# Azul: Summer Pavilion ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2019 - **BGG Rating**: 7.6 - **BGG Rank**: #240 - **Players**: 2-4 (Best with: 3) - **Duration**: 30-45 min - **Weight**: 2.08 / 5 - **Designers**: Michael Kiesling - **Artists**: Chris Quilliams - **Publishers**: Next Move Games, Belleville (Бельвіль), Broadway Toys LTD, Divercentro, Galápagos Jogos, Gémklub - **Categories**: Abstract Strategy, Puzzle - **Mechanics**: End Game Bonuses, Open Drafting, Pattern Building, Set Collection, Tile Placement, Turn Order: Claim Action ## Verdict If you enjoy a strategic puzzle with stunning visuals, Azul: Summer Pavilion is a sure bet! It's the evolution of the Azul series that maintains the core essence, but with a super interesting twist.Engaging abstract strategyBeautiful componentsClever drafting mechanicHigh replayabilityEasy to learn rulesIndirect interactionMay frustrate plannersSimilar to original AzulHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description Embark on a journey back to Portugal with Azul: Summer Pavilion, where you take on the role of a master artisan tasked with a royal assignment that was never completed. King Manuel I, after the palaces of Evora and Sintra, dreamed of building a stunning summer pavilion to honor royalty, but unfortunately passed away before construction could begin. Now, it's your turn to honor the king's memory, using the finest materials to create this architectural masterpiece, all while wisely managing your supplies to avoid waste. Get ready for six intense rounds, where each turn you'll select colorful tiles and strategically place them on your individual player board. The dynamic is super cool: each round, a different tile color becomes wild, adding an extra layer of strategy. You'll refill factories with four tiles each and also the central supply. On your turn, you can take all tiles of a non-wild color from a factory (and one wild, if present) or from the center of the table. After all tiles have been claimed, it's time to place them on your board. Your board features seven stars, each awaiting six tiles. Six of these stars are for a single color, and one special star requires one tile of each color. To place a tile, say, on the blue '5' space, you discard five blue or wild tiles (one blue being mandatory) and place one blue tile there. You score points for this tile and for those already connected to it within the star. Completing specific areas like pillars, statues, or windows on your board gives you immediate bonuses, allowing you to take more tiles from the supply. At the end of the round, you can carry over up to four tiles to the next, but beware: discarding more than that costs points! After six rounds, extra bonuses are awarded for completed stars and for covering all spaces with values 1, 2, 3 or 4. Whoever has the most points at the end is the grand master artisan! ## How to Play Game Objective Welcome, master artisan! In Azul: Summer Pavilion, your mission is clear: construct the most splendid Summer Pavilion for the Portuguese royalty, using the finest tiles and avoiding waste. The ultimate goal is to be the player with the most points at the end of 6 rounds. The player with the highest score wins! In case of a tie, victory is shared. Preparation (Setup) Let's set up the table to start creating your summer pavilion: Each player chooses a player board (A) of an available color and places it in front of them, with the star side facing up (side A). Place the Factory Displays (B) in a circle in the center of the table, adjusting the quantity according to the number of players: 2 players: 5 Factory Displays. 3 players: 7 Factory Displays. 4 players: 9 Factory Displays. Position the scoring track (C) next to the Factory Displays. Place the round tracker (D) on the 1st round space. It also indicates the wild color for the round. In the first round, the wild color is purple. Each player takes a scoring marker (E) of their color and places it on the 5th space of the scoring track. Place the 132 tiles (F) into the bag (F). Draw 10 tiles from the bag without looking and place them in the stock spaces in the center of the scoring track. Fill each Factory Display with exactly 4 tiles drawn blindly from the bag. Set the bag aside for now. Place the first player marker (H) in the center of the table. Position the tower (I) between the Factory Displays and the scoring track. The point tokens (J) are set aside and will be used during scoring. Return any unused components to the box. The youngest player starts, and turn order proceeds clockwise. Gameplay Turn Each round in Azul: Summer Pavilion is divided into three main phases: Phase 1: Acquire Tiles Phase 2: Play Tiles and Score Points Phase 3: Prepare for the Next Round (does not occur in the last round) Phase 1: Acquire Tiles On your turn, you must take tiles. You have two options: Option A: Take from a Factory Display Choose a Factory Display and take all tiles of the same color that is not the wild color for the round. Place them next to your player board. If there are tiles of the wild color in that Display, you must also take exactly one of them. If the Display has only wild color tiles, you can only take one wild tile. The remaining tiles from the Display are moved to the center of the table. Option B: Take from the Center of the Table Take all tiles of the same color that is not the wild color for the round, from the center of the table. Place them next to your player board. If there are tiles of the wild color in the center of the table, you must take exactly one of them. If there are only wild color tiles in the center, you can only take one wild tile. If you are the first player to take tiles from the center of the table this round, take the first player marker and place it next to your board. You must also move your scoring marker 1 space backward for each tile you took this turn, but no more than 4 spaces. If your marker is already on the first space, you cannot take tiles from the center of the table without having to move backward. Phase 1 ends when there are no more tiles in any of the Factory Displays or in the center of the table. Then, we move to Phase 2. Phase 2: Play Tiles and Score Points The player with the first player marker starts. On your turn, check if you have the correct