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Cool Mini or Not

Alhambra

Alhambra
A board game
From: Queen Games
Reviewed by: Marc Shayed

Alhambra is a new board game from Queen Games. A simply put it is a game of managing space, money and construction. However, there is a catch, there is 4 different nationalities to your workers, and they all insist on being paid in their ‘native’ coinage… and you can never get ‘change’.

From the rules sheet:
“The best master builders in the whole of Europe and Arabia want to demonstrate their skill. Employ the most suitable teams of builders and make sure that you always have enough of the right currency. Because no matter whether they are stonemasons from the north or horticulturalists from the south, they all want a proper wage and insist on their “native” currency.

With their help towers can be constructed, gardens laid out, pavilions and arcades erected and seraglios and chambers built. Compete against your opponents to build the ALHAMBRA”

The object of the game is fairly simple… to build the your Alhambra compound using the most buildings. There are of course rules for placement and each building has a different value. Each round, players can collect money. This money is in 1 of 4 units: “Denars” (blue), “Dirhams” (green), “Ducats” (orange), and “Florins” (yellow), and they range in value. When spending money on each building, the “building tile” will have the cost for the building and list the type of currency it needs to be in. Furthermore, no change is given, so you might over pay. Money management is very important in this game.

When the buildings are bought they can be placed on the board, but several rules govern the placement of the tiles. Such as; All buildings must be orientated in the same direction, adjoining tiles must be the same (in respects to the wall), all tiles must have a clear ‘walking path’ to any other tile, and no spaces can be left as a void in your Alhambra.

when scoring the game, there are 2 “scoring rounds” cards that are placed in with the money. When they are turned up, that is when the game is scored. This is done 3 times. Once for each “scoring” card, and once at the end of the game. Players are awarded points based on who has the most of each building type in their compound.

For example: In the first scoring round the player with the most “Pavilions” is awarded 4 points, where as the player with the most “Towers” get 6 points. In the second scoring round the players with the most and second most of each building type are awarded points, and in the final round the three players with the most of each building type are awarded points. In the end, the player with the highest score wins the game.

So… what does Marc really think?
Well, it’s a good game. It is long on planning, strategy, and a bit of luck (for what tiles come up) and it is very short on excitement. There is no direct conflict between players.

I have played 8 play-test games with my crew of play-testers. None of them had anything bad to say about it, although the praise wasn’t high either. They all agreed that it is a good game, worth playing and if you like games with little to no in-game conflict then this is a game for you.

I did find the games enjoyable and made a good way to pass a lazy Sunday afternoon. I am happy to recommend this game.

Above all I suggest you judge for yourselves. Check out Queen Games and their new board game Alhambra at their website http://www.queen-games.de …and of course at all of your local game stores!

Alhambra
From: Queen Games
Type of Game: board game
Game Design by: Dirk Henn
Game Components Included: 6 Starting tiles, 54 building tiles, 1 building market, 1 score board, 12 wooden counters (2 per player), 108 currency cards, 2 scoring cards, 6 tile reserve boards, 1 cloth bag (for tiles), set of rules, and box.
Retail Price: $ 34.95 (US) – although some websites have it listed for less
Number of Players: 2-6
Player Ages: 8+
Play Time: 45-60 mins
Email: feedback@queen-games.de
Website: www.queen-games.de
Review Score: 7 out of 10 points (3.5 stars)

Reviewed by: Marc Shayed
Review Editor
http://www.GamingReport.com

Added: May 13th 2004
Reviewer: Marc Shayed
Score:
Related Link: Queen Games (in German)
Hits: 323
Language: eng

  

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