Kingsburg
Played at: The Game Keeper – Pawtucket, RI. (
www.gamekeeperri.com)
Date: 6/5/2010
Players: Larry, Francis, Dave, Alex, and Sochan
Dave - Miner (University track, Architect's Guild track)
Alex - Duke (Basillica track)
Larry - Priest (plain)
Francis - Damsel (plain)
Sochan - Tax Collector (Alchemist's Guild track, Manor track)
Year 1: Call to Arms
Alex was able to get a head start in points by building the Bridge and Altar in year one while the rest of the players built 0 point buildings like Inns and Palisades because Alex was new and does not know how horrible the loss to a monster is. For a majority of the game, Larry has been invoking his character's ability so everyone is rolling an extra die. Everyone slays the monster.
Year 2: Military Parade
At this point, everyone starts working on their tracks such as Larry working on the top row or Francis setting up his military track. Larry wins the event prize. By the end of this year, I am the first player to have built a column IV building which was the Manor. Everyone faced Zombies with Larry being the only one to lose to it. Francis and I both defeat it. Francis gets his Market built so if anyone wanted something, they better get it because chances are they were not going to get the advisor they wanted. Alex is still in the lead, and for some odd reason, Larry and I are always near each other in terms of points.
Year 3 and 4: Custom Event and Year of the Fool
Years 3 and 4 are a blur to me. I forgot the first event name, but it was the event where +2 tokens can stay on the board and be claimed later on. In years 3 and 4, I visit the Queen about twice. Also, someone special walked into the store and started guiding Alex.
During years 3 and 4, I had gotten the Alchemist Guild built and started working towards the Cathedral track. Larry had gotten his Mint built and was working towards the Embassy. Alex had built his Basilica and was working towards the Embassy as well. Francis was working towards the military route with the Wizard's Guild. It also looked like Dave was going towards a military route with the Fortress as well. No one lost to the Orcs that were in years 3 and 4 , and I had the most military so I had a bonus soldier next year. I had an advantage in year 4 because I knew what we were up against thanks to my Lookout Tower so I planned ahead.
Year 5: The King is Sick
Again I took a peek at what was coming (Dragons), took note of what everyone had, and I knew I had the win if I was not denied on resources or had awful dice rolls. Someone argued with Larry for several minutes during the last fall season about who the winner would be. I am at 54 while Alex and Larry are both at 56. I had to lose a point (53) due to the Smuggler because I could not guarantee that I could get both the Duchess and Squire for the 3 gold needed (2 for the Cathedral and 1 to spend through the Alchemist Guild). After the debate, Dave, Larry (65), and myself (62) were able to build the Cathedral while Alex stagnates. At that point, I knew I definitely won because even if Larry had manage to defeat the Dragon and even if Francis had the most military at the end of the year, I would still win due to the tie. A 1 was rolled for reinforcements for everyone as well as Francis's special reinforcement. I was able to receive 6 points ending on 67 while Larry had to go back 5 VPs.
In all honesty, the two things that gave me the win was the Manor that gave me the double prizes (which was an extra resource and the last year points) and the 8 to 9 free resources from the Tax Collector. I have never encountered so much use from the Tax Collector's ability because of two reasons. One, people will generally get two column IV buildings over the course of a game; it is rare for someone with 3 column IV buildings. Secondly, it was a five player game where people often deny each other resources needed to get to a column IV building. There were times when I could not build what I wanted and might have had to wait a turn to build, but then someone before me always built a column IV building which gave me the 1 resource needed for me to build what I wanted.
