Altiplano: Rules, Instructions & Winning Strategies

Introduction

Altiplano is a game that takes you to the South American highlands, where you’ll be managing resources, building up a stockpile, and planning your moves to outsmart your opponents. It’s a bag-building game, which means you’ll be drawing resources from a bag and using them to get more stuff and score points.

The game was designed by Reiner Stockhausen and first hit the shelves in 2017. It’s known for its depth and I personally enjoy the way it makes you think ahead like a good game of Chess. The game’s setting is inspired by the Altiplano region in the Andes, and the artwork really brings that to life. It’s a game for 2 to 5 players and can take a couple of hours to play.

Rules for playing Altiplano

Altiplano has a bunch of rules, but once you get the hang of it, it’s not too hard. Each player starts with a player board, a bag with some resources, and a role tile that gives them a special ability. The game board has different locations like the market, the mine, and the farm, and you’ll be moving a traveler to these spots to do actions like getting new resources or turning them into points.

The game goes like this: you draw resources from your bag, plan where you want to go, and then do your actions. You can get new resources, sell stuff for points, or buy extensions that give you more options. The game ends when a few piles of resources run out, and then you add up points from your resources, extensions, and leftover stuff. The player with the most points wins.

Equipment and Setup for Altiplano

To play Altiplano, you need the game box which comes with a bunch of stuff: a main board, player boards, resource tokens, a traveler token for each player, extension tiles, role tiles, and a cloth bag for each player. You can make your own bags if you want, but the ones in the box work fine.

Setting up the game involves laying out the main board and placing piles of resources in their spots. Each player gets a player board, a bag, a traveler token, and some starting resources. You also shuffle the extension tiles and put them out, and each player picks a role tile that gives them a special thing they can do.

How to Play Altiplano and Game Mechanics

Here’s how the game works:

1. Planning Phase: You draw resources from your bag and put them on your player board. You decide what you want to do with them and where you want to move your traveler.
2. Action Phase: You move your traveler to different locations on the main board and do actions like collecting resources, buying or selling goods, or getting extensions.
3. Cleanup Phase: You put used resources in a discard pile and get ready for the next round.

The game keeps going like this until certain conditions are met, like running out of resources in a couple of piles. Then you finish the round, and everyone adds up their points from their resources, extensions, and bonuses. The player with the most points wins.

How to Win at Altiplano

Winning at Altiplano is about planning and flexibility. You want to build a bag that lets you do a lot of different things. Pay attention to what other players are doing and try to get resources that are in high demand. Also, keep an eye on the extensions that are available and grab the ones that fit your strategy.

It’s also important to manage your bag well. You don’t want too many useless resources clogging it up. Sometimes it’s worth it to spend a turn just to get rid of stuff you don’t need. And remember, points are what win the game, so always be thinking about how to turn your resources into points.

Best Strategies for playing Altiplano game

Here are some top strategies:

First, focus on getting a good mix of resources. Don’t just hoard one type; you’ll need different kinds to buy extensions and score points. Second, keep an eye on the extensions that come up and grab the ones that help you the most. Some extensions let you do extra actions or give you points at the end of the game.

Another strategy is to watch what other players are doing. If someone is collecting a lot of one resource, maybe you can sell that resource for a good price. Or if you see someone going for a certain extension, you might want to grab it first.

Finally, don’t forget about your role tile. Each role has a special ability that can really help you out if you use it right. Make sure you’re taking advantage of it.

Scenarios

Sometimes you’ll find yourself with a bag full of stuff you don’t need. When that happens, try to use the market to trade for something better. Or maybe you can use those resources to buy an extension that will help you later on.

If you’re falling behind, look for ways to score big points. Maybe there’s an extension that gives a lot of points, or you can focus on collecting valuable resources that are worth points at the end of the game.

Frequently Asked Questions about playing Altiplano game

Here are some common questions:

Q: What happens if I run out of resources in my bag?
A: You just draw as many as you can and then plan your turn with those.

Q: Can I move my traveler more than once per turn?
A: No, you can only move once during the action phase.

Q: What if two players want the same extension?
A: Whoever gets to the location first on their turn gets to buy it.

Q: How do I get more resources in my bag?
A: You can get them by doing actions at different locations, like the farm or the mine.

Q: Can I trade with other players?
A: No, there’s no trading with other players in Altiplano.

External Links

For more information on Altiplano, check out these links:
Official Altiplano Page (DLP Games)
Official Altiplano Rulebook [PDF, English]