Madeira (2013) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Madeira is a strategic board game released in 2013, designed by Mariano Iannelli and published by What’s Your Game?. The game is set in the 15th century on the Portuguese island of Madeira, where players take on the roles of nobles trying to develop the island’s economy and influence.

Game Components of Madeira

Game board featuring the island of Madeira divided into three regions

Guild dice and Pirate dice for player actions

Character tiles (Steward, Guild Master, Mayor, and Commander)

Building tiles with associated actions

Resource tokens (wood, wheat, sugar, grapes)

Ship tokens

Worker tokens

Windmill token

Pirate tokens

Victory point track and tokens

How To Setup Madeira

To set up Madeira, each player chooses a group of Guild dice from the Guild Board and places them in front of themselves. The game board is arranged with the three regions of the island, each containing fields for different resources. The windmill, which automates the feeding of workers, is placed on the board. Character tiles are shuffled and randomly placed on buildings at the start of each round. Players begin with a set of workers already on the board and additional workers in reserve.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Worker Placement: Players place Guild dice and Pirate dice on characters to perform actions.

Resource Management: Manage resources such as wood, wheat, sugar, and grapes to build structures, trade, and feed workers.

Economic Engine: Develop the island by erecting new structures, trading in foreign markets, and participating in expeditions.

Game Objective: The ultimate goal is to gain the most Prestige Points (PP) by fulfilling requests from the Crown, developing the island, and optimizing resource usage.

Player Experience

Madeira is known for its complexity and strategic depth. Players must carefully plan their actions, manage resources efficiently, and adapt to the changing demands of the Crown. The game is highly interactive, requiring players to be aware of their opponents’ moves and plan accordingly. With five rounds in total, each round consists of phases for character actions, building actions, maintenance, and fulfilling the Crown’s requests.

Pros

Deep Strategy: Offers a rich and complex gameplay experience.

Resource Management: Requires careful planning and optimization of resources.

Historical Context: Provides a unique historical setting and theme.

High Replayability: Random placement of character tiles and varying Crown requests ensure different gameplay experiences each time.

Cons

Steep Learning Curve: Can be challenging for new players to learn and master.

Long Playtime: Games can take several hours to complete.

Complex Rules: Requires a significant amount of time to understand and set up.

Personal Thoughts on Madeira

Madeira is an excellent choice for experienced board game enthusiasts who enjoy complex economic and strategic games. It is particularly suitable for those who appreciate historical themes and are willing to invest the time to learn and master its intricate mechanics. However, it may not be the best fit for casual players or those new to board games due to its steep learning curve and lengthy playtime.

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