AEG War Chest | Manage Army & Battlefield | Bag-Building Medieval Board Game | Abstract Chess Strategy | Easy to Learn | 2 or 4 Players | Ages 14+

It’s a tactical strategy game that feels like a modern twist on classic chess, but with a unique bag-building mechanic that adds an exciting layer of unpredictability and strategic planning. Each game is a battle of wits where players draft unique units with distinct abilities, creating an ever-changing tactical puzzle. The bag-building mechanic (where you draw units to take actions) adds an element of resource management and forces you to carefully plan your moves while adapting to the luck of the draw.The rules are straightforward enough to learn in minutes, but the layers of strategy ensure it stays engaging after countless plays. Every decision feels meaningful, whether it’s deploying units, controlling key points, or outmaneuvering your opponent.The production quality is also top-tier. The poker chip-style unit tokens feel hefty and satisfying to handle, and the minimalist artwork on the board and cards is clean and elegant. This makes the game not only fun to play but also a joy to interact with.Whenever I introduce someone to our gaming group I usually start with this game since it's so simple yet a ton of fun to play. It has a lot of replayability and a quick turnaround time. Highly recommended for any collection.

Warchest is very solid title for an abstract strategy game with just enough luck mixed in to the formula to keep it interesting and enough variety to keep it fresh for a good while. Couple that with needlessly (but very nice) quality components and a very easy learning curve for its base concepts and you have the makings for a fantastic and long lived title.Players represent either the wolves or the ravens in a 1v1 or 2v2 battle to try and claim six (or eight in 2v2) control points before the other side. I could go into depth on how to play it but there exists a couple of Youtube videos about it that do a better job than me (One where you learn it in 3 minutes for a basic rundown and a more in depth one by Rodney Smith of Watch It Played who both do a better job than I do in terms of explanation of such rules and concepts).So I will tell you what I like about the game, what I don't like about the game, and who I personally think will enjoy it.Pros+ Easy to learn+The poker chips pieces (called coins) are sturdy and have some good heft+The velvet bags and storage box are wonderfully built and the board is nice and thick+A little bit of luck of the draw keeps the game interesting+ Fast time between player turns keep the action moving and the game relatively brisk while greatly minimizing analysis paralysis (although not outright removing it)Cons- The board itself isn't the best at lying flat- The discs marking the control points are just cardboard token and given the premium feel to the rest of the components they come off as a glaringly out of place cheap place holder- A bad deal when playing random teams can have your opponent running all over the board like a madman almost right out the gate while you barely start to move. As such draft is the better way to play after a couple of games are under your beltI think people who enjoy strategy games will enjoy this, but not pure strategy game fans (like go or chess players) hence there is luck involved. I don't think it is light enough in terms of overall play for many casual gamers to enjoy it. By casual gamers I mean people who rarely touch board games in general and when they do they like fast party games and that is about it (I feel ya, folks Quiplash is my kryptonite). So I would say it occupies a very solid middle of the road spot in my gaming library. Got a few friends who enjoy board gaming a lot but don't go deep into heavily skill focused game like chess, they might enjoy this game a lot. I know my group does.

This is the best strategy game ever. Can even get as intense as chess but definitely boring. Once you get it, this will definitely keep you hooked.

*** Quality: Excellent. Pieces are really nice to hold. Board won’t stay completely flat but this is just a minor inconvenience. Everything else, including the cards and box, just feel like really nice material.*** Gameplay: It’s good, especially if you use the drafting system for unit selection at the beginning of the game (it gives everyone a fairer game).Normally I’m not a fan of hexagonal battle grid systems, but this one works well and the gameplay itself is simple enough.I have yet to try the four-player mode but it should work quite well. I’ve ran through it on my own to get a feel for how it would play out.*** Instructions: Clear. Which basically means they did a great job making the instructions.

This is a great game for adults and kids alike. 2-4 player is available but 4 player is the way to go. The poker chip style pieces are amazing and heavy duty, they give the game the much more tactile feel. The rules are very well balanced and while easy to play, every game requires new strategy due to the card distribution for each draw. I also think it’s great for kids to get introduced to war gaming and prepares them for Undaunted, arguably the best war game ever made. Took this on a business trip for 2 weeks and we played constantly. Buy it now!

The best part of the game are the unit chips. They are hefty and solid. It's strange to have cardboard control markers, as they feel out of place and far inferior to the plastic ones. The game is easy to play, but I would hazard to guess that it will take you several plays before you start to developing a strategy on who beats what best. It certainly has a rock-paper-scissors feel to some of the units, where some units have decisive advantages over other units while simultaneously being weaker against others.You won't play with every unit each game, so game strategies will change game to game. It comes in a nice box with a magnetic clasp, but is a non-standard size that doesn't fit with your other games on the shelf. There is some unused space in the box, as is common, but the storage tray is very tight and hard to remove from the box without spilling the chips.The game story touts the War Chest as an heirloom, and it certainly has the quality feel of a game from a time before cheap plastic and cardboard.The game doesn't take long to play. It's a two-player or two team game. The iconology must be learned, but still isn't too hard for even young kids to play.