Variability is the Spice of Life

 Computer, Define: Variable Setup

According to BGG, "Variable Setup" is defined as: "The starting game state varies from game to game, through changes to shared game components like the map, and/or changes to starting player set-ups, resources, objectives, etc." Detailed. I know.

I find that a bit too dry for my tastes, so here's my own definition of "Variable Setup": When you set up a game with variable setup, the board will have a different configuration each time, including, but not limited to, the way tiles are laid on the board, the various resources that players have access to at the start, different objectives that players work towards with end game, or any combination of all these items that allow for a game to be new each time that someone plays it. This not only allows for players to have almost near-infinite combinations of assets/tiles/layout/etc, but also presents a higher level of mastery that is associated with the game.

Overall, when thinking about modern games, we find that most, if not all, have some type of variable setup when playing the game to allow for more replayability versus older games. Games like Monopoly, Risk, Clue, and The Game of Life, while having slight variations in setup, are not considered to have "variable setup" due to the overall state of the board being similar with each game played. Widely to be considered the grandfather of modern board games, CATAN, remains to this day, one of the most consistently popular games in the public eye that retains it's variable setup, both with initial setup of the game and initial player settlement layout.

Interestingly enough, as I was reviewing the mechanic here on BGG, I found that out of the top 10 games as of the time of writing, only 4 games are not considered to have variable setup. Pandemic Legacy: Season 1, Gloomhaven, Dune: Imperium and Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion all are on the top 10 list, but do not have the "Variable Setup" mechanic to be considered as their BGG listing. I find it fascinating that variable setup has become such a core part of what modern board games look like and after reviewing the top 500 on BGG, I found that a whopping 97/500 have variable setups listed as part of their mechanics, which translates to almost a 20% ratio of the top 500 games having variable setups.

I thought that I would take some time today to discuss my top 10 games with variable setup and my thoughts on each one of them. While I have discussed mechanics at length in the past, these posts have often been wildly different in length and I thought that it would be best to provide a top 10 preferences list for this mechanic to better showcase which games I enjoy, and potentially add a few more games to play to your lists. This is a slightly different way to do this posting, so let me know in the comments what you think about it and if you prefer me to just ramble about the various pros and cons of mechanics, like I had in previous posts.

#10 - The Quacks of Quedlinburg

What is Variable: Ingredient Abilities are chosen from a set of 4 options (6 with expansions), as well as additional options provided by expansions including one-time abilities (Herb Witches) and player powers (Alchemists)
Total Plays: 13
Why I Like It: So while technically Quacks of Quedlinburg does not fall into the "Variable Setup" category here on BGG, I would argue that the variations on potion ingredient abilities falls directly within the category of "changes to starting resources/abilities". There are a staggering 2048 approximate setup variations with just the initial starting resource abilities in the base game. Additionally, I would also argue that the expansions both add additional variability in setup with two additional resource abilities, as well as some additional one-time use powers and player "powers" (it's hard to really describe what the Alchemists expansion adds, so that's what I'm going with).

I personally love the nature of Quacks of Quedlinburg and the push-your-luck status of the game. The variability of setup with the game means that I can pick and choose my specific ingredient powers which allows me to play differently each game. With the each ingredient having six separate options to choose from every game (four with base, and only 6/8 have six options, the other two have 2 and 4 respectively)there's so much difference in each game and I love the chaotic nature of attempting to adapt your purchases as they happen throughout the game.

#9 - Heat: Pedal to the Metal

What is Variable: The game can be played with one of four tracks contained within the base game; Players can also choose standard starting decks or use the upgrades to be included; Legends (AI Bots) can also be included in the game to play against with various color combinations; Players can also choose to play with weather and road conditions active and even a tournament mode.
Total Plays: 11
Why I Like It: This is just off my first impressions of the game, but the ability to choose so many different variables when playing the game is extremely exciting to me. Not only are their four separate races to choose from, but you can also choose to change your starting deck, play with AI racers, weather effects, and even play a three race tournament. There's so much that you can change while even setting up the game that it has such a wide array of different options to choose from. I might have only been able to play Heat: Pedal to the Metal only once so far, but it easily is a game that I want to add to my collection and play again and again.

