QuickLook: Rumbbell: FatDragon Invasion
Rumbbell:
FatDragon Invasion
FatDragon Invasion
Designer:
Kenny Lai and Oolong Cha
Kenny Lai and Oolong Cha
Publisher:
Arty Force Entertainment, Ryan Lee Fitness Company
Arty Force Entertainment, Ryan Lee Fitness Company
Year
Published: 2019
Published: 2019
No.
of Players: 2–4
of Players: 2–4
Ages:
14+
14+
Playing
Time: 60–90
Time: 60–90
Review
Rumbbell:
FatDragon Invasion is a cooperative deck building game from Arty Force
Entertainment and Ryan Lee Fitness Company. The combination explains why the
players are working together to save the world from the FatDragons and their
unhealthy food by doing exercises (in card form).
FatDragon Invasion is a cooperative deck building game from Arty Force
Entertainment and Ryan Lee Fitness Company. The combination explains why the
players are working together to save the world from the FatDragons and their
unhealthy food by doing exercises (in card form).
Players
use a combination of weight-bearing, aerobic, and HIIT exercises to eliminate
the food tokens before they become FatDragons. When you eliminate a food attack,
you gain Rumbbell Energy you can use to buy gear to help you in the fight.
use a combination of weight-bearing, aerobic, and HIIT exercises to eliminate
the food tokens before they become FatDragons. When you eliminate a food attack,
you gain Rumbbell Energy you can use to buy gear to help you in the fight.
If
the food becomes a FatDragon, you need Captain Rumbell’s help to remove the
FatDragon from the board before it multiplies and causes the area to fall. As
long as you keep three of the four locations from falling to the FatDragons, you
win. But don’t let the look of the game fool you into thinking this is a
pushover game. It is designed for older players and requires players to work
together to come out in top form.
the food becomes a FatDragon, you need Captain Rumbell’s help to remove the
FatDragon from the board before it multiplies and causes the area to fall. As
long as you keep three of the four locations from falling to the FatDragons, you
win. But don’t let the look of the game fool you into thinking this is a
pushover game. It is designed for older players and requires players to work
together to come out in top form.
Three
of us put on our workout gear to test out our abilities to defeat the invasion
of the FatDragons. The first go was not a pretty sight as we huffed and puffed our
way to being overtaken by the beasts. But even in losing, we enjoyed the
complexity of the strategy.
of us put on our workout gear to test out our abilities to defeat the invasion
of the FatDragons. The first go was not a pretty sight as we huffed and puffed our
way to being overtaken by the beasts. But even in losing, we enjoyed the
complexity of the strategy.
 |
| Setup for Three Players |
Setup
The
world of Rumbell is set up in five locations connected by walkways. In the
center is Home, a relatively secure place. Around it is the Office, Park,
Beach, and Mall—places the FatDragons conduct their food attacks.
world of Rumbell is set up in five locations connected by walkways. In the
center is Home, a relatively secure place. Around it is the Office, Park,
Beach, and Mall—places the FatDragons conduct their food attacks.
The
Food Attacks are color coordinated for each location and the number of tokens
means that there are enough to not know what you are going to be challenged
with in every game.
Food Attacks are color coordinated for each location and the number of tokens
means that there are enough to not know what you are going to be challenged
with in every game.
Along
with the Food Attack tokens, there is equipment at Home and the Mall that can
be purchased from the energy gained from defeating the Food Attack challenges.
with the Food Attack tokens, there is equipment at Home and the Mall that can
be purchased from the energy gained from defeating the Food Attack challenges.
An
Event Deck is created that provides that provides changes to each round of the
game. There are also three decks of the
different exercises that can be added to your personal ten card starter deck.
Event Deck is created that provides that provides changes to each round of the
game. There are also three decks of the
different exercises that can be added to your personal ten card starter deck.
Each
player chooses a Rumbbell character (each has its own special ability) and you
are ready to take on the invading FatDragons and their dastardly ways.
player chooses a Rumbbell character (each has its own special ability) and you
are ready to take on the invading FatDragons and their dastardly ways.
 |
| Captain Rumbbell and Player Tokens |
Gameplay
The
start of your turn is with five cards in your hand and six action points to
decide your actions. At the beginning of the game, everyone starts at Home and
moves out from there to battle the Food Attacks.
start of your turn is with five cards in your hand and six action points to
decide your actions. At the beginning of the game, everyone starts at Home and
moves out from there to battle the Food Attacks.
Moving,
drawing extra cards, moving Captain Rumbell, fighting a food attack, purchasing
gear, and learning exercises all cost action points. Learning a weight-bearing
exercise costs two.
drawing extra cards, moving Captain Rumbell, fighting a food attack, purchasing
gear, and learning exercises all cost action points. Learning a weight-bearing
exercise costs two.
