Aladdin’s Dragons (2009) Board Game

Aladdin’s Dragons is a board game designed by Richard Breese and published by R&D Games in in 2009. The game is set in an Arabian fantasy world where players take on the roles of thieves competing to steal treasures from the Sultan’s palace. With a unique mix of auction/bidding, hand management, and secret unit deployment mechanics, Aladdin’s Dragons offers a strategic and engaging gameplay experience.

Game Components of Aladdin’s Dragons

Game Board: A long, detailed board depicting a city from caves to the Vizier’s palace.

Tokens: Numbered tokens (2-9) for each player.

Treasures: Small and large treasure pieces, often referred to as “Chiclets.”

Magic Cards: Special cards that provide various advantages.

Artifacts: Items that players bid on to win.

Guard Tokens: Tokens representing the palace guards with values from 1 to 10.

Camel Token: Determines the starting player and breaks ties.

Shields: Explain how artifacts work and are used by players.

How To Setup Aladdin’s Dragons

To set up the game, each player starts with a shield, a set of numbered tokens, and a pile of treasures. The game board is laid out, and treasures are placed according to the cards drawn at the beginning of each round. These cards specify the distribution of treasures across the board. Each player places their camel token to determine the starting player.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Blind Bidding: Players place numbered tokens face down to bid on treasures and artifacts.

Area Control: Players compete to control areas of the board to gain treasures and artifacts.

Resource Management: Managing treasures to bid on artifacts and navigating the palace guards.

Game Objective: The goal is to collect the most artifacts by bidding on them using treasures.

Player Experience

Players take turns placing their tokens to bid on treasures and artifacts. The game progresses through the city, with different locations offering various benefits such as magic cards, treasure trades, and access to the palace. The palace guard must be overcome by bidding higher than the guard’s value or by bribing the guard with treasures. Artifacts won can provide special abilities and advantages in subsequent rounds.

Pros

Engaging Mechanics: The combination of blind bidding and resource management keeps the game engaging and strategic.

Thematic Integration: The theme of stealing treasures and bribing palace guards is well-integrated into the gameplay.

Replayability: The game offers different outcomes based on the distribution of treasures and the strategies employed by players.

Cons

Blind Bidding Criticism: Some players may dislike the blind bidding mechanism, finding it too random or unpredictable.

Complexity: The game has several components and rules, which can make it complex for new players.

Personal Thoughts on Aladdin’s Dragons

Aladdin’s Dragons is a game for those who enjoy strategic planning, resource management, and a bit of luck. It’s ideal for players who can appreciate the intricacies of blind bidding and area control. While it may not be for everyone, particularly those who dislike blind bidding, it remains a favorite among many for its unique mechanics and thematic execution. The game’s complexity and depth make it suitable for experienced board game enthusiasts looking for a challenging and rewarding experience.

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