Port Royal (distributors of the Caribbean)

This game has already gained under the name trader Caribbean the Game Designer Competition 2013 the Vienna Games Academy. Pegasus has now brought the card game for 2 to 5 players in March 2014 as Port Royal new to the market.

The aim is to make using both vessels have the wherewithal to hire so that people can. These in turn increase the influence of the players bring different benefits and ensure that the necessary influence points (= victory points). Who reaches first 12 victory points wins.

Game play is simple: The total of 120 cards are shuffled and form a face-down pile. At the beginning, each player receives 3 gold (coins) as seed money. The first player now covers some cards in the console center on (= 1 phase Discover). Importantly, vessels and persons. Ships (and their charges) can be in the now following 2nd phase action sell & wages, so they are obtained by money. With this money you can then recruit people (buy), in turn bring more benefits and victory points.

From the uncovered cards in the middle of the player who has the turn must, use only 1 card generally. Has he succeeded in detecting, however, to discover four or even five different colored ships, he may also use two or three of the cards on the table for themselves. However, this is not so easy, because there is a catch. As soon as the 2nd ship of the same color is revealed, the player had bad luck. His move is an abrupt end, he gets nothing and all previously revealed cards go directly to the discard pile. Later in the game to help a hired sailors and pirates to repel unwelcome same colored ships, that was later better chance than at the beginning, it in a round sometimes at 4 or 5 different colored ships (and thus multiple actions) bring.

If the active player finished his train, have in turn the other players still the possibility of the remaining revealed cards each max. Take 1 card. However, at a higher price because they have to pay for in addition to the active players a coin. Play money in the strict sense is in Port Royal not necessary, because it used the information printed on the card backs coins. So a card has either printed on the front or function it provides, turned on its back, a coin represents. This mechanism works very well (like eg San Juan).

Acquired persons (there are, inter alia, priests, captains, settlers, traders, governors, pranksters) take the players to be in their personal display. Their benefits are then throughout the game (just as long as they are there) available.

In addition to people and ships to covers and to also tax increases and Expedition views. Tax increases limit the acquisitiveness rich players who have to then be separated from the half of their coins. Expedition views bring important victory points. To meet an expedition you have certain persons (with the corresponding symbols) have in his personal display and then put them in exchange for the preservation of the expedition card on the discard pile.

As for the victorious 12 victory points and you get the same 6 points for some expeditions, Port Royal can sometimes surprisingly quickly coming to an end. The specified by the publisher Game life of 20 to 50 minutes is therefore realistic. We have so far (just three or four) but rather used a little longer.

The luck factor at Port Royal is actually not that high. Clear sometimes reveals cards with which you can start even little or nothing. But you also have to reckon with: What use the cards to the other players? Sometimes it makes sense, then go to risk and prefer to let all go empty, as the other players to create that good cards

Ever us has with an active player and the possibility for additional players to make use of the rest of the revealed cards, really liked the game mechanism. This results in no waiting times or even lengths, because you always stay on the ball and must even if just a player's turn to look at what could be a self-interest of the cards on the table, perhaps. As a result, there is of course important to optimize his personal card display to achieve the necessary victory points. Nevertheless, not everyone plays to himself, but it results in a real togetherness at the table.

In addition to the interaction is also plenty of excitement worried, because even 1 filled expedition may be sufficient for a player ended with perhaps far just 6 or 7 victory points the lap as the winner. By manageable playing time and the number of constellations and the replayability appeal is very high. Although functions and mechanisms of Port Royal are not new, much is known from other games. Nevertheless, the combination has been successful, the game will work in any occupation (even for two, but we usually play four) outstanding.

Therefore, my compliments to the author Alexander Pfister for this really successful and highly entertaining card game. For relatively little money you get a lot of fun here. I can wholeheartedly recommend.

Conclusion -> earned 5 stars!