Madeira

2013

Embark on a strategic journey through Madeira's rich past. Adapt to changing economies, master farming, and fulfill the Crown's requests to gain prestige.

150
minutes

2 - 4
player(s)

12+

Heavy

About the game

Madeira is a vibrant and strategic board game that takes players on a journey to the beautiful archipelago of Madeira, located in the vast Atlantic Ocean. The game is set during the Age of Discovery, where players are tasked with colonizing the islands, managing resources, and earning the favor of the Crown.

In this game, you step into the shoes of a noble in service of the Portuguese King, aiming to make Madeira the center of wealth and prosperity. The game is unique in its blend of rich historical context and strategic gameplay, making it an engaging experience for all who play.

The core mechanics of Madeira are resource management and dice rolling. However, these are intertwined with other elements such as colonization, shipping, and city development, which add layers of complexity and strategic depth to the game.

Resource Management: The islands of Madeira are rich in wheat, sugar, and wood, which are vital resources that players must manage efficiently. Players need to use these resources to build ships, construct buildings, and feed their workers.

Dice Rolling: The dice in Madeira are not used for determining movement or luck, but instead, they are used to select various actions each round. These actions include harvesting resources, constructing buildings, or sending workers to the city or colonies. The dice mechanics are unique because the number on the dice influences the cost and effectiveness of the chosen action.

Colonization: Colonizing the islands is another significant aspect of the game. Players need to send their workers to the colonies to gain additional resources and benefits. However, it’s a delicate balance because workers sent to the colonies can’t be used in the city.

Shipping: Madeira is all about trade and prosperity. Players need to ship their resources to the mainland to earn money and points. But, they must also ensure they keep enough resources to sustain their own development.

City Development: Developing the city is crucial for gaining points. Players can construct buildings that provide them with various benefits and abilities. However, city development requires careful planning and resource management.

What makes Madeira truly unique is its intricate balance of strategy and resource management. Every decision you make impacts your progress, whether it’s choosing which resources to collect, which actions to take, or how to develop your city. The rich historical theme, combined with its complex mechanics, makes Madeira a captivating board game that invites players to think strategically and immerse themselves in the Age of Discovery.

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Setup and rules summary

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Madeira is an intricate board game that combines elements of strategy, resource management, and economic development. The game includes a variety of components, each with its specific use and interaction with the game. Below is a detailed list and description of each component:

1. Game Board: This is the central piece of the game where all actions take place. It features various sections such as the city, the fields, the market, and the harbor. Players move their pieces around the board, taking actions depending on their position.

2. 4 Player Boards: Each player receives a board to manage their personal resources, workers, and ships. The board also tracks the player’s income, wealth, and produced goods.

3. Wooden Pieces: These represent the players’ workers, ships, and windmills. Workers are placed on the game board to perform actions, ships are used to navigate and trade, and windmills are used to produce resources.

4. Resource Tokens: These include bread, sugar, and wine tokens. Players collect these resources to use for various actions, such as feeding workers, building structures, or trading.

5. Dice: The game includes 15 dice, 3 in each of the 5 player colors. These dice are rolled at the start of each action phase and determine what actions players can take on their turn.

6. Character Cards: These cards represent different characters that players can hire for their unique abilities. Players can use these abilities to gain advantages in the game.

7. Guild Favor Tiles: These tiles are rewards for gaining the favor of different guilds. They offer various benefits such as extra resources, additional actions, or victory points.

8. Crown’s Request Tiles: These tiles represent the Crown’s demands. Players must fulfill these demands to avoid penalties and potentially gain rewards.

9. Scoring Tiles: These tiles are used to calculate the final score at the end of the game. They take into account the players’ wealth, completed objectives, and remaining resources.

10. Money: This is used to purchase resources, hire characters, and pay for other expenses. Players must manage their money wisely to succeed in the game.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

‘Madeira’ is a strategic board game set in the Portuguese archipelago of Madeira. Players take on the roles of governors charged with improving the islands’ infrastructure and economy. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up ‘Madeira’:

1. Board Placement: Place the main game board in the center of the play area. The main board features various areas including the City, the Fields, the Markets, the City Watch, and the Guild Hall.

2. Player Boards: Each player takes a player board and places it in front of them. Each player’s board contains spaces for their Workers, Bread, Wood, Sugar, Wine, and Money.

3. Initial Resources: Each player receives initial resources according to the game rules:

Five Workers which are placed on the designated spaces on their player board.
Three Bread tokens which are placed in the Bread Storage space.
One Wood token which is placed in the Wood Storage space.
Five Money tokens which are placed in the Money Storage space.

4. City Tiles: Shuffle the City Tiles and place them face down in a pile. Draw four tiles and place them face up in the four City Spaces on the main game board. The remaining tiles form a draw pile.

