Earthborne Rangers: Back to the Valley and Ranger Reports
Explore a beautiful world filled with gentle, delightful moments in a campaign to find unseen dangers in Earthborne Rangers.
My first campaign of Earthborne Rangers took place a couple of years ago, even though it feels like yesterday! With the arrival of more expansions and a lot of details far from my mind, I was excited to return to a new campaign. Such an amazing landscape to get immersed in, from the calm descriptions of the scenes to the intricate storylines. Onward!
Spoiler Alert
This post includes a few spoilers for what to expect during the first day of the base game campaign, as well as a few examples of cards found in Earthborne Rangers: Moments on the Path. Most of what’s presented doesn’t do much to spoil what happens, although that initial sense of wonder and discovery is amazing. Feel free to skip if you haven’t played yet!
Game Overview
Game Name: Earthborne Rangers
Publication Year: 2023
Designers: Many (5 Credited)
Artists: Joe Banner & Evan Simonet
Publisher: Earthborne Games
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game
Across a series of in-game days, stories unfold all across the land. Little moments provide interesting challenges, with a puzzle around using skills, gear, and more to move through the environment safely. A campaign offers a deeper tale with secrets to uncover in this gorgeous environment!
First Play
December 28, 2023
Complexity
3
Latest Play
July 25, 2026
Expansions
6
Setup Time
10 Minutes
Lifetime Plays
27
Play Time
40 Minutes
High Score
N/A
Game Area
40" x 22"
Low Score
N/A
All the Possibilities
Several expansions have arrived, and I decided to return to the base game campaign with as much added in as I could.
I forgot how the play area is relatively small, save for the way I like to spread out the maps! So many stories can be told with the cards, which works for my play style so well.
Setting up took a little longer, only because I never properly organized everything. Success! I then took ages creating a new character, as I expected I would. It was awesome.
The rules were a little hazy, as I recalled how much trouble I had years ago. But it wasn’t long before I was ready to go!
Materials On Hand
Components were easy to organize in these bowls, which I use for practically everything these days. I also usually have the whole box bottom nearby to get the cards I need.
However, some of the new expansion boxes proved quite useful! I brought out the vast majority of cards I would need to use, including missions, locations, paths, and rewards.
Much more organized! This made it all feel a little less complex when it came time to grab a card or make a deck.
I tend to spread a lot of elements out when I play, although I like to keep things in a generally orderly fashion when I can.
Masterful Engineer
Plenty of time was spent going through all of the cards to figure out just what sort of character I wanted to explore with. I settled on an Artificer with a Shepherd background.
This is Doli Rowe! I was intrigued by all of the different gear types and what I could do to focus on technologies.
My first campaign was more about moments and skills. Not that I needed something completely different… That would have led me to choose a Shaper or Spirit Speaker.
I tend to make random choices when picking out cards, and that was my driving force here. All for the fun times!
A Ranger Report
Right away, my first day started off with a brand new card. This little moment was delightful and helped me move a little closer to more ideal weather. Simple, but fun!
The test system is also neat, with a random challenge card that can affect the outcome. More than that, though, it activates other cards with a matching symbol.
So the world feels more alive than a static arrangement, and I started to fall deeply into the storytelling potential.
My play was on the lengthier side as I got comfortable with the rules and simply let myself see all the little sights.
Balancing Wonder, Discovery, and Management
Probably the biggest hurdle with some open world concepts in solo games is the work involved in tracking everything. The play area can get enormous, and I sometimes get bogged down in a feeling of being overwhelmed. I think this one appeals to me because it has that sweeping sense of discovery without feeling like I have to manage countless elements.
There are still rules to keep track of and time pressure to be aware of, but those don’t remove the sense of wonder. It’s a joy to flip over the next card to see what’s coming next, even if that means it’s a duplicate or a card I’ve already seen. Weaving ongoing stories is what I feel like I’m doing best. Plenty of joyful moments can be found in every corner of the game!
Character Flair
Doli’s cards were useful in mechanical ways, but I liked making them more a part of who he was than anything.
