David Turczi: A Top Designer for Solo Board Games
Discover why David Turczi is my top solo board game designer. Explore his innovative designs and collaborations that enhance solo gaming experiences.
Solo play has always been my primary criterion when purchasing and playing game. I rarely considered who the designer of the game was, as I was more focused on the mechanics and theme. Eventually I did discover David Turczi and with other designers he worked with such as Nick Shaw, Nigel Buckle. I’ll delve into how and why David has become one of my favorite designers when it comes to solo gaming.
David Turczi, a prominent board game designer, has become a significant influence on me over the past year. Whenever I hear his name associated with a board game, my curiosity is instantly piqued, and I can't resist checking it out right away. He is well-known and respected with other designers he works with for releasing several highly-rated and frequently played games throughout his career. Here are some of the games he's worked on. with other designers:
2016 Days of Ire: Budapest 1956
2017 Anachrony
2017 Kitchen Rush
2018 Dice Settlers
2019 Nights of Fire: Battle for Budapest
2020 Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun
2020 Tawantinsuyu: The Inca Empire
2020 Rome & Roll
2020 Rush M.D.
2021 Imperium: Classics (Nigel Buckle)
2021 Imperium: Legends (Nigel Buckle)
2021 Excavation Earth
2021 Venice
2021 The Defence of Procyon III
2021 Vengeance: Roll & Fight Episode 1 & 2
2022 Perseverance: Castaway Chronicles - Episodes 1 & 2
2024 Imperium: Horizons (Nigel Buckle)
2024 Star Trek: Captain's Chair (Nigel Buckle)
2024 Terraforrming Mars: Automa (Nick Shaw)
Discovering David Turczi
It all started with Anachrony and the Fractures of Time expansion. After buying the game, I dove into its various solo modes and was blown away by how well it played solo. It felt almost as if it were designed with human interaction in mind. Compared to other solo games I’ve experienced, like Lost Ruins of Arnak, and Endless Winter as Anachrony stands out as one of the best for solo play.
Eventually, Voidfall and Nucleum began gaining attention on BoardGameGeek. At first, I didn’t focus on who the designers were, but when I finally looked them up, I was surprised to find David's name attached to both. It's intriguing that I was drawn to these games without even realizing he was part of the design team.
My interest also expanded to deck-building games. Imperium Legends/Classics caught my attention due to the release of Imperium Horizons. Again, I didn’t realize it was David was part of the design team behind these games until I started researching. I immediately felt compelled to buy Legends to experience the solo mode. I was amazed by how the AI bot performed in Imperium Legends, and that’s when I became a big fan with the game and David's constributions in other games.
Although I often hear his name alongside many others, he's not the sole mastermind behind these impressive solo modes. For instance, Nick Shaw, another talented solo designer, collaborated with him on the Anachrony: Fractures of Time expansion. Nigel Buckle is another key team member who worked with him on Imperium: Horizons, Legends, and Classics. Also Star Trek: Captain's Chair is another game he worked on with Nigel Buckle.
AI Bots and Flow in Solo Modes
Solo modes that David contributed in may be quite complex for some players. To understand and carry out the AI bot's actions, you need to follow specific conditions depending on the game's circumstances. If these conditions yield a true or false result, the AI will act similarly to a human. Essentially, the AI bot adjusts to the game's scenarios, making it challenging for users and hard to anticipate its next move.
For example, in Undaunted Reinforcements, which David co-designed, the solo bot was developed in partnership with David Digby. Here's an example solo bot card for the Machine Gunner unit, which provides three logical steps to follow. If you're familiar with the game, you'll pick it up quickly. You perform the action when a condition is met; if not, you move to the next step and continue in this sequence.
Some additional rules are incorporated to mimic human behavior. For example, when the bot discards a Fog card, it draws a card from its deck and places it face down for the next round, where as a human player would simply add it to their hand and play it.
Similar as the Undaunted Reinforcements example, the bot typically plays a card based on the symbol icon and then follows the logical steps outlined in the rules. Depending on the situation of the bot, for example resources or cards the bot has, they will perform that action. Then on to the next card and perform the same steps. Each civilization has its own unique bot card detailing these conditions. Playing against different civilizations will offer various strategies.
This might seem quite daunting, as the learning curve can be steep and mentally exhausting for some players. I occasionally take breaks myself, but I still appreciate the complexity as it enhances the strategic depth and replayability of the game. The AI adapts to various situations, making each playthrough unique.
Think of it this way: in a video game, when playing against the AI, they follow a series of logical steps. Similar concept, but adapted to board games in a more streamlined form. I really appreciate how this approach is applied to board games, making the solo mode more interesting and engaging.
Europa Universalis: The Price of Power features an extremely complex bot AI. David worked with the dev team which he spent 4 days teaching them how to design solos, and drawing up the structure of the bot.
His involvement in the solo mode wasn't from the very beginning, but he contributed significantly to developing a robust AI, making the solo experience both complex and engaging. This serves as a prime example of how the game, inspired by a video game, incorporates a lot of intricate logic to manage its gameplay as it pushes the boundaries of what a board game can achieve and might not appeal to everyone. However, by learning and following the logical steps, it can deliver an epic experience.
My Collection
A significant portion of my collection consists of games from David and his co-designers. Here's a list of the ones I currently enjoy, along with a few I'm thinking of adding in the future.
Europa Universalis - The Price of Power
Undaunted Reinforcements - Normandy & North Africa
Imperium Horizons/Legends/Classics
Anachrony
Terraforming Mars Automa (Waiting for retail release in Oct 2024)
Voidfall (Wishlist)
Nucleum (Wishlist)
I am sure there are likely other excellent solo game designers out there, but for some reason, the team that David works with really excels at creating increasingly better solo modes with each game they release. His ability to create immersive experiences that challenge players while providing replayability is truly impressive. Whether it's through unique gameplay mechanics or well-crafted narratives, the team consistently delivers memorable and enjoyable gaming experiences.
Closing Thoughts
I'm incredibly thankful and delighted that David collaborates with such talented designers to release so much solo mode content, as it keeps me thoroughly engaged in the hobby.
Without these solo modes, I’m not sure how often I’d get to any board game on the table. Before discovering David, I've often wondered how long I would continue to enjoy solo games, as some haven't lived up to my expectations or didn't justify staying in my collection.
If you're passionate about solo gaming, I highly recommend checking out some of his work. These solo modes are designed with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring they offer a challenging and immersive experience. Whether you’re looking for intricate strategies, dynamic gameplay, or a deep solo experience, there designs are likely to keep you excited and engaged.
These games often push the boundaries of solo play, providing a sense of accomplishment and enjoyment that can rival or even surpass playing with other people. If solo gaming is your focus, exploring his contributions to these could greatly enhance your gaming collection and experience.