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

Tavern boards

Customer meeples

Ingredient cards

Recipe cards

Coin tokens

Favor tokens

Victory point tokens

How To Setup Taverna

Place the tavern boards in the center of the table.

Shuffle the ingredient cards and place them face down.

Deal each player a starting hand of ingredient cards.

Place the coin tokens and victory point tokens within reach.

Choose a start player.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Players take turns placing their workers in different locations on the tavern boards to acquire ingredients, create recipes, attract customers, and earn coins and victory points. The objective is to have the most successful tavern by the end of the game, with the most victory points.

Player Experience

Pros:

Strategic depth with multiple paths to victory.

Engaging player interaction through area majority/influence mechanics.

Beautiful artwork and theme immersion.

Cons:

Learning curve may be steep for new players.

Luck of the draw in ingredient and recipe cards can heavily impact gameplay.

Limited player count may restrict group size options.

Personal Thoughts on Taverna

Taverna offers a well-rounded gaming experience with its mix of mechanics and immersive theme. The build quality of the components is top-notch, and the artwork by Jonathan Hartert adds to the overall ambiance of the game. While the pricing may be a bit on the higher side, the game’s replayability and strategic depth make it worth the investment for fans of the fantasy/medieval genre.

For those who enjoy worker placement games with a twist, Taverna is a great choice. However, for players who prefer lighter, more casual games, it may not be the best fit. Overall, Taverna is worth your time if you enjoy immersive gameplay experiences and are looking for a game that offers a unique blend of mechanics and theme.

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