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Riga: The Grand Masters

Frosted Games, OSTIA Spiele · Board game · 2017
2–4 · best 3, 4 30–50 min Weight 2.0/5
— rating Ludopedia
7.3 rating BGG
Buy
— rating Ludopedia
7.3 rating BGG
Buy Ask about Rules
Our Verdict
FOR GENRE FANS

Enjoyed Riga and want more excitement? This advent calendar expansion adds master tiles that boost strategy and interaction!

Highlights
  • More variety each game
  • Sharp "Take That" interaction
  • Increases Riga's replayability
  • Double-sided tiles
Keep in mind
  • Requires the base Riga game
  • Advent calendar content
  • Can be hard to find
Rules manual not indexed yet Upload the PDF rulebook to ask questions about this game with AI.

About the game

What you do in a play session

If you enjoy the game Riga and want to spice things up, this mini-expansion is for you! Straight from the 2017 Brettspiel Adventskalender, it adds 8 new "Grand Master" tiles that bring more variety and challenges. Think Riga, Visby, Stockholm, Tallinn, Danzig, plus Money, Knight, and Merchant tiles, each with "MAX" and "1" sides that change the game each time. You only use 4 of these tiles per game, ensuring each playthrough is unique. The idea is that when you build buildings, you keep an eye on these master tiles. Depending on the tile's side, the requirements to claim it change. And watch out: you can steal "MAX" tiles from other players if you have more of the required items than the current owner! At the end of the game, these tiles are worth precious points: usually 4 for the owner and 2 for the second-highest player, but details vary depending on whether the tile is in "MAX" or "1" mode. The Money tile has a special scoring based on player count. It's a small expansion, but it significantly impacts strategy and interaction, especially with the "Take That" mechanic allowing for friendly (or not-so-friendly) nudges at opponents. Perfect for those who want more replayability and a touch of economic speculation in their Riga game.

Best player count

BGG community vote

2–4 players
2 REC
3 BEST
4 BEST

Where to Buy

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Mechanics

Commodity Speculation Hand Management Take That

Categories

Card Game Economic Expansion for Base-game Medieval

Families

Cities: Riga (Latvia) Promotional: Brettspiel Adventskalender Series: Baltic (OSTIA Spiele)
Publisher Frosted Games, OSTIA Spiele
Designer Stefan Risthaus
Artist Christian Fiore, Stefan Malz

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

6 questions
Do I need the base Riga game to play with this expansion?
Yes, absolutely! This is an expansion, so you need to own the original Riga game to use the new tiles and rules.
How many players can participate with this expansion?
The expansion maintains the player count of the base Riga game, which is for 2 to 4 players. The scoring for the Money tile, in particular, changes depending on the number of players.
Does the expansion significantly change the game's complexity?
It adds a bit more complexity due to the new tiles and their specific scoring and acquisition rules. It's nothing too daunting for those familiar with the base game, but it does require a little more attention.
What are the "Grand Master" tiles?
These are special tiles that you can try to acquire when building structures. They offer extra points at the end of the game and have specific requirements to obtain, which change depending on which side of the tile is used.
Is this expansion easy to get?
As it was released as part of an advent calendar (Brettspiel Adventskalender 2017), it might be a bit harder to find nowadays, being more common in secondary markets or specific promotions.
Does the expansion add a lot of cards or components?
No, it's a very small expansion. It primarily adds 8 new "Grand Master" tiles and their specific rules. The focus is on adding more variety and interaction, not bulk components.
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