Why I like: LIFEBOAT!

Summary

In this video, the reviewer shares an in-depth look at *Lifeboat*, a strategic tabletop game by Guerrilla Games. Designed for 4 to 6 players, the game revolves around secret motives where players must protect their loved one while eliminating their hated rival. Featuring unique mechanics like fighting, navigating, and dealing with limited resources, *Lifeboat* encourages negotiation, betrayal, and alliances. The reviewer highlights the game's fun social dynamics, quirky characters, and memorable moments, offering a humorous and candid perspective on why the game is both enjoyable and filled with strategic surprises.

Takeaways

• 😀 Lifeboat is a tabletop game for 4-6 players, ages 13 and up, with a focus on secret motives and survival tactics.
• 😀 The game begins with each player assigned a character and given 'love' and 'hate' cards, which dictate who they must protect and eliminate.
• 😀 Players must navigate social dynamics, form alliances, and deceive others to achieve their hidden objectives.
• 😀 Fights can only be initiated by switching places or stealing cards, with the risk of injury and elimination if players take too much damage.
• 😀 Provision cards, including water, food, and special items, are distributed each round, and players must manage these resources to survive.
• 😀 Players at the front of the boat get first pick of the provision cards, while those at the back (often the youngest) receive random cards.
• 😀 The back player, referred to as 'the kid', plays a crucial role in navigation by choosing between two cards that affect the boat's course.
• 😀 Navigation cards can lead to beneficial outcomes (closer to land) or dangerous consequences (like being thrown overboard and wounded).
• 😀 Character abilities add depth to the gameplay, with unique powers allowing players to strategize in different ways, making each character feel distinct.
• 😀 Social interactions are key to the game's appeal, with players often making deals, breaking alliances, and experiencing unexpected betrayals.
• 😀 While the game is fun and engaging, it can be frustrating when players are eliminated due to clever strategies or betrayals, as happened with the reviewer when they played as 'the kid'.

Q & A

What is the main objective of the game Lifeboat?

The main objective of *Lifeboat* is to survive the game by keeping your 'loved' character alive while attempting to eliminate your 'hated' character. Players earn points based on these goals and the last player remaining wins the game.

How do players initiate fights in Lifeboat?

Players can start fights by either trying to switch places with another player or attempting to steal a card from them. Special abilities may also trigger fights in certain scenarios.

What is the role of the 'kid' character in Lifeboat?

The 'kid' is the player who is positioned at the back of the boat. Although they have the smallest size and are vulnerable to losing fights, they are given a special advantage: they get to choose from a smaller pile of navigation cards that influence the boat's course and affect all players.

How does the provision system work in Lifeboat?

Provision cards are distributed at the start of each round. The player at the front of the boat (usually the captain) picks first, with subsequent players choosing in order. The player at the back of the boat, often the 'kid', receives the least desirable cards, typically water or low-value items, though they also gain a navigation advantage.

What are navigation cards and how do they impact the game?

Navigation cards are used by the player at the back of the boat (the 'kid'). These cards determine the boat's movement and affect all players in the game. The choices made from the navigation deck can have varying effects, including causing players to get wounded, adding extra thirst, or progressing the game towards its end.

What happens if a player is wounded in Lifeboat?

When a player is wounded in a fight, they receive red tokens to mark their injuries. If their wounds exceed their character's size number, they die and are eliminated from the game.

What is the significance of the bird symbols on navigation cards?

The bird symbols on navigation cards signify progress towards reaching land. If a player accumulates four bird symbols throughout the game, it marks the end of the game, indicating the boat has reached land.

What strategy can be used when playing the 'kid' character?

Playing the 'kid' involves using their unique ability to select navigation cards and manipulate the boat’s course. Although they are small and vulnerable in fights, they can gain strategic advantages by using their water cards for negotiation, forming temporary alliances, and managing their limited resources carefully.

Why does the speaker enjoy playing Lifeboat despite not winning?

The speaker enjoys *Lifeboat* because of the dynamic, social nature of the game. The constant negotiation, alliances, betrayals, and strategic decisions make it exciting and fun to play, even if they don't win. They highlight how the interaction between players is a major part of the game's appeal.

What was the speaker's most memorable experience in Lifeboat?

One of the speaker’s most memorable experiences involved playing as the 'kid' and having a secret strategy where they loved themselves. This led to a hilarious betrayal when the 'kid' made a deal for water in exchange for an alliance, but then reneged on the deal after winning a fight, creating a moment of tension and laughter.