Captain Planet
Canada
Montreal
QC
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The following is an interview and review of Attika with my wife. I have written the details on the rules with a short Q&A with my wife on how the game plays following. In the games that we have played, I have won twice and my wife has won eight times. Consequently, this game is now one of our favorites!
Overview of the Rules
Attika is a Light Euro Game that can be played in 30-45min. It is a game that is designed to scale well for 2-4 players, but so far we have only played with two. The modular board is set up randomly according to how many players are present.
Each player is given a city-build-chart that aids the player to understand the ideal order that buildings can be built in. Each player has a collection of the same circular building tiles that are placed upside down in four stacks. Ultimately, the object of the game is to place the building tiles on the hex-board. Before the first turn starts, players flip the top building tile from each of the four stacks.
Each turn players start off by making one of three choices:
1) Flip two building tiles from the stack. The player can choose to either play the piece directly on the hex-board, or save the tile for later by placing on the city-build-chart
2) Build three building tiles off of the city-build-chart by using resource cards in hand, or benefitting from resource hexes on the map.
3) Pick up three resource cards. Players can also choose to pick up a resource card instead of their second flip or their second or third build.
That’s it! But just because it’s simple doesn’t mean it’s less fun. No AP here; players have quick choices to make each turn with the goal of placing tiles on the hex-board. Each player city-build-chart has a collection of building tiles that are interconnected in groups. Normally, if a player wants to flip and build or build off their chart, a player will need to pay the resources out of hand or find the resources on the board. But, if a player builds in the order prescribed on the build chart, they get to place the tile for free! When a player builds all the tiles in a particular group, they then receive an amphora (carrot because it’s orange) that lets them do one of three things anytime on their turn:
1) Flip one building tile
2) Build one building tile off the city-build-chart
3) Pick up a resource card
Amphoras when used right, are the key to winning a game of Attika. Usually, players are constrained to either flip or build on a turn, but with an Amphora, both can be feasible.
Once a player flips every tile in one of their stacks, they get to place another modular board piece anywhere adjacent to the board. This is another important aspect to the strategy in Attika as it allows more board space to grow and may be utilized for possible routes to dodge an opponent’s blocking attempt.
Winning in Attika is achieved by one of the following:
1) Connect two shrines by laying tile on the hex-board
2) Build all of your tiles
And that’s the game. It is simple to learn, but there are some tough strategic decisions to make throughout the game. There is a little bit of luck in which tiles get flipped, but so much more depends on how efficiently a player builds. Overall, it is a solid light game that can be played in a short amount of time. Not the best game in the world, but one that will be enjoyed many, many times. 8/10
The Conqueror Speaks! Questions and Answers with my Wife
Gameplay
Q. What do you like about the decisions you make on a turn?
I like the options, especially since there aren’t too many to choose from at once. This allows players to make up their mind quickly and permits the game play faster. I also like that you have to plan a general strategy, but not an overly detailed "my next 5 moves will be..." type strategy. It’s also nice that if you get blocked, you can easily make another plan/strategy that could work just as well because there are 2 different ways of winning.
Q. What do you think about the rules?
The rules are good, but the carrots (amphoras) always confuse me. There should be a list on the player’s board that says what the carrot does.
Q. Do you like the theme?
Yes.
Q. Does the theme feel pasted on to the mechanics of the game?
It could be ‘pasted on’ because you could apply any theme to it, but I think this theme is appropriate because of the empire-ist world domination goal of those city states: always expand, try to take all the resources (on the board), and make the conquest a religious goal (temple connection).
Components
Q. What do you think about the pieces you play with?
They are good. The only thing that could be improved is that it is hard to tell when you finish all the buildings in a group. We now play with beads to mark which city tiles on the city-build-chart have been built.
Q. Is there anything confusing about the components?
The carrots are a little confusing at first, but not very difficult overall.
Q. Is there anything that detracts from game play and could the designers have included anything else?
I can’t think of anything now, except if you want the ‘carrots’ to really be amphoras, don’t dye them orange!
Victory Conditions
Q. What you think about the game winning conditions and length of game?
I think that the length is great because you can easily play two games instead of one longer one. I like that there are two ways to win, or else it probably would be boring.
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Kevin Shillinglaw
Canada
Kitchener
Ontario
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Nice review. It makes me want to try this game.
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Paul Raggett
Australia
Sydney
NSW
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Good review.
Really like the interview section at the end.
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rfoth wrote: Usually, players are constrained to either flip or build on a turn, but with an Amphora, both can be feasible.
Not according to http://www.riograndegames.com/uploads/Game/Game_26_gameRules...: ... may take 1 additional draw (when he chose draw for this turn) or 1 additional build (when he chose build for his turn).
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Captain Planet
Canada
Montreal
QC
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crb0r wrote: rfoth wrote: Usually, players are constrained to either flip or build on a turn, but with an Amphora, both can be feasible. Not according to http://www.riograndegames.com/uploads/Game/Game_26_gameRules...: ... may take 1 additional draw (when he chose draw for this turn) or 1 additional build (when he chose build for his turn).
Correct.
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Andy Andersen
United States
Newark
Delaware
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Great review
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