5. Island Tiles: Shuffle the Island Tiles and place them face down in a pile. Draw two tiles and place them face up in the two Island Spaces on the main game board. The remaining tiles form a draw pile.

6. Character Tiles: Randomly distribute one Character Tile to each player. The Character Tile provides each player with a unique ability that can be used during the game.

7. Starting Player: Randomly choose a starting player. Give this player the Starting Player Token.

8. Random Elements: The random elements in the setup of ‘Madeira’ include the distribution of the City Tiles, Island Tiles, and Character Tiles. These are shuffled and drawn randomly at the start of each game, ensuring a unique game experience every time.

Once the setup is complete, players can begin the game, taking turns in clockwise order beginning with the starting player.

Game flow Round and round we go

Madeira is a strategic board game that requires players to manage resources, deploy workers, and fulfill requests from the Crown. The game is divided into five phases: Setup, Character Selection, Worker Placement, Resolution, and Scoring. Each turn, players perform actions within these phases to earn points and progress.

Setup Phase: During the setup phase, the game board is laid out, resources are placed in their respective spots, and each player receives starting resources. Characters are randomly laid out on the character board.

Players set up the game board in the center of the table.
Resource markers are placed in their respective spots on the game board.
Each player chooses a color and takes the matching player pieces.
Character tiles are shuffled and placed face-up on the character board.

Character Selection Phase: Players draft a character card from the pool. Each character provides a unique ability or bonus to the player for that round. The characters are laid out in a specific order, and players must consider this when choosing their characters.

Players take turns choosing a character card from the character board.
Once a player has chosen a character, they cannot change their choice.

Worker Placement Phase: Players take turns placing their workers on the game board’s different regions. Each region provides a specific action or resource when activated. Players must strategize where to place their workers based on their desired actions and resources.

Players take turns placing a worker on a region of the game board.
The player may activate the region’s action or resource collection as soon as they place their worker.
Players continue placing workers until all workers have been placed.

Resolution Phase: Players resolve their actions in the order of the regions. If a player cannot complete an action, they must take a penalty. The resolution phase allows players to gain resources, construct buildings, and fulfill requests from the Crown.

Players resolve their actions in the order of the regions.
If a player cannot complete an action, they take a penalty.
Players gain resources, construct buildings, and fulfill requests from the Crown.

Scoring Phase: Players earn points based on the requests they have fulfilled for the Crown, the buildings they have constructed, and their remaining resources. The player with the most points at the end of the game is the winner.

Players earn points for each request they have fulfilled for the Crown.
Players earn points for each building they have constructed.
Players earn points for their remaining resources.
The player with the most points is declared the winner.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

Madeira is a strategic board game that involves managing resources, appeasing crown demands, and maneuvering your pieces strategically. Each player’s turn in Madeira is crucial to the overall game progression. Here’s a breakdown of each player’s turn:

In a turn, a player can choose to perform one of the following actions:

Place a worker: A player can place one of their workers on the three main spots on the board. These are:
- City spots: These spots provide you with resources such as wood, bread, and sugar. The number of resources you receive depends on the number of workers you place in the city.
- Harbor spots: These spots allow you to ship goods, gain pirates, or perform any other harbor-related action. Again, the number of actions you can perform depends on the number of workers you place in the harbor.
- Field spots: Placing workers here will allow you to grow wheat, which you can then use to feed your workers or sell for profit.
Use a character: Each player has five characters that they can use during their turn. Using a character allows you to perform a specific action related to that character. For example, the Farmer allows you to grow more wheat, while the Steward allows you to collect more resources.
Complete a crown request: The crown request is a set of objectives that the crown (i.e., the game) sets for you. Completing these objectives provides you with victory points, which are essential for winning the game. However, each crown request also comes with a challenge, and failing to meet this challenge can result in penalties.
Pass: If a player cannot or does not want to perform any other action, they can choose to pass. Passing can be a strategic choice, as it allows the player to save resources for future turns.

Each action a player takes during their turn can have significant effects on the gameplay. For instance, choosing to place a worker in the city may provide you with resources but leaves you vulnerable to attacks from other players. Completing a crown request may give you victory points but also places a target on your back. As such, players must carefully consider the potential consequences of their actions before making their move.

As the game progresses, players will need to adapt their strategies based on the actions of their opponents. This dynamic gameplay makes Madeira a challenging yet rewarding board game for strategy enthusiasts.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

The game of ‘Madeira’ ends when the final round of the third year is completed. This is marked by the depletion of certain game tokens or pieces, specifically when all Worker dice have been placed, all ships have been deployed, and no more actions can be taken by any player. The game comprises of 5 rounds per year for a total of 3 years, thus a full game consists of 15 rounds.

Once the game is over, the victory conditions come into play. The main aim of ‘Madeira’ is to earn as many victory points as possible. The player with the highest total of victory points at the end of the game is declared the winner.

