# Ezra and Nehemiah ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2024 - **BGG Rating**: 8.1 - **BGG Rank**: #472 - **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 3) - **Duration**: 90-120 min - **Weight**: 3.85 / 5 - **Designers**: S J Macdonald, Shem Phillips - **Artists**: Sam Phillips - **Publishers**: Garphill Games, CHUR GAMES, CMON Global Limited, Mosaico Jogos, Pixie Games, Renegade Game Studios, Schwerkraft-Verlag, Tesla Games, 株式会社ケンビル (KenBill) - **Categories**: Ancient, City Building, Religious - **Mechanics**: Chaining, Hand Management, Multi-Use Cards, Solo / Solitaire Game, Tech Trees / Tech Tracks, Track Movement, Variable Set-up ## Verdict If you enjoy historic city‑building games with card combos, you'll love the depth of Ezra and Nehemiah.Smooth hand managementEngaging city constructionWell‑designed solo modeMedium learning curveLong playtimeRECOMMENDED ## Description In "Ezra and Nehemiah" players become leaders who, under Cyrus' decree, return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple and the city walls. Each game covers three weeks of work, divided into six days of activity followed by a Sabbath of rest, during which food must be provided and the week's actions are reflected upon. The goal is to finish with the most Victory Points after the third Sabbath, scoring mainly for constructing the Temple, restoring walls and gates, and teaching the Torah to the exiles. To achieve these goals, players manage a hand of multi‑use cards, allocate workers, and advance on tech tracks that unlock new options such as developing lands outside the walls or keeping the altar burning continuously. Cards can be chained, creating combos that speed up reconstruction. The board features variable set‑up, ensuring each playthrough has a different layout of resources and building sites. The game also includes a solo mode with balanced challenges for solo players. Prophets Haggai and Zechariah appear as event cards that keep players focused on the right priorities. With a weight of 3.85/5, "Ezra and Nehemiah" blends hand management, city building, and religious theme smoothly, offering a strategic experience that appeals to both history buffs and fans of chaining and tech‑track mechanics. ## How to Play Game Objective The objective of Ezra and Nehemiah is to be the player with the most Victory Points (VP) at the end of the game. Points are primarily gained by building the temple, rebuilding the city walls and gates, teaching the Torah to the returning exiles, and developing lands or lighting the altar fire. Players can also explore settlements outside the walls or keep the altar lit. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah encourage players to focus on spiritual priorities. The game lasts for 3 rounds (weeks), with 6 workdays followed by a rest day (Sabbath). The game ends after the third Sabbath. Setup To set up the game, follow these steps: Main Board: Place the Main Board in the center of the table. Distribute the 6 Gate Cards next to the board, showing the side with a worker's sketch. For 1-2 players, flip the Muster Gate and East Gate and place them in their corresponding positions. Cover 6 central spaces with Neutral Wall Cards (for 1-2 players) or 3 spaces (for 3 players). Resources: Place 10 of each resource (Gold, Stone, Wood, Ashes) next to the board. Add coins and loaves as well. The remaining resources go into the Rubble Bag and are randomly distributed on the board spaces. Scrolls: Place 1 Gold Scroll on each space of the top row, 1 Wood Scroll on the two middle rows, and 1 Stone Scroll on the bottom row. The remaining Scrolls go into the box. Food: Create food piles to the right of the Scroll rows: 3 food on the 4VP row, 2 on the 3VP row, 1 on the 2VP row, and 0 on the 1VP row. Additional Components: Distribute the Development Tiles, Player Boards, Character Cards, and other components as described in the manual. For games with fewer players, adjust the positions of gates and resources. Game Flow The game is divided into 3 rounds (weeks), each with 7 days: 6 Workdays: Players take turns clockwise, starting with the player holding the Shofar. Each player has 1 turn per day. Sabbath (Rest Day): Players feed the workers, tuck 1-2 played cards, score the tucked cards, and resolve the Prophets' Judgment. The game ends after the third Sabbath. On each player's turn, follow these steps: Play 1 Character Card onto one of the 3 piles on the Player Board. Perform 