Citadels

While we're on a theme of card games where you can choose roles, I need to tell you about Citadels. I played this at the March 2010 gaming weekend.

I loved this game. The idea is, is to build a city. When someone has 8 "buildings" (i.e. 8 cards), the game ends. Each building is worth different victory points, and there are some bonus points avialble too.

The great thing about this game is that at the beginning of each round, everyone chooses a character (or 2 characters in a 2 player game), and they all play in a set order. The characters are chosen in secret. The first character to play is the assassin. He names another character; if someone has chosen that character, then they are out for this round! Sometimes the assassin chooses a character that no has picked. Then it's the thief's turn and so on. There are 8 character cards to choose; and the game can be played with up to 7 players (which I think is really fantastic).

So the best bit of the game is over. The rest of the mechanic is fairly simple and designed to allow accumulation of points. You can choose to either aquire new buildings in your hand or get some coins (lovely gold coins that come with the game). Then you can pay for a building in your hand. There are different coloured buildings that have significance and some have extra joy to be had from them too.

A very quick game. One I really enjoyed playing in the pub.

I'm beginning to develop a love affair with card games, because they can be so simple, versatile and compelling. Excepting the artwork they just lack that physical asthetic which is often important in a game.

I'm looking forward to playing Race to the Galaxy. I've heard good thigns about it and have always fancied trying it.

Another game i've heard of which is supposed to be simialr to Citadels is A Fist Full of Dragon Stones (or something with a similar title). That's supposed to have a good bidding system (instead of simply choosing) whereby any money you bid, you lose, regardless of if you win the bid or not (I could be getting that mixed up with another game though!!).