Review

Talon

Talon is quick and tidy on the table, but a one-off battle has little reason to exist. The campaign game is where the system finds its teeth.

Talon

Talon

Published
2016
Designer
Jim Krohn
Publisher
GMT Games
Players
2–6
Playing time
90 min

I put Talon on the table without any of the Talon 1000 extras, partly so Hida could have a look. The battle was brisk and pleasant enough, but as a standalone skirmish it felt wholly pointless; there are much better systems for an evening built around one fight.

At its centre, this is a short skirmish battle: set up the encounter, take each other on, and reach the end quickly. Speed is its strongest asset, rather than the depth of an isolated game.

The battle was brisk and pleasant enough, but as a standalone skirmish it felt wholly pointless; there are much better systems for an evening built around one fight.
TheCuttlefish

It changes once those battles belong to a campaign. Then the ease of setting up and playing a session lets two people keep a story moving with one meeting every other week for two or three months; that is where the system starts to hurt.

I would not choose Talon for a bare skirmish. For a small, regular two-player campaign, it seems to occupy exactly the space it needs — I simply cannot see myself setting one up.

For a small, regular two-player campaign, it seems to occupy exactly the space it needs — I simply cannot see myself setting one up.
TheCuttlefish

Source: BoardGameGeek

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