Flamecraft Board Game

By: Cardboard Alchemy   Players: 1-5     Ages: 10+     Time: 60 mins

Artisan dragons are creative crafters who spout specialized flames to help create a variety of goods and are highly sought-after by shopkeepers in the hopes of drawing in customers. In Flamecraft board game, dragons are specialized bread, meat, iron, crystal, plant, and potion.

As a Flamekeeper, players communicate with the dragons, place them in their ideal homes, and cast enchantments to entice them to produce wondrous things. These specialized bread, meat, and iron dragons enhance gameplay by matching with appropriate shops, helping players gather items and gain favors.

With success comes a greater reputation, and it’s the Flamekeeper with the greatest reputation that can lay claim to being the Master of Flamecraft.

What Is Flamecraft? Attract Fancy Dragons

Flamecraft is a card game that was published in 2022 after a successful fundraiser on Kickstarter. It was designed by Manny Vega, illustrated by Sandara Tang, and released by Cardboard Alchemy. The game won several awards soon after its release and received lots of positive praise. It was rated 8/10 on IGN who stated the “balance of simple rules and evolving depth as the game progresses gives Flamecraft a very wide appeal.” It has also been heavily praised for its visuals and art style. 

In the Flamecraft board game, players use dragons to enter various shops spread across the town on the game board. They’ll either collect goods from the shop or use enchantments there. Players will gain goods, coins, and, dragons when collecting, which can later be used to cast enchantments, in turn rewarding the player with various items and garnering a positive reputation amongst the townspeople. At the end of the game, whichever player has gained the most reputation points wins. 

Game Overview

Flamecraft is a captivating board game designed for 1-5 players, set in a magical realm where artisan dragons craft coffee and cakes. Players take on the role of Flamekeepers, tasked with gathering items, placing dragons, and casting enchantments to enhance the shops of the town. The game’s objective is to gain reputation and the favors of all the dragons in the shop by enchanting shops and gathering resources. As players navigate this enchanting world, they will find themselves immersed in a delightful blend of strategy and fantasy, working to become the most celebrated Flamekeeper in the town.

Flamecraft Board Game Set-Up: Placing Dragons

Flamecraft board game is played on a sprawling game mat representing the town where the game is taking place. To start with, six starter shops are placed face up on any of the spaces in the town and each starter artisan dragon is placed on the shop with the matching icon. The shop cards are placed into piles with matching icons, shuffled, and then a card is taken from each and used to make the shop deck, which is put off to the side initially. Artisan dragon cards are also shuffled and placed next to the fountain, and the top five cards are placed in the park.

The fancy dragons are placed next to the artisan dragons, and one of the enchantment decks is placed on the reputation track, with five face up, the goods are placed in separate tiles to the side and the coins in the fountain. Finally, each player gets a token with a matching reputation marker and player aid card. Each player then gets three artisan dragons and one fancy dragon to start the game. 

How To Play: Gaining Reputation

The goal of Flamecraft is to become the most storied and successful Flamekeeper in town. Gain reputation by visiting shops with dragons and casting enchantments as well as completing the goals of fancy dragons. In Flamecraft, dragons are specialized bread, meat, iron, crystal, plant, and potion artisans, each contributing uniquely to the gameplay.

Players start their turn by visiting a shop and choosing to gather or enchant. Players can visit any shop but must choose a different shop from the last turn.

When gathering, players can collect any goods or coins offered by the shop as well as any goods generated from enchantments, or listed on any artisan dragons currently visiting. These are predominantly used for enchantment costs, so visiting shops regularly, especially ones with dragons visiting, is very important. If a player has any artisan dragons matching the symbols in one of the spaces below the shop they can take the rewards listed on the slot that their dragon covers. If all three spaces are covered in this manner, the player draws a new shop and places it face down in an empty space, turning it face up at the end of their turn to expand the town. Players also have the option of activating, or ‘firing up’, one of the artisan dragons abilities, or the shops if it has one. These are great ways to gain extra goods or coins.

There is of course also the option to enchant a shop instead. Players can choose one of the face-up enchantment cards on the board that matches the desired shop’s icon and cast it by paying the goods cost. After doing so, the player can claim the rewards shown on the card, normally reputation points. When enchanting, players also have the option of firing up all artisan dragons at the shop in any order, including any new dragons that are placed there in the process.

After gathering or enchanting, there are a few steps players take to cap off their turn.

If any shops were filled with dragons, a new shop can be placed face up to expand the town. There are over a dozen spaces for shops so plenty of opportunities for the town to grow over the duration of a game.

At the end of a turn, a player cannot have more than six artisan dragons in their hand. If a hand exceeds six, any extra dragons must be placed at the bottom of the artisan deck. Additionally, the maximum number of tokens per good anyone can have is seven. Any more than this and the excess must be returned to the stockpile.