#8 - Horrified

What is Variable: Players can choose different monsters, monster count, and different player characters each game. Item placement at the beginning of the game is also randomized, making for a different item setup each game.
Total Plays: 11
Why I Like It: Horrified, as I have noted in a previous post was one of my standout surprises of 2023. I was astounded with how good the game felt despite it being a tie-in game with the old Universal Movies. I was also extremely impressed with the variations of monsters that you can choose to play with as players choose from a diverse set of six monsters to fight against each game. With a combination of 2 monsters for an easy game, 3 for a normal game, and 4 for a hard game, there's quite a bit of variety that can be done when playing the game. Additionally, with random player character choices and item setup at the beginning of the game, there is usually some kind of strategic planning that needs to happen before the game actually begins, which is something I love to plan for with my games that I play.

#7 - PARKS

What is Variable: End of game objectives vary per game per player, starting season and board layout change from game to game as well, along with starting available Parks and gear for purchase.
Total Plays: 10
Why I Like It: PARKS is easily the standout of the group when it comes to artwork. With each park contained with the game being professionally illustrated and in vivid color, the game just drips in aesthetics. Add in the beautiful wooden pieces that are contained in the base game and it's everything that I want all games to feel like. The variable setup in PARKS also allows for me to work towards different objectives each game and have to adjust my play to any potential differences that are noted on the board on initial setup. I'm a bit less impressed with the solo mode of the game, but overall PARKS is definitely a game that I pull out when I want to experience a more relaxed version of a competitive game.

#6 - Cascadia

What is Variable: Different scoring objectives are chosen each game for the animals (either randomly or by scenario). Players can also choose various scenarios available to play resulting in different end-game objectives for the game. Starting tiles and tiles used during the game can also vary based on initial setup.
Total Plays: 20
Why I Like It: There is an inherent challenge in Cascadia that I find to be extremely relaxing. I enjoy puzzle video games, and Cascadia has seemed to tap that niche quite nicely for me on the table. The included scenarios and achievement tracker in the game keep pulling me back in for more as I just want to finish each scenario and complete all the achievements to get that sweet serotonin bonus from finishing a long-term project. As each game has a variable starting tile and potentially different starting tile and animal setup, each game is different, resulting in ever developing strategy and adjustment as I play through the game.

#5 - Marvel Champions: The Card Game

What is Variable: Marvel Champions is the definition of "Variable Setup". Players can set up the game against multiple included opponents in the base game, add in variable difficulty levels, include different encounters in the villain deck, and choose various heroes, all with customizable decks. Add in any number of the expansions created for Marvel Champions and the number of variable setups skyrockets.
Total Plays: 11
Why I Like It: I love being able to tailor my game to play against any number of villains, especially after I have defeated the villain a number of times with the standard setup deck. Allowing players to choose difficulty levels, include different encounter sets, and even change up the heroes and their decks allows for a massive level of customization, just in the setup of the game. While Marvel Champions does have villains that lend themselves to be better fought with certain heroes and aspects, the game itself allows players to learn for themselves what does and doesn't work and aside from a framework provided by the publishers, the game does not deter the player base from experimenting and altering what has been published. Marvel Champions is a game customizer's paradise.

#4 - Deliverance

What is Variable: Player character selection can be different in each game, additionally being further customizable with varied initial talents for player characters. Different board layouts can be set up in each game as well as varying the enemies that are initially placed as well as the final boss for the skirmish mode.
Total Plays: 12
Why I Like It: Deliverence represents the epitome of "crunchy dungeon crawler" that I didn't know that I was missing. While I would hesitate to call the game a dungeon crawler, it does have significant mechanics from the genre (such as levelling up, varying enemy encounters, and variable character choice) and really tasks the player with adjusting to what the game throws at the players on the fly. The game is by no means easy and does not pull any punches when it comes to fighting the enemies. Player choice feels weighty and a wrong move could quickly spiral into something more deadly in this fantastic cooperative game by Andrew Lowen.

