Masons (2006) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Masons is a board game designed by Leo Colovini and published by 999 Games in in 2006. The game falls under the categories of City Building and Medieval, where players take on the roles of master builders in the Middle Ages, constructing buildings and expanding their influence in the city.

Game Components of Masons

Walls

Towers of three different colors

Houses of five different colors

Palaces of the same five colors as the houses

Dice

Scoring markers

Guild cards for scoring points

How To Setup Masons

To set up Masons, start by placing the board in the middle of the playing area. Each player chooses a scoring marker and places it off the board. The wooden pieces (walls, towers, houses, and palaces) are kept nearby, with each player aware of the quantity of each type. Players begin with a hand of six guild cards. The game starts with a random player chosen to go first, with gameplay proceeding clockwise.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Objective: Players aim to score points by building walls, towers, houses, and palaces on the board and using their guild cards to score areas when they are completed.

Turn Structure: Players take turns adding walls, towers, houses, and palaces to the board. When an area is surrounded by walls, players can play up to two guild cards from their hand to score points.

Card Management: Playing two cards reduces the hand size, while playing none increases it. Players draw one replacement card after their turn.

Scoring: Points are scored based on the guild cards played, which reference specific configurations on the board such as city size, tower locations, and house colors.

Game End: The game ends when all of one type of piece (walls, towers, houses, or palaces) is used up. The player with the highest score wins, with the player having the most unused guild cards in their hand breaking ties.

Player Experience

Masons is often misunderstood as a game primarily about board placement, but it is fundamentally a card management game. As players build the city, the value of their guild cards changes dynamically. The game requires strategic thinking about which cards to play and when, as well as keeping an eye on the dwindling supply of pieces.

Pros

Strategic Depth: Masons offers a rich gameplay experience with intricate card management and strategic planning.

Dynamic Board: The board changes significantly with each turn, keeping the game fresh and challenging.

Simple to Learn: Despite its depth, the game is relatively easy to learn, making it accessible to new players.

Cons

Limited Control: Players have limited control over what pieces they can place and where, which can be frustrating.

Luck Factor: The roll of dice and the draw of guild cards introduce an element of luck that can affect gameplay.

Personal Thoughts on Masons

Masons is ideal for players who enjoy strategic games with a mix of luck and planning. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate the challenge of managing resources (in this case, guild cards) and adapting to changing circumstances on the board. While it may seem complex at first, Masons reveals its true depth and charm after multiple plays, making it a gem for experienced board game enthusiasts.

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