In a previous post about Fog of Love, I shared my excitement about games that focus more on storytelling and role-playing than traditional board game mechanics. With my love for Dungeons and Dragons and a growing interest in games that allow for rich narratives, I decided to try out Call to Adventure. This game caught my eye because it supports solo play as well as multiplayer, making it perfect since my wife isn’t as into board games as I am. Without knowing much about it, I bought the game, read the rules, and since then, it has become a favorite for game nights.
Call to Adventure is designed for 1 to 4 players, with a playtime ranging from 30 to 60 minutes. It is suitable for players aged 13 and older, making it accessible for a wide range of ages.
Setting Up the Adventure
The setup for Call to Adventure might seem a bit involved at first, but it’s straightforward once you get the hang of it. Each player gets a personal board, and the story card decks are sorted into three acts: I, II, and III. These decks are placed in a vertical column at the center of the table. For Act I, four cards are dealt face down next to the deck (five cards for four-player games), repeated for Act II and Act III.
Players are dealt two cards each from the Origin, Motivation, and Destiny piles—only one of each if it’s your first game. Players pick one Origin and one Motivation card to place face-up on their boards, while the Destiny card remains face-down. Each player also receives a Hero card kept secret from others, along with three Experience tokens and a Corruption tracker placed at a specific spot on the player board. The tray of runes, essential for resolving challenges, is placed within everyone’s reach. Once characters are set, the Act I cards are flipped over, signaling the start of the game.
The Objective: Build Your Hero’s Story
The goal in Call to Adventure is to construct a compelling character story by collecting story cards and scoring points. You achieve this by using your starting cards and the story cards you gain to roll runes and overcome challenges. Each turn, players choose a story card to add to their journey, either by meeting requirements or by facing challenges with rune rolls.
Your Origin card determines which two rune symbols you’ll use during challenges, chosen from six types: Sword (Strength), Arrow (Dexterity), Shield (Constitution), Wand (Intelligence), Divine (Wisdom), and Crown (Charisma). These symbols appear throughout story cards and influence how many runes you can roll to meet challenge requirements.
Taking Your Turn: Traits and Challenges
On your turn, you select a card from the current act to try to add to your story. There are two types of cards you can acquire: Traits and Challenges.
Traits are personality traits, life experiences, or character details that come with a simple requirement. For example, a trait might require you to have a Sword rune or to spend one Experience token. If you meet the condition, you add the trait card to your story, gaining runes, points, or special abilities.
Challenges are more complex and come with two possible paths, each with different rewards. To succeed, you must roll runes matching the symbols on the challenge card and meet or exceed a target number. You roll your matching runes plus three core runes available to all players. Depending on the roll’s outcome, you either claim the challenge card and its rewards or discard the card and gain an Experience token.
Before rolling, players can spend Experience tokens to add Dark Runes, which can boost their score but may also increase Corruption, tracked on the player board. Corruption affects which Hero or Antihero cards you can play and influences your final score.
Special Actions and Cards
Besides taking traits or facing challenges, players can perform side actions like discarding unwanted story cards or playing Hero and Antihero cards. These cards add strategic depth by offering benefits or hindering opponents. Your position on the Corruption track determines which types of cards you can play. Each Hero or Antihero card played grants bonus points at the game’s end.
Advancing Through Acts and Scoring
Each act has a progression system. When a player collects three cards under their Origin (Act I), that act ends, and the next act’s cards are revealed. Players who haven’t completed Act I can still take cards from either Act I or Act II. The same process applies to Act II and Act III, with Act III cards placed under the Destiny card face down at the start.
The game ends when a player places their third Act III card. After final turns, players tally points based on Triumphs, Tragedies, Corruption, Destiny requirements, leftover Experience tokens, Hero/Antihero cards played, and matching story icons. The highest scorer wins, having fulfilled their character’s destiny.
Bringing the Story to Life
Beyond winning, Call to Adventure shines as a storytelling experience. Players get to narrate their character’s journey, triumphs, and struggles. Whether you focus on the score or the story, this game encourages creativity and imagination. Many players enjoy telling their character’s tale as they play, making each session a unique narrative adventure.
In one memorable game, my brother-in-law and I created stories reminiscent of epic fantasy tales, with characters on very different paths—one a powerful wizard, the other a dark explorer. The storytelling aspect made us prioritize narrative over points, enriching the game night with memorable moments.
Call to Adventure is a fantastic choice for those looking to blend strategy with role-playing, offering a rich multiplayer experience that feels like crafting your epic tale.