#3 - Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure

What is Variable: Clank! allows players to choose from one side of a double sided board to play on (more if expansions are played with), adds in additional player powers with an expansion, and each game has randomized minor and major secrets that are placed on the board. If playing with less than four players, a random treasure (or two) is removed from the game. The initial cards available to purchase in the dungeon row are also variable and depend entirely on shuffling of cards.
Total Plays: 27
Why I Like It: Clank! represents a game that has so many variables and variations on how you can win that it's impossible to completely predict who will win, even based on the initial setup of the game. With just the base game, you have randomized secrets hidden throughout the game board, often resulting in wildly different play experiences from game to game, as well as varied setups of cards available for purchase at the beginning of the game. While the game might start off with each player having the same deck to pull from, it quickly gets more and more different as players purchase cards and explore into the depths of the dragon's lair in Clank!.

#2 - Cartographers

What is Variable: Players can choose (in the base game) from one of two sides for the player board, and initial setup of objectives is different each game, resulting in changing layouts every game. Initial ambush encounters are also varied at the beginning of the game resulting in potentially different attacks that occur while playing the game.
Total Plays: 37
Why I Like It: I really struggled with the final two games here. I love Cartographers and the depth of replayability that it offers players with the variable setups that you can play with in the game. However, the reason why I didn't list it as my #1 was because after 18 plays, I'm beginning to find that it is beginning to feel a bit "samey." Maybe it will feel more different if/when I add some of the expansions and new maps, but overall, it is starting to feel quite familiar to me. Overall, Cartographers allows for a large level of variable setup and is not only an easy game to get to the table, but also one that is quite easy to teach.

#1 - Everdell

What is Variable: End game objectives change from game to game, variable worker locations are set up at the beginning of the game, and depending on what expansions are included a large variation on starting hand, end game objectives, and even player powers could be active during the game.
Total Plays: 20
Why I Like It: I am going to come out and say this: I know that Everdell is not for everyone. For every "10/10; best game of the year" review that someone gives, there's an equal number of "I don't get the hype" reviews that come along with it. I personally love the game because of the depth of replayability and strategy that comes with the game. And my wife loves playing this game too. I could wax poetic about how much variability there is with the setup with this game and the amazing artwork and how it's so much fun to play, but that's beside the point. I love the way that the game pushes you to adapt to challenges with the initial setup, including your starting hand. This is one game that I believe is better with an expansion or two because it helps to change up how the game plays and is set up, but overall, Everdell does an excellent job of not only having significant depth of strategy, but also packaging it in a neat, beautiful, tableau-building box, easily earning the #1 spot for me.

This Is the End of the Post As We Know It...

There are a few more games that I also want to mention that didn't make it onto this list: CATAN was my initial introduction to modern games back in high school. While there are significant improvements made on the formula since then, I still enjoy a good game of CATAN every once in a while. Sagrada and Scythe were fun games to play but I haven't played them enough to really warrant any major discussion on my thoughts about them. Sushi Go Party! is a fun party game with variable setup, but again, I don't really tend to play too many party games and while it's cleverly implemented, it's not a game that I would pull out every time I want to play a game.

Thoughts from the Peanut Gallery: What are your favorite variable setup games? Is there any game that you wish that you had a variable setup when playing the game to allow for additional replayability? Is there any game that you've played that you thought could be done without a variable setup?

Thank you again for checking out my blog. Each and every one of your comments and engagements is appreciated and I sincerely thank you for them. I'm trying something new with this layout so we'll see if this works out for how I structure my Monday posts. I liked the top 10 list, but again, it's an experiment to see if it works and if y'all like it.

Have a wonderful week everyone and keep on playing those games!

*Originally posted on BoardGameGeek 25/3/2024*