Architects of the West Kingdom

Architects of the West Kingdom is a game I’ve been wanting to try for a while now, and I finally got my hands on it. I’m a big fan of worker placement games, and this one has some unique twists that make it stand out from the crowd. It’s set in the Carolingian Empire in 850 AD, and players take on the role of royal architects vying for the king’s favor. This game is all about making tough moral decisions – do you play by the rules and stick to your virtue, or do you take some shortcuts and risk losing favor?

The game has some cool mechanics that I really enjoyed. You start with all your workers, and you can place them on different spots on the board to collect resources, build structures, or advance on the cathedral. But the key to success is making the most of your workers. The more workers you have at a location, the better the reward. It’s a fun strategic dance where you try to predict where your opponents are going to place their workers and try to outmaneuver them. I also liked the ability to capture your opponents' workers and send them to prison for a bit of extra profit. There’s even a virtue track that reflects your actions, moving you up for good deeds and down for bad ones. This adds another layer of strategy as you try to balance your virtue with your ambition.

I have to say that the game looks absolutely stunning. The art is beautiful, with a cartoon-ish style that reminds me of other games from the same publisher, like Raiders of the North Sea. The game board, player mats, building cards, and even the apprentices are all beautifully illustrated. The only thing that I think could be better is the organization of the game pieces. I had to get a custom insert to make it fit all the pieces comfortably.

Overall, I’m really impressed with Architects of the West Kingdom. It’s a solid, strategic game that’s easy to learn but hard to master. There are tons of different ways to play and win, so it’s guaranteed to keep you coming back for more. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys worker placement games or who is looking for something with a unique and engaging twist.