Dice City (2015) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Dice City is a city-building, dice-rolling game designed by Vangelis Bagiartakis and published in in 2015. In this game, players take on the role of a city mayor, using dice to construct buildings and develop their city. The game features a medieval theme, with players competing to build the most prosperous and powerful city.

Game Components of Dice City

Player boards

Colored dice (one of each color per player)

Resource tokens (wood, iron, stone)

Building cards (resource-producing locations, military cards, etc.)

Bandit tokens

Trade ship stacks

Defense value tokens

How To Setup Dice City

To set up Dice City, each player receives a player board and one of each colored die. The building cards are shuffled and a set number are drawn to form the available building pool. Bandits and trade ship stacks are also set up according to the game’s instructions.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Dice Rolling: Players roll their dice at the end of each turn to minimize downtime.

Resource Collection: Dice are assigned to spaces on the player board to collect resources (wood, iron, stone).

Building Development: Players can purchase buildings using resources, which can be placed anywhere in their city to enhance dice rolls or provide other benefits.

Military Strength: Buildings can be used to attack other players’ buildings or defend against bandits.

Game End: The game ends when all bandits are defeated, two out of three trade ship stacks are emptied, or one player fills two rows on their city board.

Objective: The goal is to accumulate the most victory points by efficiently developing your city.

Player Experience

Dice City offers a dynamic and strategic experience with multiple viable paths to victory. Players have the freedom to choose how they develop their city, whether by focusing on resource production, military strength, or trade. The game scales well with 2-4 players and includes a solo mode for those who prefer to play alone. Turns are relatively quick, allowing players ample time to plan their next move.

Pros

Engine-Building: Allows for significant player agency in developing their city.

Variability: Each play feels different due to the available building pool and dice rolls.

Accessible Expansions: Easily integrated expansions add new layers to the game.

Quick Turns: Reduces downtime and enhances overall gameplay flow.

Cons

Complexity: May take a few rounds for new players to grasp all the mechanics.

Luck of the Dice: Dice rolls can sometimes limit strategic options.

Personal Thoughts on Dice City

Dice City is ideal for players who enjoy light to medium-weight city-building and engine-building games. It’s perfect for those who appreciate strategic depth without the complexity of heavier games. If you’re looking for a game that offers a fun, varied experience with each play, Dice City is a great choice. However, if you’re particularly averse to luck-based mechanics or prefer games with more direct conflict, you might want to consider other options.

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