Taverna (2015) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Taverna is a board game released in 2015, designed by Karl Marcelle and published by Games Factory Publishing. Set in a fantasy medieval world, players take on the role of tavern owners competing to attract the most customers to their establishments. With a mix of worker placement, area majority/influence, and open drafting mechanics, Taverna offers a unique gaming experience for 2-5 players.

Game Components of Taverna

Board: Depicts five taverns, each with seating for various guests, and a castle for royal favors.

Customer cards: 34 cards showing different races (humans, orcs, dwarves, elves) and guild symbols (lyre, spellbook, beer).

Customer tiles: 36 tiles matching the customer cards.

Spell cards: 32 cards with various effects and costs.

Property Deed tokens: 25 tokens in five colors for tavern ownership.

Score tokens: 25 tokens in five colors for tracking points.

Dignitary figures: 4 figures with unique abilities (Notary, GobTrotter, Princess, Ambassadress).

Coins: A bag of coins for transactions.

Royal Favour tokens: 15 tokens providing one-shot benefits.

Privilege tokens: 15 tokens used to activate dignitaries or gain benefits.

Guild tokens: 12 tokens representing different guilds.

King and Queen tokens: Used to mark the King’s preferred race.

How To Setup Taverna

To set up Taverna, start by placing the board in the center of the table, choosing the side appropriate for the number of players. Each player receives 15 coins, 5 property deed tokens, and 5 score tokens in their chosen color. Players place one score token on the city’s entrance and one on each of the four people tracks’ starting positions. The player with the most recent birthday goes first. Guild tokens and customer tiles are placed next to the board. Royal favour tiles are shuffled and one is placed face up on each of the five spaces around the castle. One privilege token is placed on each tavern, and dignitary figures are randomly placed in the small taverns. Each player is dealt three spell cards, and the remaining cards form the spell draw pile. Customer cards are shuffled and four are dealt face up to create the available customer track, with the first card determining the King’s preferred race.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Worker Placement: Players place customer tiles in taverns.

Area Control: Players manage taverns and their benefits.

Resource Management: Managing coins, spell cards, and privilege tokens.

Variable Player Powers: Dignitaries offer different abilities.

Game Objective

Choose a customer card and place the matching customer tile in a tavern.

Gain popularity with different races by placing tiles on preferred tables.

Earn coins and benefits based on tavern ownership and customer placement.

Use dignitaries, spell cards, and royal favors to enhance gameplay.

Progress on people tracks to gain victory points and other benefits.

The game ends after 8 turns (2 players) or 6 turns (3-5 players), with the player having the most victory points declared the winner.

Player Experience

Playing Taverna involves strategic decision-making to maximize benefits from customer placements, tavern ownership, and the use of dignitaries and royal favors. The game requires a balance between short-term gains and long-term strategies, especially in progressing on the people tracks and utilizing the unique abilities of the dignitaries. However, the game can become complex due to the numerous options and benefits available, leading to downtime and frequent rule consultations.

Pros

Deep Strategy: Multiple layers of strategy involving customer placement, tavern management, and resource use.

Variety of Options: Dignitaries, spell cards, and royal favors provide diverse ways to influence the game.

Thematic Engagement: The game’s theme of managing a tavern is well-integrated into the mechanics.

Cons

Complexity: The game has many rules and components to keep track of, which can lead to confusion and downtime.

Low Player Interaction: While players compete for resources and positions, direct interaction between players is minimal.

King Making: The game’s scoring mechanism can lead to situations where the final result is heavily influenced by early decisions, potentially causing disappointment.

Personal Thoughts on Taverna

Taverna is ideal for fans of worker placement and area control games who enjoy deep strategic gameplay. It is suited for players who appreciate managing multiple resources and benefits, and who are willing to invest time in understanding the complex rules and mechanics. However, it may not be the best fit for those seeking high player interaction or a quick, simple gaming experience. With its nuanced gameplay and multi-layered strategy, Taverna offers a rich and challenging experience for the right audience.

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