The Castles of Burgundy (20th Anniversary)^*

The Castles of Burgundy is a strategy board game set in the Burgundy region of High Medieval France, where players assume the roles of aristocrats controlling small princedoms. The game combines tile placement and dice rolling mechanics to offer a rich and strategic experience.

Gameplay Overview:

• Objective: Build settlements, castles, trade along the river, exploit mines, and harness traveler knowledge to gain victory points.
• Princedom: Each player has a player board representing their princedom, which is divided into regions for different types of settlement tiles.

Game Structure:

• Phases and Rounds: The game is played in five phases, each having five rounds.
• Turn Order: Players roll two dice at the start of each round, determining available actions based on the dice results.
• Goods Tile Placement: A goods die roll by the first player determines the placement of goods tiles on the game board.

Player Actions:

Players can perform two of these actions on their turn:

1. Acquire Settlement Tiles: Pick tiles from the game board based on dice and place them in the staging area.
2. Place Settlement Tiles: Move tiles from the staging area to their princedom, matching dice numbers and regions.
3. Deliver Goods: Based on dice numbers.
4. Acquire Worker Tokens: Modify future dice rolls.

Additional Mechanics:

• Buying Tiles: Players may purchase tiles from the central depot for their staging area.
• Scoring: Immediate victory points for certain actions and end-of-game scoring for filled regions, unused resources, and specific tiles.
• Expansions: The 2019 edition includes eight expansions, adding more variety and strategic depth.

Game End and Winning:

• Conclusion: The game ends after the fifth round of the fifth phase.
• Victory: The player with the most victory points, accumulated through various achievements and bonuses, wins the game.

Key Elements:

• Strategic Depth: Players must carefully choose and place tiles, manage resources, and plan ahead to maximize points.
• Variability: With multiple expansions and different player boards, each game offers new challenges and strategies.
• Player Interaction: While there is some indirect competition for tiles and positions, the focus is more on individual strategy and efficient use of resources.

The Castles of Burgundy is acclaimed for its deep strategy, replayability, and the satisfying puzzle of optimizing your princedom's growth. It appeals to players who enjoy strategic planning, resource management, and a balance of luck and skill.