Based on the novel by Ken Follett a board game was developed, which gives a very realistic feel. Even through the design of the board, and detailed maps, the desire to know the game awakened. It is not necessary to have read the book beforehand. To those who know the book but will run some familiar characters on the road.

The instructions of the game has quite complex, but is right at the beginning indicated that we work through the instructions step by step can (depending on the stage of the game). The system is to see through quickly and you internalized the steps quickly. It is helpful in this context that the moves are rough on a card that each player and the game board itself speaks volumes.

You have six rounds left to the construction of the Cathedral to help. Each round consists of four phases. You can use divide by skillful artisans and workers who have to procure enough raw materials (wood, gravel and stone), at the end of the round get hold of the help on the Cathedral of victory points.

At the beginning of the game you get three craftsmen and 12 workers put aside.

In the first phase, you can go your workers by using raw materials from an open stack generate or acquire either craftsmen. The raw materials you need with workers, craftsmen pay with gold. These raw materials can be the building of the cathedral, according to the capacities of the artisans are exchanged in victory points.

In the second phase of the game you can use your three builders. All builders are drawn by the first player from a bag. Its architect is pulled, now has the choice whether this will be used. That must be the one paying 7 gold. Does he, the architect on a designated field is set and can be later set free on the remaining seats. The following builders are drawn to each one cheaper gold. The more expensive the builder, the greater advantage, however, the range of fields that are available to him. The advantage of fields can only hold a limited number of builders. Only through early, you can contact the builder additional workers may resort to tapping or better craftsman. The dealers can not come to us just because of the accompanying market place is of course also available.

This is followed by the third phase. Gradually, you can now gain the benefits and resources from the Setzphasen. Here are also in unexpected occurrences that are triggered by event cards. You can be negative than positive. Also taxes are due. At both, you can protect yourself by appropriately setting the builder. So be on guard.

In the final stage you can get involved by using the craftsmen and raw materials in the construction of the cathedral. Everyone now expects its raw materials, according to his craft skills in victory points and sets stone in front of his victory accordingly.

Then a part of the cathedral will be on the board, the round number symbolically represent and embody the construction of a cathedral of the novel.

Then it goes into the second round, where other maps come into play and the artisans are always better in the course of the game.

The game material is designed very attractive and from a normal quality material. Very pleasant, is that the process is internalized rapidly. However, it is not boring, mostly because until the last rating is not obvious who will emerge as the winner. The game is worthwhile for the casual gamer. Tactics and strategy are also an asset. The luck element is fortunately not as high.

For the game, there are now two extensions. A directly from the Kosmos Publishing called "The Pillars of the Earth - Extension" and a little out of the game box.

Tags: cosmos