The Castles of Burgundy: The Dice Game (2017) Board Game

The Castles of Burgundy: The Dice Game is a standalone dice game based on the popular board game The Castles of Burgundy. It was designed by Stefan Feld and Christoph Toussaint and published by alea in in 2017. The game takes players to the vibrant region of Burgundy, where they must build up their estates and castles through strategic dice rolling and tile placement.

Game Components of The Castles of Burgundy: The Dice Game

1 pad with 4 different estates (50 sheets each, double-sided)

5 pencils

5 dice (2 traditional d6, 2 color dice, and 1 hourglass die)

Instructions

How To Setup The Castles of Burgundy: The Dice Game

To set up the game, each player receives a player sheet (their “duchy”) and a pencil. There are four different duchies, labeled A, B, C, or D, each with the same gameplay but different color layouts. Players choose one of the green castle hexes in their duchy and mark it with an ‘X’, immediately filling that area and earning a bonus. One player is designated as the active player and rolls the five dice for the entire game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Dice Rolling: The active player rolls all five dice at the start of each round, including two numbered dice, two colored dice, and one hourglass die to track the game’s phases.

Phase Tracking: The game is divided into three phases, each lasting for ten hourglasses marked on the player sheet. The hourglass die determines the progression of these phases.

Color and Number Selection: Players select a color and number combination from the rolled dice to fill in a hex on their duchy, which must be adjacent to a previously filled hex.

Bonuses: Completing color areas rewards players with various bonuses, such as monks, silver ore, commodities, and special abilities.

Objective: The goal is to build up your duchy to score the most points by filling in color-coded regions and utilizing bonuses efficiently.

Player Experience

The Castles of Burgundy: The Dice Game offers a relaxing yet strategic experience, similar to other roll-and-write games. Players must balance the randomness of dice rolls with the need to plan and mitigate risks. The game is particularly enjoyable as a solo experience, but it also supports multiplayer, albeit with minimal player interaction. The gameplay involves careful planning to maximize point scoring while leveraging special abilities and bonuses to overcome unfavorable dice rolls.

Pros

Easy to Learn: The game has a simple learning curve, making it accessible to players of various skill levels.

Solo and Multiplayer: Supports both solo and multiplayer modes, offering flexibility for different player preferences.

Balanced Randomness: Provides a good balance between randomness and strategic planning.

Quick Playtime: Games are relatively short, lasting about 30 minutes.

Cons

Limited Interaction: There is very little interaction between players, which might be a drawback for those seeking more competitive or cooperative gameplay.

Aesthetic Issues: The game’s artwork and presentation have been criticized for being less appealing compared to the original Castles of Burgundy.

Personal Thoughts on The Castles of Burgundy: The Dice Game

This game is ideal for fans of roll-and-write mechanics and those who enjoy strategic planning with a touch of luck. It is particularly suited for players looking for a calming, yet engaging experience, either solo or in a small group setting. While it may not offer the complexity and interaction of the original Castles of Burgundy, it captures the essence of the game in a more streamlined and accessible package. If you’re a fan of Stefan Feld’s designs or enjoy games that balance randomness with strategy, this is definitely worth a try.

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