Getting Tricky with Trickerion and the Mechaniker
Enter the fantastic world of magicians, tricks, and thrilling performances in the theaters of Magoria with Trickerion.
There was something calling to me from my shelf, and it was most definitely Trickerion: Collector’s Edition! I never mastered much more than the basic sequence and hadn’t even touched the additional content. It was time! I happily lugged the giant box out of its hiding place and set to work getting into the spirit of old-fashioned magic tricks!
Game Overview
Game Name: Trickerion: Collector’s Edition
Publication Year: 2019
Designers: Richard Amann, Viktor Peter, and Dávid Turczi
Artists: Villő Farkas and László Fejes
Publisher: Mindclash Games
Solo Mode: Included in Trickerion: Dahlgaard’s Academy
So much to do and see! It’s important to note that this features tricks, but not actual magic. Materials must be gathered in order to perform, while assistants and an ever-growing knowledge of new tricks delights the theater crowd. It’s very tricky, though, in many ways!
First Play
June 15, 2020
Complexity
5
Latest Play
August 9, 2023
Expansions
0
Setup Time
10 Minutes
Lifetime Plays
7
Play Time
1 Hour & 30 Minutes
High Score
156
Game Area
52" x 34"
Low Score
45
In the City
Such a beautiful and enormous board! It houses all of the action spots and tracks, while also illustrating the heart of Magoria. There is always something new to see or find.
As expected, the theater takes up a large area. Can’t get anywhere learning tricks if they’re not performed!
New assistants may be hired, tricks can be learned, coins may be picked up, materials can be purchased and ordered, and chances may be taken in the darkest alley.
This is definitely a heavier sort of game, yet the theme has always drawn me in to try to improve my strategies.
The Mechaniker
I randomly decided to play as the Mechaniker. No complaints from me. If my character has a top hat, I’m absolutely sold. No questions asked. Ha ha!
My starting trick took a little thought, but I settled on the living piano. The materials may have given away the secret… Animals and mirrors?! Well, now I know.
It took me some time to go back through the rules, but I expected that after not playing for a year and a half.
Perhaps most important of all was the reminder that I never felt like I mastered the level 3 trick’s build-up.
Against the Light
My solo opponent turned out to be Lumenia. Way too much light and radiance. Ha ha! She started out with a simple card trick that served me well in the past.
That’s a small but subtle benefit of this solo design: Each character doubles as a possible solo opponent, giving each one a little more personality. Plus, the rivalries!
I felt a little intimidated, though, mostly owing to the fact that I’ve utterly failed in the last couple of rounds before.
Yet it was a new day and the Mechaniker was all set to amaze Magoria with tricks of the highest order!
Top Management
Setup allows for a specialist to begin in play. Each has its own benefits, but I decided to go with the manager for some extra materials. And a bowtie, of course!
Essentially, this had my starting trick already prepared and ready to go. Was it the right strategy? No idea.
I remembered very little about my few victories and had a feeling this was going to be a learning game. The only question was how I would feel at the very end.
Heavy games are sometimes too much for me, which I blame entirely on myself. But I do like trying them out!
To the Theater!
Before I knew it, the exciting opening tricks were ready to be performed. My magician claimed the Friday slot, offering me the ability to choose which card to use.
It was very close, yet I saw myself slowly pulling ahead. No one could resist the amazing living piano! Best ever.
But it wasn’t all about the performances. I started to get a little muddled about improving my magic act… Exactly what happened to me in the past. People get bored!
Yet I stuck it out with my living piano, which only offered modest benefits. I was starting to bore Magoria.
I Give You “Magic”
As expected, I was off to an early lead and then utterly fell apart. From a gameplay standpoint, it was a little on the frustrating side because I felt rather lost.
Yet from a story standpoint, this was hilarious! The Mechaniker had no talent, even though he really tried.
That living piano became a tired trope, and if the people of the city threw tomatoes, I know where they went!
The mechanical hornet was a quick one-hit-wonder that I never got the materials to prepare again. And the spirit hand? The absolute best I could do for the finale. Oh, my.
Session Overview
Play Number: 5
Solo Mode: Included in Trickerion: Dahlgaard’s Academy
Play Details: Easy Difficulty Level with the Base Game
Outcome: 45-92 (Loss)
Lumenia completely embarrassed the Mechaniker! This was my worst outing, and I flip-flopped on retiring this one or trying to play more often… I believe the latter choice is the right one! I actually thought I had played a lot more, which would have made this defeat even worse. We’ll call it a re-learning experience and hope there’s a little more magic in the box next time so I can win!
%
1 Play
Affordability
Price & Value
8
Functionality
Challenges & Mechanics
8
Originality
Design & Theme
7
Quality
Components & Rules
10
Reusability
Achievement & Enjoyment
7
Variability
Distinctness & Randomness
7
+ Pros (Positives)
- There are not an enormous number of choices, yet figuring out the optimal moves is very strategic and fun.
- Many different magicians and tricks provide countless options for finding ways to earn victory points.
- Although the rules are a bit in-depth and take time to learn, the solo mode becomes generally intuitive.
- Each piece of artwork is amazing and thematic, from the double-sided map to the very tricks themselves.
- Various modules may be added to adjust the difficulty level and provide additional actions to consider.
- The setting and theme are very immersive, bringing a unique world to life through the components and rules.
– Cons (Negatives)
- There is a huge amount of table space needed, yet the decks of cards only have partial slots on the board’s edges.
- A lot of rules must be learned in order to get the sequence of play down, and the strategies are not always clear.
- Iconography means less need for text, but some symbols aren’t very intuitive and require constant checking.
- Despite the game being excellent overall, the lengthy play time and setup process can make it tricky to play a lot.
Victory Conditions
Score the Most Points
- Overall Goal Progress 50%
Goals and Milestones
Win at least 1 game at the easy difficulty level.
Win at least 1 game at the normal difficulty level.
Continue the Conversation
What are your thoughts about Trickerion: Collector’s Edition? I have to laugh at the way this performance was about the most disappointing thing Magoria ever saw! How well have you done as the different magicians? No fame and glory for the Mechaniker with me pulling the strings. Definitely need to play some more and stay focused!
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