Paper Tales and Solo Card Drafting Against the Lich King
Brave the battle against the Lich King that takes a diverse cast of units through the generations with Paper Tales.
I might as well have added an aging token to Paper Tales… It’s been so long since I last played! There’s something charming about the papercraft artwork, yet the mechanics are superb. Solo card drafting can be a subpar experience, but this is one of my favorites! Everything was quickly laid out as I stared at my nemesis, the Lich King. To battle!
Game Overview
Game Name: Paper Tales
Publication Year: 2017
Designer: Masato Uesugi
Artist: Christine Alcouffe
Publisher: Catch Up Games
Solo Mode: Included in Paper Tales: Beyond the Gates
Over the course of just 4 rounds, a kingdom rises with units and buildings. Many participate in battles against the Lich King, yet victory isn’t all about war. Aging keeps units from sticking around forever to simulate the passage of time, and careful decisions must always be made!
First Play
December 23, 2019
Complexity
2
Latest Play
September 29, 2023
Expansions
1
Setup Time
Almost None
Lifetime Plays
20
Play Time
20 Minutes
High Score
50
Game Area
22" x 22"
Low Score
26
The Forgotten Crypt
More fun with my StoryWorld cards! Since there is an actual crypt building and plenty of units that seem to fit, I simply couldn’t ignore the random connection.
I should also note that although there are demons and monsters within the game, I don’t classify them as scary.
It’s nice to see the strategy around each unit. There are some duplicates, yet the variety is excellent! And I realized the Lich King looks just like the Relic of War. Hmm…
Actually, my StoryWorld card with a bloody ax might be scarier and more violent than the game itself!
A Rules Refresher
When I return to a game after many months, it’s almost a requirement to re-read the rules. Yet I enjoy this process since it often reminds me of all the things I love!
I received a little help from a ghost who emerged from that crypt. Oh, wait… Just another Calico Critter in a Halloween costume! That’s a little cat tucked inside.
There was a great deal of assistance in turning the pages, although I still had to do most of the work. Tiny paws!
It wasn’t long before I grasped everything and recalled how much I enjoyed playing during my previous sessions.
Lich King Variety
The solo mode is implemented in many excellent ways. I enjoy the goal of achieving a high score, yet it’s often very fun to have a solid solo opponent. Enter the Lich King!
He utilizes a set of 5 quest cards that affect his points and strength in battle. But don’t think it’s all static!
For each quest position, there are 4 different cards. As an example, I took out all of the possible first position cards. Only a single one is randomly chosen per play.
Most begin face-down, so it’s impossible to perfectly plan ahead. The Lich King certainly has some tricks in store!
Adding a Challenge
From my own experience, it takes a little time to get into the rhythm of play. The Lich King might seem too easy to beat at a certain point, and then what? Retire the game?
Nope! Also included are 4 optional Lich King abilities. These simply give him additional ways to score victory points. Anywhere from 0-4 abilities may be in play.
Looking at my notes, I needed to beat the Lich King at the level 3 difficulty level. Definitely possible, though hard.
I had everything ready to go as I eagerly set out to build my kingdom and revisit these legendary characters.
Organizing Units
The draft went quite well as I focused on choosing units that would benefit me, while also ensuring the Lich King didn’t get any that would provide him with victory points.
With so few coins to start with, I had to be careful about my choices. Luckily, there were a lot of low cost options!
Only 2 units may be placed in each row. Even more strategic is the fact that the units in the back row don’t participate in battles. Plenty of choices to make.
I used the Young Sorcerer to move an aging token around, thereby ensuring the Veteran would stick around for a bit!
Building a Kingdom
Battles provide a way to earn victory points, although the Lich King will occasionally do much better than expected.
Another important element to consider is construction. 7 different buildings are available during each play, though some of these are randomized for added variability.
It costs resources to build, and more buildings invariably mean higher coin costs to acquire the land. Very logical!
