The Russian city of Samara sits at the junction of the Volga and Samara Rivers. This picturesque, almost idyllic setting near the base of the Zhiguli Mountains, is a booming metropolis, home to over 1.16 million people. In fact, the city, after being closed off from the rest of the world for decades, recently hosted the European Union and has become a center for culture, politics, and industry within what is considered European Russia. But, how did this beautiful city nestled in the south-eastern section of Russia come into being? That’s what you have to determine in Samara, the latest board game from Cwali Games and Tasty Minstrel Games. Samara tasks you with building the fledgling community of Samara. Compete for tools which give you the ability to work with the materials you need – wood, stone, and glass – in order to eventually build the most prestigious buildings. You stand on the hill overlooking a peaceful valley. Cutting through and converging to it are two rivers; rivers large enough to carry much-needed materials. Because, as you look over this tranquil vista, you imagine a bustling city, a gathering place for business and artists alike. You imagine structures reaching into the skies, touching the clouds. You envision the future of the city you want to create – Samara. Month after month you toil, hiring workers, gathering tools so you can work with the almost unending flow of materials being delivered. But, you’re not the only one who sees the possibilities for this untouched land. There are others who want to create as magnificent a city as you envisioned. However, they compete for the same resources, and hinder you by obtaining the tools necessary to complete the tasks, beating you to the opportunity to build ever-larger structures. But, you’ve learned to take advantage of those times when the competition isn’t productive, when they take a break from building their businesses in order to accomplish even more in the coming months. Time passes as you move your workers – singularly or, to give yourself more options, in groups. Move too far ahead to get that specific resource you know you must have, and you may have to wait while others gather even more resources which could help them as the months march on. You’ll be forced to watch the limited resources dwindle. But, you’re a savvy builder. You knew exactly what you were doing as your rivals methodically move forward. You built your strength, increased your workforce, and now, you make your move and start the process to construct the most impressive buildings and turn your vision of what Samara should be into reality. What You Can Do on a Turn: Buildings and tools are randomly placed on the board. On your turn, you can do one of four things.
Tasty Minstrel Games continues to find and bring unique and absorbing Euro games to the gaming public. Samara continues that tradition. It’s a surprisingly strategic worker-placement game housed within a fairly small package that’s easy to learn, but full of great re-playability.
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