Description
In the Cyclades archipelago, a land of legends, the old gods watch as great factions fight for supremacy. In Cyclades: Legendary Edition you lead one of them, expanding across the islands with troops and fleets, constructing buildings and founding metropolises, the symbols of your power.
How to play Cyclades: Legendary Edition
Every cycle begins with an auction. In turn, players offer gold coins to the gods, but each god grants their help to only one player. If someone outbids you, you must immediately bid on another god. Apollo is always available and costs nothing, but he offers very little. Then, one by one, the gods grant their actions: Zeus brings temples and priestesses, Poseidon ports and fleets, Ares fortresses and troops, Athena universities and philosophers, and Hera mercenaries and heroes.
You build a metropolis when you have all four types of buildings, when you gather four philosophers or when you sacrifice a hero. You can also conquer one from an opponent. Battles on land and at sea are decided by a die roll plus the number of troops, fleets, fortresses and ports. The game ends at the end of the cycle in which someone controls three metropolises. The player with the most metropolises wins; in case of a tie, the one with more gold coins wins.
Why you'll love it
- The auction for the gods is tense: when you outbid someone, they must immediately pick another god, which can set off a whole chain of moves.
- Mythological creatures, such as the Kraken, which destroys enemy fleets, can turn the game around in a single turn.
- There are several roads to a metropolis: building, philosophers, sacrificing a hero or conquest.
- The large archipelago tiles let you put together a different play area every game.
Who is Cyclades: Legendary Edition for?
Cyclades: Legendary Edition is for two to six players aged 14 and up, and a game takes about 90 minutes. It is a medium-weight strategy game for those who enjoy auctions and battles. Players like it best with four or five. With four you can play in teams, with six team play is mandatory, and with two each player controls two factions. The creature and hero cards have English text on them.
What might you not like?
There is a lot of direct conflict in the game, and opponents can take your territory or even a metropolis away from you, so it may not be the best fit for those who prefer games without attacks.
What's in the box
- auction board and 5 large god tiles
- 10 large archipelago tiles
- 6 player screens
- 118 wooden pieces (troops, fleets, offering markers and mercenaries)
- 127 tokens and markers (control, buildings, metropolises and prosperity)
- 40 priestess and philosopher cards
- 27 hero and creature cards
- 15 cardboard hero and creature standees
- 2 battle dice
- 100 gold coins
