Blue Moon City (2006) Board Game

Blue Moon City is a board game designed by Reiner Knizia and released in in 2006. It is a city-building game set in the fictional world of Blue Moon, where players work together to rebuild the city after it was destroyed by dragons. The game features beautiful artwork by talented artists such as Daren Bader, Scott Fischer, Nicolas Fructus, and Lars Grant-West. Blue Moon City is published by CMON Global Limited and falls under the categories of City Building and Fantasy.

Game Components of Blue Moon City

City tiles

Player pawns

Contribution cards with various colors and numbers

Dragon tokens

Crystal tokens

Obelisk token

Scales tokens

How To Setup Blue Moon City

To set up the game, players start by placing the city tiles randomly to form the city of Blue Moon. Each player chooses a pawn and places it on the starting tile. The obelisk is placed in the central courtyard. Each player receives a starting hand of contribution cards. The dragon tokens are placed on designated tiles within the city.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: Be the first to make enough offerings to the obelisk in the central courtyard to gain the leadership of the city.

Turn Structure: Move your pawn up to two spaces to a city tile, make contributions to reconstruct the tile by playing cards that match the color and number required, use card powers to aid in contributions or move dragons, discard 0-2 cards and draw 2 more than discarded.

Contributions: Play cards to match the color and number on the tile to contribute to its reconstruction.

Card Powers: Use special powers on cards to change colors, play wild cards, or move dragons to earn scales.

Bonuses: Earn bonuses for completing tiles adjacent to already completed tiles.

Player Experience

Playing Blue Moon City involves strategic planning and tactical decision-making. Players must balance contributing to tile reconstruction, using card powers effectively, and managing their hand. The game rewards players for completing tiles that are adjacent to other completed tiles, adding a layer of strategy in timing the completion of tiles.

Pros

Balanced Mechanics: The game elements are well-balanced, ensuring a engaging experience.

Strategic Depth: Players must strategize on which tiles to contribute to and when to complete them.

Awards and Recognition: Won the 2006 Meeples’ Choice Award and ranked 4th in the 2006 Deutscher Spiele Preis.

Engaging Gameplay: The use of card powers and bonuses keeps the game interesting and interactive.

Cons

Lack of Unique Elements: The game lacks unique or standout features that differentiate it significantly from other games.

Potential for Imbalance: Sometimes one player can get left behind, creating an imbalance in the game.

Personal Thoughts on Blue Moon City

Blue Moon City is a solid, if not spectacular, addition to any board game collection. It is suitable for those who enjoy strategic city-building games with a touch of fantasy. While it may not stand out as a must-play, it offers a fun and engaging experience, especially for fans of Reiner Knizia’s designs. It’s a good choice for casual game nights but may not be the first pick for experienced gamers seeking something innovative.

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