Become An Elite Protector In Tidal Blades

October 30, 2018 by cassn

Tidal Blades are the elite guards of their island realm. In order to become a Tidal Blade, however, willing candidates must complete in a series of challenges held across three areas. Only by rising to the top of the champions board can you join this exclusive force and help protect your home from the ever looming Monster threat rising from the mysterious Fold.

Tidal Blades is the narrative creation of Mr. Cuddington, the art team behind such successful board games as Charterstone and Brass: Birmingham. Indeed, while the game is mechanically interesting, the star of Tidal Blades is its sheer aesthetic quality. This is a truly beautiful game, and you can feel the artistic precision which is inherent within every component.

However, a game cannot exist on aesthetic alone, and Tidal Blades achieves a really interesting mechanic through quality game design by Tim & Ben Eisner.

Tidal Blades has been over a year in development, and during that time, the design of both the gameplay and aesthetic has evolved. There are two pledge options available for backers - standard and deluxe. In my opinion, Kickstarter pledges which claim to be deluxe rarely deliver value for the upgrade, however, in this case, Tidal Blades has happily proven me wrong.

The Deluxe edition contains solid 3D components, rather than the 2D card tokens from the standard edition, a 7"x7" dice tray arena, and an art book of all the Tidal Blades design, development, and lore. However, perhaps the greatest upgrade is the characters themselves, who are changed from cardboard standees to highly detailed character miniatures!

These look heroicly epic to me, and certainly the type of minis I would pay a little bit extra to own. Tidal Blades has already reached its stretch goal and, with the lore so well planned by the guys at Mr. Cuddington, there is already discussion surrounding the next board game in the saga. So if you think you have what it takes to be the elite protector to your island home, you can back the Kickstarter now!

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