Blueprints of Mad King Ludwig (2024) Board Game

Blueprints of Mad King Ludwig is a board game designed by Ted Alspach and published by Bézier Games. It is a spin-off of the popular game Castles of Mad King Ludwig, where players compete to build the most extravagant castle for King Ludwig II of Bavaria. In Blueprints of Mad King Ludwig, players take on the role of architects trying to design the best floor plans for various rooms in the king’s palace.

Game Components of Blueprints of Mad King Ludwig

8 Colored Pencils

1 Vellum Sketch Pad

1 Score Pad

5 Player Reference Cards

96 Room Cards

37 Bonus Cards

32 Royal Decree Cards

35 King’s Favors

5 Player Sketch Panels

1 Castle Eraser

1 Pencil Sharpener

1 Rulebook.

How To Setup Blueprints of Mad King Ludwig

To set up the game, players receive a vellum map sheet and a score sheet to track their progress. Each player names their castle, and three randomizers are used to ensure each game is unique. The Room Cards, Bonus Cards, Royal Decree Cards, and King’s Favors are shuffled and prepared for the game. Players mount their boards on a cardboard piece, allowing them to slide drafted room cards underneath to trace during the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics:

Drawing: Players draw rooms onto their castle grids.

End Game Bonuses: Points and rewards are awarded at the end of the game.

Grid Coverage: Players fill their castle grids with rooms.

Line Drawing: Players connect rooms by drawing lines.

Open Drafting: Players draft room types from a central tableau.

Paper-and-Pencil: The game uses vellum sheets and colored pencils.

Solo / Solitaire Game: The game includes a solo play variant.

Square Grid: Players work within a grid to build their castle.

Variable Player Powers: Royal Decree cards serve as variable player powers.

Game Objective:

Players aim to create the castle that best meets King Ludwig’s whims by drafting rooms, connecting them, and earning rewards. Completing rooms grants special boons, and players compete in various categories to score points. The game ends after 10 rounds, and the player with the highest score, based on completed rooms, bonuses, and King’s Favors, wins.

Player Experience

Playing **Blueprints of Mad King Ludwig** involves a mix of creativity and strategic planning. Players draft and draw rooms of various shapes and sizes, ensuring they connect properly to earn rewards. The game features a unique mechanism where players can slide room cards under their vellum sheets to trace the rooms accurately. However, this mechanism can sometimes be cumbersome, and the game’s complexity, with many scoring categories and rewards, can make it feel overwhelming. Despite this, the game offers a fun and challenging experience for those who enjoy puzzle-solving and strategic depth.

Pros

Creative Expression: Players get to design and draw their own castle blueprints.

Strategic Depth: The game offers various rewards and bonuses that require strategic planning.

Variety: Each game is unique due to the randomizers and diverse room shapes.

Quick Setup: The game takes less table space and has a faster setup compared to its predecessors.

Cons

Complex Scoring: The game has many scoring categories, which can make tracking points time-consuming.

Fiddly Mechanics: The room tracing mechanism can be cumbersome at times.

High Learning Curve: New players may find the game’s rules and scoring system complex.

Personal Thoughts on Blueprints of Mad King Ludwig

**Blueprints of Mad King Ludwig** is ideal for fans of draft-and-write games and those who enjoy architectural puzzles. It is particularly suited for players who appreciate strategic depth and creative expression. However, due to its complexity and fiddly mechanics, it may not be the best fit for casual gamers or those who prefer simpler rules. The game’s unique blend of drawing and strategic planning makes it a standout in the Mad King Ludwig series, but it requires patience and a willingness to learn its intricate gameplay.

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