Product Information
Board Game Geek Rating: 7.47, Avg Player Rating: 7.62. This 2014 retail edition of Istanbul is a thrilling board game for 2 to 5 players. At the grand bazaar of Istanbul, merchants and their assistants rush through narrow alleys to out - compete others. You lead a merchant and four assistants through 16 bazaar locations. Each location offers a specific action. To take an action, move your merchant and an assistant, leaving the assistant behind. Later, your merchant can pick the assistant up. On each turn, move your group 1 - 2 steps, leave or collect an assistant, then perform an action. Meeting others may give you an extra small action. Actions include increasing wheelbarrow capacity, filling it with goods, getting special abilities, buying or trading for rubies, and selling goods combinations for money. The game ends when a merchant collects five rubies. If they're the only one, they win; otherwise, money in hand breaks ties. At TheGameSteward, we use a good portion of your purchase money to back new Kickstarter games. Contact us for purchase or game advice.
How to play: Start by setting up the board with 16 bazaar locations. Each player gets one merchant and four assistants. On your turn, move your merchant and assistants 1 - 2 steps through the bazaar. You can either leave an assistant at a location or pick up one you left earlier. Then, perform the action available at that location. If you meet other merchants or certain individuals, you might get an extra small action. Possible actions are paying to increase wheelbarrow capacity, filling it with goods, getting special abilities, buying or trading for rubies, and selling goods combinations for money. The game ends when a merchant collects five rubies. If they're the only one, they win. If there are ties, the one with more money in hand wins. Note: Plan your moves carefully. Since you need to leave assistants at locations to perform actions and pick them up later, not planning well may leave you without available assistants. Maintenance: Keep the game pieces in a dry and clean place. Avoid bending or damaging the cards and tokens. If the pieces get dirty, you can gently wipe them with a soft cloth.
