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

Player boards: Each player has a personal board to manage their merchant’s activities.

Cards: These include action cards, event cards, and guild cards that drive the gameplay.

Tokens: Used for tracking resources, influence, and other game elements.

Guild tiles: Represent different guilds that players can join for benefits.

Resource tokens: For managing wealth and other resources.

How To Setup Carthago: Merchants & Guilds

Setup involves each player selecting a player board and starting with a set of basic cards and tokens. The deck of action and event cards is shuffled, and a starting hand is dealt to each player. Guild tiles are placed within reach of all players. Each player starts with a set amount of resources.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Action Point System: Players use action points to perform various actions such as trading, joining guilds, and managing resources.

Card Play: Players play cards to execute actions, influence events, and gain benefits.

Economic Management: Players must manage their resources to achieve their goals.

Objective: The goal is to increase wealth and influence while improving status within the merchant guilds.

Player Experience

In **Carthago: Merchants & Guilds**, players embark on a journey to build their merchant empire in ancient Carthage. The game requires strategic planning, resource management, and timely card play. Players must navigate the challenges of economic growth, guild politics, and unexpected events to emerge as the most successful merchant.

Pros

Engaging Mechanics: The combination of action points and card play offers a dynamic and engaging gameplay experience.

Strategic Depth: Players need to balance short-term needs with long-term strategies.

Replayability: The random draw of cards and events ensures each game is unique.

Thematic Immersion: The game’s theme of ancient trade and guilds is well-integrated into the mechanics.

Cons

Complexity: The game has a moderate to high complexity level, which may intimidate new players.

Setup Time: Setting up the game can be a bit lengthy due to the various components.

Player Interaction: While there is some interaction, the game can feel somewhat solo-focused.

Personal Thoughts on Carthago: Merchants & Guilds

**Carthago: Merchants & Guilds** is ideal for players who enjoy strategic card games with economic themes. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate games that require planning and resource management. If you’re looking for a game that offers a mix of action and strategy with a historical twist, this could be a great addition to your board game collection. However, it may not be the best fit for players seeking highly interactive or simple, quick games.

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