The symbols on the tiles are spot on. They are distinct enough, so you easily tell the difference between a tree and a monster, yet fast and easy to draw. Even if you’re, like me, not a big drawer, you’ll have no problems recognizing the images. You can use your own symbols or even colors for greater clarity – there are some true works of art created by the players on BGG. Scalability and playing time In the first box will be the total derived from the first scoring criteria. In case you forget just which one you’re supposed to be scoring, the box has been helpfully labeled to assist you. The second box is for the second scoring criteria and the third box is for the total amount of coins you have colored in thus far. The fourth box requires a little more explanation, though. That’s for monster scoring.

Components wise, this is typical roll and write, or flip and fill stuff. A pad of 100 map sheets, double sided with one side being more of a basic game and the other side having a wasteland of unusable squares in the middle to create more of a challenge. Pencils wise, you’ll notice that my score sheets in the photos, I don’t draw the terrain, I use a set of colored pencils instead. In the box, you simply get four golf pencils and are told to draw symbols on squares to know what they represent. I’m not artistic, so I just went with colors and it works perfectly for me. Cards are the only other component and they are a fine quality, although they are a bit thin and my fat fumbly fingers have marred a couple of them already trying to pry them off a solid surface. Now, the game comes with an easy way to see how you’re doing. If you look in the bottom right corner of each scoring card, there’s a number. That’s the expected score for that card (used only for solo play). For each season, you can half that number and compare your score for that card to that number. If your score is smaller, then you’re behind. If it’s larger, then you’re ahead. On the Explore card you will note a couple of things. First is the terrain type and second is the shape that can be drawn on your map. This brings us to the Draw phase. Everyone will draw the type of terrain shown on the Explore card, in the shape that is also shown on the Explore card. If there is more than one choice, the players can choose what to draw. The shapes can be rotated and flipped as needed on the player’s map. On the card above, note the shape on the left and the coin. If the player chooses to draw that shape, they are also going to be marking off a coin on their map sheet. Coins are worth points equal to the amount of coins the player has claimed each scoring phase. If you fill in the four adjacent squares around a Mountain on your map, you also gain a coin. If for some reason the player cannot draw the shapes on the cards, they may then fill one, 1×1 square, on their map sheet with the chosen terrain. It was a struggle for me to even begin writing this review because I was trying to grapple with how to present the story in a way that was comprehensible. Aside from the pencils (which have the weird side benefit of making everything in the box smell AMAZING), this is really my only complaint. The final terrain type is monsters. When a monster card is drawn, you’ll pass your sheet to the player on your left (or right), and she will place that tile in for you. Since every adjacent square to monsters scores negative points, it’s in their best interest to make it as difficult for you as possible to box in those monsters afterward. Of course, you’ll do the same to them.

Pencil Me In

For the Great City in scoring space A, you can expect to score 10 points in Spring if you plan on taking the larger tiles, but as much as 40 points in Winter.

Each turn a card is drawn given you a shape or two to choose from and a terrain or two also. You will each sketch one of these terrain/shape combos on to your map, anywhere you like. Depending on the scoring cards you might want to cover ruins or place next to mountains or near the edge of the board.The object of the game is to establish a seat of power for the monarch Queen Gimnax of the Kingdom of Nalos by reclaiming the northern lands taken by the Dragul. [1] The selected location must satisfy several criteria, among them that the surrounding area provides natural defenses and resources. [1] Players assume the role of a surveyor scout that travels into the Dragul lands to find a suitable location. [1] Each player receives a pencil and the same double-sided map, agreeing before the start of the game which side to use. [1] The number of players is limited only by the number of available score sheets; each box includes 100. [1] I actually like all four of these cards, they’re all capable of scoring really highly, especailly Shoreside Expanse, which can be very rewarding if well planned out. This one can lose points very easily unless you plan it out well though. The Golden Granary is great if you score for it early, since its one of the easier requirements to meet in the first turns, while guaranteeing some points. Calculating Scores