# Marrakesh: Camels & Nomads ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2023 - **BGG Rating**: 7.9 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 3) - **Duration**: 120 min - **Weight**: 3.50 / 5 - **Designers**: Stefan Feld, Ulrich Fonrobert - **Artists**: Franz Vohwinkel, Klemens Franz, Patricia Limberger - **Publishers**: Queen Games - **Categories**: Expansion for Base-game - **Mechanics**: Variable Player Powers ## Verdict A must-have for base game owners looking for more strategic layers and a solid solo experience.Very flexible modular modesSolo mode finally implementedRich new tactical optionsStays true to author's styleRequires base game to playIncreases table complexityRECOMMENDED ## Description You know that feeling when a game is already great, but you feel it could have 'just a bit more'? That's exactly what the Camels & Nomads expansion does for Marrakesh. If you're already a fan of the base game, get ready, because the experience just got much more robust and strategic. The real highlight here is the modularity: you don't have to throw everything in at once. The expansion introduces the Camels and Nomads modules, which can be added to the game based on your group's preference, letting you tweak the complexity of the session. But it doesn't stop there. For those who love having multiple paths to victory, the expansion brings new Oasis, Luxury, and Provision tiles. These additions aren't just for show; they open up a range of tactical options that make your turn planning far more interesting and dynamic. You'll need to think harder about where to invest your resources and how to leverage these new opportunities to outsmart your opponents in the marketplace. And for the crowd that often struggles to gather a group or simply wants to test strategies in peace, the news is great: the long-awaited Solo mode is finally here! Now you can tackle the challenges of Marrakesh at your own pace, turning the game into an individual strategic puzzle. Whether you're adding new layers of interaction with the nomads or exploring the desert's solitude in solo mode, this expansion turns Marrakesh into the definitive experience for fans of expert Euros with that signature Stefan Feld precision. ## How to Play Goal of the Game In Marrakesh: Camels & Nomads, you take on the role of a merchant trying to thrive in the market. The main objective is to accumulate the highest possible score through resource management, trading luxury goods and, depending on the module used, winning a camel race. The winner is the one who has the highest total score at the end of the game. Setup Game setup may vary depending on the chosen modules. Below are the instructions for the main components: Board and Basic Components: Prepare the main board and components according to the chosen game mode. Nomads Module: Place the Nomad Board next to the Cube Tower and store all wooden Nomad Keshis there as a common supply. Camels Module: Set up the Racecourse next to the main board. Each player receives a Camel in their color and places it on the starting space of the track, above their color's Spectator Sector column. Shuffle the Award Tiles and draw 3 randomly with one side up. Stack them in the designated space; the top tile is active for the first season. Place the Camel Dung Tiles in the designated space on the track. Special Buildings Module: Shuffle the Special Buildings in a cloth bag. Each player draws two, chooses one, and places it next to their Player Board. The others return to the box. Provision Tiles Module: Shuffle the Moderate Provision Tiles and Hard Provision Tiles separately. Each player receives 3 Base Game Provision Tiles, 1 Moderate, and 1 Hard. Choose one to be revealed. Game Flow The game is divided into rounds and seasons. The flow follows this structure: Keshi Selection and Assistant Deployment: Players choose their Keshis and use their Assistants according to the rules of each module. Keshi Claiming and Deployment: Players draw Keshis from the Cube Tower and place them on their boards. Season Payout: Occurs after the river assessment and before the Provision Tiles payout. Includes: Camel Dung Tiles: Players who are not leading the race collect Dung Tiles based on their distance from the leader. Award Tiles: Players may discard Keshis from their Spectator Sector to gain immediate benefits. Actions and How to Play Actions depend on the active modules, but the main ones are: Keshi Actions and Movement Claiming Keshis: When drawing Keshis from the tower, you can place them normally or, in the Camels module, place them in your Spectator Sector to advance your Camel on the track. Nomad Keshis: You can choose a Nomad Keshi instead of another Keshi by paying 1 Date and 1 Water. They can be placed in any sector (except the Souk) and guarantee a Deployment Bonus if placed in specific sectors (such as the Date Orchard, Sahara, or Main Square). Moving Nomad Keshis: Once per round, you can pay 1 Dinar to move a Nomad Keshi to any other sector on your board (except the Souk). Assistant Actions The Assistants are used to perform actions in specific sectors of the board. In solo mode, the Pashabot uses its own assistants following a priority order from top to bottom. Camels Module: The Race Camel Advancement: The number of steps depends on the number of different colors in your Spectator Sector. Supply Bridge: To advance, it is necessary to pay the indicated combination of Dates and Water. Intermediate Goal Lines: Upon crossing a line, you gain 1 Goods Keshi of your choice and discard 1 Dung Tile. If you are the first to cross, you gain 1 Dinar. End of Game and Scoring The game ends when the end-game trigger is activated (consult the manual for the specific trigger for each mode). Final scoring includes: Dung Tiles: Each Dung Tile subtracts points (e.g., 1 tile = -2 points; 7 tiles = -20 points; each additional tile after the 7th subtracts 5 points). Race Position: If your Camel is on the Podium or has crossed the first finish line, score according to your position (1st: 16 pts, 2nd: 8 pts, 3rd: 4 pts, 4th: 2 pts). Camels Module: If your Camel reaches the final space, gain 5 points immediately and move to the Podium. Nomads Module: Each Nomad Keshi counts toward the 10-point bonus for a completely filled sector. New Luxury Goods Module: Scoring based on the number of types of luxury goods and pairs of goods. Tips for Winning Consult the manual for details regarding this section. ## FAQ ### Do I need the base game to play? Yes, absolutely! This is an expansion, so you must own Marrakesh to use it. ### Is the solo mode complex? It follows the game's core logic, turning the experience into a very satisfying individual optimization challenge. ### Can I use only parts of the expansion? Yes! The Camels and Nomads modules are optional, so you decide how much complexity to add to your session. ### Does the expansion make the game much longer? It might increase playtime slightly due to the new options, but since it's modular, you control the pace. ### Who is this expansion recommended for? For those who already love the base game and want more strategic depth or the ability to play solo. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 39.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5650563&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 45.97 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6102092&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 46.56 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6641036&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 49.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6073978&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 54.35 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5658718&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 57.17 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6722067&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 57.27 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5171719&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 60.65 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5281917&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 60.70 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5430206&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 75.88 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5144786&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/51244/marrakesh-camels-nomads?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com