The Taverns of Tiefenthal (2019) Board Game

The Taverns of Tiefenthal is a board game designed by Wolfgang Warsch and released in 2019 by Schmidt Spiele. It falls under the category of card games, dice games, and medieval themed games. The game has received positive reviews for its unique combination of deck-building, dice rolling, and worker placement mechanics.

Game Components of The Taverns of Tiefenthal

Player boards: Representing individual taverns

Tavern cards: Upgrade cards for the tavern

Guest cards: Various patrons, including nobles and regular guests

Dice: Used for drafting and resource management

Beer and Thaler tokens: Currencies for buying guests and upgrades

Table cards: Increase the number of tables in the tavern

Staff and Equipment cards: Servers, brewers, dishwashers, etc.

Modules: Optional expansions adding new mechanics and complexity

How To Setup The Taverns of Tiefenthal

To set up the game, each player starts with a personal tavern board, a starting deck of basic cards, and a set of initial guests. The game includes four modules that can be added to increase complexity, but the base setup involves distributing the starting cards, setting up the player boards, and preparing the dice and resource tokens.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Deck-building: Players add new cards to their deck to improve their tavern.

Dice drafting: Players roll and draft dice to manage resources (beer and Thalers).

Tableau-building: Players upgrade their tavern by adding new tables and staff.

Guest management: Serving guests to generate resources.

Objective: The player with the most points at the end of eight rounds wins, achieved by having the most valuable guests, upgrades, and resources.

Player Experience

The game offers a dynamic and engaging experience, with simultaneous play phases that keep the game moving quickly. Players must balance resource management, guest acquisition, and tavern upgrades to maximize their score. The game has a medium complexity level, making it suitable for players looking for something more substantial than casual games but not as intense as very complex strategy games.

Pros

Fast-paced gameplay: Many phases involve simultaneous play, reducing downtime.

High replayability: Four optional modules provide different complexity levels and gameplay variations.

Well-integrated theme: The tavern setting is vividly realized through the game mechanics and components.

Strategic depth: Balancing resources, guests, and upgrades offers a rich strategic experience.

Cons

Dominant strategy: Some players have identified a dominant strategy involving maximizing table cards, which can lead to an imbalance in scoring.

Setup complexity: Adding all the modules can make setup cumbersome.

Luck element: Dice rolling introduces a degree of randomness that can affect player strategies.

Personal Thoughts on The Taverns of Tiefenthal

The Taverns of Tiefenthal is ideal for fans of deck-building and resource management games who enjoy a mix of strategy and thematic immersion. While it may appeal to experienced players due to its complexity and depth, the base game is also accessible to newer players. However, the presence of a potentially dominant strategy may deter some players seeking more balanced gameplay. Overall, it is a game that rewards strategic planning and offers a unique blend of mechanics that keep gameplay fresh and engaging.

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