Maya (2012) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Maya is an abstract strategy board game that was released in in 2012. Designed by Alberto Branciari and Andrea Mainini, the game is set in the ancient Mayan civilization and features beautiful artwork by Mariya Pchelnik. Published by Hutter Trade GmbH + Co KG, Maya is designed for 2-4 players, with a recommended age of 8 and up.

Game Components of Tzolk’in: The Mayan Calendar

Interconnected gears: Representing different temples where players can perform actions.

Workers: Wooden cylinders that players place on the gears.

Building tiles: Divided into three levels, providing different bonuses and abilities.

Resources and crystal skulls: Used for various actions and scoring.

Board: A four-part board that may have manufacturing issues such as warping or tearing.

Food day markers: Indicating the midpoint and end of each age.

How To Setup Tzolk’in: The Mayan Calendar

Setting up Tzolk’in involves assembling the four-part board, which can be challenging due to potential manufacturing issues. Players place the central gear and the smaller gears, ensuring they are properly connected. Workers and other components are distributed according to the number of players. In two or three-player games, dummy workers are used to block certain spaces on the board.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Dynamic Worker Placement: Workers are placed on interconnected gears that rotate, moving workers to more valuable action spaces over time.

Action Selection: Players can either place workers or pick them up to perform actions.

Resource Management: Players must manage resources (corn) to place and feed workers.

Building Construction: Players construct buildings to gain bonuses and points.

Scoring: Points are awarded for constructed buildings, advancement on the technology track, and collected resources. The player with the most points wins.

Player Experience

Tzolk’in: The Mayan Calendar is a game that requires strategic planning and forward thinking. Players must carefully time the placement and removal of their workers to maximize their actions and score points. The game is engaging, with each turn requiring consideration of multiple moves ahead. The dynamic worker placement mechanism adds a unique twist, making the game stand out in its genre. The endgame scoring can be suspenseful, as the final scores are calculated only at the end of the game.

Pros

Unique Mechanism: Dynamic worker placement adds a fresh twist to the worker placement genre.

High Replayability: Multiple paths to victory and the need for strategic planning ensure each game is different.

Thematic Depth: The game is rich in its Mayan theme and artwork.

Engaging Gameplay: Requires forward thinking and careful planning, making it intellectually stimulating.

Cons

Complex Setup: Assembling the board can be challenging due to manufacturing issues.

Limited Innovation: Some players find that there are only a few effective strategies, limiting innovation.

Potential for Overpowered Strategies: Some strategies can feel too strong or even broken to some players.

Personal Thoughts on Tzolk’in: The Mayan Calendar

Tzolk’in: The Mayan Calendar is a game best suited for fans of worker placement and strategy games. It is ideal for players who enjoy planning multiple moves ahead and managing resources efficiently. The game’s complexity and strategic depth make it more suitable for players aged 13 and above. Despite some potential drawbacks, such as complex setup and limited innovation in strategies, the game remains highly regarded for its unique mechanism and engaging gameplay.

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