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Castles (2014) Board Game

ByMichail

Castles is a two-player card game released in 2014 by designer Dan Zimmer and published by AAIIEEE!. The game takes players back to medieval times, where they must build and defend their own castles while attacking their opponent’s. With a runtime of about 30 minutes and suitable for ages 10 and up, Castles offers a strategic and competitive gameplay experience for those who enjoy territory building and card fighting games.

Game Components

  • Room tiles** of various sizes, shapes, and categories
  • Money** (coins)
  • Master Builder token**
  • Bonus cards** for secret goals
  • Completion bonus tiles**
  • Hallways and stairs**
  • Scorepad**

    How To Setup Castles

    To set up the game, each player selects two bonus cards from an offering of three, which will be their secret goals for the game. The room tiles are shuffled and placed within reach of all players. One player is designated as the Master Builder, who will determine the prices of the room tiles each round.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Tile Auction: The Master Builder sets prices for the available room tiles, and other players buy these tiles using their coins.
  • Tile Placement: Players fit the bought tiles into their growing palace, ensuring compatibility between different room types.
  • Completion Bonuses: Completing a room (connecting all exits to other tiles) rewards players with coins, extra turns, or the ability to rescore completed rooms.
  • Secret Goals: Players aim to satisfy their secret bonus cards to earn additional points.
  • Objective: The goal is to arrange rooms optimally to maximize points, considering the placement penalties and bonuses.

    Player Experience

    Playing **Castles of Mad King Ludwig** is a nuanced and strategically challenging experience. The game requires careful planning and adaptability, as the link between actions and consequences can be complex due to the interactions between players. The tile placement mechanism is satisfying, with players constantly optimizing local arrangements to achieve better scores. However, the game can be chaotic, with players often building bizarre constructions that might seem illogical but could be driven by their secret goals.

    Pros

  • Engaging Tile Placement: The mechanism of fitting tiles together is highly satisfying.
  • Strategic Depth: The game offers a complex and nuanced gameplay experience.
  • Replayability: With many different room tiles and secret goals, each game can be quite different.
  • Interactive: Players’ decisions significantly impact each other’s strategies.

    Cons

  • Complexity: The game can be hard to play coherently, especially for new players.
  • Setup and Scoring Time: Scoring can take as long as the gameplay itself.
  • Chaotic Construction: The castles built may not make practical sense, which can be frustrating for some players.

    Personal Thoughts on Castles

    **Castles of Mad King Ludwig** is ideal for fans of tile-laying and strategic games who enjoy complex decision-making and adaptive gameplay. It is not suited for players looking for a simple, straightforward experience. The game’s unique blend of strategic planning and unpredictability makes it a great choice for those who enjoy a challenge and are willing to invest time in mastering its mechanics. However, it may not be the best fit for casual gamers or those who prefer more linear gameplay.

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    • Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

    Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
    Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl

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