Lisboa: Queen Variant

Lisboa: Queen Variant is a mini‑expansion that swaps out card 57 from the base game for a fresh historical twist. When that card shows up, the Marquis de Pombal is removed and Queen Mariana Vitória steps in as regent. From that moment on, players can no longer use decrees tied to the Marquis, reshaping the flow of influence and city‑building. The background draws on the infamous Tavora affair, where the Marquis publicly executed a noble family close to the queen to cement his power. In 1777, after the king's death, Mariana Vitória dismissed him by royal decree and exiled him to his hometown, Pombal. On the board, this translates to a new decision curve – you must adjust your area‑majority, hand‑management and open‑draft tactics while still placing tiles to rebuild Lisbon. The expansion adds no new physical components, just the replacement card, but its rule impact is substantial: the game gains extra political tension and a dash of historical drama. Perfect for players who already love the base game and want to feel the weight of a power shift without expanding the box. If you enjoy mixing resource management, territorial influence and real‑world narratives, the Queen Variant is a tasty upgrade that makes Lisbon feel even more alive.