Alhambra is a tile-laying and resource management board game where players take on the role of master builders aiming to construct the most impressive version of the Alhambra palace. The game involves purchasing building tiles with currency cards, placing them strategically in a personal palace area, and scoring points based on the types of buildings constructed and the layout of the Alhambra.
Game Concept: Alhambra
Components
Game Board:
- A central board where currency cards are displayed, building tiles are drawn, and the market is laid out.
Building Tiles:
- Tiles representing different types of buildings, each with a cost and specific wall configurations.
Currency Cards:
- Cards in four different currencies used to buy building tiles. Each card has a value and a color corresponding to the four markets.
Player Boards:
- Personal boards where players place their building tiles to create their Alhambra.
Tile Reserve Boards:
- Optional boards for players to temporarily store tiles if they can't place them immediately in their Alhambra.
Scoring Markers:
- Tokens used to track players' scores on the central board.
Fountain Tile:
- The starting tile for each player's Alhambra, placed in the center of their player board.
Scoring Cards:
- Cards that determine when scoring rounds occur during the game.
Setup
Board Setup:
- Place the game board in the center. Shuffle the building tiles and place them face down in stacks. Place four tiles face up on the board's market area.
Currency Deck:
- Shuffle the currency cards and deal them to form a draw pile. Place four cards face up in the currency display area.
Player Setup:
- Each player receives a starting fountain tile, which they place in the center of their player board. Each player is dealt currency cards totaling no more than 20 (chosen randomly). Players place their scoring markers on the score track.
Scoring Card Placement:
- Divide the building tile stack into five roughly equal piles. Insert the first scoring card into the second pile and the second scoring card into the fourth pile.
Determine Starting Player:
- Randomly select the starting player.
Gameplay Overview
Alhambra is played in turns, with players performing one of three actions: taking money, buying a building tile, or redesigning their Alhambra. The game is played over multiple rounds, with scoring taking place at specific points. The game ends after the final scoring round.
Turn Structure
On their turn, players choose one of the following three actions:
Take Money:
- Draw one or more currency cards from the display. The total value of the cards drawn cannot exceed 5 (e.g., you can take one card worth 5 or multiple cards that add up to 5). If a player takes cards with a total value of 5 or less, they must end their turn.
Buy a Building Tile:
- Purchase one of the four available building tiles by paying the exact amount of currency in the matching color. Players can overpay but do not receive change. If a player pays the exact amount, they get an additional turn immediately.
Redesign the Alhambra:
- Perform one of the following actions:
- Add a Tile from Reserve: Move a tile from the reserve to the Alhambra.
- Remove a Tile: Move a tile from the Alhambra to the reserve.
- Swap Tiles: Exchange a tile from the Alhambra with one in the reserve. Both tiles must fit the rules for placement.
Placement Rules for Tiles
- Tiles must be placed adjacent to an existing tile.
- Players must respect the wall configurations on the tiles. Walls must align with other walls or the edge of the Alhambra.
- Players can place tiles freely in the reserve if they cannot be immediately placed in the Alhambra.
Scoring and End Game
Scoring Rounds:
- Scoring occurs three times during the game: twice when the scoring cards are revealed and once at the end of the game when no more building tiles can be drawn.
- Players score points for each type of building based on how many tiles they have compared to other players. The player with the most tiles of a type scores the highest points, and the player with the second-most scores fewer points.
- Players also score points for the longest continuous wall in their Alhambra.
Final Scoring:
- After the third scoring round, players calculate their total points. The player with the most points wins.
Rules
Tile Placement:
- When placing a building tile, it must be adjacent to at least one existing tile in the Alhambra.
- Wall sections on tiles must connect logically; they cannot block paths to other parts of the Alhambra.
Exact Payment:
- If a player pays the exact amount for a tile, they receive an extra turn immediately. This extra turn can involve any of the three possible actions.
Reserve Tiles:
- Players can hold tiles in their reserve if they cannot or do not want to place them immediately in their Alhambra.
End of Turn:
- After a player completes their action, replenish the currency display and building market with new cards and tiles.
FAQ
Can I take more than one currency card during my turn?
- Yes, you can take multiple currency cards, but the total value of the cards taken must be 5 or less.
What happens if the currency display has only high-value cards?
- You can still take one of these cards even if its value is more than 5. However, you can only take one card in this situation.
Can I buy multiple building tiles on my turn?
- No, you can only buy one building tile per turn unless you pay the exact price and receive an extra turn.
Can I place a tile in my Alhambra that blocks an existing pathway?
- No, you must place tiles in a way that does not block access to existing tiles in the Alhambra.
Can I move a tile from my Alhambra to my reserve?
- Yes, but only during the "Redesign the Alhambra" action. You must still adhere to the placement rules when swapping or moving tiles.
How do I score the longest wall?
- During scoring, trace the longest continuous external wall in your Alhambra. This is the longest uninterrupted line of walls that surrounds your tiles.
Do reserve tiles count for scoring building types?
- No, only tiles placed in the Alhambra count toward scoring for building types.
Can I overpay for a building tile?
- Yes, but you do not receive change. It's often strategic to pay the exact amount to gain an extra turn.
What happens if two players tie for the most tiles of a building type?
- Both players score the points for that rank, and the next rank is skipped. For example, if two players tie for first, both receive first-place points, and the next player receives third-place points.
How is the game affected if tiles or currency cards run out?
- If building tiles run out, players continue playing until the market cannot be refilled. The game ends, and final scoring is triggered.
Alhambra is a game of strategic planning, careful resource management, and spatial awareness. Players must decide how to spend their currency, which tiles to acquire, and how to best arrange their Alhambra to maximize points. With its blend of purchasing decisions and tile placement, Alhambra offers a balanced and engaging gameplay experience for those who enjoy strategic board games.