Finally, if there are fewer than five faceup artisan dragons or enchantments, new cards are revealed from the appropriate decks until there are five. If either deck runs out of cards, this triggers the end of the game…

After the last card from the artisan or enchantment decks is revealed, the end of the game begins. Each player then gets one final turn before tallying up everybody’s points. In addition to how many reputation points each player has scored throughout the game, any returned coins will grant players an extra point per coin, and any moon dragons the player has helped achieve their goals will grant them extra reputation. These dragons won’t score throughout the game like sun dragons, only at the end of the game, which can help turn the tide in games where the scores are neck and neck!

Gameplay Mechanics

Flamecraft’s gameplay mechanics revolve around dragon placement and engine building. Players gather items to enchant shops, gain reputation, and attract fancy dragons. Each shop has a unique set of dragons that can be placed there, and players can visit a shop to gain items and a favor from one of the dragons. Gathered items can be used to enchant a shop, gaining reputation and the favors of all the dragons in the shop. The game features a magical cloth town map, oversized shop cards, and dragon meeples, adding to the immersive experience. The strategic depth of placing dragons and managing resources ensures that each game is a unique and engaging challenge.

Attracting Fancy Dragons

Attracting fancy dragons is a crucial aspect of Flamecraft board game. These dragons are specialized in different areas, such as bread, meat, iron, crystal, plant, and potion. Players can attract fancy dragons by enchanting shops and gathering resources. Fancy dragons offer opportunities to secure more reputation and gain an advantage over other players. Artisan dragons, a type of fancy dragon, are smaller and magically talented versions of larger dragons, sought by shopkeepers to delight customers with their flamecraft. By strategically placing these dragons and utilizing their unique abilities, players can significantly boost their reputation and edge out the competition.

Also Read: The Best Dungeons and Dragons Board Games

Flamecraft Board Game Features

Flamecraft features a range of exciting elements, including:

• Flamecraft Standard Edition: The game includes cardboard items, coins, dragon meeples, heart meeples, oversized shop cards, and a magical cloth town map.

• Oversized Shop Cards: The game features dozens of oversized shop cards, each with unique abilities and challenges.

• Magical Cloth Town Map: The game’s magical cloth town map provides an immersive experience, allowing players to explore the town and discover new shops and dragons.

• Dragon Meeples: The game includes dragon meeples, representing the various dragons that players can attract and place in shops.

• Gathering Items: Players can gather items, such as bread, meat, iron, crystal, plant, and potion, to enchant shops and gain reputation.

• Casting Enchantments: Players can cast enchantments to enchant shops, gaining reputation and the favors of all the dragons in the shop.

• Magically Talented Versions: Artisan dragons are smaller and magically talented versions of larger dragons, offering unique abilities and challenges.

• Delight Customers: Players can delight customers by placing dragons in shops, gaining reputation and favors from the dragons.

• Produce Wondrous Things: Players can produce wondrous things by enchanting shops and gathering resources, gaining an advantage over other players.

These features combine to create a rich and engaging gameplay experience, where players can immerse themselves in the magical world of Flamecraft and strive to become the most renowned Flamekeeper.

Summary

• Great art style

• Simple game mechanics

• Balanced gameplay

• Good for all ages

• Offers a solo mode

Who Should Buy Flamecraft Board Game?

We think you should buy this game if:

You like good-looking games: Although I’ve said it before I’ll say it once more: Flamecraft board game is a great-looking game. If you like your aesthetics, this is a game with every component looking gorgeous.   

You like strategy games: Don’t be fooled by the artwork though! The game is packed full of strategic possibilities and has a surprising degree of depth. 

You enjoy solo games: Whilst Flamecraft can be played by up to six people at a time, it offers a solo mode which plays just as well. 

You like fantasy games: Nothing says fantasy quite like dragons, and the game does a great job of making you feel like your in the middle of a medieval village.   

You might not like this game if: 

You want something more serious: Although we would recommend not disregarding the game based on outward appearances, it may not appeal to everyone’s tastes and appear a little too cute for some people. 

You want a game with more moving parts:  Although Flamecraft board game is a perfectly solid strategy game, for the veterans out there it may be a bit too simplistic and not appeal to those that want to spend the whole evening on one game. 

Final Verdict: Delight Customers

Flamecraft Board Game is a great game on many levels. The thing that stands out first and foremost is it’s artwork, and rightfully so. The definition of ‘cozy’, the artwork helps set the scene and brings the town to life with everyone and their dragons going about their day. Each dragon is unique in look and ability, offering something different and adding to the strategy as the game progresses. Gameplay is simple, solid, and straightforward, making it accessible to plenty of players both age and ability-wise. With plenty of dragons to use, shops to uncover, and a solo mode, it’s a versatile game that everybody will enjoy.

Flamecraft Board Game FAQ