Dragori Games has done an excellent job by including quick starter guide in addition to the full rulebook. The main purpose of the quick starter guide is obvious. It gets us to play our first game as soon as possible. I personally like reading rulebooks the beginning to the end multiple times because I am always intrigued by the game’s core design; however, even someone like myself, it is hard to hold off the excitement of the first gameplay. There are a few things I wished I had known to even further speed up the first few Arena: the Contest play. Here are my tips.
Table of Contents
PvP vs. PvE
Tip: Choose PvP vs. PvE and only read the corresponding sections on the quick start guide
Unlike some other games, Arena: the Contest (ATC) share majority of the core game rules between PvP and PvE. So if you learn one, learning the other is fairly easy process. Having said this, there are still distinct rules between the two. So you need to decide, which mode you will be playing first and focus on it.
Regardless of which mode you choose, you will still end up reading most of 6 pages long Quick Start guide but you should ignore unrelated sections to reduce the chance of confusion. For example, one of the distinct difference between PvP and PvE is “round concept”.
PvE allows player(s) to have their heroes go back to back and player(s) can choose each round in different orders. This helps synergistic combination to happen much easier than in the PvP. Basic ally, this is an example that turn rules are different between PvE and PvP so reading the other play mode as a beginner may be potential source of confusion.
If you choose PvE, you can ignore reading most of page 2:
- Starting a PvP match section
If you choose PvP, you can ignore reading part of page 2 and entire page 3 including the sections:
- Reading a Quest
- The Foes
- Starting a PvE Match
Progressive Game Rule add-ons
Tip: Start with basic/minimum rule and progressively add features.
Although you want to eventually incorporate all rules of the game for the full experience of Arena: the Contest, I highly suggest you to start from the minimum rule and take a step-wise progressive rule add-on approach. This will not only get you started with the game faster without being overwhelmed by the rules, but it also provide you sense of evolving gameplay. Each game feels fresh of its own due to successively added game rules.
I use this unofficial progressive game rules when I am playing with my 11 years-old son. Each game has been very smooth sail without my son having any issue/question about rule during each game.
Starter rule contains the bare minimum rule. You ignore reaction attack mechanics, position mechanics, Magic items and First aid.
Basic rule adds reaction attack mechanics. Without this mechanics, some heroes passive ability like ones from tank or bruiser combat role lose half of their efficacy.
The third level, I call core rule will add position mechanics and first aid. Position mechanics add true tactical element to the movement of heroes.
Next, you can add artifacts. This is a way to customize heroes in Arena the Contest, especially in PvP.
When you add “scrolls”, you are now experiencing fullness of the ATC. Scrolls are cards that are hidden from the opponent player(s) and these cards can trigger even during opponents turn. In the card games, these are like trap or counter cards. These add surprise elements to the Arena: the Contest.
Depending on your comfort level, you do not have to take all five steps. For example, you can go from Starter rule to Core rule then Full rule as a three step approach.
In regards to the first aid, the official rulebook states first aid is a mandatory rule when you are playing coop. This system allows surviving player’s hero to revive the other player’s hero. This way ones who had lost their heroes do not have to just sit and watch reminder of the game.
Having said this, I personally think it is acceptable to ignore first aid rule even on coop as early quests should be able to complete without losing any hero with proper teamwork. In another word, spend effort and time trying to help all your teammate to survive.
Choosing heroes
Tip: Consider start with straight forward heroes
To familiarize yourself with a rule, you might want to choose heroes from more straight forward play style combat roles.
Amongst the core box included heroes, Brute, Shooter, Healer and Tank are generally straight forward to use.
PvP
Tip: Consider starting 3 vs. 3 rather than 4 vs. 4
If you have decided to start PvP, unless you have 8 players, I’d suggest start out with 3 vs. 3. Less heroes means not only faster game play but more chance you can familiarize yourself to the current combatants. So times can be better spent focusing on learning rules rather than individual heroes attacks.
Again reminder here is when you read Quick Start guide, you should skip following sections:
- Reading a Quest
- The Foes
- Starting a PvE Match
PvE
Tip: Start with Lava Citadel stand alone Quest
If you decide to play PvE, start with a standalone quest mode rather than an epic campaign. Specifically, you should start with a Lava Citadel.
If you choose PvE, you should skip following section on Quick Start guide:
- Starting a PvP match section
Tip: Do not forget quest specific rule e.g. Orb damage each round
Be sure to read the quest guide carefully. For example, I initially forgot to take “Orb damage” every round. What seems rather minor damage for each round adds up and this rule made the quest entirely different feel.
Tip: Ignore secondary objective
Another tip for the beginner is “try skip” secondary objectives. I have a perfectionist mentality when it comes to the game so I have been trying to achieve all objectives for all quests I have played so far. I have not had a success. For this, you need not only high-level tactics but also proper team/party selection i.e. strategy. You can of course come back later for the real challenge.
Full Rulebook
When in doubt, consult the full rulebook
Dragori has done excellent job writing a rulebook. If you read the book carefully (and may need a few times), you will find many question answered in it. So be sure to use it whenever you have any question.
Villain Behavior
One example, you will likely encounter in the first PvE play is the basic strategy of villain. The quick starter guide is simple and great starting point but when you start playing the actual game, you will quickly develop multiple questions.
Tip: Use Quest’s Golden Rule on your team’s favor.
The Quest’s Golden Rule from full rulebook to me is one of few ambiguity the rule book has. This is because one can try to play from the player or villain perspective while still following all the rules and depending on which side you choose, the difficulty level changes drastically.
For example, if I take the side of villain, when the lowest and nearest hero to the villains has the “damage immunity”, if I were controlling villains they should be smart enough and ignore it and go to the second closest hero. However, if you just stick with the rules, it won’t prevent you from having those villains attack damage immune hero, which essentially could null the entire villain round.
My personal tip here is because ATC is challenging game of its own, you should play everything on your favor whenever you get to choose. Using the aforementioned example, if I know villains will attack the closest hero even with damage immunity, I can intentionally try placing the hero closest to the all villains, which by itself is part of tactics.
You can always make the game harder by using hard mode rule, going for secondary objectives or set your own object like keep all 4 heroes survived at the end of the quest.
Community Help
After reading through the full rule book, you may still have some questions left because you are not certain if your interpretation of certain rule is correct or not.
Tip: When in doubt, seek community user group for help
Fortunately, there is a very active, new user friendly discord group for Arena: the Contest. You can also try board game geek forum. The former is likely to give you faster reply from experienced player.
If there is any other tip you wish you had known before playing the first few games, please share in the comment section.
Now go enjoy one of the best adventure board game!
Reference
- Arena: the Contest Official site – The site has digital version of Quick Start and Rulebook