That early morning whistling echoed with the Remote Sentinels. These were sent off in several instances to keep a close eye on the area, giving Doli a chance to move safely.
Perhaps most awesome of all was the Zoological Recorder! This could scan beings and make a record of them. It would be neat to discover the reward for this aspiration.
Finally… Oru! This adorable friend took his time coming out of the deck. I imagined he was off napping in the sun!
A Living World
While setting up, I stumbled across the publisher’s archive of ongoing Weekly Ranger Reports. These provide the weather and some other effect to change up a session.
I remembered that the weather was pretty static and easy last time around, so I decided to use these for each day.
Oh, my goodness… What fun! I didn’t know if I would stumble across any Lutrinals, but they romped a lot more!
Then, a sudden strike of lightning scared one off just as I was starting to think I might have a problem brewing. Doli fell on the rocks in the shallows, but the nice weather held.
Thematic Discoveries
Although there was a main mission to focus my attention on, it was fun to see how the environment came alive. Doli found the home of the Lutrinals when none were about…
And was it any surprise that one immediately romped over? Ha ha! The cool waters and soothing kelp staved off the worst of Doli’s bruises. No more injuries as the day ended.
I could narrate every card flip with how connected all of the elements felt. This was a wonderful first campaign day.
The stillness was simply excellent. Even with some exciting action, it was very relaxing and I felt genuinely happy.
Biscuits for All
Let’s not forget the most important of this day, though: The biscuits! Doli traveled to the city of White Sky to deliver these tasty gifts to the various residents. Lots of ideas!
There were potential side missions to explore, yet this initial day was about the baked goods. Doli turned down some offers, and would investigate further on a future visit.
I don’t believe this is a solo game that works for everyone. It operates at a slow pace, with little bursts of action.
For me, its strength is in the storytelling opportunities and appreciation of the tiny moments… Like delivering biscuits!
Session Overview
Play Number: 27
Main Expansion 1: Moments on the Path
Main Expansion 2: Stewards of the Valley
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game
Play Details: Day 1
Outcome: Campaign Incomplete
This first day only encompassed a short excursion from Lone Tree Station to White Sky. Zooming out, there was a whole world for Doli to explore! I’m glad to have returned to this game for another campaign. Some elements are familiar, yet there are plenty of new discoveries to make.
%
20 Plays
Affordability
Price & Value
8
Functionality
Challenges & Mechanics
8
Originality
Design & Theme
7
Quality
Components & Rules
7
Reusability
Achievement & Enjoyment
10
Variability
Distinctness & Randomness
7
+ Pros (Positives)
- Every part of the world feels like it’s alive in a way that brings together everything from the weather to the local flora.
- Discovering new cards from the path deck is very interesting and often advances a little narrative in a clever way.
- Although the world is open-ended, missions provide guidance on what to focus on so it isn’t about just wandering.
- Creating a character is a lot of fun, as it’s not about maximizing skills, but thinking about who the person is.
- There are combat situations and dangers, but the overall feeling is one of a very calm and beautiful world to explore.
- Limited variety exists in some of the decks, yet expansions add little moments that create fun and unique situations.
– Cons (Negatives)
- Rules are spread out and presented in a disjointed way in the rulebook, making the learning process rather difficult.
- There are a lot of keywords to be aware of, and understanding these interactions between turns can be a bit of work.
- Path decks can get repetitive pretty quickly, which sometimes creates ongoing side stories, but can be slightly boring.
- Remembering the sequence of play and following the steps takes time to get used to with the rules presentation.
Victory Conditions
Complete the Day
- Overall Goal Progress 50%
Goals and Milestones
Complete the Lure of the Valley campaign.
Complete a campaign using the Weekly Ranger Reports.
Continue the Conversation
What is your favorite part of Earthborne Rangers? Have you played through multiple campaigns or tried out any of the expansions? I’m thoroughly enjoying the experience, and I’m only one play into this campaign. Ha! The way the stories come alive works wonderfully and I can’t wait to see where this adventure takes me… Even if it’s all on a calm stroll.
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