Jason & Susan

The other day, Crystal came over and introduced a new board game called Cleopatra and the Society of Architects. The objective of the game is to become the wealthiest (and least corrupt) architect. There are some resemblance to Settlers of Catan in which throughout the game, players (architects) collect resources so that they could build different parts of the palace such as column walls, door frames, obelisks, sphinxes, and the throne. Architects earn talents (money) as they build different parts. Eventually when Cleopatra’s palace is complete, whoever has the most money wins. However, the trick of the game is that some of the resources are tainted (corruption) and there are also corrupt means of using/stealing resources or building things. Thus, every time a player uses corrupt means to build, they receive corruption amulets, which are hidden so nobody knows how corrupt you are until the end. At the end of the game, all the players count their corruption amulets and the most corrupt architect is fed to the crocodiles (out of the game). The remaining architect with the most talents wins the game.

The three of us played that afternoon, Crystal, Elaine, and Susan. Crystal played the game several times before so she knew what she was doing. Elaine and Susan on the other hand learned as they played along. Elaine took every opportunity to build and steal other people’s resources, earning lots of talents, but was later fed to the crocodiles. Susan was a good ‘o honest architect who slowly built whatever she could with whatever she had, earning an honest income but not enough to win. Crystal won the game as the wealthiest architect. (She was still corrupt though!! ) She had secretly gotten rid of her many corruption amulets before the last turn, a strategy only she knew and didn’t think to share with the rest of us!

Our Rating: 4/5