Coimbra (2018) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Coimbra is a Euro-style board game designed by Flaminia Brasini and Virginio Gigli, and published by eggertspiele in in 2018. Set in the 15th century Portuguese city of Coimbra, the game combines elements of dice rolling, action drafting, auction/bidding, and income to create a strategic gameplay experience.

Game Components of Coimbra

Dice: 13 six-sided dice in five colors (white, green, orange, gray, and purple)

Player Boards: For tracking resources and progress

Character Cards: Representing citizens with various benefits

Voyage Cards: For end-game point opportunities

Monastery Tokens: For pilgrim movement and rewards

City Location Boards: Castle, Upper City, Middle City, and Lower City

Resource Tokens: Coins and guards

Influence Track Tokens: For tracking progress on four color-coded tracks

How To Setup Coimbra

Setting up Coimbra involves several steps, which can feel a bit convoluted at first but become routine with practice. The game requires rolling a handful of dice, the number of which depends on the player count. Players then draft and place these dice into their respective holders and onto the board in specific city locations. The setup includes dealing out voyage cards, preparing the character card decks, and setting up the influence tracks. Each player gets a player board to track their resources and progress. The game is ready to start once all components are distributed and the initial dice roll is completed.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Dice Drafting Mechanism: Players draft and place dice to determine actions and resource costs.

Resource Management: Managing coins and guards to acquire cards and advance on influence tracks.

Character Cards: Acquiring cards to advance on influence tracks and gain immediate or future benefits.

Voyage Cards: Investing in voyages for significant end-game points.

Pilgrim Movement: Moving a pilgrim pawn to visit monasteries for rewards.

Objective: The goal is to earn the most victory points by deepening relationships with monasteries, funding expeditions, and gaining influence through character cards and voyages.

Player Experience

Coimbra offers a dynamic and variable experience, with each game differing due to the random distribution of character cards, voyage cards, and the rolling of dice. Players must optimize their dice placements to maximize their opportunities, balancing resource management with strategic advancement on the influence tracks. The game features indirect player interaction, where players compete for specific cards, turn order, and majorities on the influence tracks. The game’s duration is typically 60-90 minutes, making it suitable for strategy enthusiasts.

Pros

Innovative Dice Mechanism: The dice drafting system is unique and engaging.

High Replayability: Variable setup and random card draws ensure no two games are the same.

Balanced Gameplay: Multiple paths to victory and a need to balance various strategies.

Attractive Design: Colorful and clear artwork, making the game both visually appealing and easy to understand.

Family and Adult Friendly: Suitable for players aged 14 and above.

Cons

Complex Setup: Initial setup can be time-consuming and fiddly.

Learning Curve: The game mechanics take some time to grasp fully.

Long Playtime: Games can extend to 90 minutes, especially with new players.

Personal Thoughts on Coimbra

Coimbra is an excellent choice for fans of Eurogames and strategy enthusiasts. It offers a rich and dynamic gaming experience with deep strategic layers, making it appealing to those who enjoy optimizing resources and managing multiple paths to victory. While it may not be the best fit for casual gamers due to its complexity and learning curve, it is highly recommended for those who appreciate a good challenge and high replayability. If you enjoy games like Lorenzo il Magnifico or other strategic dice drafting games, Coimbra is certainly worth adding to your collection.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.