What it is
Masterland is an Italian fantasy card game for two to four players, originally designed for two. Each of you has your own land in front of you, chosen from Tundra, Highlands, Underworld and Prairie, and each land has a power all its own: in the Underworld, for example, demons cost less.
There are two kinds of cards. Buildings, like castles and walls, go on your land, which only has room for five, and they’re mainly there to defend you and to stock up resources. Units line up in front of your land, as many as you can pay for, and they’re there to attack. You pay in gold, blood and wood, and some cards also cost life crystals.
The crystals are what it all revolves around. Everyone starts with fifteen, and when you attack, your units’ swords are compared with your opponent’s shields: the difference is the number of crystals you take from them, and they go to you. Whoever runs out is eliminated, and the last player with crystals left wins.
How it plays
Phil told us he thinks the game works because it’s simple and immediate but still has depth, and the tournaments prove it: there’s a bit of luck in the cards, but the best players always make it to the end. A lot is decided in your hand. Each turn you take the resource your cards need, and at the end of your turn you discard what you won’t use and draw back up: that’s where you see who has a plan.
A game lasts between fifteen minutes and half an hour. The cards do have text, but our copy is in Italian, and Phil also has families and kids in mind, from ten up.
We liked it best in teams, two against two: you play together, but everyone still has their own army, cards and buildings.
The nugget
Phil came up with it during Covid. There were two of them at home, and he was looking for a good two-player game with depth and strategy, so he made one himself. He put in the things he loves: a bit of poker, the world of Magic and Warhammer miniatures. That’s why the figures on the cards are small and drawn whole, like an army of miniatures lined up on the table.
At our table
It was the first parcel we ever received from a publisher, and Phil, the designer, also told us in person how the game came about.
How long does Masterland take?
The box says 15–30 minutes. At our table: 15 minutes at two.
The box
Is attack or defense more important?
Units attack, buildings defend, and there are never enough resources to do both.
Also on the table
Thanks to Masterland for sending us Masterland.