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Board Game Mechanics – Advantage Token

The advantage token mechanic is a game mechanic in board games that involves giving players tokens that provide them with an advantage in the game. These tokens can be used to gain additional resources, take extra actions, or gain some other type of benefit.

Advantage tokens are usually awarded to players for achieving certain goals or milestones in the game, such as completing a specific task, being the first player to reach a certain point, or making a particular move. They can also be gained through auction or bidding mechanics.

The use of advantage tokens in a game can create a sense of excitement and competition among players as they strive to collect the tokens and gain an edge over their opponents.

An example of a board game that uses the advantage token mechanic is “Scythe”. In this game, players can earn encounter cards that provide them with an advantage, such as the ability to move across the board more quickly, or gain additional resources. These cards can be obtained by meeting certain criteria, such as building structures or completing quests.

Here are ten polpular games that feature the advantage token mechanic.

  1. Twilight Struggle: This two-player game is set during the Cold War, and players compete to exert influence over different regions of the world. The advantage token mechanic in this game is the ability to play an event card for its operation points instead of its event, allowing a player to take advantage of a card’s action without triggering a potentially harmful event.
  2. Ticket to Ride: In this family-friendly game, players collect cards to build train routes across the United States. Advantage tokens in this game come in the form of extra train cars, allowing a player to claim a route even if they are short on train pieces.
  3. Agricola: In this farming-themed game, players manage a small farm and family, trying to grow crops, raise livestock, and build structures. The advantage token mechanic in this game is the use of occupation and improvement cards, which give a player special abilities and bonuses that can give them an edge over their opponents.
  4. Scythe: Set in an alternate history 1920s Europe, Scythe has players competing to gather resources, build mechs, and control territory. Advantage tokens in this game are represented by encounter cards, which give players special bonuses or resources when they explore various locations on the game board.
  5. Splendor: In this game about collecting gems and building a jewelry business, players use gems to purchase development cards that provide bonuses and victory points. The advantage token mechanic in this game is the use of noble tiles, which are earned by collecting certain combinations of gems and provide significant victory points.
  6. Power Grid: In this game of economic strategy, players compete to build power plants and supply electricity to cities. The advantage token mechanic in this game is the use of the turn order track, which allows a player to choose their turn order position for the next round, giving them an advantage in selecting power plant auctions and buying resources.
  7. Dominion: This deck-building game has players collecting cards to create the best possible deck to use to gain victory points. Advantage tokens in this game come in the form of bonus buys, allowing players to purchase extra cards during their turn.
  8. Dead of Winter: A Crossroads Game: This game is a cooperative survival horror game where players work together to survive in a zombie-infested world. The advantage token mechanic in this game comes from the use of crisis cards, which provide an objective for the players to achieve in a certain amount of time. If successful, players receive a significant bonus, but if they fail, they suffer harsh penalties.
  9. Blood Rage: This Viking-themed game has players controlling different clans vying for control of mythical Norse lands. The advantage token mechanic in this game is the use of quest cards, which give players specific objectives to achieve and provide rewards such as bonus victory points or powerful monsters to control.
  10. Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate: In this horror-themed game, players explore the city of Baldur’s Gate and must survive the various monsters and challenges they encounter. The advantage token mechanic in this game comes from the use of item cards, which provide players with bonuses and special abilities to help them survive and defeat their foes.

Here are a couple of examples of the advantage token mechanic in popular board games:

Ticket to Ride: In Ticket to Ride, players can use train station tokens to take advantage of an opponent’s route. If a player has built a station in a city where another player has built a route, they can use that station to claim that route and score points.

Dominion: In Dominion, players can use “coin tokens” to gain an advantage during their turn. Coin tokens can be spent to buy additional cards or take additional actions, allowing players to build a more powerful deck and increase their chances of winning.

7 Wonders: In 7 Wonders, players can earn “guild tokens” by playing certain cards or by building certain structures. These tokens can be used to gain an advantage in future turns, such as additional resources or victory points.

Catan: In Catan, players can earn “special victory points” by completing certain objectives, such as building the longest road or having the largest army. These points can provide a significant advantage and can be the deciding factor in who wins the game.

Splendor: In Splendor, players can earn “prestige points” by purchasing certain cards or by acquiring certain gemstones. These points can be used to gain an advantage in future turns, such as additional resources or the ability to purchase more powerful cards.