The Castles of Burgundy: A Guide to Strategy and Gameplay, Rules & Tips

Introduction

The Castles of Burgundy is a board game that has been around since 2011. It’s a strategy game where players take on the roles of aristocrats in medieval France, competing to build the most impressive estate in the Burgundy region. The game is known for its tile placement and dice rolling mechanics, and it’s a hit among board game enthusiasts for its depth and replayability. The game was designed by Stefan Feld and is often praised for its balance and the way it makes players think strategically. In this article, I’ll share what I’ve learned about how to play The Castles of Burgundy, including the rules, setup, and some strategies that can help you win.

Rules for playing The Castles of Burgundy

The Castles of Burgundy is played over five phases (A-E), each consisting of five rounds. Players roll two dice at the start of each round, which determine the actions they can take. The actions include taking tiles from the central game board, placing tiles onto their personal estate board, selling goods, or taking worker tiles. Each type of tile has a different function, like adding to your estate’s value, providing goods to sell, or giving you special actions.

Players score points for completing regions on their estate board, selling goods, and for certain buildings. The game ends after the fifth phase, and the player with the most points wins. There are also bonus points for certain achievements, like having the most mines or castles.

Equipment and Setup for The Castles of Burgundy

To play The Castles of Burgundy, you need the game board, player boards, dice, tiles, and player pieces. Each player gets an estate board that’s a personal playing area. You set up the central game board with tiles in each section. There are different types of tiles, like buildings, animals, and knowledge. Each type of tile goes into a specific spot on the game board.

For a DIY version, you could use paper to draw the boards and use small objects for tiles and pieces. But I find that having the real game with its sturdy tiles and boards is a big part of the fun.

How to Play The Castles of Burgundy and Game Mechanics

1. Key Game Mechanics: Dice rolling determines actions, tile placement builds your estate, and strategic planning scores points.
2. Setup: Each player gets an estate board, and the game board is filled with tiles. Players also get starting workers and silverlings (the game’s currency).
3. Gameplay: Roll dice, take actions based on the roll, and use workers to adjust dice results. Place tiles on your estate to build it up and score points.
4. End of the Game: After five phases, the game ends. Count up points from completed regions, goods sold, and bonuses. The highest score wins.

How to Win at The Castles of Burgundy

Winning at The Castles of Burgundy is about planning and flexibility. You need to build up your estate efficiently, sell goods at the right time, and use your knowledge tiles wisely. It’s also important to watch what other players are doing and adapt your strategy accordingly. Sometimes, it’s worth taking a tile just to prevent another player from getting it.

To help you win at The Castles of Burgundy I recommend considering the following strategic tips and ideas:

1. Early Game Focus:
– Tile Acquisition: Prioritize acquiring tiles that fit well with your starting estate. Aim for contiguous regions of the same type for points bonuses.
– Worker Tiles: Collecting worker tiles early on can help modify your dice rolls, giving you more flexibility and control over your actions.

2. Estate Planning:
– Regions Completion: Aim to complete regions of the same type as quickly as possible for scoring bonuses.
– Strategic Expansion: Carefully plan your estate expansion to maximize points from contiguous regions and bonus tiles.

3. Dice Management:
– Flexibility with Workers: Use worker tiles to adjust your dice rolls, ensuring you can always make a beneficial move.
– Dice Trading: Remember that you can trade a die for worker tiles if no other good options are available.

4. Tile Synergy:
– Combination Building: Focus on combinations of buildings that work well together, such as those that give you extra actions or bonuses.
– Building Powers: Utilize the special powers of buildings to gain an advantage (e.g., the ability to take additional actions).

5. Point Maximization:
– End-Game Scoring: Keep an eye on the end-game scoring conditions and start building towards them early in the game.
– Bonus Points: Secure buildings that offer bonus points, especially those that can be triggered multiple times.

6. Adaptability:
– Opponent Watching: Pay attention to your opponents’ strategies and adapt your play to block their moves when necessary.
– Plan B: Always have alternative strategies in case desired tiles are taken by other players.

7. Knowledge of Tiles:
– Tile Familiarity: Understand the abilities of each type of tile and how they can contribute to your strategy.
– Rare Tiles: Be on the lookout for rare tiles that can provide a significant advantage and grab them when you can.

8. Marketplace Tactics:
– Market Control: Keep an eye on the central marketplace and control it to deny opponents crucial tiles.
– Timing: Time your purchases to get the most value out of the market, such as buying when there’s high competition for certain tiles.

9. Shipping Strategy:
– Ship Goods: Remember to ship goods for points and to clear warehouse space.
– Timing of Sales: Time your sales to maximize points from selling goods when the market is in your favor.

10. End Game Acceleration:
– Speeding Up: As the game approaches its end, accelerate your strategy to complete as many high-scoring regions as possible.
– Final Moves: Plan your final moves carefully to ensure they provide the maximum number of points.

Remember, The Castles of Burgundy is a game of efficiency and opportunity. If you can adapt to the roll of the dice while rolling out a flexible but focused strategy, you’ll have the best chance of coming out on top. Keep practicing and refining your approach with each playthrough for the best results!

Best Strategies for playing The Castles of Burgundy game

One of the best strategies is to focus on completing regions on your estate board. Each completed region scores points, and larger regions score more points. It’s also smart to diversify your estate with different types of buildings, as some give you ongoing benefits or end-game bonuses. And don’t forget about the knowledge tiles – they can give you powerful advantages if used correctly.

Overall, to excel in this game, it’s essential to balance short-term opportunities with long-term planning. Here are some of the best strategies: Focus on building a diverse set of regions early on, as this will provide flexibility in later turns. Prioritize acquiring knowledge tiles that complement your strategy, as they offer powerful and often game-changing benefits. Efficiently managing your workers is also crucial; use them to adjust die rolls to your advantage, ensuring you can always make the most of your actions.

Keep an eye on your opponents’ boards and the central game board to anticipate and potentially block their strategies. Lastly, timing is key in The Castles of Burgundy; strategically choosing when to take certain actions can significantly impact your success. By optimizing your tile placement, exploiting synergies between tiles, and adapting to the evolving game state, you can maximize your points and secure victory.

Scenarios

Good scenarios in The Castles of Burgundy often involve getting the tiles you need to complete regions or gaining a tile that gives you a strong advantage. Bad scenarios might be when you can’t get the tiles you need or when another player blocks your plans. In these cases, it’s important to have a backup plan and to use your workers to adjust your dice rolls.

Frequently Asked Questions about playing The Castles of Burgundy game

Q: Can I move tiles once they’re placed on my estate board?
A: No, once a tile is placed, it cannot be moved.

Q: What happens if I can’t use my dice rolls?
A: You can use workers to adjust your dice rolls or take silverlings instead.

Q: Can I save tiles for later rounds?
A: Yes, you can store tiles on your estate board to place later.

Additional Tips and Tricks

Here are a few more tips to help you get better at The Castles of Burgundy:

• Plan your estate with future tile placements in mind.
• Keep an eye on the turn order, as it can affect your strategy.
• Use silverlings to buy tiles from the central depot when needed.

External Links

For more information on The Castles of Burgundy, check out these links:
Ravensburger – Official The Castles of Burgundy Page