Monsoon Market (2014) Board Game

Monsoon Market is a strategy card game designed by Daniel Solis and published in in 2014. The game is set in ancient times when traders would sail the seas in search of valuable commodities. Players take on the roles of these traders, trying to amass wealth through clever trading and speculation.

Game Components of Monsoon Market

Goods cards: Representing various goods such as peppers, cloth, scrolls, leathers, gems, and wood. Some cards can be either one type of good or another.

Order cards: Representing boats with orders to be fulfilled.

Rules cards: Explaining the game mechanics with text and visual examples.

Market display: Central playing area where goods cards are displayed.

Player displays: Each player’s personal goods display.

Coins: Used to fulfill orders.

How To Setup Monsoon Market

To set up the game, separate the rules cards, goods cards, and order cards. Shuffle the goods cards and deal four face-up in the central market display. Each player receives four random goods cards face-up to form their personal display. Shuffle the order cards and deal four face-up in the central area. Determine a start player, and play proceeds clockwise.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Actions:

Steal: Take one goods card from any display, including the market and other players’ displays, provided the targeted player has more goods than you.

Buy: Spend one goods card to take goods cards from the market, with the number of cards taken dependent on the goods card spent.

Fulfill Orders: Spend goods and coins to fulfill orders. Orders can be filled in three ways:

Best: Spend the exact required goods and coins for the highest score.

Mediocre: Spend the required amount of any separate sets of goods and coins for a medium score.

El Cheapo: Spend any amount of goods and coins for the lowest score.

Bonus Actions:
– Keep one of the cards used to fulfill an order.
– Draw a goods card from the deck.
– Steal a card from an opponent’s display.
– Fulfill another order using remaining goods.

Scoring:
– 2 Victory Points (VP) for each city (famous ports visited by Zheng He).
– 1 VP for each type of good in the player’s display or storage.

Objective: Be the first player to earn 15 or more seals of approval from Zheng He.

Player Experience

**Monsoon Market** offers a light yet strategic gameplay experience. Players must make wise decisions each turn, balancing between acquiring goods, fulfilling orders, and disrupting their opponents. The game challenges players to optimize their goods collection and order fulfillment strategies, making it engaging and thought-provoking.

Pros

Strategic Depth: Multiple levels of order fulfillment provide varied strategies and challenges.

Cultural Insight: The game introduces players to the goods and culture of the Indian Ocean area during the early Ming Dynasty.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for 2 to 4 players, making it a great family game.

Quick Setup: Easy and quick to set up, enhancing the overall play experience.

Cons

Limited Complexity: The game may be too light for players seeking more complex strategies.

Dependence on Luck: The random draw of goods and order cards can introduce a significant element of luck.

Replayability: While the game offers various strategies, the core mechanics might become repetitive over multiple plays.

Personal Thoughts on Monsoon Market

**Monsoon Market** is an excellent choice for families and casual gamers looking for a light, strategic card game. It is particularly suited for those interested in historical and cultural themes, as it provides a unique insight into the Indian Ocean trade route during the early Ming Dynasty. For players seeking deeper complexity, this game might not fully satisfy, but it is a great introduction to set-collection and trading mechanics.

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