The Red Cathedral*

The Red Cathedral is a strategic Euro-style board game set in Moscow during the construction of St. Basil's Cathedral. Players assume the roles of construction teams competing to gain the favor of Tsar Ivan the Terrible by contributing to the cathedral's construction.

Gameplay Overview

• Role of Construction Teams: Players work to build sections of St. Basil's Cathedral.
• Key Actions: Players can assign a cathedral section, send resources for building, or gather resources from the game board.
• Unique Mechanisms: Each action has its own mechanism, requiring players to be mindful of others' strategies.

Special Features

• Cathedral Sections: Claiming and completing sections of the cathedral grants players points and rewards.
• Resource Management: Players gather and allocate resources to build sections and install decorations for additional recognition.
• Rondel System: The game features a rondel for resource acquisition, where players choose a die and move accordingly to collect resources.

Game Design and Art

• Designers: Created by the duo Sheila Santos and Israel Cendrero, known as Llama Dice.
• Artwork: The graphic design by Pedro Soto and Chema Román pays homage to Ivan Bilibin, a renowned Russian artist.

Conclusion

The Red Cathedral combines accessible rules with deep strategic play, appealing to those who enjoy games where optimizing strategy is more critical than complex rule sets. Its unique theme and engaging mechanics make it a compelling choice for fans of Euro-style board games.