Ragusa (2019) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Ragusa is a city-building and economic board game set in the Renaissance period. Designed by Bartlomiej Roczniak and published in 2019, the game allows players to take on the roles of influential citizens of the city of Ragusa, modern-day Dubrovnik. With its unique gameplay mechanics and strategic elements, Ragusa has garnered attention from board game enthusiasts looking for a challenging and engaging experience.

Game Components of Ragusa

Game board featuring a hex grid representation of the city

Player houses (workers)

Resource tokens (wood, stone, grapes, olives, silver ore, fish)

Bonus cards

Ship cards

Wall and tower pieces

Commodities (oil, silver bars, wine)

Market value tokens

How To Setup Ragusa

To set up **Ragusa**, each player starts with a set number of houses based on the player count: nine houses for three to five players, and twelve houses for two players. Each player is dealt three bonus cards and chooses one to keep. The board is filled with five ship cards, which contain resources and market fluctuation arrows. The game board is arranged to show the city with various hexes representing different resources and actions.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Worker Placement: Players place houses at the intersections of hexes to gain resources and perform actions.

Resource Management: Resources are not consumed but represent a supply chain.

Cascading Actions: Placing a house in a city hex triggers actions for all players with houses bordering that hex.

Market Mechanics: Market prices fluctuate based on ship card draws and player actions.

Game Objective

The objective is to score the most victory points by gathering resources, building walls, selling commodities, and fulfilling contracts.

Points are scored through various actions like building walls, selling goods at the Wharf, and completing bonus card requirements.

The game ends when all players have placed all their houses, and final scoring includes points for the longest uninterrupted wall section and bonus cards.

Player Experience

**Ragusa** offers a deeply interactive and strategic experience, where each house placement can significantly impact the game state for all players. The cascading action mechanism introduces a layer of complexity, as players must carefully consider how their moves will benefit or hinder their opponents. The game requires careful planning and resource management to maximize points.

Pros

High Player Interaction: Actions taken by one player can trigger multiple actions for other players.

Strategic Depth: The game demands careful planning and strategic house placements.

Streamlined Gameplay: Despite its complexity, the game plays well within a 60-75 minute timeframe.

Engaging Mechanics: The combination of resource management and cascading actions keeps players engaged.

Cons

Complex Rules: Some rules can be confusing and may require additional clarification.

Market Mechanics: The market fluctuation system can feel like unnecessary bookkeeping.

Painful Decisions: Players may sometimes make moves that benefit opponents more than themselves.

Personal Thoughts on Ragusa

**Ragusa** is ideal for fans of medium-weight Eurogames who appreciate complex mechanics and high player interaction. It is not for casual gamers or those who prefer simpler rules. The game’s unique cascading action mechanism and resource management system make it a standout in the genre, but it may require multiple plays to fully appreciate its depth. If you enjoy games that challenge your strategic thinking and offer a lot of replayability, **Ragusa** is definitely worth exploring.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.