# Dwellings of Eldervale ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2020 - **BGG Rating**: 8.1 - **BGG Rank**: #127 - **Players**: 1-5 (Best with: 3) - **Duration**: 60-150 min - **Weight**: 3.24 / 5 - **Designers**: Luke Laurie - **Artists**: Anton Fadeev, Brian Valeza, Frank Wade, Irina Kuzmina, Leesha Hannigan, Merilliza Chan, Nathanael Mortensen, Sam Turner, Sasha Radivojevic, Sergio Chaves - **Publishers**: Breaking Games, Board Game Rookie, CMON Global Limited, Fox in the Box, Gen-X Games (GenX), Lucky Duck Games, MYBG Co., Ltd., Reflexshop, Schwerkraft-Verlag - **Categories**: Economic, Fantasy, Fighting - **Mechanics**: Action Retrieval, Dice Rolling, Hand Management, Modular Board, Solo / Solitaire Game, Variable Player Powers, Worker Placement, Worker Placement, Different Worker Types ## Verdict Perfect for those who love heavy 'euro' games with an epic fantasy theme and deep strategy. The highlight is the faction progression.Very satisfying power progressionImpressive components and miniaturesHigh replayability via modular boardDeep card combo systemQuite a steep learning curveHigh dependence on text translationFOR GENRE FANS ## Description Get ready to dive into Eldervale, a magical world once lost to time, now the stage for an epic struggle. In Dwellings of Eldervale, you take command of a unique faction striving to dominate eight elemental realms. The game is a robust blend of worker placement, area control, and engine building, where every decision shapes the very face of the world around you. The core gameplay revolves around sending your workers to strategic locations—such as summoning portals, deep dungeons, or the mysterious mage tower—to gather resources and power. But it's not just about placing and retrieving: you must manage your adventure card tableau, activating combos and prophecies to strengthen your position. The modular board ensures that no two games are ever the same, and the presence of giant elemental monsters adds a layer of constant danger and tension. You'll need to balance map exploration with unit management, as different worker types perform different tasks. While battling dragons and rival mages, your focus must remain on achieving elemental dominance. Who will shape Eldervale to their vision and reign supreme? If you enjoy games with strategic depth, imposing components, and that feeling of progression where your faction starts small and grows into a powerhouse, this is the game for you. It's a dense but rewarding title that rewards long-term planning and adaptability in the face of opponent moves. ## How to Play Game Objective In Dwellings of Eldervale, each player controls a faction of mythical beings that return to the destroyed realm of Eldervale. The goal is to build Dwellings to claim Realms, accumulate Elemental Power, collect Adventure Cards, complete Prophecies, and earn victory points (VP). The game ends when any player builds their sixth Dwelling or the last Realm tile is removed from the stack. After that, each player takes one more round and the final score determines the winner. Preparation (Setup) Build Eldervale: Shuffle all Realm tiles (including the 6 Ruins) and place them in a stack. Remove from the stack the number of tiles indicated by the number of players (5, 7, or 8 tiles). If there is more than one Lair tile, place the extras at the bottom of the stack. Shuffle the revealed tiles with the 5 Ruins (or 6 Ruins for 4/5 players) and arrange them in the layout shown in the manual. Place the corresponding Treasure Tokens on each Realm tile and, if there is a Lair, place the miniature of the corresponding Monster. Magic Cards: Shuffle the Magic Cards deck and keep it within reach of the players. Each player draws five Magic Cards. Orbs: Place an Orb on top of each used Elemental Track. Place an Orb in each of the two Orb spaces on the Glory Track. Player Setup: Place three Workers in the Ready Area (these are the only Active Units at the start). Place the Dragon, Wizard, Warrior, and three Workers in the spaces indicated on your Player Mat (these are not active yet). Stack the six Dwelling Rooftops in pairs in the indicated space. Place 1 Gem, 1 Potion, 1 Scroll, 1 Tool, and 1 Sword in the supply area of your mat. Place the six dice next to your mat. Scoring Markers: Place a Scoring Marker in the Ready Area (this will be your Glory Track marker after the first Regroup). Place a marker on the first space of the Elemental Power Track that corresponds to your faction's element. Place the remaining three markers next to the Elemental Power Tracks (they will be used when you gain power in other elements). Game Flow Player Turn: The active player chooses between Place a Unit or Regroup. They may perform any number of Free Actions at any point during the turn. Place a Unit: Select a Unit from the Ready Area and place it on a Realm following the Placement rules (first placement or adjacent placement). Immediately perform the Action ## FAQ ### Is the game too complex for beginners? Yes, it's considered an 'Expert' game. If you're not used to heavy games, it might take a few sessions to get the hang of it. ### Can I play it solo? Absolutely! The game features dedicated solo rules, allowing you to explore Eldervale even without a group. ### How long does a game take? It varies, but expect anywhere from 60 to 150 minutes, depending on player count and experience. ### Is there a high language dependence? Yes, there's significant language dependence due to adventure and prophecy cards, so translations are essential. ### What about the components? The game is very generous, featuring miniatures, hexagonal tiles, and internal trays to help with organization. ### How many players can play? From 1 to 5 players, making it versatile for different group sizes. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 52.08 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4924397&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 83.00 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6720305&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 83.00 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4263537&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 89.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6186058&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 89.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6259050&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 92.80 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6841841&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 97.00 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6838760&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 97.00 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6909261&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 98.56 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6076295&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 99.37 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6785156&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/37513/dwellings-of-eldervale?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com