"We are Pope" - one might call the most, when you are playing with the papal election as a theme going on. But "Habemus Papam" does not play in the present, but in 1655, where after the death of Pope Innocent X. a 80-day conclave of cardinals met to seek a new pope peers. Many cardinals of the original scene found a place on a 20 in-game cards. A small addition is in the pleasant handy package insert existing print information about the historic events of this period, many of which, even late arriving cardinals, were processed in the game.

Habemus Papam in which players are invited by the Vatican, to undergo as cardinals of the papal election. To win this, however, requires some advocates among the participants of the conclave. The players try in a total of 18 laps to win as many votes from other cardinals and effect through the use of money and jewels, that powerful political influence buyer willing to keep her voice also.

Habemus Papam has simple rules and proceeds in four phases. In the first phase of four stacks each of a cardinal, an action card and a card for political influence, together with available in each round Camerlengo (chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church) are placed in the middle of the table. Secondly, any player who can play an action card to improve his position, for example in the subsequent auction.

In the third phase, players enter bids in the form of precious stones for one of the four cards. It is auctioned the right to vote. Whoever wins the bid phase, must first select a card, the other players follow their rank. The different colored gems have different values ​​here. A diamond is most valuable, but you will lose him if you use it. The other stones - ruby, sapphire and amber - which can be obtained if one chooses the Camerlengo.
The fourth phase is then a clean-up phase, in which players assume the newly purchased tickets and, if provided, sit in front of himself.

After 18 rounds the game ends and it comes to the final vote count .. Here, the face-up votes are counted, however, players can now buy with their money earned during the game even more votes. This is especially winning much, if some of Jules Mazarin, a minister in France this time were bought, because making the votes Buy günstiger.Weitere voices of the player who has succeeded in getting one of the beginning of the game is dealt to orders to . meet It must Cardinals own one or more of certain countries in the delivery to be present.

Even black and white smoke is present, the symbol of any papal election. While following detection of the card "Black smoke" the game is still going on and the players have received a little money, the game ends with a map revealing the white smoke, which means that a new pope has been found.

Habemus Papam is a pleasant-to-play Bietspiel with an interesting finale Nevertheless the game is not very complex, it gives it a bit the atmosphere of a papal election, not least thanks to a very good illustration of the card says the issue might be more the Catholics among us, but should also interested in historical players and general fans of all Bietspielen be interesting. For church youth and play groups Habemus Papam is definitely a must buy.

Year: 2010
Publisher: DDD
Author: Christoph Bauer
Design: Catherine Kubisch
Players: 3-4
Age: 10 years
Duration: about 30 minutes

Tags: DDD