Lions of Lydia (2021) Board Game

Lions of Lydia is a board game released in 2021, designed by Darryl T. Jones and published by Bellwether Games. The game is set in ancient Lydia, where players take on the roles of ambitious leaders trying to build the most prosperous city-state.

Game Components of Lions of Lydia

48 color-printed wood coins inspired by the world’s first coin

Merchants (meeples) that players draw from their bags

Resources for bartering

Player boards and other necessary game materials

How To Setup Lions of Lydia

To set up the game, players start by preparing their bags with the merchant meeples. Each player receives a starting set of resources and a player board. The game area is organized with various resource and action spaces where players will place their merchants. The setup is relatively straightforward, allowing players to quickly dive into the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Bag Management: Players curate a bag of meeples, drawing one each turn to determine their actions.

Engine Building: As the game progresses, players build their ability to barter for resources and accumulate wealth.

Resource Management: Players must manage resources effectively to achieve their goals.

Objective: The goal is to accumulate the most prestige by bartering for valuable resources and using them efficiently.

Player Experience

In **Lions of Lydia**, players take on the roles of influential leaders in ancient Lydia, sending out merchants to barter for resources. The game offers a joyful and fast-paced experience with an easy-to-learn strategic engine. Players enjoy the simplicity of drawing meeples and the depth of managing resources and building their engine.

Pros

Easy to Learn: The game has a simple and intuitive setup.

Strategic Depth: Offers a rich engine-building experience.

Historical Theme: Set in ancient Lydia, adding a unique historical context.

Quick Gameplay: Games are relatively fast-paced.

Cons

Luck of the Draw: Drawing meeples can introduce an element of luck, which might not appeal to all players.

Replayability: Some players might find the game repetitive after multiple plays.

Personal Thoughts on Lions of Lydia

**Lions of Lydia** is a great game for those who enjoy bag-management and engine-building mechanics. It’s ideal for players who appreciate strategic games with a historical twist. The game is suitable for families and adults looking for a fun, yet engaging, board game experience. However, it may not be the best fit for players who prefer games with minimal luck or those seeking extremely complex strategies.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.