Board Game Geek Rating: 5.58. Board Game Geek Avg Player Rating: 6.83. Suitable for 2 to 5 players and published in 2017. This is the Kickstarter Edition 'Scarab Card' Merchants of Araby Board Game. It includes the core game, all stretch goals, and the 'Scarab' promo card. Note that paid add - ons from the Kickstarter Campaign are not included unless stated otherwise.
In this game, become the richest merchant prince or princess in Araby. Build an entourage of merchants and allies, teach virtues, summon djinni, negotiate often, and make profitable caravan investments. The goal is to have the most coins at the end of the game.
During your turn, you can play cards, assign tasks to merchants, start a caravan, and negotiate with opponents. You can take these actions multiple times in any order. Products are usually made by tasking the merchants in your entourage. Magical Djinn cards can be played at any turn. Ally cards in your entourage help your merchants in different ways. Virtue cards give an instant bonus, often to you and an opponent of your choice.
Caravan cards are key for earning coins and negotiation. Each represents a journey to a distant Araby city to sell valuable products. Player actions, bandits, and market changes affect the caravan's payout. Each product space on the caravan card can hold one camel token representing a specific product for the caravan.
Add camels to caravans by tasking merchants, playing a djinn card, or negotiating with another player. Opponents need your permission to add a camel to your caravan. When your turn ends, your caravan is locked to you (unless the active player allows you to add more camels through negotiation), but opponents can always try to negotiate to place camels on it. Your caravans leave at the start of your next turn. Watch out for bandits who might steal your goods! The more valuable your camel placement, the more likely it will be targeted.
Negotiation is crucial. You can trade almost anything - gold for camel placement, cards for products, and so on. Your entourage refreshes at the start and end of each of your turns, so you can task them on other players' turns. The game ends after four rounds, and the player with the most coins wins!
We're happy to support campaigns to bring you games like the Merchants of Araby Kickstarter Game. We'll use a large part of your spending on this game to back new Kickstarter games. If you have questions about buying or need game advice, contact The Game Steward.
How to play the Merchants of Araby Board Game:
1. Start the game: Set up the game with the core components, including cards and tokens. Each player starts with an entourage of merchants and some basic resources.
2. Take turns: During your turn, you have several actions at your disposal. You can play cards from your hand, assign tasks to the merchants in your entourage to generate products, start a caravan, or negotiate with other players. These actions can be done in any order and multiple times.
3. Manage your resources: Use your cards wisely. Magical Djinn cards can be played at any time to give you an edge. Ally cards help your merchants perform better, and Virtue cards give instant bonuses. Keep an eye on your coins and products, as they are key to winning.
4. Caravan management: Caravan cards are the main way to earn coins. Add camels to your caravans by tasking merchants, playing Djinn cards, or negotiating with others. Remember, opponents need your permission to add camels to your caravan, and your caravan locks at the end of your turn (unless negotiated otherwise).
5. Negotiation: Don't be afraid to negotiate with other players. You can trade almost anything, from gold to cards and actions. It's a great way to get what you need and disrupt your opponents.
6. Watch out for bandits: When your caravans depart at the start of your next turn, there's a risk of bandits stealing your goods. The more valuable your camel placement, the higher the chance of being targeted.
Note:
- This is the Kickstarter Edition, which includes the core game, all stretch goals, and the 'Scarab' promo card. Paid add - ons from the Kickstarter Campaign are not included unless otherwise stated.
- The game ends after four rounds, representing one year's seasons. The player with the most coins wins.
Maintenance advice:
- Keep the cards in a dry and cool place to prevent damage. You can use card sleeves for extra protection.
- Store the tokens and other small components in a container to avoid losing them.
