The White Castle

Description

"The White Castle" is an accessible Euro game of clan management in Himeji Castle, blending worker placement, resource management, and dice actions across three rounds to score victory points. Key mechanics include: - *Worker placement* Players send clan members to castle zones like gardens, walls, and the Room of the Thousand Carpets to tend ponds, patrol, or ascend the social ladder. - *Resource management* Players track and utilize resources in personal domains to enable actions and progress. - *Dice placement* Three types of dice accumulate on the three bridges for executing various actions. - *Influence building* Courtiers gain favor by nearing the Daimyo, while gardeners and warriors contribute to victory points. - *Multi-round scoring* Over three rounds, actions in different areas award points through social ascent, defense, and garden tending. The White Castle, designed by Llama Dice (Sheila Santos and Israel Cendrero), transports players to Himeji Castle under Daimyo Sakai Tadakiyo, where they control clans competing for victory points. The central board depicts the castle's zones: the inner Room of the Thousand Carpets for courtiers' social climbing toward the Daimyo's favor; unrestricted pond and gardens for gardeners; outer walls for patrolling warriors; three bridges for dice placement; and players' personal domains for resources and worker reserves. In this Euro-style game over three rounds, players strategically place workers to manage resources boldly, amass court influence, and execute actions via dice, balancing placement timing for optimal scoring. Its simple design hides deep strategy, suiting diverse gaming groups with accessible rules.