Chiefdom: Rapid Review
Information:
Mechanics: Roll and Write, Resource Management, Print and Play, Point Salad
Player Age: 8+ Player Count: 1 - 6 PlayersTime to Play: 30 Minutes Game Designer: Arif Nezih SaviGame Artist: Erdal GENCER, Arif Nezih SaviPublisher: Keepers of FunYear Published: 2023Disclaimer: 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+
Rundown:
Players are chieftains trying to build up their empty chiefdom. As you develop and more people come, it turns into a resource puzzle of making sure everyone is fed, housed and have jobs that contribute to the betterment and expansion of the community.
Each turn three dice are rolled and each player will combine two of these dice to create an action pattern, where the third will be used to determine the shape and amount of that action pattern. If a player is unable to draw the full shape then they are unable to do that action. This will continue until none of the players are able to have a turn.
Actions:
The action you are able to perform is based on the value of two combined dice.
Value 3 - The Wall:
If a player has already gained two wood they are able to perform this wall action. The Wall can only be built one space at a time despite the pattern of the third die. Each wall piece you draw must connect to a previously existing wall. At the end of the game you score 3 points for each wall and 12 points if you extend the wall segment to either side of the chiefdom.
Value 4/5 - Water:
Players will follow the pattern of the third dice and draw water. At the end of the game the largest body of water will score 2 points per water square.
Value 6- Two Trees; Value 7 - Three Trees:
Players will draw a group of 2-3 trees in one square which will become vital in woodcutting. At the end of the game players will score 1 point for each tree-containing square in their largest grouping of trees.
Value 8 - House:
A house like a wall can only be placed one square at a time no matter the third die. The other catch is that a house needs five available wood and must be placed adjacent to a builder or unemployed person (they will become a builder). When a house is built you will complete it with a roof on the side of the sheet and it can shelter a maximum of four people at the end of the game, preventing a loss of points. Each completed house will score 7 points at the end of the game.
Value 9/10/11 - People:
People are a very important part of any chiefdom and they will be explained further in another section. Essentially, they are drawn based on the third die pattern and will enter the board jobless unless they are placed next to trees, water or a house. If that occurs or they have one of these pieces drawn next to them later they will start their lifelong profession of either a Lumberjack, Fisherman, or Builder.
2/12/Triples - Wild:
If the two dice you choose equal 2, 12, or all three dice are the same value you can use any action this turn, however, you can only fill a single square.
People:
People are paramount to this game as your main focus begins with the placement of other aspects of your chiefdom. As people appear they need to be fed (through fishing), housed and add to the expansion of the chiefdom by labouring. If these things do not occur, such as jobless people, your negative points will begin to stack up. These requirements create a challenging resource puzzle which requires the prioritisation of people. As explained above, if any of your people are placed orthagonally adjacent to water, trees or a house they will take on that related profession to become contributing members of the chiefdom.
Fisherman (Fishing):
Each water square can hold one fish which will be able to feed two people at the end of the game.
Builder (Building):
Builders are essential to housing. Each house is able to shelter four people at the end of the game.
Lumberjack (Woodcutting):
Each square of 2-3 trees you cut down will award you that many logs. Each house requires five logs to be built.
Issuing Points:
This is a point salad game filled with many ways of scoring points. Some have been explained earlier but other key ways of gaining points include surpluses of fish and logs, or having a Lumberjack or Fisherman adjacent to the opposite nature square (e.g. a Fisherman adjacent to a forest). The entire list of point gaining can be found in the image below.
There are also advanced scoring cards that can be used to add additional scoring conditions, creating a new puzzle each time you play.
Determination:
- Interesting three dice system
- As the game progresses the puzzle transitions to providing for your people and not losing points.
- Advanced scoring is a great way to play.
- Some points can be tricky to explain.
Chiefdom is an interesting resource puzzle that starts with players building trees, water and walls to gain points and meet potential advanced scoring possibilities. This quickly pivots into an exercise in responsibility as more and more people enter your chiefdom. The loss of points can be hefty so it is interesting to find the right balance between these elements. This game easily goes into the tier of brain burning roll and writes but it still maintains a quick playtime. If you enjoy thinky roll and write games, in particular resource management puzzles, then this is a game you should check out.
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