The Great Zimbabwe (2012) Board Game

The Great Zimbabwe is a board game released in 2012, designed by Ynze Moedt and published by Splotter Spellen. It falls under the categories of Civilization, Economic, Industry / Manufacturing, and Transportation. The game is set in ancient Africa, focusing on building and managing a civilization in the Great Zimbabwe region.

Game Components of The Great Zimbabwe

Player Boards: Each player has a unique board for tracking resources and turn order.

Monument Tiles: Used for building and raising monuments.

Craftsman Tokens: Representing the workers needed to construct monuments.

Resource Markers: For managing goods and cattle.

God Cards: Each of the twelve gods offers a unique blessing and requires different amounts of work to win the game.

Bidding Tokens: Used for the turn order auction.

Modular Board: Comprising various tiles that create a different map each game.

Hubs: Intermediary monuments for transporting goods.

How To Setup The Great Zimbabwe

To set up the game, players start by creating the modular board by placing tiles randomly. Each player chooses a god to worship and receives the corresponding god card, which outlines specific victory conditions. Players then set up their player boards, place their starting craftsmen, and distribute initial resources. The game also requires setting up the bidding mechanism for turn order.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Auction/Bidding: Players bid for turn order using cattle, which is the game’s currency.

Tile Placement: Building new monuments and hubs to create a logistics network.

Route/Network Building: Developing a network to transport goods from craftsmen to monuments.

Card Drafting: Selecting god cards that offer unique blessings and victory conditions.

Economic Management: Managing cattle, resources, and craftsmen.

Objective: The goal is to build the most impressive monuments to your chosen god by optimizing your logistics network, managing resources, and utilizing your god’s unique abilities.

Player Experience

In The Great Zimbabwe, players take on the roles of tribal leaders aiming to please their chosen god by building monumental structures. The game is known for its strategic depth and complexity, requiring players to balance economic development, resource management, and logistical optimization. Each player’s actions are interlinked, as they can use resources and networks created by other players to their advantage. The game is highly replayable due to its modular board and diverse god abilities.

Pros

Strategic Depth: Offers a complex and engaging gameplay experience.

Replayability: Modular board and varied god abilities ensure different experiences each game.

Player Interaction: Dynamic but not overly direct interaction among players.

Historical Inspiration: Draws from the rich cultural heritage of ancient Africa.

Quick Learning: Teachable in under ten minutes, despite its complexity.

Cons

Complex Rules: Can be tricky to learn and internalize due to numerous subtleties.

Spatial Aspects: Some players may find the spatial elements challenging.

Availability: The game has had limited reprints and may be difficult to find.

Personal Thoughts on The Great Zimbabwe

The Great Zimbabwe is ideal for fans of deep logistics and economic games. It is a game that rewards strategic thinking and careful planning, making it perfect for experienced board game enthusiasts. While it can be played with two players, it shines with more players due to the increased interaction and competitive dynamics. If you enjoy games like Keyflower or other Splotter titles, The Great Zimbabwe is definitely worth exploring, provided you can find a copy given its limited availability.

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