Peter Schell
United States
Menomonee Falls
Wisconsin
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After three games of Bellwether I found that this game exceeds expectations in its speed of play and uncomplicated mechanics but it lacks a balanced scoring system that would make it otherwise enjoyable.
The rules are posted on BGG and a previous reviewer summarized them well. To recap, a player can spend their turn either getting chips, spell cards, monster cards or secured spaces on the building board. The chips can be used to pay for buildings or to multiply actions based on the chip color. Spell cards can be used to gain monster cards or building spaces for victory points. Spells can also provide extra chip income or VP bonuses. The came ends when a card deck runs out or if someone builds six buildings.
After I first read the rules it seemed that players could choose their own winning strategy be it by collecting spells, getting monsters or building spaces. When playing, though, I soon noticed imbalances that seemed to dictate card collection and luck as the only ways to really succeed.
Although all the VP bonuses on the spell cards are all for the same amount, they vary greatly in difficulty to obtain. During one game, the player who focused on killing monsters won but only because the VP bonus cards were split between the player taking the spell collection route.
Worst of all, in all three games, the people who chose to concentrate on building always came in last place. The problem here is that the buildings take a lot of time and resources to secure but their VP’s are not as profitable overall as the spells and monsters.
I enjoy publisher Joe Magic’s game boards and pieces. They feature small boards, boxes and heavily laminated small cards. The rules are short and clear (although I did have to request a few clarifications for Bellwether) and the gameplay pacing is often determined by player choices and is fast regardless.
Perhaps Bellwether could be made more playable with a simple tweaking of VP amounts to balance each type of goal. Even designers of classics like Outpost had to revise VP structures after their first editions to “fix” the inequalities and improve the game.
My copy of Bellwether was complimentary from the designer who asked me to play and review the game when possible. I’ll have to say I will most likely not play this again although I still am a big fan of Joe Magic’s “Demise of Dr. Frankenstein”. That game has random elements also but still seems more fair and fun than Bellwether.
PLUSES:
Economical but sturdy pieces
Clear rules
Clean mechanics
Short play time
MINUSES:
Unbalanced VP system
High luck factor
Mediocre artwork
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