Embracing the Narrative Journey
Call to Adventure stands out as a game that merges strategic gameplay with immersive storytelling. Unlike many traditional board games focused solely on tactics or luck, this game invites players to build a unique hero’s tale across three distinct acts. This blend makes it perfect for players who appreciate both thoughtful decision-making and creative expression. The game’s structure encourages not just competing for points but also sharing the unfolding stories behind each character’s rise, challenges, and ultimate fate.
Playing with multiple people adds a dynamic layer to the experience. Each player’s choices influence the group’s rhythm, creating a rich atmosphere of cooperation and competition. The act system, divided into three stages, provides a natural story arc where the stakes escalate, and decisions become more meaningful as the game progresses. This pacing helps maintain engagement for the entire 30 to 60-minute playtime.
Understanding Your Hero’s Origins and Motivation
At the heart of Call to Adventure is the process of crafting your hero’s background. Your starting Origin and Motivation cards shape not only the thematic flavor of your character but also the mechanics you’ll rely on. These cards determine which runes you use in challenges, reflecting your hero’s strengths and weaknesses.
Choosing which card to reveal and which to keep hidden introduces strategic choices early on. The Origin card, with its specific rune types, affects how effectively you can meet challenge requirements. For example, a character with Sword and Shield runes is better equipped for physical confrontations, while one with Wand and Crown runes might excel in magical or social encounters. Meanwhile, the Motivation card guides which traits and challenges will be easier to acquire, helping you focus your path toward a certain destiny.
This combination of mechanics and narrative makes each playthrough feel fresh, as different Origin and Motivation pairings lead to varied experiences and stories.
Navigating Challenges and Growing Your Legend
Challenges represent the trials your hero must face on their journey. They are designed with branching paths, allowing players to choose between a safer, less rewarding route or a riskier option that yields greater benefits. This decision-making adds tension to each turn, as players weigh the potential rewards against the risks of failure.
When confronting a challenge, players roll runes to match the symbols on the card, using the runes granted by their Origin and those gained through Traits. This mechanic introduces a tactical element, requiring players to build their character’s abilities thoughtfully. Experience tokens come into play as resources that can boost your chances, but at the cost of potentially increasing Corruption.
Corruption itself is a clever twist in the gameplay. It acts as a double-edged sword—while it can enhance your power by enabling you to add Dark Runes to your rolls, it also limits which cards you can play and affects your final score. Managing this balance is critical, as pushing too far into corruption can hinder your chances of winning, yet playing too safe may limit your progress.
Building Your Story with Traits and Cards
Traits add depth to your hero’s personality and skills, providing valuable bonuses and sometimes unlocking new strategic options. Acquiring traits requires meeting specific conditions, encouraging players to play and adapt their strategies based on what cards are available.
Hero and Antihero cards add another strategic layer. They represent key figures who influence your journey—either supporting your hero or presenting obstacles. These cards can dramatically alter gameplay, providing powerful effects or disrupting opponents’ plans. The interplay of these cards adds unpredictability and excitement, keeping each game fresh.
Players must also manage their hands carefully, sometimes discarding unwanted story cards to make room for better opportunities. This resource management aspect adds another dimension of decision-making, as choosing what to keep or discard can affect both immediate and long-term success.
Progression Through Acts and Building Momentum
The three-act structure is one of the game’s strongest features. It mirrors the narrative progression found in classic storytelling, with rising action, climax, and resolution. Completing an act requires collecting a set number of cards linked to your Origin or Motivation, creating a clear goal while allowing flexibility in how you approach it.
This system keeps the game moving at a steady pace, encouraging players to think about their overall strategy and timing. Players who fall behind still have chances to catch up by choosing cards from different acts, maintaining tension and competition throughout the game.
As players move into the final act, the stakes grow higher, and the decisions become more consequential. The game’s design ensures that no two journeys are the same, with various paths to victory depending on how players build their heroes and tackle challenges.
The Reward of Storytelling and Creativity
One of the most rewarding aspects of Call to Adventure is how it inspires players to create their epic tales. Whether narrating your hero’s rise from humble beginnings or their descent into darkness, the game fosters a shared storytelling experience that deepens engagement.
Players often find themselves invested not just in winning but in telling memorable stories that reflect their choices. This narrative emphasis transforms game nights into opportunities for creativity and connection, making each session unique and meaningful.
The game’s flexible design accommodates different play styles. Some players focus on optimizing their points through careful strategy, while others prioritize the story and role-playing. This balance broadens the appeal and ensures that everyone can enjoy the experience in their way.
