Santa Maria (2017) Board Game

Santa Maria is a board game that was released in 2017 by Aporta Games. Designed by Kristian Amundsen Østby and Eilif Svensson, with artwork by Gjermund Bohne, the game falls under the categories of Civilization and Farming. It is a strategy game that combines elements of dice rolling, network building, and set collection, offering players a unique and engaging gameplay experience.

Game Components of Santa Maria

Player boards with pre-printed buildings

Main board featuring tracks for Conquistadors, religion, and missionary stations

Polyomino tiles with buildings

White and blue dice representing migrant workers

Coins and resources (grain, etc.)

Scholar cards providing special actions

Bishop cards offering end-game scoring conditions

Ship tiles for forming shipping routes

Monk tiles for religious power

Expansion tiles for colony expansion

How To Setup Santa Maria

To set up Santa Maria, each player starts with a player board, a set of coins based on their turn order, and three white dice. The main board is prepared by placing the central action board, which includes tracks for Conquistadors and religion, and spaces for cards and tiles. Three scholar cards and three Bishop cards are randomly drawn and placed on the board. Four ship tiles are positioned in the docks, and resources are arranged near the table. Each player rolls their white dice and organizes them at the bottom of the board. Five expansion tiles of each type are drawn and placed face up next to the board.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Dice Drafting: Using dice to activate buildings on the player board.

Tile Placement: Placing polyomino tiles to expand the colony.

Network and Route Building: Forming shipping routes and conquistador tracks.

Card Drafting: Utilizing scholar and Bishop cards for special abilities and scoring.

Resource Management: Managing resources to activate buildings and recruit monks.

Game Objective

The objective is to accumulate the most happiness points (胜利点) over three game rounds by:

Producing resources

Forming shipping routes

Sending out conquistadors

Improving religious power to recruit monks

Using scholar cards for special abilities

Meeting end-game scoring conditions from Bishop cards

Player Experience

Players experience a streamlined and strategic game where they must carefully plan the placement of their buildings and the use of their dice to maximize resource production and happiness points. The game is low on luck and lacks direct destructive player conflict, making it a strategic and thoughtful experience. The variability in scholar cards, Bishop cards, and expansion tiles ensures high replayability.

Pros

Simple yet Satisfying Mechanics: Easy to learn but deeply strategic.

High Replayability: Different cards and tiles each game ensure varied gameplay.

Strategic Depth: Requires careful planning and resource management.

No Direct Conflict: Focuses on individual strategy rather than direct competition.

Cons

Iconography Issues: Some icons on Bishop and scholar tiles can be illegible and confusing.

Initial Complexity: While the game is streamlined, the initial rules and setup can be overwhelming.

Personal Thoughts on Santa Maria

Santa Maria is ideal for fans of Eurogames who enjoy strategic engine-building and resource management without the complexity of overly intricate rules. It is suitable for players looking for a game that starts simple but expands into a more complex and engaging experience. The game’s lack of direct conflict makes it a great option for players who prefer strategic planning over competitive interactions. However, the iconography issues may require some adjustment and learning time for new players. Overall, Santa Maria offers a engaging and rewarding experience for those who enjoy medium-weight strategy games.

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