1 Main Action (Temple and Altar, Ruins, Walls and Gates, or Torah and Tent). Draw 1 new Character Card from the deck, if possible. Optionally, perform 1 Minor Action (Trade or flip a Development Tile). Actions and How to Play Players can perform main and minor actions. Below are the detailed actions: Temple and Altar Use Red Banners to place resources on the temple or altar: Place Levites: Each Levite requires food and can place 1 resource on the temple (1-5 Red Banners) or the altar (1-3 Banners). Resources on Temple: Place resources on the leftmost column of the chosen row. Stone or Wood grant 1VP, Gold grants 2VP. Ashes cannot be placed. Resources on Altar: Use Wood (3 Red Banners, 2 spaces on the Altar Track) or Ashes (1 Banner, 1 space). Ruins, Walls and Gates Use Gray Banners to clear ruins and build walls/gates: Clear Ruins: Each Ash requires 1 Banner, Stone 2, Wood 2, Gold 3. Collected resources can be used immediately. Build Walls/Gates: Walls require 4 Gray Banners and 3 Stone. Gates require 3 Banners, 1 Wood, and 2 Stone. After building, draw 3 Wall Cards and place them on the board. Connections: When a wall and gate connect, all players gain rewards (e.g., Stone, Coins). Torah and Tent Use Blue Banners to teach the Torah or move the Tent: Teach Torah: Place a Scribe on a Scroll Tile by paying resources. Each Scroll Tile has specific costs and grants abilities. Move the Tent: Use Blue Banners to move the Tent on the city map, collecting rewards as you cross spaces. Minor Actions Perform 1 action per turn: Trade: Use the trade from the played Character Card to convert coins to resources or vice versa. Flip Development Tile: Spend resources to flip the tile, gaining rewards and 2VP at the end of the game. End Game and Scoring The game ends after the third Sabbath. To score: Convert all resources to coins: Gold = 3 coins, Stone/Wood/Food = 2, Ashes = 1. Score for: 1VP per 5 coins. 2VP per flipped Development Tile. 3VP if you are the leader of the Altar (rightmost position on the Altar Track). VP on walls/gates and Scribes (based on the Scroll row). Tiebreaker: The player with the rightmost position on the Altar Track wins. Tips for Winning Focus on the Altar Track: Moving to the rightmost position ensures more VP and workers at the end. Use Levites Efficiently: Prioritize placing them on the temple or altar to maximize points. Control Banners: Invest in actions that increase Red, Gray, or Blue Banners for critical actions. Consult the manual for details on sections not covered here. ## FAQ ### How long does a game usually take? About 90–120 minutes, depending on player count and familiarity with the rules. ### How many players can join? 1 to 4 players; a dedicated solo mode is also included. ### What is the game's complexity? BGG weight 3.85/5, medium – it needs strategic thought but isn’t overly complicated. ### What components are included? Modular board, multi‑use cards, worker tokens, resource tokens (wood, stone, silver, gold), victory point markers, and building pieces. ### Is it suitable for players unfamiliar with biblical history? Absolutely; the game provides context on the cards and in the rulebook, and the mechanics are easy to pick up. ### Are any expansions planned? No expansions have been announced yet, but variable set‑up ensures plenty of replay value. ### Is the solo mode challenging? Yes, the solo mode has specific goals and event cards that simulate prophetic pressure and reconstruction challenges. ## Price Comparison ### Best Offers in Brazil - **Rejoga**: R$ 375,16 (/partner/go.php?p=rejoga&g=2796&u=https%3A%2F%2Frejoga.com.br%2Fanuncio%2F03331ac7-22fd-4607-baf9-189a534535b1%3Forigem%3Dboardgamesbot) - **Livtoys**: R$ 417,57 (https://www.livtoys.com.br/boardgames/esdras-e-neemias-promos?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Bravo Jogos**: R$ 423,06 (https://bravojogos.com.br/jogos-de-tabuleiro-e-cardgames/jogo-esdras-e-neemias-p?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Cangaia Jogos**: R$ 423,14 (https://www.cangaiajogos.com.br/todos-os-jogos/jogos-estrategicos/esdras-e-neemias?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on Compara Jogos: https://www.comparajogos.com.br/item/esdras-e-neemias ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 59.92 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5735520&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/67468/ezra-and-nehemiah?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com