New Bedford (2016) Board Game

New Bedford is a city-building board game set in the mid-1800s, during the peak of the whaling industry in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Players take on the role of whaling captains, managing their resources and expanding their fleets to build the most prosperous whaling operation.

Game Components of New Bedford

Tiles: Three kinds of whale tiles, empty sea tiles, town tiles, and whaling board tiles.

Money Tokens: Coins with various values.

Wooden Pieces: Two meeples and two boats (large and small) per player in four different colors.

Resources: Brown log-shaped pieces (lumber), red bricks, and white food tokens (hard tack).

Trackers: Whale-shaped round tracker and a starting player token shaped like a ship’s wheel.

Boards: Town board, whaling board, and four player boards.

Rule Book: Detailed instructions for gameplay.

Canvas Bag: For storing components.

How To Setup New Bedford

To set up the game, place the town board and whaling board within reach of all players. Position the round tracker on the 1st position on the whaling board and place the two whaling board tiles in their designated spots. Separate the resources by type and keep them accessible. Randomly select and place town tiles side by side, showing the resource cost. Each player chooses $5 worth of resources to start, such as wood ($1), food ($1), and bricks ($2). Players then take their home board and corresponding colored pieces.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Duration: 12 rounds.

Phases per Round:

Actions Phase: Players place meeples on available actions on the town board or purchased tiles, following the actions’ instructions.

Movement Phase: Boats on the whaling board move one space closer to town.

Whaling Phase: Manage whaling vessels.

End of Round Phase: Resolve any end-of-round effects.

Objective: Compete to purchase buildings, manage whaling vessels, and accumulate the most victory points by the end of the 12 rounds.

Player Experience

New Bedford offers a balanced experience with two main focuses: building and whaling. Each building tile provides unique benefits, and players must pay opponents to use their tiles, maintaining game balance. The game is engaging, with a mix of resource management and strategic planning, making it challenging yet enjoyable.

Pros

Balanced Mechanics: Ensures no single action is overpowered.

Unique Building Tiles: Each tile offers distinct benefits.

Historical Theme: Immersive setting in the golden age of whaling.

Engaging Gameplay: Combines worker placement, resource management, and town building.

Cons

Complexity: May be overwhelming for new players due to multiple phases and mechanics.

Length: The 12-round game can be time-consuming.

Limited Popularity: Despite its quality, the game is not widely discussed.

Personal Thoughts on New Bedford

New Bedford is ideal for fans of worker placement and town-building games who appreciate a historical setting. It is suited for experienced players who enjoy strategic games with multiple layers of complexity. However, new players might find the rules and phases a bit daunting at first. Overall, it’s a well-designed game that offers a unique and engaging experience for those willing to delve into its intricacies.

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