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San Juan (2004) Board Game

ByMichail

San Juan is a card game that was released in 2004 by designer Andreas Seyfarth and artist Franz Vohwinkel. It is published by alea and falls into the categories of card game, city building, and economic strategy. The game is set in the capital city of Puerto Rico and players take on the roles of colonial governors, building and developing their own individual cities.

Game Components of San Juan

  • 110 playing cards
  • 5 role cards
  • 1 governor card
  • 4 player boards
  • 1 trading house board
  • 1 scoring pad
  • Rulebook

    • How To Setup San Juan

  • Each player receives a player board and a trading house card.
  • The role cards are shuffled and each player receives one at random.
  • The governor card is given to the starting player.
  • The playing cards are shuffled and each player is dealt 4 cards.
  • The trading house board is set up.

    • Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

    In San Juan, players take turns selecting roles and performing actions to develop their cities. The objective is to earn the most victory points by constructing buildings, producing goods, and trading resources. Players must strategically manage their hand of cards and choose the most advantageous roles each round to outsmart their opponents.

    Player Experience

    Pros

  • Easy to learn and quick to play
  • Strategic depth and replayability
  • Beautiful artwork and quality components

    • Cons

  • Can be somewhat luck-dependent
  • Limited player interaction
  • May not appeal to all types of gamers

    • Personal Thoughts on San Juan

    San Juan is a well-designed card game that offers a good balance of strategy and luck. The gameplay is engaging and the mechanics are intuitive, making it accessible to both casual and experienced gamers. The build quality of the components is top-notch, with sturdy cards and vibrant artwork. The game falls within a moderate price range and is widely available in both new and used formats.

    For fans of city-building and economic strategy games, San Juan is definitely worth your time. It offers a unique gameplay experience that is both challenging and rewarding. However, if you prefer games with high player interaction or more complex mechanics, San Juan may not be the best fit for you. Overall, I would recommend this game to anyone looking for a light to medium-weight strategy game to add to their collection.

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    Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

    Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
    Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl

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