Carthago: Merchants & Guilds (2017) Board Game

Carthago: Merchants & Guilds is a board game released in 2017 by Game’s Up. Designed by Ralph Bienert and Bernd Eisenstein, this game is set in ancient Carthage, where players take on the roles of merchants trying to establish trade routes and build their guilds to become the most successful in the city.

Game Components of Carthago: Merchants & Guilds

Game board

Player boards

Wooden tokens

Cards

Coins

Goods tokens

How To Setup Carthago: Merchants & Guilds

Place the game board in the center of the table.

Each player receives a player board and wooden tokens.

Shuffle the cards and place them face down on the board.

Place the goods tokens and coins nearby.

Determine the starting player and begin the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

In Carthago: Merchants & Guilds, players take turns performing actions such as collecting resources, trading goods, and building their guilds. The objective is to accumulate the most wealth and influence by the end of the game. Players must strategically manage their resources and make wise decisions to outmaneuver their opponents.

Player Experience

Pros:

Engaging economic gameplay

Strategic depth with multiple paths to victory

Beautiful artwork and components

Cons:

Steep learning curve for new players

Lengthy playtime for some players

Limited replay value

Personal Thoughts on Carthago: Merchants & Guilds

Carthago: Merchants & Guilds offers a unique blend of economic strategy and set collection mechanics. The game’s components are of high quality, and the artwork immerses players in the ancient world of Carthage. However, the learning curve may be challenging for some players, and the game’s replay value is limited due to a fixed set of strategies. Despite these drawbacks, Carthago: Merchants & Guilds is worth checking out for fans of economic board games looking for a new challenge.

Overall, Carthago: Merchants & Guilds is a solid addition to the ancient, card game, and economic board game categories. The pricing and availability of the game, both new and used, make it accessible to a wide range of players. Alternatives and similar games include Concordia and Puerto Rico, which offer similar gameplay experiences. Whether Carthago: Merchants & Guilds is worth your time depends on your preference for strategic economic games. It is recommended for players who enjoy deep strategy and are willing to invest time in mastering the game mechanics. However, those looking for a more casual gaming experience may want to skip this one.

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