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Lacrimosa (2022) Board Game

Lacrimosa is a board game that was released in 2022 by the publisher Devir. Designed by Gerard Ascensi and Ferran Renalias, the game is set in a world of music and features stunning artwork by Jared Blando and Enrique Corominas. With a runtime of 90 minutes and suitable for players aged 14 and above, Lacrimosa offers an immersive gaming experience that combines elements of area majority, deck building, and movement points.

Game Components of Lacrimosa

  • Large dual-layered player boards
  • Deck of nine cards per player
  • Various markers for income, resources, and composer bonuses
  • Central board featuring a map for travel, a card market, and a scoresheet for the Requiem
  • Royal Court tiles
  • City tiles
  • Constanze cards
  • Mozart token
  • End-of-round bonus tiles
  • Story tokens

    How To Setup Lacrimosa

    To set up Lacrimosa, each player receives a large dual-layered player board, a deck of nine cards, and various markers. The central board is prepared with the map, card market, and scoresheet for the Requiem. The market deck is seeded before play, and specific end-of-round bonuses are chosen at random. Players draw four cards from their deck and select two to play for the first round.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

    Mechanics

  • Hand management: Players manage a small deck of nine cards.
  • Resource management: Players manage income, resources, and composer bonuses.
  • Area control: Players compete to contribute to the Requiem and control sections of the Royal Court.
  • Travel: Players move the Mozart token around Europe.
  • Card market: Players purchase cards to enhance their actions.

    Game Objective

  • The objective is to accumulate the most Story Points by telling stories of travels with Mozart, sponsoring the completion of his final composition, and interacting with performances from different eras.
  • Players score points from Royal Court tiles, contributions to the Requiem, and leftover resources.

    Player Experience

    Playing Lacrimosa is a strategic and engaging experience. The game is tight, with only five rounds, which forces players to focus on specific areas to maximize efficiency. The game features multiple levels of interactivity, including majority conflicts over the Requiem, travel on the main board, and competition for cards in the market. The player boards are particularly noteworthy, with their triple-layered design that allows cards to be slid into different parts of the board, enhancing the thematic experience.

    Pros

  • Strategic Depth: The game offers a lot of strategic depth with various actions and resources to manage.
  • Unique Theme: The theme of Mozart’s life and final composition is intriguing and unique.
  • Player Interaction: Multiple levels of interactivity, including travel and market competition.
  • Innovative Player Boards: The triple-layered player boards are functional and thematic.
  • Variable Setup: Random market deck and end-of-round bonuses add variability to each game.

    Cons

  • Limited Player Scaling: The game does not adjust significantly for higher player counts, leading to longer game times.
  • Thematic Disconnect: The game’s theme does not fully connect with the gameplay mechanics.
  • End-of-Round Bonuses: These bonuses provide little incentive and can be predictable.
  • Complexity for New Players: New players may struggle against experienced players due to the developed meta.

    Personal Thoughts on Lacrimosa

    Lacrimosa is a game best suited for fans of Euro-style games who appreciate complex strategies and resource management. It offers a unique theme that, while not fully integrated into the gameplay, provides a fascinating backdrop. The game is particularly enjoyable for players who like to plan ahead and manage limited resources efficiently. However, it may not be the best fit for new players due to its steep learning curve and the advantage experienced players have in understanding the game’s meta.

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