Dice Raiders - Secrets of the Aztec: Review
Information:
Mechanics: Roll and Write, Area Control, Puzzle, Set Collection, Print and Play
Player Age: 8+ Player Count: 1 - 4 PlayersTime to Play: 20 - 45 Minutes
Game Designer: Krzysztof MatusikPublisher: LizardKingYear Published: 2024Disclaimer: A review copy for the game was provided by the Dice Pen they have more print and play games at their site here.
Player Age: 8+
Game Designer: Krzysztof Matusik
Introduction:
Dice Raiders is a one-sheet roll-and-write game. In this game, players are using a shared sheet and trying to optimise four puzzles to gain the most points possible across all four. On your turn you roll two dice. The numerical faces will correspond to two specific symbols that are used across all 4 puzzles. You will choose one symbol per dice to use in one of the puzzles, with a total of two puzzles being activated each turn.
Puzzle Anatomy:
When looking at the sheet it appears that the game is one big puzzle, however it is separated into four smaller puzzles. Each of these puzzles has a unique way the symbols can be filled and how they score at the end of the game.
Puzzle A:
The first puzzle is contained inside the four pyramids, as such it also works like a pyramid. When filling the symbols they can only be filled if it is the base level of the pyramid or there are two filled spots underneath that can hold up the symbol above. This puzzle is an area control mechanic where the first and second player with majority will score 8/5 points for each triangle. Each level within all 4 pyramids will also score to the two majority holders. For each level it will include all four triangles being scored as an outer ring of sorts.
Puzzle B:
Puzzle B is the centre puzzle that has no unique way of filling the symbols. At the end of the game each row and column will score on how many filled symbols you have. 1/2/4/6/10/14 points for 1/2/3/4/5/6 filled symbols per row or column.
Puzzle C:
Puzzle C is the outer ring. When filling in this puzzle the symbol must be beside one of the edges of the four triangles or next to a previously filled symbol. Each symbol has a dot above it going from one to six (five being represented by a line and six being represented by a line with a dot above). At the end of the game, players will score each full set they have collected. Scoring 1/3/6/10/14/19 points for the amount of numbers per set.
Puzzle D:
Puzzle D is the four quarters between the triangles. The puzzle is filled by marking one symbol according to the dice roll and marking an identical symbol in another wedge. This helps to create chains throughout the game, however, each symbol is only found in two wedges. At the end of the game, each quarter is scored separately and each player will gain points based on their longest connected chain, 0/2/4/6/8/10 points for a length of 1/2/3/4/5/6 filled symbols.
Setup:
One coloured marker for each player, one communal sheet and two dice are all that are needed.
How to Play:
On your turn you will roll two dice. These will be re-rolled if they equal the same value. Each die result has two symbol options attached and you will choose one symbol per dice to use in a puzzle.
If needed, once per game there are four raiders that can be activated to allow for certain actions. These include re-rolling dice, flipping dice to the opposite face, add or subtract from the number by one, and make the dice equal each other. Each player has the chance to activate each raider once per game.
The game will last for 13 rounds (10 in a four-player game) then the scoring of each puzzle will commence. Whoever has the most points wins.
Two-Player Variant:
In a two-player game, there will be a third bot player that doesn't score at the end of the game but does compete for area control in puzzles such as Puzzle A. At the end of each round both players will roll one dice which will be the values used on a puzzle as the third player. The player who rolled the highest number will use their result first in whichever puzzle they choose.
Final Thoughts:
- Easily portable as only one sheet Is required.
- Easy to learn gameplay but interesting challenges in trying to optimise the puzzles.
- Normally I don't like using bots as a two-player variant, however, in this game, the bot can be used to advance yourself while hindering your opponent. As the opposing player has the same opportunity it does not feel mean spirited.
Dice Raiders is an easy to explain optimisation puzzle. Once separated each puzzle is easy to understand on its own but knowing when the best time to fill each puzzle is crucial. There are a lot of scoring avenues that will have you splitting focus between all puzzles since you have to use the symbols that you gain, as well as optimising the spread of points across all puzzles. This is one of those print-and-play roll-and-write games that is easily going to have me looking into the different sheets as they become available as the spread of puzzle feels very unique.
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