Why Call to Adventure Works for Groups
Multiplayer sessions bring out the best in Call to Adventure. The mix of cooperation and competition creates a lively environment where players react to each other’s moves and adjust their plans accordingly. The game’s relatively short playtime fits well into casual game nights without requiring a huge time commitment.
Because the game supports solo play as well, it offers great versatility. Players can enjoy building their hero alone or dive into the multiplayer experience where interaction and unpredictability add excitement.
The setup, though detailed, becomes intuitive after a few plays, making it accessible for new and experienced gamers alike. The variety of cards and paths means players can keep returning without the game feeling repetitive.
Final Thoughts on the Multiplayer Experience
Call to Adventure combines strategic gameplay with a strong narrative core, creating an engaging multiplayer experience. Its design encourages players to balance risk and reward, manage resources like Experience and Corruption, and craft stories that bring their heroes to life.
Whether you are a fan of traditional board game mechanics or drawn to roleplaying and storytelling, this game offers a rich and rewarding journey. Multiplayer play adds social energy and unpredictability that keeps each game session fresh and exciting.
For groups looking to explore a board game that blends creativity with strategy, Call to Adventure is an excellent choice. It invites players to embark on heroic quests, face challenges, and tell unforgettable stories—all in one game night.
Mastering the Art of Rune Management
One of the core elements that makes Call to Adventure engaging is the rune system, which ties directly into your character’s strengths and determines how you face challenges. Each player’s Origin card defines two rune types that you use when attempting to overcome challenges throughout the game. Managing these runes effectively is critical because your success often depends on how many matching runes you can roll during your turn.
To maximize your potential, it’s important to build your character around rune synergy. Look for traits and challenges that grant you runes matching your Origin’s symbols, as this will increase your chances of rolling successfully when taking on difficult challenges. Expanding your rune pool also allows you to face tougher obstacles in the later acts without relying too heavily on luck.
Players often make the mistake of spreading their rune focus too thin. Concentrating on a few complementary rune types usually pays off more than trying to acquire many different symbols. Prioritize cards that reinforce your main runes and avoid those that don’t align with your character’s inherent strengths.
Balancing Experience Tokens and Corruption
Experience tokens are a vital resource for influencing your chances during challenges and for unlocking special abilities. Spending experience to add Dark Runes to your roll can be tempting because it increases your likelihood of success, but this often comes at the cost of gaining Corruption. Corruption is tracked on your player board and can have significant consequences for your strategy and final scoring.
Finding the right balance between using experience tokens to power through challenges and managing your Corruption level is a key part of the game’s strategic depth. Excessive corruption limits which Hero and Antihero cards you can play and can negatively impact your end-game points. However, controlled corruption can grant access to powerful cards and bonuses that might be essential for clinching victory.
A useful approach is to spend experience tokens conservatively early in the game, reserving them for crucial challenges in later acts. Keep an eye on your Corruption tracker and try to avoid crossing thresholds that restrict your card play options unless you have a clear plan to capitalize on the benefits corruption brings.
Choosing When to Take Traits or Face Challenges
Each turn in Call to Adventure presents a choice between adding a Trait card or attempting a Challenge card to your story. Traits usually come with simpler requirements and offer passive bonuses, while Challenges provide higher rewards but involve a riskier roll.
Understanding when to opt for Traits versus Challenges depends largely on your current board position and long-term goals. If you’re building up your runes and want steady progress, Traits can be a safer bet. They help you expand your character’s abilities without risking failure.
However, Challenges are often necessary to gain significant points or key story cards that push your character’s development forward. Early in the game, it might be wise to focus on Traits to build a solid foundation, then shift toward Challenges as your rune pool grows and you can tackle more difficult cards.
Also, pay attention to your opponents’ actions. If you notice others aggressively pursuing Challenges, you might find an advantage by playing more conservatively or focusing on Traits that enhance your strengths.
Using Hero and Antihero Cards Strategically
Hero and Antihero cards add a unique strategic element to the game. These cards represent powerful allies or adversaries that influence your character’s journey. The timing and choice of when to play these cards can be a game-changer.
Since your Corruption level affects which of these cards are available, planning your Corruption carefully helps you access the cards best suited for your play style. Hero cards typically provide positive effects, such as additional points or bonuses during certain actions, while Antihero cards may hinder opponents or provide benefits if you take a darker path.
Using these cards at critical moments, such as just before completing an act or facing a tough Challenge, can swing momentum in your favor. Conversely, holding on to these cards too long may mean missing out on their benefits. Consider how each card fits into your overall strategy and the current state of the game.
