# Pax Porfiriana

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2012
- **BGG Rating**: 7.6
- **BGG Rank**: #736
- **Players**: 1-6 (Best with: 4)
- **Duration**: 120 min
- **Weight**: 3.64 / 5
- **Designers**: Jim Gutt, Matt Eklund, Phil Eklund
- **Artists**: Phil Eklund
- **Publishers**: Sierra Madre Games, Ediciones MasQueOca, Ion Game Design
- **Categories**: Card Game, Civil War, Economic, Political, Post-Napoleonic
- **Mechanics**: Action Points, Finale Ending, Hand Management, Income, Market, Open Drafting, Simulation, Take That, Variable Player Powers

## Verdict
Perfect for those who love dense political simulators and aren't afraid to betray their friends for a handful of gold.Visceral and immersive historical simulationHigh variability between game sessionsVery clever market mechanicsAggressive and direct player interactionQuite a steep learning curveHeavy reliance on text translationFOR GENRE FANS

## Description
Get ready to dive into early 20th-century Mexico, an era of dictatorship, corruption, and unrest. In Pax Porfiriana, you step into the shoes of a Hacendado—a powerful and ambitious businessman—trying to build a financial empire while the country spirals toward chaos. Your goal is to profit as much as possible from mines, railways, and banks, but there's a catch: you'll need plenty of cunning to deal with your rivals, using everything from lawsuits to bandits and Native Americans to undermine them.

The game revolves around a highly dynamic card management system. Each turn, you have three action points to spend: you can buy land, speculate in the market, redeploy troops, or play strategic cards. The market is fluid, featuring headlines that shift the country's political and economic landscape. Tension rises as the form of government fluctuates, directly impacting your mine production and the effectiveness of your actions.

Victory can be achieved in several ways. You might be the one to topple dictator Porfirio Díaz through a coup, a bloody revolution, or even by facilitating the annexation of Mexico by the United States. If the dictator remains firmly in power until the end, the victory goes to the player with the most gold. With a massive deck of 220 cards, but only a fraction used in each session, the variability is immense. Every game is a different story of betrayal and economic ascent. It's a dense political simulator where diplomacy is fragile and betrayal is the most efficient tool of the trade. If you enjoy games where politics and economics blend with armed conflict, this is the game for you.

## FAQ
### Is the game hard to learn?
Yes, with a weight of 3.64, the learning curve is steep. It's highly recommended to study the manual or watch tutorials before your first game.

### How long does a game take?
It's estimated at around 120 minutes, though this can vary based on the group and player count.

### Is it language dependent?
Yes, there is a high language dependency as the cards contain essential text and instructions for the gameplay.

### Does it work well with few players?
Yes, it supports 1 to 6 players, including a solitaire mode for those who want to test their strategies.

### Is it competitive or cooperative?
Entirely competitive. Be prepared for 'Take That' mechanics and undermining your opponents to win.

### What is the main goal of the game?
Topple dictator Porfirio Díaz or, if he stays in power, finish the game with the most gold.

## Price Comparison
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