Azul

Description

--- Azul is an abstract tile-laying game where players draft and place colorful azulejos to decorate a palace wall, balancing pattern formation with waste penalties for optimal scoring. Key mechanics include: - *Tile drafting* Players select colored tiles from shared suppliers to their player board. - *Strategic placement* Tiles are arranged on the board to form lines and patterns for scoring. - *Bonus scoring* Extra points awarded for completing sets and specific patterns. - *Waste penalties* Discarding excess tiles deducts points from the score. - *Competitive turns* Players alternate drafting in rounds until the palace wall is filled. Azul is a competitive tile-placement board game inspired by the historical introduction of Moorish azulejos—originally white and blue ceramic tiles—fully embraced by Portuguese King Manuel I after his awe-inspiring visit to Spain's Alhambra palace, prompting him to decorate his own palace similarly. Players embody tile-laying artists tasked with embellishing the walls of Portugal's Royal Palace of Evora. Gameplay proceeds in rounds where participants draft colored tiles from central suppliers onto their personal player boards. Subsequently, tiles are placed to decorate the palace, earning points based on row completions and strategic arrangements. Additional bonuses arise from forming specific patterns and completing full sets, while inefficient play—manifested as wasted supplies—incurs score penalties. The game concludes after a set number of rounds or palace completion, with victory awarded to the player amassing the highest total points. ---