Fantasy Flight Games Announces FURY OF DRACULA
In this third edition of Fury of Dracula, the team at Fantasy Flight Games is attempting to refine the gameplay even further than its predecessors, while also bringing the game's art style up to current visual standards. While I can't testify to the gameplay refinements just yet, I can say the game is visually beautiful. The board itself is just stunning, while all the cards and fiddly-bits fit well into Fury's gothic horror aesthetic.
For those who are unfamiliar with the previous editions, Fury of Dracula is a cooperative and adversarial experience wrapped into one. Up to four players take on the roles of either Abraham Van Helsing, John Seward, Mina Harker, or Arthur Godalming. Your goal is to explore the board, picking up clues and working amongst yourselves to find Dracula's trail and ultimately kill him before the counter gets to 13. Meanwhile, one player plays the role of Dracula, working to spread his influence and power across all of Europe and defeat the hunters.
Most compelling is how the turns are handled. The hunters have one action they can use in a variety of ways during the day, and also have an action at night, but because it isn't safe to travel, can only use actions within their current city. Dracula however can only act during the night, but has many options at his disposal. He can spread rumors, which diverts hunters from his location. He can also set traps for them to encounter during the day, and can summon minions to attack them, and can even turn into a werewolf himself if he needs to. There is plenty of strategy to be had here, and I can't wait to try it out for myself. I do hope, however, that it avoids the over complication of the Arkham Horror series, which to me just gets bogged down in its own minutiae so much it becomes less fun.
Fury of Dracula is set to launch sometime during the 4th quarter of this year.