Bootleggers (2004) Board Game
Bootleggers is a board game that was first released in in 2004. It is set during the Prohibition era in the United States, where players take on the roles of rival gangsters looking to control the illegal alcohol trade.
Game Components of Bootleggers
How To Setup Bootleggers
To set up the game, players start by shuffling and dealing three Muscle cards from each of four colored groups to each player, giving them a total of twelve cards. Each player receives a small truck with a capacity of four crates, a family still, and some initial cash. The remaining trucks, money, dice, remote stills, and wooden crates are placed in a bank. The board is set up showing six speakeasies, and a cube is placed on a twelve-space track to mark the rounds. Men of Action cards are shuffled and placed in their designated area.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
Mechanics:
Game Objective:
Player Experience
Playing Bootleggers involves a mix of strategic planning, dice rolling, and social interaction. Players must navigate alliances, deceit, and direct competition to dominate the bootlegging market. The game encourages negotiation, as players can rent unused trucks or sell crates of moonshine to each other, but beware of backstabbing deals. The game is balanced but can feel repetitive with strong strategies emerging over multiple plays.
Pros
Cons
Personal Thoughts on Bootleggers
Bootleggers is ideal for those who enjoy games with a strong theme, particularly fans of the prohibition era or shows like “Sons of Anarchy” and “Deadwood.” It’s a fun, mid-level complexity game that excels with a full group of 5-6 players. However, players need to be comfortable with direct player interaction and the potential for backstabbing deals. The game’s blend of American theme and German mechanics makes it a unique and engaging experience.
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