quantity of tiles of a specific color next to your board to fill a space. If you do, place exactly one of those tiles in the corresponding space on your player board. The remaining tiles that were needed to fill that space are discarded into the tower. Rules for Tile Placement: You can only use tiles from your "next to the board" area. Tiles are placed in diamond-shaped spaces. You can place tiles in pairs or trios of stars. Empty spaces are valid. The color of a star indicates the color of tiles that can be placed on it. If you are going to use tiles of different colors, you need to take all necessary tiles before placing a single tile. Extra tiles are discarded into the tower. On the central star of the board, there are no placement restrictions, but all 6 tiles must be of different colors. Unused tiles in a turn remain next to your board. Using the Wild Color The wild color changes each round (indicated by the round tracker). Tiles of this color can substitute for any other color. To use them, you need to have at least one tile of the color you wish to place. Wild tiles fill the remainder. Remember: wild tiles only function as wild in the current round! In-Game Scoring For each tile placed on your board, you gain 1 point. If you place a tile next to other already connected tiles, you gain 1 point for each adjacent tile (only those within the same star). If you pass 80 points, take a point token to record your total score. Stock Bonus: Surround 4 adjacent spaces of a pillar with tiles: gain 2 any tiles (can be wild). Surround 2 adjacent spaces of a window with tiles: gain 2 any tiles (can be wild). Surround 2 adjacent spaces of a window with tiles (yes, another window!): gain 3 any tiles (can be wild). Bonus tiles are placed next to your board. Before the next player, replenish empty stock spaces on the scoring track, using the bag and the tower if necessary. Passing Your Turn If you do not want to or cannot place tiles on your turn, you can pass your turn. You can keep up to 4 tiles from your "next to the board" area for the next round, placing them in the four corner spaces of your player board. They do not grant points. Any remaining tiles must be discarded into the tower, and you lose 1 point for each discarded tile. After passing, you have no more turns this round. Phase 3: Preparation for the Next Round This phase is performed by the first player, unless it is the 6th round. If it is not the 6th round, advance the round tracker to the next round. Fill each Factory Display with exactly 4 new tiles from the bag. If the bag empties, replenish it with tiles from the tower. Place the first player marker back in the center of the table. All players move any tiles from the corners of their boards to the "next to the board" area. Additional bonus points are awarded: If you have covered all number 1s: gain 4 points. If you have covered all number 2s: gain 8 points. If you have covered all number 3s: gain 12 points. If you have covered all number 4s: gain 16 points. End of Game and Scoring The game ends after the 6th round. After normal round scoring, players check the following objectives and adjust their points: If you have completed the multicolored star (in the center of your player board): gain 12 points. If you have completed the red star: gain 14 points. If you have completed the blue star: gain 15 points. If you have completed the yellow star: gain 16 points. If you have completed the orange star: gain 17 points. If you have completed the green star: gain 18 points. If you have completed the purple star: gain 20 points. After the final round, if you have unused tiles in the corner spaces of your board, discard them into the tower and lose 1 point per tile. The player with the highest score wins! In case of a tie, players share the victory. Tips for Winning To become a true master artisan, consider these tips: Plan Your Stars in Advance: Look at the stars on your board and identify which colors you need to complete the ones worth the most points. Try to focus on one or two stars to maximize your end-game bonuses. Use the Wild Color Wisely: The wild color is super powerful! Try to use it to complete spaces that require many tiles or to fill that last piece of a valuable star. Remember that it is only wild in the current round, so don't save it too much! Beware of Waste: Discarding tiles into the tower costs points! Try to take only what you can use or what you can save in the corners of your board for the next round. Sometimes, it's better to pass your turn and save a few tiles than to lose many points. ## FAQ ### How many players can play Azul: Summer Pavilion? The game is ideal for 2 to 4 players, offering an equally fun and strategic experience in any of these configurations. ### What is the average playtime? A game typically takes between 30 to 45 minutes, making it perfect for a quick game session or to fit between other activities. ### What is the complexity of Azul: Summer Pavilion? It is considered a light to medium complexity game (BGG weight of 2.0762/5), easy to learn, but with enough strategic depth to keep it engaging. ### What are the main differences compared to the original Azul? The main difference lies in how tiles are scored and the introduction of the wild color mechanic each round, plus bonuses for surrounding specific elements on the board. It expands on the original idea with new layers of strategy. ### Are the components good quality? Yes, as is characteristic of the Azul series, the components are of excellent quality, with sturdy tiles and stunning visuals that enhance the gaming experience. ### Is Azul: Summer Pavilion a family-friendly game? Absolutely! Its accessible rules and visually appealing theme make it a great option for playing with family and friends, including younger or new players. ### Do I need to have played the original Azul to understand this one? No, not at all! Although it's from the same family, Azul: Summer Pavilion is a standalone game and can be played and enjoyed without any prior knowledge of other titles in the series. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 20.76 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5729994&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/30880/azul-summer-pavilion?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com