Razzia (1992) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Razzia is a board game released in 1992, designed by Stefan Dorra and published by Otto Maier Verlag. The game is set in a mafia-themed world where players take on the roles of gangsters trying to expand their territories through negotiation, bluffing, and economic strategies. With a playtime of 30 minutes and suitable for players aged 12 and above, Razzia offers a unique gaming experience blending elements of auctions, dice rolling, and simultaneous action selection.

Game Components of Razzia

Card Deck: 120 cards, including 99 booty cards divided into six types (purple bodyguards, green cars and drivers, blue thieves, gold coins, red trinkets, and brown businesses), 21 “Police Raid” cards, and 6 reference cards for scoring.

Checks: 16 cardboard chits with values ranging from 1,000 to 16,000.

Gameboard: A small cardboard strip to organize the cards and checks.

How To Setup Razzia

To set up Razzia, shuffle the deck of 120 cards and place it near the gameboard. Each player is given 3 or 4 checks, depending on the number of players, ensuring a fair spread of values. The game strip is placed in the middle of the table, with spaces for police raid cards, checks, and auction cards. The 1,000 check is initially set on the gameboard.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Auction Mechanics: Players take turns flipping over booty cards to reveal items for auction. An auction is triggered either by a full row of cards or by a “Police Raid” card.

Bidding: Players bid using their checks to acquire the displayed items. The winner takes all the cards in the auction and the check that was in the middle of the board[4`.

Scoring: Points are scored based on the accumulated cards after each round. Some cards are discarded after scoring, while others remain for future rounds. The game ends after three rounds, and the player with the highest score wins.

Strategic Planning: Players must tactically decide when to call for an auction and which checks to use, considering the potential bids of other players.

Player Experience

Razzia offers a tense and logical gameplay experience, with open information that allows players to anticipate and second-guess their opponents’ moves. The game is filled with hard choices, such as deciding when to call for an auction and which check to use, making it engaging and strategic. The lack of surprise elements due to open bidding ensures that the game remains a test of tactical play rather than luck.

Pros

Tactical Depth: The game offers a lot of tactical play, with players constantly trying to outmaneuver each other.

Strategic Possibilities: Multiple strategic paths are available, allowing players to focus on different types of cards and scoring methods.

Portable: The game is highly portable due to its small size and simple components.

Engaging Theme: The mafia-themed auction for stolen goods adds a fun and engaging twist to the game.

Cons

Limited Player Count: The game is designed for 2-5 players, which might limit its appeal for larger groups.

No Disaster Cards: While some might see the absence of disaster cards as a positive, others might miss the additional layer of complexity they provided in the original Ra game.

Personal Thoughts on Razzia

Razzia is ideal for players who enjoy strategic auction games with a high level of tactical play. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate games with open information and minimal luck, allowing for a pure test of strategic thinking. The game’s theme and mechanics make it a great choice for fans of Reiner Knizia’s work and those looking for a game that is both engaging and portable.

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