The year is 1977. You're a promising musician dreaming of success with your band. Over the next few months, you'll rehearse, perform, write songs, and promote your band. With careful planning and a little luck, you'll become more famous than anyone else and break through as the artist of the year.
Designed by rock legend and board game enthusiast Jackie Fox (of the 70s rock band The Runaways) and illustrated by Jennifer Giner, Rock Hard: 1977 is a game for 2 to 5 players ages 14 and up, with sessions lasting 45 to 90 minutes. Using worker placement mechanics, players take on the role of a rising rock star and compete to earn the most Fame points over multiple rounds.
Rock Hard: 1977 is played over up to nine rounds, each representing a typical day in a month in 1977, from April through December. You win the game by accumulating the most Fame… And how do you earn Fame? By increasing your reputation, skills, and song quality, securing productions, performance, and promotional bonuses, scoring record deals and royalties, playing gigs, and hanging out at the hottest spots.
Each player has a unique manager who helps them boost their music career with a specific skill. Of course, you have to pay for their work, otherwise it costs you Fame points. And sometimes a rocker needs a little extra help to get through the day. That's why players can also consume candy to get an extra turn and perform more actions. But overconsumption can lead to a sugar rush.
The game is impressively designed. The personal player board is designed like an amplifier, with knobs acting as markers that you adjust during the game. The turn order is indicated by guitar picks, and the money resembles real dollars.
Behind this original theme lies a strong mechanic. Players experience continuous growth, from the early stages of earning extra money and a small band to major concerts on legendary stages. All this with a wide variety of event cards and unique skills of rockers and managers that make every game different. Are you ready to become a rock star?