Vela

In Vela, you take control of a group of fearless miners in 18th-century Minas Gerais, Brazil, with the mission of extracting the maximum amount of precious metals and rare stones from a newly discovered mine. The grand prize? The legendary diamond! The board is a modular and three-dimensional marvel, with a 5x5 base that accommodates 150 stacked tiles, creating a dynamic and surprising landscape. Each player starts with three meeples and, on their turn, can perform three crucial actions: move up to two spaces, respecting a height limit of two tiles to ascend or descend; use or draw up to two equipment cards; and the main action, which is to mine the tile directly below one of your miners. When mining, you reveal a tile that can be a valuable gem, an unexpected natural disaster, or even a dangerous monster, such as the Caboclo d'Água or the Invisible Hand. All effects are resolved immediately, adding a layer of unpredictability to your exploration. There are three types of tiles, ranging from lighter, superficial colors with fewer dangers and riches, to darker, deeper ones where the risks are greater but so are the rewards, including the coveted diamond. The game ends as soon as any player finds the diamond, and then points are counted. Although the diamond is worth many points, it does not guarantee victory, so the strategy of collecting other precious items is fundamental. To aid your journey, an equipment deck offers tools like bridges and ladders to expand your movement options, and dynamites to speed up mining, but with an added touch of danger. Get ready for a chaotic and fun adventure in the depths of the mine!