The victory points can be earned in the following ways:

City Influence: Players earn points based on the level of their influence in the cities. Each city has a certain point value associated with it.
Completed Missions: Throughout the game, players receive missions from the Crown. Each completed mission earns players a set number of victory points.
Controlled Colonies: Players can earn points by controlling colonies. The more colonies a player controls, the higher their score.
Remaining Resources: Players are awarded victory points for any remaining resources (bread, wood, sugar, wine etc.) they have at the end of the game.

Before final scoring, players must undertake some end-of-game actions:

Paying Workers: All players must pay bread for their workers. If they cannot pay, they lose victory points.
Scoring Guild Favor Tiles: Players score points for their Guild favor tiles, if they have any.
Discarding Excess Cards: Players discard any cards exceeding their hand limit.
Final Scoring: After these actions, final scoring takes place, and the player with the most victory points is declared the winner.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In the board game ‘Madeira’, players accumulate points through a variety of game actions. Here’s a breakdown of how the scoring system works:

Harvesting: Players can score points by harvesting. This is done by using workers to harvest crops from fields. The total value of the harvested crops is then added to the player’s score.

Each wheat is worth 1 point.
Each sugar is worth 2 points.
Each wine is worth 3 points.

Ships: Players can also score points by sending ships to colonies. The value of the colony (indicated by the number on the space where the ship is placed) is added to the player’s score.

Buildings: Each building a player builds during the game is worth a certain number of points, as indicated on the building tile.

City Guards: If a player has the most city guards in a city, they score the value of the city (as indicated on the board) at the end of the game.

Guild Favors: Players can earn points by gaining the favor of the guilds. The number of points is determined by the guild favor tiles the player has collected during the game.

At the end of the game, the player with the most points wins. In the case of a tie, the following tie-breaker rules are applied:

The player with the most leftover resources wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most buildings wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most ships wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who is first in player order wins.

Players are encouraged to strategize and plan their moves carefully to maximize their point gain throughout the game.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Madeira is a complex and strategy-oriented board game with various special rules and exceptions. Understanding these can significantly improve your gameplay experience. Below are some key points to remember:

1. Character Tiles:

Character tiles are one-time use only. Once a player uses a character tile, it cannot be used again in the same round.

If a player doesn’t use a character tile in a round, they will receive bread equal to the bread value on the character tile at the end of the round.

2. Guild Favours:

Players can only earn guild favours if they have a worker on a city space connected to the guild.

Players can only use the guild favour of a guild where they have the majority of workers.

3. City Actions:

Players cannot perform an action in a city if all the city spaces of that city are occupied.

When performing a city action, the player must place a die on the city space. The value of the die must be equal to or higher than the lowest unoccupied city space number.

4. Pirate Dice:

Pirate dice are not counted when determining the player order for the next round.

When a player uses a pirate die, they receive one pirate at the end of the round. If a player cannot feed their workers or pay for their colony, they receive additional pirates.

5. Scoring:

Players score points for the number of colonies they have, the buildings they’ve constructed, and the number of regions they control.

At the end of the game, players lose points for each pirate they have.

These are some of the unique rules and exceptions in Madeira. Remember, a deep understanding of these rules can make a big difference in your strategy and overall gameplay experience.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Madeira is a complex and strategic board game that requires careful planning and tactical decision-making. Here are some advanced strategies, beginner tips, common mistakes to avoid, and ways to optimize gameplay:

Advanced Strategies:

Utilize the Guild Hall: The Guild Hall can be a powerful tool in scoring points. Plan your strategy around the Guild Hall bonuses and try to utilize them as much as possible.
Control the Sea Regions: Controlling the Sea Regions is key as it provides a steady income of resources and points.
Optimize Worker Placement: Use your workers wisely. Ensure you’re placing them in the most beneficial city spots for your current strategy.

Beginner Tips:

Focus on Bread Production: Bread is essential in Madeira. It can be used for various things such as feeding your workers or paying for certain actions.
Learn the Scoring System: Understanding the scoring system is crucial to winning. Take time to understand how each action affects your points.
Adapt to the Dice: The dice in Madeira dictate what actions are available each round. Be flexible and adapt your strategy based on the dice rolls.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Ignoring the Colonies: The colonies can provide a lot of points and resources. Ignoring them can be a big mistake.
Not Planning Ahead: Madeira requires careful planning and strategy. Failing to plan your moves in advance can result in a loss of points or resources.
Mismanaging Resources: Managing your resources effectively is key. Avoid spending them recklessly or hoarding them without purpose.

Optimizing Gameplay:

Use Your Pirates Wisely: Pirates are a double-edged sword. They can provide a lot of points but also cost a lot. Use them wisely and only when it benefits your strategy.
Balance Your Strategy: Do not focus too much on one aspect of the game. A balanced strategy that includes points from various sources usually leads to victory.
Think Long Term: Madeira is a long game. Make sure your strategy takes into account the long-term effects of your decisions.