Rolling Heights (2023) Board Game

Rolling Heights is a city-building board game designed by John D. Clair and published by Alderac Entertainment Group in in 2023. The game combines elements of dice rolling, deck building, and area majority/influence mechanics to create a unique gameplay experience.

Game Components of Rolling Heights

Meeples representing workers

Building materials

Contracts

Building tiles (including homes, parks, and skyscrapers)

Prestige points

Player boards

Dice for rolling meeples

How To Setup Rolling Heights

To set up the game, players first prepare the main board, which represents the expanding city. Each player chooses a general contractor board and places their starting meeples. The building tiles, contracts, and other components are organized and made accessible to all players. The setup takes approximately 15 minutes.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Meeple Rolling: Players roll meeples to determine which workers are active and which are not. Standing meeples provide special actions and building materials, while face-down meeples provide nothing.

Resource Management: Players must manage the resources and workers gained from meeple rolls to construct buildings.

Contract Fulfillment: Players compete to complete lucrative contracts to gain prestige points.

Building Construction: Constructing buildings earns players prestige and additional workers to build larger structures, including skyscrapers.

Objective: The goal is to accumulate the most prestige points by completing buildings and contracts.

Player Experience

In Rolling Heights, players take on the roles of general contractors in a rapidly expanding city. The game combines strategic planning with a touch of luck, as players need to optimize their meeple rolls to gather the necessary resources. The game is engaging and competitive, with players constantly trying to outmaneuver each other to secure the best contracts and build the most prestigious structures.

Pros

Engaging Mechanics: The meeple-rolling mechanism adds a fun and unpredictable element to the game.

Strategic Depth: The game offers layered strategies, making it enjoyable for multiple playthroughs.

Quick Setup: The 15-minute setup time makes it easy to get started quickly.

Replayability: With variable contracts and building opportunities, the game offers high replay value.

Cons

Luck Factor: The reliance on meeple rolls can introduce a significant element of luck, which may not appeal to all players.

Complexity: While the game is easy to pick up, mastering the strategies can take time.

Personal Thoughts on Rolling Heights

Rolling Heights is ideal for fans of city-builder and resource management games. It is suited for players aged 14 and above and is designed for 2-4 players. The game’s balance of luck and strategy makes it appealing to a wide range of players, from casual gamers to more experienced enthusiasts. If you enjoy games that combine planning with a bit of unpredictability, Rolling Heights is definitely worth checking out.

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