Timing Your Progress Through Acts
The game is divided into three acts, each with its deck of story cards. Progressing through these acts at the right pace is crucial. Completing an act requires collecting a certain number of cards under your Origin or Motivation, but you can also pick cards from multiple acts once you’ve started advancing.
Early in the game, it can be beneficial to focus on Act I cards to build a solid base of Traits and Challenges that increase your rune pool and experience. Rushing too quickly through the acts without preparing your character can leave you vulnerable to difficult challenges later on.
However, being too slow to advance can let opponents finish acts and gain access to stronger cards ahead of you. Watch the pace of other players and adjust accordingly. Sometimes it’s wise to take a riskier Challenge in a new act to catch up or prevent others from pulling too far ahead.
Crafting Your Destiny Through Card Synergy
The Destiny card you receive at the beginning of the game plays a key role in your strategy, often dictating which story icons you should prioritize to maximize your final points. Throughout the game, paying attention to matching story icons on the cards you acquire can yield significant bonuses during scoring.
Plan your card choices around your Destiny requirements without losing sight of rune synergy and resource management. Sometimes it’s worth sacrificing a card that doesn’t fit your rune strategy if it helps complete an important icon set for Destiny points.
Being mindful of how different cards interact and complement each other is the essence of building a winning story. Look for combinations of Traits, Challenges, and Hero/Antihero cards that amplify your scoring potential and narrative coherence.
Enhancing Multiplayer Interaction
Multiplayer games of Call to Adventure are enriched by player interaction. While the game is largely focused on individual character development, players can influence one another through the play of Hero and Antihero cards or by competing for limited story cards.
Anticipating your opponents’ moves and adapting your strategy accordingly is key to gaining an edge. For example, if you see another player focusing heavily on certain rune types or story icons, you might choose cards that block or counter their approach.
The possibility of discarding unwanted cards also introduces a subtle layer of player interaction. You can prevent others from gaining valuable cards by carefully managing the shared decks and timing your discards.
Being attentive and responsive to other players’ tactics adds excitement and complexity to the multiplayer experience.
Leveraging the Solo Experience to Improve Multiplayer Skills
Though Call to Adventure shines as a multiplayer game, playing solo can be a great way to refine your understanding of the mechanics and experiment with different strategies. Solo play allows you to explore how various Origins, Motivations, and Destiny cards influence your approach without pressure from opponents.
By practicing solo, you can develop a sense of timing, rune management, and risk assessment that translates well to multiplayer sessions. You’ll also gain familiarity with the effects of Hero and Antihero cards, improving your ability to make quick, strategic decisions.
Many players find that alternating between solo and multiplayer helps maintain interest in the game and sharpens their skills.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
New players often struggle with overextending their character too quickly or spreading resources too thin. Trying to acquire too many different runes or neglecting Corruption management can lead to difficult situations where it becomes hard to succeed on Challenges or play key cards.
Another common mistake is ignoring the importance of Destiny card requirements. Focusing solely on rune synergy or immediate rewards might cost valuable points in the final scoring phase.
Players sometimes overlook the strategic timing of Hero and Antihero cards, missing opportunities to shift momentum. Planning when and how to play these cards based on your Corruption level and the current game state can be crucial.
Taking the time to balance all these factors leads to more consistent success and a richer gameplay experience.
Creating Memorable Game Nights with Call to Adventure
The combination of strategic depth and storytelling makes Call to Adventure an excellent choice for game nights. Its ability to engage players with varied interests—whether they favor tactics or narrative—ensures everyone can participate and enjoy.
Encouraging players to narrate their character’s journey adds a memorable social element that brings the game to life. Sharing stories of triumph, tragedy, and corruption enhances the atmosphere and makes the game more than just a contest for points.
With its modular design, manageable playtime, and variety of card combinations, Call to Adventure offers countless possibilities for replayability. This keeps group sessions fresh and exciting, making it a staple for those who enjoy games that blend roleplaying with strategy.
Conclusion:
Understanding the interplay of runes, experience, corruption, and card synergy is key to mastering Call to Adventure in multiplayer. By carefully managing your resources, choosing when to take risks, and crafting your hero’s story with an eye toward your Destiny, you can create a character journey that is both compelling.
The game’s design supports creativity and strategic depth, making each playthrough unique. Multiplayer games benefit from the added interaction and unpredictability, turning every session into a shared adventure.
Whether you are a newcomer or a seasoned player, focusing on these strategic insights will help you get the most out of your Call to Adventure experience and bring excitement to every game night.