The Settlers of Zarahemla (2003) Board Game

The Settlers of Zarahemla is a board game released in 2003, designed by Miles Germer, Alvin Madden, and Imelda Vohwinkel, and published by Inspiration Games. The game is set in the ancient civilization of Zarahemla, a religious city mentioned in the Book of Mormon. Players take on the roles of settlers in this civilization, working to build and expand their settlements.

Game Components of The Settlers of Zarahemla

Gameboard: A fixed board with harbours or trading posts and a scoring track.

Hex Strips: Five strips of hexes (one five-hex strip, two four-hex strips, and two three-hex strips), double-sided.

Number Markers: Labeled between 2 and 12 for each hex.

Player Pieces: Roads, cities, and settlements made of painted wood in four colors (white, orange, red, and blue).

Resource Cards: 90 cards representing brick, wood, water, wheat, and stone.

Development Cards: 29 cards including unique cards like Temple Building and Liahona.

Temple Stones: 10 linen-textured cardboard pieces per player.

Robber: A large black wooden pawn, referred to as the Gadianton Robber.

Dice: Two wooden dice numbered 1-6.

Scoring Markers: Four cylindrical markers for the scoring track.

How To Setup The Settlers of Zarahemla

To set up the game, lay out the five hex strips in the middle of the gameboard, forming the area of Zarahemla. Place the numbered markers on the hexes. Each player starts by placing two settlements and two roads on the board, ensuring no settlement is closer than two corners away from another. The resource deck is separated into 18 cards for each resource and placed on the board. The development deck is shuffled and placed on the board. Each player receives up to three resource cards based on the hexes surrounding one of their settlements.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Resource Management: Players produce resources from the hexes to build settlements, cities, roads, and temple stones.

Trading & Building: Players can trade resources and build in any order.

Development Cards: Use cards like Temple Building and Liahona to gain advantages.

Temple Contributions: Contribute stones to the Temple of Zarahemla to earn victory points.

Victory Points: The game is played to 12 victory points, with contributions to the temple, building settlements, cities, and roads contributing to the score.

Player Experience

The Settlers of Zarahemla offers a engaging experience with a mix of strategy and luck. The game is designed to be playable with two to four players, although the two-player game can be slightly slower due to resource limitations and restricted trading opportunities.

Pros

High-Quality Components: Beautifully produced components, including painted wood pieces and linen-textured cardboard.

Strategic Depth: Combines visible and invisible victory conditions, allowing for a balance of strategy and surprise.

Themed Adaptation: Unique theme based on The Book of Mormon, appealing to the Latter-day Saint community.

Cons

Limited Player Interaction in 2-Player Mode: Trading and resource availability can be restricted in two-player games, making it less dynamic.

Out of Print: The game and its mini-expansion are no longer widely available, making it difficult to find.

Personal Thoughts on The Settlers of Zarahemla

The Settlers of Zarahemla is ideal for fans of the Catan series and particularly the Latter-day Saint community who appreciate the thematic adaptation. It offers a rich gaming experience with high-quality components and strategic depth, though it may be more challenging to find due to its limited availability. The game is suitable for players aged 12 and above, and while it works with two players, it is more enjoyable with three or four players.

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