Tawantinsuyu: The Inca Empire (2020) Board Game

Tawantinsuyu: The Inca Empire is a board game that takes players back in time to the height of the Inca civilization in South America. The game is designed by Dávid Turczi and published by Board&Dice. Players take on the roles of Inca rulers, working to expand their empire, manage resources, and maintain power and influence in the region.

Game Components of Tawantinsuyu: The Inca Empire

Game board featuring the terraced hill of the Inca capital, Cusco

Worker tokens

Resource tokens (potatoes, corn, stone, and gold)

God cards

Army cards

Building and stair components

Statue and weaving tokens

High Priest tokens

Temple advancement trackers

Player boards

How To Setup Tawantinsuyu: The Inca Empire

To set up the game, each player chooses a player board and places their High Priest token at the starting position within the Coricancha, the Golden Temple. The game board is laid out, showing the terraced sections of the hill. Each player receives a starting set of workers and resources. The god cards, army cards, and other components are shuffled and placed within reach of all players.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Worker Placement: Players place workers on various locations on the game board to perform actions.

Action Points: Players manage actions through a rondel mechanism.

Area Majority / Influence: Control of regions and temple advancements.

Hand Management: Managing god and army cards.

Card Drafting: Selecting god and army cards.

Pattern Building: Constructing stairs and buildings.

Set Collection: Collecting resources and weavings.

Variable Set-up: Different starting conditions each game.

Game Objective

The objective is to score the most victory points by constructing stairs, sculpting statues, advancing in the temple, controlling the four regions, and accumulating resources and weavings. Players also gain points from their High Priest’s position, temple advancements, and the use of their constructed stairs by other players.

Player Experience

Playing **Tawantinsuyu: The Inca Empire** is an immersive experience thatcombines strategic worker placement with resource management and area control. Players must balance recruiting workers, taking god cards, drawing army cards, and moving their High Priest to maximize their actions. The game requires careful planning and adaptation, as each turn presents multiple paths to victory.

Pros

Deep Strategy: Offers complex and engaging gameplay with multiple paths to victory.

High Replayability: Variable set-up and different player interactions ensure each game is unique.

Thematic Integration: The game mechanics are well-integrated with the Inca Empire theme.

Visual Appeal: The game features beautiful artwork and a detailed game board.

Cons

Steep Learning Curve: The game has many mechanics, which can be overwhelming for new players.

Long Playtime: Games can take up to 120 minutes, which may be too long for some players.

Complex Setup: Setting up the game can be time-consuming due to the numerous components.

Personal Thoughts on Tawantinsuyu: The Inca Empire

**Tawantinsuyu: The Inca Empire** is perfect for fans of complex strategy games and those interested in historical themes. It is ideal for experienced board game enthusiasts who enjoy deep gameplay mechanics and are willing to invest time in learning and playing the game. However, it may not be the best fit for casual gamers or those looking for a quick, lightweight experience.

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