Giants (2008) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Giants is a board game released in 2008 and designed by Fabrice Besson. It is published by Matagot and features artwork by Miguel Coimbra. The game falls under the transportation category and incorporates various mechanisms such as auction/bidding, network and route building, pick-up and deliver, and worker placement. Giants is recommended for players aged 10 and above, with a playing time of approximately 90 minutes and accommodating 3 to 5 players.

Game Components of Giants

Game board representing a simplified map of Easter Island

Moai statues of different sizes (small, medium, large)

Headdress components

Worker tokens

Monument markers

Rongo half tablets

Victory point markers and track

Dice for determining available moai statues

How To Setup Giants

To set up the game, players start by placing the game board, which features various areas where moai statues can be constructed. Each player chooses their clan and receives a set of worker tokens and monument markers. The dice are rolled to determine which moai statues are available in the quarry for the current round.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Worker Placement: Players place their worker tokens on the board to move and construct moai statues.

Resource Management: Managing the availability of moai statues based on dice rolls.

Area Control: Placing statues in strategic locations to maximize victory points.

Objective: The goal is to build and place the most moai statues, including adding headdresses, to earn the most victory points. The game ends when one player runs out of their monument markers, and the player with the most victory points wins.

Player Experience

Playing **Giants** involves a deep strategic experience with plenty of tactical decisions. Players must balance the placement of their workers to construct and move statues efficiently, while also optimizing the placement of headdresses to maximize points. The game is known for its intricate rules, which can make the initial learning curve steep, but the rewarding gameplay makes it worthwhile for fans of complex board games.

Pros

Deep Strategy: Offers a lot of strategy, tactics, and timing challenges.

Gorgeous Components: The game features high-quality, visually appealing components.

Competitive Cooperation: Players must navigate a mix of competitive and cooperative elements to succeed.

Cons

Steep Learning Curve: The rules can be confusing, and the rulebook is not very helpful.

Complex Setup: Setting up the game can be time-consuming due to the numerous components and intricate rules.

Personal Thoughts on Giants

**Giants** is a game tailored for fans of complex, euro-style board games. It is ideal for players who enjoy deep strategy, worker placement mechanics, and competitive gameplay. While it may not be the best choice for casual gamers due to its complexity, enthusiasts of games like those designed by Stephen Feld will likely find **Giants** to be a rewarding and challenging experience.

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