Basari (1998) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Basari is a negotiation board game that was released in 1998 by designer Reinhard Staupe and publisher F.X. Schmid. The game is designed for 3-4 players, with a recommended age of 10 and up. Players take on the role of merchants in an Arabian marketplace, competing to collect valuable gems and trade them for goods. The game features elements of roll/spin and move, set collection, and simultaneous action selection.

Game Components of Basari

Game board featuring a bazaar with stalls and a scoring track

Player pawns

Gems in four different colors (each player starts with 12 gems)

Chits for each player (get gems, get points, or roll and move)

Dice for determining movement

Tokens to mark starting positions

Scoring tokens

How To Setup Basari

To set up the game, each player chooses a pawn and places it at a random stall on the board. Each player receives 12 gems, divided equally among four colors. The scoring track and tokens are placed according to the game instructions. Players also receive their set of chits.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Movement: Players roll a die to determine how many stalls they can move their pawn.

Chit Selection: Players secretly choose one of their three chits: get gems from the current stall, get points from the stall, or roll the die and move forward.

Resolution: If only one player chooses a chit, they get the corresponding reward. If three or more players choose the same chit, no one gets anything. If exactly two players choose the same chit, they engage in haggling and trade gems.

Haggling: Players trade gems until one accepts the deal.

Scoring: The game consists of three scoring rounds. Players who complete a lap around the board earn 10 points. The player with the most gems of each color earns additional points and returns three gems of that color to the bank.

Player Experience

Playing **Basari** involves a mixture of strategy, bluffing, and negotiation. Players must estimate what their opponents want and make tactical decisions about which chits to play. The game is full of tough choices and requires players to balance short-term gains with long-term strategies. Haggling and trading add a social and interactive dimension, making the game engaging and unpredictable.

Pros

Strategic Depth: The game offers a rich mix of bluffing, trading, and strategic planning.

Social Interaction: Haggling and trading make the game highly interactive.

Quick Gameplay: The game is relatively short, lasting 30-45 minutes.

High Replayability: The random starting positions and gem distributions ensure each game is unique.

Cons

Limited Player Count: The original version is designed for 3-4 players, though the remake extends this to 5 players.

Complexity: The rules can be a bit complex for new players, especially the haggling mechanism.

Personal Thoughts on Basari

**Basari** is perfect for players who enjoy strategic games with social elements. It is ideal for those who like to bluff, negotiate, and make tactical decisions. The game’s blend of action and strategy makes it appealing to fans of economic and racing games. If you’re looking for a game that combines intellect with social interaction, **Basari** is definitely worth considering. However, it may not be the best fit for very casual gamers due to its slightly complex rules.

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