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Carthago: Merchants & Guilds


60m - 90m

2 - 4 Players

Ages 12+
Hand management games are games with cards in them that reward players for playing the cards in certain sequences or groups. The optimal sequence/grouping may vary, depending on board position, cards held and cards played by opponents. Managing your hand means gaining the most value out of available cards under given circumstances. Cards often have multiple uses in the game, further obfuscating an "optimal" sequence.
Hand Management
This mechanic usually requires players to pick up an item or good at one location on the playing board and bring it to another location on the playing board. Initial placement of the item can be either predetermined or random. The delivery of the good usually gives the player money to do more actions with. In most cases, there is a game rule or another mechanic that determines where the item needs to go.
Pick-up and Deliver
The primary goal of a set collection mechanic is to encourage a player to collect a set of items.
Set Collection
In games with a trading mechanic, the players can exchange game items between each other.
Trading
This mechanism requires players to select individual actions from a set of actions available to all players. Players generally select actions one-at-a-time and in turn order. There is usually(*) a limit on the number of times a single action may be taken. Actions are commonly selected by the placement of game pieces or tokens on the selected actions. Each player usually has a limited number of pieces with which to participate in the process.
Worker Placement

Ancient

34.00€

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Board Game Geek Reviews


  1. 6 out of 10

    You have basic cards and 3 goods cards. Game has a rondel mechanic. When you do an action you have to place it on an action spot and then you discard cards if other players are there. You acquire ships which help you with your score. You get goods in the market that help you acquire ship and do other things. There are also guild actions that allow you to score but you have fewer discs to do things on your turn. A solid game. I like the game but it was a little forgettable but it has some really good actions.

  2. 6 out of 10

    Well, well, well. Here's a game that appears to be good on the outside, but doesn't feel good on the inside. I'm not put off by any single aspect per se, but the total system just doesn't feel fun. The card exchange and constraint of actions is thinky to a degree - but I think limits the decision space too much. The other systems are interesting, but not compelling - especially the ship system which feels strangely overpowered? This is a straight up average game - nothing I need to hold on to.

  3. 4 out of 10

    I didn't really like this game. I felt like maybe I missed something. It felt like somehow we were supposed to be able to do twice as much. "I thought you liked games that made you feel like you were in a straight jacket" my friend says. It's true, but I like to have the feeling of managing to do something despite being restrained, and in this case, I just didn't feel like it was possible to get enough done. That said, I think this has a lot of great ideas, and I look forward to the potential for a new game that has a lot of it's ideas or a completely revamped "2nd edition" version that's very reworked.

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Carthage – about 800 years BC.Founded as a humble trading post by the Phoenicians, the city quickly grew into an important trade hub where precious goods from around the ancient world were traded.

In Carthago, players represent merchants who attempt to increase their wealth and influence while improving their status within the Merchant’s Guild. Become the greatest merchant in Carthage by loading valuable wares, financing expeditions, and exerting influence in clever ways. An extraordinary card-driven game of tactics that demands making the right decisions at the right time!

Discover and trade valuable goods to acquire special abilities. Gain influence by trading goods. Use your influence to battle enemies, secure more seats in the Merchant’s Guild, or unlock special achievements. Multi-use cards provide players various ways to improve their status within the Merchant’s Guild. The game’s components are language-independent.

Ages

12+
Players

2 Players, 3 Players, 4 Players
Play Time

60m – 90m
Designer

Bernd Eisenstein, Ralph Bienert
Mechanics

Action Points, Deck, Bag, and Pool Building, Hand Management, Pick-up and Deliver, Set Collection, Trading, Worker Placement
Theme

Card Game, Economic, Ancient
Publisher

Capstone Games, Game's Up, Irongames
Cart
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