DISCLAIMERS

Many words have already been spoken (written) about Fury of Dracula, and although I think I read most of the reviews (and thus will try not to be too repetitive), it can still so happen, that some of my points will mirror those already expressed by other people. I apologize for that. If it actually happens, just treat what I write here as an acknowledgement of what reviewers wrote before me.

Also, I will make a couple of comparisons of FoD to its older versions. However, I am basing my views on second-hand information concerning The Fury of Dracula (1987) and my own encounter with its Polish version, called Wampir (Vampire). I do not know how faithful the game by Sfera was to the original, so forgive me if I make any mistakes here.

Thank you.

DRACULA 1990

I must admit that FoD is one of my all-time-favourites. I remember playing its earlier version and having some fun, but not enough to even think of buying the “younger” version of the game. What I remember vividly from my first encounter with the (more or less) original version of the game, was splendid artwork and absolute chaos. I really liked the theme, but (since I was a kid, and my boardgame-friend was a kid like me), we would never fully trust each other with what went on behind the Vampire screen. When I played as the hunters I usually suspected that the Vampire player may cheat, based on my own experiences. Sometimes it was so easy to just make a small “modification” to where the Vampire token was to win the game.

I am not a teenager any more, which means that I don’t cheat (and are not really tempted to, either). My conclusion, however, was that having a game with two boards and a screen is something that will simply not work. I’m an (ex?) roleplayer and I never used any DM screens, because I preferred to look the (other) players in the eye, while playing and it seems that this habit stayed by me, even though I made an almost-complete change of my favourite poison. It all boils up to me not ever wanting to buy the game. Well, until one faithful night, at least.

To make a long story short, I joined a group of people playing Fury of Dracula on a whim. A boring pub-night was about to change. I played Van Helsing, and my at-that-time girlfriend took Mina Harker. We had a blast – but what was really important is that I saw that… well… that there is no screen! Only a really ingenious card system, that makes the game clean and fair. I cannot express enough how I like the idea of putting the trail of Dracula on a set of location cards. I think it’s one of the best gaming-rule ideas of the last couple of years. It is also a perfect cheating-repellent and an ideal way to check if the Dracula player is not trying to bamboozle them, using some “extra help.”

Now, I know that some people pointed out that the previous version of the game was superior. I strongly believe that the change from the two-maps-one-screen into a trail of cards is a very good transition and a great step forward for the game. Let’s not, however, forget, how it changed the pace and the “feel” of the game.

I remember somebody making an important point that the old game was more about finding and the new one is more about chasing Dracula. I cannot agree more on that, although, I believe there is a decent amount of brain-work to be done by the hunters and the evil count himself. Firstly, the six-card trail makes it much more difficult for Dracula. Sometimes, it so happens that poor old bloodsucker has to go in the general direction of the hunters, because he cannot cross his own trail. The game is a luck-driven intellectual duel, but the change that puts some more weight on the “chase” aspect makes you actually feel the scent of blood, when the hunters, after finally making some real progress, start mercilessly following in Dracula’s footsteps. I personally love how the temperature rises around the table, with hunter players standing up and walking around the table to get a “better view” and the Dracula player struggling not to flinch, when they start considering his actual hiding place as a travel option for Lord Godalming in the middle of the day. Yes, I admit again: this is more of a chase, but the sheer thrill that accompanies it seems unparalleled by many bigger and (seemingly) better games.

It was much different in the case of Wampir. When the hunters finally caught on, they needed but one right step to get right into the final face-off with the evil count. And it did not seem (to me at least) half as thrilling as what Fury of Dracula can give you.

DRACULA 2008

Apart from the thrill, I really love the theme of the game. The components are high quality, the game does not suffer form an abundance of useless (or all-too-useful) chits. The artwork is something some people may find dissatisfactory. That is mainly due to the fact, that the illustrations have this non-specific, classic/pulp style. Dracula even has his early hairdo and a black-and-red cape. To me, that does not matter. Actually, I even find the style very attached to what the game represents.

What I also really love about the game is that, although it’s an Ameritrash game, you need less than fifteen minutes to explain it to a total newbie. And even an inexperienced, but clever group of hunters has a chance to corner Dracula during their first game. It’s not a game in which the only way to win is to know all the cards, combinations and possibilities by heart. All you need is a bright mind and some will to cooperate with (or run away from) your friends.

Another great idea I’d like to discuss is the night/day turn system. Obviously, the realism of the game suffers immensely (since you can travel from Paris to Varna in 24 hours, and it’s the nineteenth century, mind you), but the fact that Dracula becomes more or less dangerous depending on the time of day (or night) makes the hunters think twice, before mindlessly rushing into battle. It even sometimes switches the roles (with Mina or any other bitten/severely wounded hunter trying to stay away from the count for the duration of the night).

CONCLUSIONS

The first issue I’d like to address here is the balance problem some people pointed out in other reviews. The problem that seemingly appears when there is only one player commanding all four hunters. This, of course, means that his plans remain only within his head. Since hunter players are not allowed to discuss anything behind Dracula’s back, the vampire player being unable to see their plans in the making may seem to by the handicapped party within the gameplay. I believe it’s untrue. I agree, that many hunter players have problems coordinating their movement, which takes time and sometimes creates chaos, but they do have a great edge of a constant brainstorm. Besides, eight pair of eyes is more likely to notice all of the details, four mind are more likely to remember more important things and four attitudes are better at guessing what the Dracula player hides behind his grin, than a single pair of eyes and one mind. Obviously, an ingenious single hunter-player may use it to his advantage, but I think this is a rather rare case.

Secondly, I’d like to say that I love the game for it’s replayability. I’m a man who owns around 30 games, so I rarely want to play one of them two or three times in a row. Fury of Dracula actually made it into that very elite group.

BONUS ADVICE

And now for a couple of very basic advice, people tend to forget when they play FoD:


Hunters

Never be certain of anything: double check your calculations.

Remember about the “Hide” card.

Fight during the day.

Remember about Resolve (hypnosis!).

Live today, fight tommorow.

Have an eye on Mina during the night.

If you fight, send Godalming in with a pair of stakes.



Dracula

Remember about the “Hide” card – and don’t keep it with other special cards!

Remember you can look into single item/event card of a bitten hunter.

Don't fight during the day.

Remember about Resolve (hypnosis!)

Live today, fight tommorow.

Have an eye on Mina during the night.

Avoid Godalming, especially if you suspect him of carrying two stakes.


Both Hunters and Dracula: have fun!