You
need to move out and defeat the food attacks because at the end of a turn
(after each player has gone) the undefeated food attacks turn into FatDragons.
The FatDragons are harder to get rid of. If they are left to the end of the
next turn, they multiply. If, at the end of a turn, there are at least three
FatDragons on a location, that area falls.
need to move out and defeat the food attacks because at the end of a turn
(after each player has gone) the undefeated food attacks turn into FatDragons.
The FatDragons are harder to get rid of. If they are left to the end of the
next turn, they multiply. If, at the end of a turn, there are at least three
FatDragons on a location, that area falls.
To
defeat the food attacks, you use your cards to match the food challenge amount.
Any combination of exercises can be used. These cards are then moved to your
personal discard pile.
defeat the food attacks, you use your cards to match the food challenge amount.
Any combination of exercises can be used. These cards are then moved to your
personal discard pile.
To
remove a FatDragon, you need to move Captain Rumbell to the location and spend
one of each type of exercise to get the FatDragon off the board. When you have
to remove a FatDragon, the cards used are moved to the group discard pile,
which takes them out of play for the rest of the game.
remove a FatDragon, you need to move Captain Rumbell to the location and spend
one of each type of exercise to get the FatDragon off the board. When you have
to remove a FatDragon, the cards used are moved to the group discard pile,
which takes them out of play for the rest of the game.
Once
you have spent your Action Points, you discard the rest of the cards in your
hand to your personal discard pile and start the next round with five new cards.
you have spent your Action Points, you discard the rest of the cards in your
hand to your personal discard pile and start the next round with five new cards.
 |
| Player Cards (Front and Back) |
Theme
and Mechanics
and Mechanics
The
theme of exercising to defeat the attacks provides a lot of useful information
of how to stay healthy, even though you’re not having to do the exercises. The
player cards also have healthy informational tips on them.
theme of exercising to defeat the attacks provides a lot of useful information
of how to stay healthy, even though you’re not having to do the exercises. The
player cards also have healthy informational tips on them.
Deckbuilding
provided strategy and luck. The strategy, as with deck building games, is to
add the right cards to your deck so they become available when you need them.
The luck is actually drawing the cards you need. Having the extra points to
draw additional cards helps, in terms of how the game advances during play.
provided strategy and luck. The strategy, as with deck building games, is to
add the right cards to your deck so they become available when you need them.
The luck is actually drawing the cards you need. Having the extra points to
draw additional cards helps, in terms of how the game advances during play.
 |
| Food Attack Tokens |
Artwork
and Components
and Components
The
artwork is designed to be fun. This gives the idea that doing the exercises can
also be fun. I think this would have a lower appeal if it looked like everyone
was struggling to defeat the challenges.
artwork is designed to be fun. This gives the idea that doing the exercises can
also be fun. I think this would have a lower appeal if it looked like everyone
was struggling to defeat the challenges.
 |
| Event Cards |
The
Good
Good
- Cooperative
game - A
fun level of education
 |
| Exercise Cards |
Final
Thoughts
Thoughts
The
commentary during the game was interesting as people are fighting hot dogs and
sushi. However, Rumbbell: FatDragon Invasion is deceptive in its presentation.
The comic look of the art and the characters provide a fun alternative to what
many think is a hard thing to do—exercise.
commentary during the game was interesting as people are fighting hot dogs and
sushi. However, Rumbbell: FatDragon Invasion is deceptive in its presentation.
The comic look of the art and the characters provide a fun alternative to what
many think is a hard thing to do—exercise.
The
complexity and the level of challenge to defeat the game forced us as players
to work together more than some cooperative games I’ve played. In that it is
designed for 2–4 players and the setup appears to be the same for any number of
players, it appears the game would be easier to win if you are sitting with a
full table.
complexity and the level of challenge to defeat the game forced us as players
to work together more than some cooperative games I’ve played. In that it is
designed for 2–4 players and the setup appears to be the same for any number of
players, it appears the game would be easier to win if you are sitting with a
full table.
 |
| Exercise Cards |
Players
Who Like
Who Like
- Cooperative
games
 |
| Exercise Cards |
Check out Rumbbell: FatDragon Invasion on
About the Author
Daniel Yocom does geeky things by night because his day job won’t let him. This dates back to the 1960s through games, books, movies, and stranger things better shared in small groups. He’s written hundreds of articles about these topics for his own blog, other websites, and magazines along with short stories after extensive research. His research includes attending conventions, sharing on panels and presentations, and road-tripping with his wife. Join in the geeky fun at guildmastergaming@blogspot.com.
See Daniel’s reviews HERE.
See Daniel’s reviews HERE.
