Dice Bazaar (2016) Board Game

Dice Bazaar is a board game released in 2016 by designer Fedor Sosnin. The game is set in an Arabian marketplace where players compete to become the most successful trader. With its unique combination of dice rolling, push your luck, and trading mechanics, Dice Bazaar offers a strategic and engaging gameplay experience for 2 to 4 players.

Game Components of Dice Bazaar

Dice: 16mm dice in various colors, with the final version featuring translucent dice.

Product Cards: Representing spices, tea pots, pottery, and gems, each with a point value and special ability.

Player Boards: For setting aside dice.

Merchant Dice: Placed under product cards to match with rolled dice.

How To Setup Dice Bazaar

To set up the game, start by distributing the product cards: 3 times the player count in spice, teapot, and pottery cards, and 2 times the player count in gem cards. Each player receives a player board and a set of colored dice. Place the merchant dice under the corresponding product cards.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Dice Rolling: Players roll their colored dice at the beginning of their turn.

Matching Dice: Players must match the faces of their rolled dice with the merchant dice under the product cards to purchase products.

Setting Aside Dice: Players can set aside dice on their player board to use on a later turn.

Special Abilities: Each product card has a special ability that can be activated by discarding the card, allowing players to change the face of any die.

Game Objective: The game ends when any two types of products are completely sold out. The player with the highest total point value from their remaining product cards wins.

Player Experience

Playing Dice Bazaar is an engaging and easy-to-learn experience. The game is visually appealing with bright colors and clear iconography, making it accessible even to younger players. The gameplay is straightforward, allowing players to start playing within minutes of opening the box.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple rules and clear instructions.

Visual Appeal: Beautiful art and translucent dice.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for ages 6 and up.

Engaging Gameplay: Combines luck and strategy.

Cons

Luck-Dependent: Gameplay is heavily influenced by dice rolls.

Limited Strategy: Special abilities, though helpful, do not significantly alter the luck factor.

Imbalanced Product Availability: Easier products might be purchased too quickly, skewing gameplay.

Personal Thoughts on Dice Bazaar

Dice Bazaar is ideal for those looking for a simple, fun game to play with friends, kids, or non-gamers. It is perfect for casual gaming sessions due to its easy-to-understand mechanics and visually appealing design. However, for gamers seeking more complex or strategic games, Dice Bazaar might not offer the depth they are looking for.

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