- Ruin tokens are not typically removed during the game. They represent failed attempts and increase the challenge. Accumulating too many ruin tokens can make completing all airships more difficult.
Is there a limit to the number of rerolls I can make?
- You can reroll as many times as you want, as long as you have the means to do so (dream cards or accepting ruin tokens). However, each failed reroll results in a ruin token.
How does cooperative play differ from solo play?
- In cooperative play, players take turns rolling dice and acquiring cards. They share the "Box of Dreams" and can discuss strategy together. The goal remains the same: complete all six airships before resources run out.
Aerion provides an engaging solo or cooperative gameplay experience with its unique combination of dice rolling and card management. The whimsical setting and strategic depth make each game a challenging puzzle, requiring players to balance risk and reward while managing resources efficiently.