Hellas (2016) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Hellas is a city-building board game set in ancient Greece, where players take on the roles of architects competing to construct the most prestigious buildings in the city. Released in 2016, the game is designed by Dennis Lohausen and published by White Goblin Games.

Game Components of Hellas

Game board featuring an island with quarry fields and temple spaces

Quarry tiles with different marble values

Action markers (cubes) for each player

Village and city components (houses, palaces, squares)

Temple pillars

Quarry worker

Action track on the game board

Score track

How To Setup Hellas

To set up Hellas, place the game board in the middle of the table, using the Minotaur board for three- or four-player games and the Pegasus board for two-player games. Place the quarry tiles face down next to the game board and randomly reveal three of them on quarry fields on the coast of the island. Position the quarry worker on a random unoccupied quarry field. Each player receives their action markers, and the game is ready to begin.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Action Point Allowance System: Players choose and place one of their action markers on a free space on the action track each turn. Actions chosen by a player cannot be repeated by other players in the same round.

Resource Management: Players mine marble from quarries, which is essential for developing villages and cities.

Area Control: Build villages and cities by connecting houses and palaces. A village becomes a city when a palace is built adjacent to it.

Temple Building: Players can build pillars in temples to earn additional rewards.

Objective: The goal is to develop large cities, manage resources efficiently, and build temples to score points.

Player Experience

In Hellas, players embark on a journey to build and expand their cities in ancient Greece. The game requires strategic planning, resource management, and careful use of action markers. Players must balance the development of their cities with the need to mine marble and build temples. The game offers a mix of peaceful city-building and strategic competition, making it engaging and challenging.

Pros

Strategic Depth: The action point allowance system and resource management add layers of strategy.

Thematic Immersion: The game theme is deeply rooted in ancient Greek civilization, making it appealing to history buffs.

Variable Setup: Random placement of quarry tiles adds replayability.

Cons

Complex Setup: The initial setup can be somewhat complex and time-consuming.

Limited Actions: The number of actions per turn is limited, which can lead to strategic dilemmas but also frustration if players cannot perform their desired actions.

Personal Thoughts on Hellas

Hellas is ideal for players who enjoy strategic city-building games with a strong historical theme. It is suited for those who appreciate resource management and area control mechanics. While it may appeal more to experienced board game players due to its complexity, the game offers a rich and rewarding experience for those willing to dive into the world of ancient Greek city-states.

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