Inis

Ancient Ireland Comes Alive
Long before St. Patrick arrived, even before the Romans glimpsed its shores, Ireland was a contested place. Peoples were lured there by its thick forests, bright green fields, and swift-flowing rivers. The battles, marriages, and quests of these peoples are remembered and brought alive in the board game Inis.

Designed by Christian Martinez and lavishly produced by Matagot, Inis a two-to-four player board game that immerses you in Ireland’s fierce heroes, enchanted objects, and beautiful mist-covered landscape. Your goal in Inis is to become Ireland’s first High King.

Based on ancient myths about Ireland’s colonization and first kings. Innovative game mechanics unite card drafting and area control. Modular puzzle board creates a different landscape for every game. Gorgeous original art and highly-detailed plastic figures bring the setting to life.

The Power Lies In Your Hands
Abilities are given to you by the territories that you govern as chieftain, while the most powerful cards, Epic Tale cards, are the most difficult to get. You’ll have to choose your cards carefully, and balance fulfilling your own ambitions with keeping powerful tools out of your opponents’ hands.

Begin as an Invader, Become High King
You can cultivate the favor of the gods, and win by occupying territories that include a total of six sanctuaries. You can focus on populating the island, and spread your people out across six territories. Or you can choose to dominate others, and govern over six of your opponents’ clans.

Become one of Ireland’s first chieftains in in is, a two-to-four player board game designed by Christian Martinez. In is invites you to experience the magnificent deeds of Irish myth as you explore the island’s enchanted landscape and claim territory for your clans. The game’s elegant mechanics combine card drafting and area control to produce a system rich in strategic options and interpersonal interactions. Brilliantly Crafted tiles give every game a unique, gradually unfolding geography, while original art brings Ireland’s ancient epics and audacious heroes to life.

BGG:
Inis is a game deeply rooted in Celtic history and lore in which players win by being elected King of the Island (Inis). Players can try to achieve one of three different victory conditions:

Leadership: Be the leader — i.e., have more clan figures than any other player — of territories containing at least six opponents’ clans.
Land: Have your clans present in at least six different territories.
Religion: Have your clans present in territories that collectively contain at least six sanctuaries.
Over the course of the game, players also earn deeds, typically chanted by bards or engraved by master crafters, that reduce by one the magic total of six for any condition. While one victory condition is enough to claim the title of King, a game of experienced players usually has a tight balance of power, emphasizing the leadership of the capital of the island.

At the start of each round, players draft a hand of four action cards (with 13 action cards for three players and 17 for four players) during the Assembly. Action cards not played at the end of one season are not held for the next. Players also have access to leader cards for the territories that allow it and where they were elected leader during the assembly. Each Assembly reallocates those cards. Finally, they collect ”epic tales” cards that depict the deeds of the ancient Irish gods and heroes, like Cuchulainn, the Dagda, Lugh and many others. These will be kept and used to inspire the clans and achieve extraordinary feats...under the right circumstances. The cards provide a variety of actions: adding clans, moving clans, building/exploring, and special actions.

Careful drafting, hand management, bluffing (especially once players understand the importance of passing their turn), good timing, and a precise understanding of the balance of power are the keys to victory. After a discovery game you’ll be ready for a full and epic game, where an undisputed player will be king by the Assembly for his merit and wisdom.

While Inis has ”dudes” that are ”on a map”, it’s a beginner’s mistake to play this as a battle game because eliminating other clans reduces your chances of scoring a Leadership victory condition. Peace among different clans, with or without a clear territory leader, is the usual outcome of a clan’s movement. Battles will occur, of course, as the Celtic clans can be unruly and a good player will listen to his clan’s people (i.e., his hand of cards). That battle aspect is reflected in the clan’s miniatures representing warriors. Woodsmen, shepherds and traders complete the set of twelve minis for each player; these occupations have no impact on the game, but give it flavor.

AWARDS & HONORS:
2017 SXSW Tabletop Game of the Year Nominee.
2016 Golden Geek Board Game of the Year Nominee.
2016 Golden Geek Best Strategy Board Game Nominee.
2016 Golden Geek Best Board Game Artwork & Presentation Nominee.
2016 Cardboard Republic Striker Laurel Nominee.

Components:

2-4

3760146642294

Asmodee / Matagot

60

2016

14+

Inis

2018-06-21 11:56:51

~$129.88

2026-03-21

2018-06-21 11:56:51