Passing Through Petra (2018) Board Game

Passing Through Petra is a board game released in 2018 and designed by Janos Orban. It is published by Renegade Game Studios and falls under the categories of Ancient and Economic games. The game can be played by 2 to 4 players, with a runtime of around 60 minutes and is recommended for players aged 14 and above.

Game Components of Passing Through Petra

2-4 player boards

9 influence cubes per player

Merchant Pawns

Worker tokens

Camels (distributed based on player order)

Trader Tiles

Permanent Settlement Tiles

Village Cards

Influence tracks

Market outcomes

How To Setup Passing Through Petra

To set up the game, each player places their nine influence cubes in the recessed square spots on their player board. Each player receives their Merchant Pawns and places them in the center of the city grid. Players then place a marker disc on each of the 5 influence tracks. Workers are placed beside each player’s board, and camels are distributed with the first player getting 1, the second player getting 2, and so on. Finally, each player draws 6 Trader Tiles randomly from the included bag.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Objective: The first player to place all nine of their influence cubes on the influence tracks wins.

Movement: Players can move their Merchant Pawn one space in any of the four directions, taking the action associated with the edge they moved towards.

Actions: Actions include interacting with influence tracks, market outcomes, and using Village Cards.

Planning: Players must plan ahead to combo actions and manage market outcomes effectively.

Engine-Building: As players progress, they can gain bonuses and reduce the number of cubes needed to take certain actions.

Player Experience

In Passing Through Petra, players take on the roles of powerful citizens growing their settlements and reputations as caravans pass through the canyons. The game is known for its novel action selection mechanism and the need for strategic planning. Players must keep an eye on their opponents’ moves to anticipate and counter their strategies. The game is relatively quick, often lasting between 30 to 60 minutes.

Pros

Novel Action Selection: The game’s action selection mechanism is unique and engaging.

Strategic Depth: Requires careful planning and anticipation of opponents’ moves.

Asymmetric Player Boards: Each player board has different market combinations, adding variability to the game.

Gorgeous Components: The game is praised for its high-quality and visually appealing components.

Engine-Building: Players can build up their capabilities over the course of the game.

Cons

Action Selection Limitations: Some players find the action selection to be interesting but ultimately somewhat limited.

Player Count Issues: The game can experience downtime as the player count increases.

Learning Curve for Market Outcomes: Understanding market outcomes can be the most challenging part of learning the game.

Personal Thoughts on Passing Through Petra

Passing Through Petra is ideal for fans of abstract strategy and economic games who enjoy strategic planning and engine-building mechanics. While it may not be as complex as some other strategy games, it offers a satisfying and visually appealing experience. The game is particularly suited for players who appreciate games with novel mechanics and asymmetric elements that add replayability. However, it may not be the best fit for those seeking highly interactive or cooperative gameplay experiences.

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