Tudor (2018) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Tudor is a board game that was released in 2018 by designer Jan Kirschner and published by Academy Games, Inc. Set in the political intrigue of the Renaissance era, Tudor combines elements of pattern recognition, set collection, and worker placement to create a unique gaming experience.

Game Components of Tudor

Player screens: Giant hand-shaped privacy screens for each player.

Rings: Privilege Rings representing different factions, placed on the player screens.

Courtier figures: 14 Courtiers and 1 Lord figure per player.

Scoring tokens: Tokens for tracking points.

Faction cards: Cards matching the rings and providing actions.

Influence tokens: Tokens earned in the Throne Room.

Intrigue tokens: Tokens used for various actions.

Scenario cards: Cards that change the number of rounds, special tile powers, and courtier placement.

Scoring cards: Six cards (three red, three green) that vary scoring mechanisms.

Board: Divided into the Throne Room, Audience Chambers, and benches.

How To Setup Tudor

To set up Tudor, each player chooses a hand-shaped privacy screen and starts with two rings of their choice placed on the screen, along with a matching faction card for each ring. The game includes selecting two scoring cards and a scenario card, which significantly impact the gameplay. Players receive their Courtier and Lord figures and a scoring token. The board is populated with scoring objectives, faction tokens, influence tokens, and intrigue tokens. The number of rounds is tracked using portraits of King Henry VIII’s wives, as specified by the scenario card.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Worker Placement: Players place their Courtiers on benches to enter Audience Chambers.

Resource Management: Managing Privilege Rings and faction cards.

Variable Setup: Different scoring cards and scenario cards for each game.

Engine Building: Collecting rings to enhance actions.

Objective: Collect sets of influence tiles and earn prestige to win the game.

Game Phases: Chamber Assignment, Chamber Entry, Lord Placement, and Audience Chamber Actions.

Movement and Actions: Moving Courtiers and Lords to take actions in the Audience Chambers and Throne Room.

Player Experience

Playing Tudor is a unique experience due to its innovative components and mechanisms. The giant hand-shaped player screens and the rings add a visually interesting element. The gameplay involves strategic placement of Courtiers and the Lord to gain influence and prestige. The persistence of Courtiers from round to round, unless displaced, adds a layer of complexity and strategic planning. The variability introduced by the scoring and scenario cards ensures that each game is different, keeping the gameplay fresh and challenging.

Pros

Variability: Different combinations of scoring and scenario cards provide high replayability.

Unique Components: The hand-shaped player screens and rings are visually appealing and functionally interesting.

Strategic Depth: Requires careful planning and timing in placing Courtiers and the Lord.

Persistence Mechanism: Courtiers can activate multiple times, adding strategy to their placement.

Cons

Learning Curve: The game has several complex mechanisms that may take time to understand.

Limited Actions: Each round has limited actions available, which can be restrictive.

Personal Thoughts on Tudor

Tudor is a game that will appeal to fans of Eurogames and worker placement mechanics. It offers a rich and variable gameplay experience, making it suitable for players who enjoy strategic planning and adapting to different game conditions. While it may have a steep learning curve, the unique components and high replayability make it a worthwhile addition to any board game collection. It is particularly suited for players who enjoy puzzles and engine-building aspects in their games. However, it may not be the best fit for casual gamers due to its complexity.

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