Aquileia (2011) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Aquileia is a board game that was first released in in 2011. It is set in ancient times and focuses on city building, economic strategies, and dice rolling mechanics. The game was designed by Victor Boden and Geoffrey Cramm, and it is published by 999 Games and Zoch Verlag. With a playing time of around 90 minutes, Aquileia is recommended for players aged 12 and above.

Game Components of Aquileia

Game board featuring six distinct areas: Market, Arena, Stadium, Theatre, Forum, and Harbour.

5 henchmen (pawns) per player.

Bronze, silver, and gold coins, which are not interchangeable.

Weapon, slave, and horse cards.

Dice with bronze, silver, and gold symbols.

Laurel cards for victory points.

Building cards for banks, workshops, and villas.

Blue dice for additional advantages.

How To Setup Aquileia

To set up the game, each player chooses their set of henchmen and places them within reach. The game board is laid out with its various locations, and the necessary cards and coins are distributed. The market is stocked with weapon, slave, and horse cards. Each player starts with a basic amount of coins. The game is ready to begin once all components are organized and the players understand their roles as wealthy Aquileian patricians.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Worker Placement: Players place their henchmen in different areas of the board to perform various actions.

Resource Management: Managing bronze, silver, and gold coins, which have specific uses and cannot be exchanged directly.

Auctioning: Bidding on laurel cards at the theatre.

Dice Rolling: Using dice to determine outcomes in gladiatorial combat and horse racing.

Game Objective

The objective is to accumulate the most victory points by engaging in activities such as building villas, participating in gladiatorial combat and horse racing, and acquiring valuable laurel cards. The game ends after six rounds, and the player with the most victory points wins.

Player Experience

Playing Aquileia involves strategic planning and resource management. Players must balance their henchmen placements to maximize their chances in different activities. The unique coin system adds a layer of complexity, forcing players to plan carefully to meet the specific coin requirements for various actions. The game offers a variety of activities, from the excitement of the arena and stadium to the strategic building in the forum, ensuring that each round is engaging and full of interesting choices.

Pros

Strategic Depth: The game combines worker placement with unique resource management, offering a rich strategic experience.

Variety of Activities: Multiple areas on the board provide different opportunities for earning victory points and resources.

Engaging Mechanics: The use of dice and cards adds an element of luck and skill, making each game unique.

Clear Design: The board design is clear and accessible, making it easy for players to understand and navigate the game.

Cons

Complexity: The non-interchangeable coin system can be confusing for new players.

Luck Factor: Dice rolls and card draws introduce an element of luck, which may not appeal to all players.

Length: The game can take up to 90 minutes, which may be too long for some players.

Personal Thoughts on Aquileia

Aquileia is perfect for fans of worker placement games who are looking for a challenging and varied experience. It is ideal for players who enjoy strategic planning, resource management, and a bit of luck. The game’s historical setting and detailed mechanics make it appealing to those interested in ancient Roman culture and complex board games. However, due to its complexity and length, it may not be the best choice for casual gamers or those new to the genre.

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