Praetor (2014) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Praetor is a board game that was released in 2014 by NSKN Games. Designed by Andrei Novac, the game falls under the categories of Ancient, City Building, and Economic. Praetor is set in ancient Rome, where players take on the roles of Roman engineers working on the construction of the city. With its unique gameplay mechanics and strategic elements, Praetor has gained popularity among board game enthusiasts.

Game Components of Praetor

Game board

City tiles

Worker tokens

Mosaic pieces

Wall cards

Resource tokens (gold, etc.)

Favour points tokens

Villager tokens

How To Setup Praetor

To set up Praetor, players begin by placing the game board in the middle of the table. Each player selects a set of worker tokens and places them on the board according to the starting rules. The city tiles, wall cards, and resource tokens are shuffled and placed within reach of all players. Each player starts with a set amount of resources and favour points.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Worker Placement: Players place their worker tokens on various spaces on the board to perform different actions such as training villagers, gathering resources, and building city tiles.

Resource Management: Players must manage their resources (gold, etc.) to pay for actions and build tiles.

City Building: Players lay down city tiles to build their city, earning favour points for each tile placed.

Turn Order: The player with the most favour points goes last in the turn order, while the player with the least favour points goes first.

Mosaic Bonuses: Matching mosaic pieces on the corners of the city tiles earns bonus points.

Objective: The player who gains the most favour points by impressing Caesar Hadrian is appointed Praetor and wins the game.

Player Experience

Playing Praetor involves a lot of strategic decisions and intense gaming moments. The game dynamic changes significantly based on the turn order mechanic, which prevents any player from getting too far ahead. Players need to balance between training workers, gathering resources, and building tiles, all while considering the mosaic bonuses. The game can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially in the early rounds, but it offers a rich and engaging experience as players adapt to the changing board and resource availability.

Pros

Strategic Depth: Offers a deep layer of strategy with multiple paths to victory.

Competitive Balance: The turn order mechanic ensures that no player is too far ahead, allowing for catch-up opportunities.

Engaging Mechanics: Combines worker placement, resource management, and city building in a compelling way.

Dynamic Gameplay: The availability of tiles and resources changes each round, requiring constant adaptation.

Cons

Initial Complexity: Can feel overwhelming in the first few games as players adjust to the various mechanics.

Pacing Issues: The game can drag on, especially towards the end.

Artwork: While the mechanics are solid, the artwork is not the game’s strongest aspect.

Personal Thoughts on Praetor

Praetor is ideal for fans of worker placement games who enjoy strategic depth and competitive balance. It is suitable for players who appreciate games with multiple layers of decision-making and are looking for a challenging yet rewarding experience. However, it may not be the best fit for those who prefer simpler, more straightforward gameplay or are particularly concerned with the aesthetic quality of the game components.

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