# Sardegna

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2005
- **BGG Rating**: 7.0
- **BGG Rank**: #2270
- **Players**: 2-4 (Best with: 4)
- **Duration**: 60 min
- **Weight**: 2.60 / 5
- **Designers**: Stefan Dorra
- **Artists**: Jiyeon Lee, Rotraud Meiler, Wanjin Gill
- **Publishers**: Goldsieber Spiele, Playte, Crafty Games, Delirium Games, Dice&Bones
- **Categories**: Medieval
- **Mechanics**: Action Retrieval, Area Majority / Influence, Area Movement, Hand Management

## Verdict
A duel of influence and perfect timing for area control lovers.Smart hand managementUnpredictable scoring dynamicsConstant territorial conflictHigh strategic replayabilityRequires constant board readingCan be punishing for beginnersRECOMMENDED

## Description
Get ready to travel back to the 14th century, where the Kingdom of Sardegna is on the verge of greatness, and you are the one to decide its fate! In Sardegna, the struggle for power is real and intense. You will step into the role of an ambitious noble, striving to leave your mark on history through influence and territorial control. You'll command ships, build towns, and erect grand towers, settling villagers and priests across the rugged landscape of the island.

The core mechanic revolves around a set of character cards that every player possesses. Each card features unique abilities and limitations that you must master to move your pieces precisely across the island's 16 provinces. The real challenge, however, lies in the timing. The scoring system is dynamic: victory points are contested in the regions where you hold the most influence, but there's a crucial strategic twist: you can only foresee the next two scoring locations. This requires you to not only plan for the future but also react swiftly when local politics shift unexpectedly.

Don't expect a relaxing session. Your opponents will be just as hungry for power, constantly trying to block your routes or undermine your influence in vital provinces. A region that is your source of wealth today could become useless in the next round if you fail to act cunningly. It is a game of pure strategy, where hand management and area control merge to create a constant state of tension. If you enjoy games where board reading and anticipation are just as vital as execution, Sardegna is for you.

## How to Play
Game Objective
The game takes place on the island of Sardinia during the 14th century. Players must establish their influence in the island's provinces by building villages, bringing their ships to ports, and increasing their power with forts. The goal is to accumulate influence points throughout the game, and the winner will be the one with the most points after the scoring of the 11th fort card.

Setup
Follow the steps below to set up the game:

  Unfold the box to assemble the board.
  Place the 16 agriculture tokens on the 16 provinces of the island: 2 wheat tokens on the yellow provinces, 8 olive oil and wine tokens randomly on the 8 green provinces, and 6 thyme and cheese tokens randomly on the 6 brown provinces.
  Each player chooses a color and receives a summary card, 7 character cards, 1 scoring marker, and 15 pieces in the chosen color (1 priest, 2 ships, 3 forts, 4 villages, and 5 villagers).
  Each player places their scoring marker next to the scoring track and keeps their 7 character cards in hand.
  Shuffle the 26 fort cards and form a deck next to the board. Deal 11 cards face down in a row and flip the first 2 cards from the left face up.

The game is ready to begin!

Gameplay Flow
The game is played in turns clockwise, starting with the youngest player. On their turn, the player chooses a character card from their hand, plays it face up in front of them, and performs the action indicated on the card. The game continues until the 11th fort card is scored.

Actions and How to Play
Each character card offers a specific action:

  Admiral: Add 1 ship from your supply to a port or move your ships to ports of your choice.
  Commander: Add 1 villager from your supply to any province or move your villagers up to 4 times.
  Priest: Add your priest from your supply to any province or move them up to 3 times. The priest prevents opponents from moving or adding villages or villagers in the province where they are located.
  Farmer: Harvest 1 agriculture token from a province adjacent to a port where you have a ship or connected by a chain of provinces with your villagers. Score according to the type of token collected.
  Architect: Add 1 fort to an empty space on the board or add 1 village to any province. The maximum number of villages is equal to the number of agriculture tokens collected.
  Queen: Copy the action of any character card you have already played since the last use of the Sentinel.
  Sentinel: Initiate the scoring of provinces adjacent to the fort space indicated by the leftmost card. After scoring, discard the card and reveal the next one.


End of Game and Scoring
The game ends after the scoring of the 11th fort card. Points are accumulated throughout the game, mainly during province scoring. The player with the most points at the end wins.

Tips for Winning

  Use the Priest to block strategic provinces and prevent your opponents from increasing their influence.
  Plan your harvests with the Farmer to maximize your points, especially by collecting different types of agriculture tokens.
  Control the timing of using the Sentinel to score provinces where you have the most influence.

## FAQ
### How complex is the game?
It has medium weight. It's not overly complex in rules, but it demands high strategic focus and anticipation.

### How many players can play?
It is ideal for 2 to 4 players, being highly competitive in duels.

### How long does a game last?
Usually around 60 minutes, depending on player aggressiveness.

### Is the game very punishing?
It can be! Since scoring locations shift, your plans can be disrupted very quickly.

### Do I need expansions to understand it?
No, the base game offers a complete and solid experience.

## Price Comparison
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