Mimir's Challenge Review: What The Hex Going On Here?

About Mimir's Challenge, from BoardGameGeek:

Game OverviewEach player commands an identical army made up of Vikings, Valkyries, Wyrms, and Ravens. Using strategy and foresight, you'll compete for area majority across the mythical Norse realms! At the start of each round, armies are placed face down, keeping your plans hidden from your opponents. Once everyone has finished placing their units, all armies are revealed at the same time. Then, it's time for special actions-clever moves that can shift control of a realm at the last moment. Treasures are awarded based on who has the most Vikings in a realm. But be warned: ties are harsh. If you're tied with another player, you're bumped to the back of the line-if there's any treasure left for you at all... After three rounds, players tally their points from collected treasures and forge powerful Norse artifacts for bonus points. The player with the highest total wins the title Master of Warfare! ~~~ How to Play ~~~ IntroductionAt a recent feast, the Norse Gods and Goddesses once again found themselves in a lively argument about who among them is the greatest war leader. To settle the dispute, Mimir, the wise and all-knowing advisor, presented them with a challenge. In Mimir's Challenge, you take on the role of a Norse God or Goddess, striving to gather treasures and resources to earn the highest score. The game unfolds over three rounds, each divided into four phases. The Phases of Each of the 3 Rounds Round Set-Up: Distribute Treasure Tokens among the Realms, and refill the Artefact Cards lineup. Placement Phase: Players take turns placing two Army Tokens face down in a Realm of their choice. This continues until each player has placed a set amount of Army Tokens. Once all tokens are placed, they are revealed simultaneously, allowing everyone to see their opponents' strategies. Action Phase: If any Valkyrie, Wyrm, or Raven tokens are in play, players take turns deciding which token to activate and how to use its unique ability. These abilities can influence the game by moving Army Tokens or Treasure tokens between Realms, creating dynamic shifts in the competition. Collection Phase: In each Realm, the player with the most Vikings gets the first pick of the Treasure Tokens. The player with the second-most Vikings chooses next, and this continues until all Treasure Tokens in the Realm are claimed. However, watch out for ties - when two or more players tie for the most Vikings, their armies are too busy squabbling to claim any treasures. At the end of each round, you'll receive an Artefact Card that serves as a blueprint for crafting one of the legendary Norse Artifacts. To craft these items, you'll need specific materials found on Treasure Tokens. While some Treasure Tokens offer high point values, others contain the resources needed to complete your Artefact Cards, creating a strategic choice between immediate points or future bonuses. ScoringAt the end of the third round, points from collected Treasure Tokens are tallied, and bonus points for completed Artefact Cards are added. The player with the highest score wins Mimir's Challenge and earns the title Master of Warfare! ~~~ About the Game ~~~ Game ModesMimir's Challenge offers two game modes to suit different skill levels: Less Challenging – Ideal for beginners or those who prefer a more relaxed experience. Normal – The standard way to play, offering balanced difficulty. For players seeking an even greater challenge, an optional advanced rule is included to increase the difficulty beyond the normal level. Language DependencyThe game is designed to be language-independent. All components use symbols or icons, so as long as one player knows the rules, everyone can play together. Rulebooks are included in English, German, French, and Norwegian. Vision AccessibilityEach player's Army Tokens feature both a unique color and a distinct shape, making it easier for players with color vision deficiencies to distinguish them. Additionally, the Realm Tiles are double-sided. One side offers a more stylized, high-contrast version of the Norse Realms, improving visibility and making it easier to see the Army Tokens during gameplay.