My choices might not have been the best, but getting an upgraded building granted me the ability to have 3 units in the front row going forward. Quite a nice bonus, indeed!
A Thematic Set
Units vary considerably in terms of their abilities, but also their appearances. I appreciate the very diverse cast, too. The Militiaman is represented by a strong woman. Nice!
Since a play only takes place over 4 rounds, there isn’t necessarily a deep narrative. Yet at the same time, some cards speak volumes and tell their own tale.
When I placed the Shapeshifter, it allowed me to draw a new card and add an aging token. Ooo… The Relic of War!
My Necromancer seemed quite thrilled with this. But I’m going to say I think I know who created the Lich King!
From the Crypt
Another visit from this little ghost! She hung onto a lot of aging tokens to let me know that she was a very, very old ghost from long ago. Quite thematic and well-played!
The aging mechanic is an interesting one to mimic time passing. Some units do better by collecting these tokens, but anyone who ages is removed at the end of the round.
Unless you’re a Calico Critters ghost, that is! Then you just keep hoarding these tokens for all eternity. Ha ha!
It’s a simple element of gameplay that introduces a lot of thoughtful decisions. Too bad the Lich King can’t age!
Session Overview
Play Number: 11-14
Expansion: Paper Tales: Beyond the Gates
Solo Mode: Included in Paper Tales: Beyond the Gates
Play Details: Level 3 Difficulty Level
Outcome: 43-54, 42-44, 50-53, 37-43 (4 Losses)
I came very close to victory a few times, but the Lich King ruled the land each time! The challenge was excellent and with just a little bit of luck, I might have won. There were some suboptimal choices with the buildings, though, and I knew where I could have done better. I’ll just have to plan to battle again someday with this wonderful game!
%
20 Plays
Affordability
Price & Value
8
Functionality
Challenges & Mechanics
10
Originality
Design & Theme
8
Quality
Components & Rules
9
Reusability
Achievement & Enjoyment
7
Variability
Distinctness & Randomness
7
+ Pros (Positives)
- Solo card drafting is actually quite fun and interesting as the choice also comes down to blocking the Lich King.
- Gameplay goes quickly with a defined sequence that’s easy to follow and only 4 rounds until the end.
- The aging mechanism is intriguing as it ensures many units won’t stay around for a long time without action.
- All of the iconography is unique but easy to understand after a handful of plays, especially with reference cards.
- There are ways to adjust the difficulty level, and the variability means the Lich King plays very unpredictably.
- Some cards are entirely unique, yet the duplicates are quite useful and all feature beautiful, distinct artwork.
– Cons (Negatives)
- A certain degree of luck with the available units can lead to limited options and a lot of lost victory points.
- The card quality is a bit disappointing and thinner than what might be expected for a card-focused game.
- Typos and errors abound in the expansion rulebook, which needs to be examined closely to understand the rules.
- For such a beautiful game, the scoreboard is rather bland and features a pattern that can be hard to follow.
Victory Conditions
Score the Most Points
- Overall Goal Progress 75%
Goals and Milestones
Win at least 1 game at the level 0 difficulty level.
Win at least 1 game at the level 1 difficulty level.
Win at least 1 game at the level 2 difficulty level.
Win at least 1 game at the level 3 difficulty level.
Continue the Conversation
What are your thoughts about Paper Tales? I enjoy all of the different decisions that pop up during play, especially with the excellent solo card drafting and quick gameplay! Are there any other games that surprised you with their mechanics? My rivalry with the Lich King shall continue and I look forward to the next time I return to this world!
The Lich King ages… like a fine wine.
Interesting art style, a bit less florid than a lot of fantasy games, but effectively representative.
Ha ha! Not sure if the Lich King aged so well with just a skeleton remaining, but I suppose it worked for him! The art style is something I haven’t come across anywhere else. It does get across the fantasy world setting very well and includes a lot of different characters. Even people like farmers or merchants play crucial roles, and you don’t always see that when the focus is on the heroes who rush into battle. Lots to like here!