San Juan*

San Juan is a captivating card game that is inspired by the highly acclaimed board game, Puerto Rico. It is a game of strategy and resource management, set against the backdrop of the historic city of San Juan.

Gameplay Overview

• Deck Composition: The game features a 110-card deck, including production buildings (indigo, sugar, tobacco, coffee, and silver) and "violet" buildings that offer special powers or additional victory points.
• Dual-Purpose Cards: Cards can be used either as currency to build structures or as buildings themselves.
• Goods Production: Cards from the deck are also used to represent goods produced by the buildings. These are placed face-down when used in this manner.
• Hand Limit: Players are restricted to a maximum of seven cards in their hand at the end of each round.
• Role Selection: Each round, players select roles that trigger events affecting all players, such as goods production or building construction. The player who chooses the role gains a specific advantage or privilege.
• Game Mechanics: Differing from Puerto Rico, San Juan eliminates colonists, does not involve shipping goods, and limits goods production and trading.
• Victory Points and Game End: Victory points are earned solely through building structures. The game concludes when a player successfully builds twelve buildings.

Special Features

• Strategy and Adaptability: Players must strategize on the fly and adapt their plans based on available roles and actions of other players.
• Simplified Economy: The use of cards as both currency and buildings simplifies the economic aspect of the game, making it more accessible.
• Role Privileges: Choosing roles wisely for their privileges is a key aspect of strategy in San Juan.
• Variability in Gameplay: The variety of buildings and roles ensures that each game is unique with different strategies to explore.
• Streamlined Gameplay: Without the need for colonists and shipping, the game focuses more on building and managing resources, offering a streamlined experience.

Conclusion

San Juan presents a unique blend of strategic planning, resource management, and role selection, making it an engaging game for those who enjoy a thoughtful and dynamic card game experience. Its connection to Puerto Rico provides familiarity to fans of the board game, while its unique mechanics offer a fresh and distinct challenge. The game's balance of strategy and accessibility makes it suitable for both experienced gamers and newcomers to the genre.