Saint Malo (2012) Board Game

Saint Malo is a board game released in 2012 and designed by Julien Delval and Harald Lieske. The game is set in the historic French port city of Saint-Malo, known for its rich maritime history and fortified walls. Players take on the role of settlers building their own city within the walls of Saint-Malo, competing to earn the most fame through various strategic decisions.

Game Components of Saint Malo

1 main board (erasable)

5 city boards (erasable)

5 markers (non-permanent)

5 dice (each with 6 different symbols)

How To Setup Saint Malo

To set up Saint Malo, each player receives an erasable city board and a marker. The main board is placed in the middle, and the dice are distributed. Each player starts with a partially filled city board and begins rolling the dice to build their city.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Rolling Dice: Players roll five dice up to three times per turn, securing and rerolling dice as desired.

Resource Management: Combinations of dice symbols allow players to draw various symbols on their city board, such as citizens, merchants, architects, nobles, and soldiers.

City Building: Players build their city by drawing symbols on their board, aiming to optimize their city layout for maximum victory points.

Pirate Attacks: The “crossed swords” symbol triggers pirate attacks, which players must defend against using soldiers and city walls. Failed defenses result in lost cannons, penalizing victory points.

Game Objective: The player with the most victory points at the end of the game, which ends when one player fills all 45 spaces on their city board, is declared the winner.

Player Experience

Playing Saint Malo is a dynamic and engaging experience. The game requires strategic planning, as players must balance the need to build a prosperous city with the necessity of defending against pirate attacks. The pirate mechanic adds a layer of unpredictability, forcing players to adapt their strategies mid-game. The game is relatively fast-paced, with low downtime between turns, keeping players actively involved.

Pros

Fun and Easy Roll-and-Write: Simple to learn but challenging to master.

Low Downtime: Keeps players engaged throughout the game.

Pirate Mechanic: Adds a thrilling element of unpredictability.

Good Art and Board Design: Visually appealing and well-designed components.

Cons

Luck of the Dice: Heavily dependent on dice rolls, which can lead to significant variability in outcomes.

Limited Control: Players may feel constrained by the dice rolls and pirate attacks.

Personal Thoughts on Saint Malo

Saint Malo is an excellent choice for those who enjoy roll-and-write games and are looking for a light to medium complexity game. It is ideal for players who appreciate strategic depth without the need for intricate rules. The game’s balance between city building and defense against pirate attacks makes it a compelling and replayable experience. If you’re seeking a game that combines easy-to-learn mechanics with a fun and challenging gameplay experience, Saint Malo is a great addition to your game collection.

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