Rheinländer (1999) Board Game

Rheinländer is an abstract strategy board game that was released in in 1999. It was designed by William O’Connor and Franz Vohwinkel, and has been published by various companies such as Face2Face Games, Hasbro, and Parker Brothers. The game is set in a medieval theme and revolves around territory building and area majority/influence mechanics.

Game Components of Rheinländer

Gameboard: Represents a twisty section of the Rhine River divided into 54 segments, each with a river space and two river bank spaces.

Cards: Players are dealt five cards, each corresponding to a different segment of the river, limiting possible moves.

Tokens: Include knight tokens, towns (2, 3, and 4 point varieties), bastions (neutral blocker pieces), castles (allow free knight placement), and churches (add points and influence control of the archbishop).

Duke Figures: 25mm plastic figures resembling medieval knights.

Black Plastic Compartmental Tray: For organizing the numerous tokens.

How To Setup Rheinländer

To set up Rheinländer, players start by placing the gameboard, which features a segmented representation of the Rhine River. Each player is dealt five cards, which determine the available river segments for their moves. The tokens for towns, bastions, castles, and churches are placed within reach, ready to be used during the game. Players choose their starting knights and place them on the board according to the initial rules.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile Placement: Players place knight tokens on the river banks or in the river, based on the segments indicated by their cards.

Reinforcement Moves: If none of the five cards suit, players can place a knight adjacent to an existing one.

Area Control: Control of duchies is determined by the strength of knights in each duchy.

Token Placement: Towns, bastions, castles, and churches are used to add points, block opponents, and gain strategic advantages.

Objective: The goal is to control the most valuable duchies and accumulate the highest score by the end of the game.

Player Experience

Rheinländer offers a challenging and cerebral gaming experience, appealing to fans of strategic games. The game’s simplicity in mechanics contrasts with its depth in strategy, making it a solid choice for mature and serious gamers. While the game lacks random elements that might induce surprise or laughter, it compensates with the satisfaction of making tough decisions and the visual appeal of its detailed components.

Pros

Strategic Depth: Encourages thoughtful and strategic play.

Visual Appeal: Detailed gameboard and tokens, including 25mm plastic duke figures.

Variety in Tokens: Multiple types of tokens add flavor and excitement to the game.

Simple to Learn: Basic rules make it accessible, despite its strategic complexity.

Cons

Dry and Cerebral: Lacks random elements that could add surprise or fun.

Limited Randomness: The game’s randomness does not contribute to excitement or surprise.

Complexity: While the rules are simple, the game requires serious strategic thinking, which may not appeal to all players.

Personal Thoughts on Rheinländer

Rheinländer is a great addition to any collection for fans of Reiner Knizia and strategic games. It is particularly suited for mature and serious gamers who enjoy making tough decisions and strategizing. The game’s visual appeal and detailed components will also attract those who appreciate the aesthetic of older board games. However, it may not be the best choice for younger gamers or those looking for a game with more random elements and surprises.

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