Alex Yeager of Mayfair Games gives us a rundown of five new games that are out now or coming soon.
Bacchus’ Banquet – It is 37 AD and Caligula is the extravagant Emperor of Rome! It is a time of excesses. It is a time of intrigue. And the latest gala in Caligula’s short reign is starting tonight—Bacchus’ Banquet!
Bacchus’ Banquet is a card game for 3 to 5 players ages 8 and up, designed by Frederic Moyerson.
Each player takes the role of a guest at the party, and each guest has his or her own secret objective. You might be a glutton who is only there for the food and wine. You might be interested in riches. You might be a conspirator involved in a plot against the the Emperor. Or, you might be Caligula himself.
The game revolves around players giving gifts to each other in the form of cards. The cards show food, wine, valuable items, daggers or other special cards that allow players to bend the rules.
As well as the game cards and reference sheets for the players, the game also comes with 5 belt buckles. (The more you eat, the more you’ll have to loosen your belt.) Bacchus’ Banquet is out now and retails for $20.
Toledo – For 2-4 players, ages 10 and up, Toledo challenges players to forge the most magnificent swords as a gift to the emperor using the best workmen and materials in the city. Designed by Martin Wallace, Toledo is a casual game that will be released this summer.
Horus - Designed by H. Jean Vanaise and coming soon from Mayfair Games. Horus is a tile laying game similar to Carcassonne. Players can then use a card to claim any tile on the board. Players score by controlling regions on the board.
Catan Dice Game - Like the full game, the Catan Dice Game is about building a settlement. In this case, each player has his own score card called the building sheet, which depicts a mini Catan. You build by drawing the settlements and roads on your score card. Resources are collected by rolling dice, keeping some and re-rolling the rest.
A full game can be played in only 15-30 minutes, and can also be played solo. Comes with 6 colorful, embossed wooden dice and a scoring map.
Pillars of the Earth Expansion – This expansion increases the number of players to 6, but it can also be used with 2 to 4 players as well. The game comes with an additional board that lays next to the original one. The new board has more choices for the players to place their master builders. The game also comes with new event cards as craftsmen.
