Aristocracy (2019) Board Game

Aristocracy is a fantasy board game released in 2019, designed by Robert Gonzales and Andy Jewett. It is published by Tasty Minstrel Games and is suitable for 2 to 4 players aged 14 and above. The game combines elements of area majority/influence and set collection mechanics, challenging players to strategize and outwit their opponents to claim victory.

Game Components of Aristocracy

Game board featuring 8 different colored areas

Over 100 tokens, including resource tokens (corn, sheep, wood), building tokens (village, church, castle), fish tokens, and royalty tokens (king, queen)

Player markers

Region dominance tiles

Multi-region bonus tiles

Bonus tokens

How To Setup Aristocracy

Setting up Aristocracy can be somewhat tedious due to the large number of tokens involved. Each of the 100+ locations on the board must be covered with a token. While this initial setup is annoying, teaching the game is quick, and players can start playing relatively fast.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Turns: Players turn over any three tokens on the board and then select one type of token to collect all of that type from the board.

Resource Tokens: Collecting resource tokens (corn, sheep, wood) earns points, with bonus points for every set of 9 resources.

Building Tokens: Selecting building tokens allows players to replace tokens of the same building type with their player markers, earning rewards such as connecting towns or placing markers near fish tokens.

Royalty Tokens: Removing royalty tokens lets players place their markers on empty spaces, earning similar rewards to building tokens.

Game End: The game ends when a player-count-dependent number of king and queen tokens have been removed from the board.

Objective: The player with the most victory points, earned through resource sets, building placements, and region dominance, wins the game.

Player Experience

Aristocracy offers a solid gaming experience with fast turns and limited but meaningful choices. The game is easy to learn and plays well at all player counts. As the game progresses, the choices become more complex, adding a layer of strategy and decision-making. Players can focus on different strategies, such as hoarding resources or connecting towns, which keeps the game engaging.

Pros

Simple Turns: Each turn is straightforward but not devoid of good choices.

Great Component Quality: The game has high-quality components.

Multiple Strategies: Players can adopt various strategies to win.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for families and newer gamers despite the suggested age.

Cons

Tedious Setup: The initial setup is cumbersome due to the many tokens.

Color Similarity: Some colored areas on the board can look similar in low light conditions.

Personal Thoughts on Aristocracy

Aristocracy is ideal for those who enjoy strategic games with simple yet engaging mechanics. It is a great fit for families and casual gamers looking for a game that does not require a significant time commitment. However, it may not appeal to players seeking extremely complex or long-duration games. The game’s versatility in strategies and the balance between resource management and area control make it a fun and challenging experience.

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