Pax Porfiriana

2012

In Pax Porfiriana, strategize as a rich Hacendado to build an empire and topple dictator Diaz. Employ ranches, mines, rails, and even lawsuits to outsmart opponents in this dynamic, historical board game.

120
minutes

1 - 6
player(s)

12+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Pax Porfiriana is an engaging and immersive board game that transports players back to the tumultuous times of the Mexican Revolution. Named after the lengthy period of peace established by Mexican dictator Porfirio Díaz, the game invites players to step into the shoes of a Hacendado, a wealthy landowner in Porfirian Mexico.

The game’s rich historical theme is beautifully interwoven throughout its mechanics, creating a unique and detailed backdrop against which players can strategize and compete. The setting is vividly depicted through the game’s artwork and card descriptions, which incorporate real historical events and figures.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

The board game ‘Pax Porfiriana’ contains several components, each with its own specific function and interaction with the game. Here, we will list each component and describe its purpose and the role it plays in the game.

1. Game Board

The game board is a map of Mexico, divided into six regions. It is used to keep track of the players’ enterprises and troops. The board also features a market where cards are purchased.

2. 220 Cards

The cards are the heart of Pax Porfiriana. These cards represent various assets, events, and personalities during the Mexican Revolution. They are divided into four categories:

Troop Cards: These cards are used to protect your enterprises and to attack other players. Troops can be placed in any region on the board.
Enterprise Cards: These cards generate income for players. Enterprises can only be placed in the region specified on the card.
Personality Cards: These cards provide special abilities or benefits to the player.
Revolution Cards: These cards can trigger a revolution, potentially ending the game.

3. 180 Cardboard Chits

The cardboard chits represent different resources and effects in the game. They include gold (which is used to buy cards), prestige (which can influence the outcome of a revolution), and various markers (to track game status and player actions).

4. Six Player Mats

Each player receives a player mat at the beginning of the game. The mat helps players organize their cards and resources, and also provides a quick reference for the game rules.

5. Rule Book

The rule book provides detailed instructions on how to play the game, including the setup, gameplay, and endgame conditions. It also includes a glossary of game terms and a guide to the historical context of the game.

In ‘Pax Porfiriana’, all of these components interact to create a dynamic and strategic gameplay experience. The card-based gameplay allows for a high level of variability and replayability, as the available cards and the state of the board can change drastically from game to game.

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

Pax Porfiriana is a complex and strategic historical board game that requires careful setup. Follow the steps below to correctly set up the game.

Step 1: Game Components

Before starting, make sure you have all the necessary game components which include 220 cards, play mats, and cubes of different colors. Each player will need a play mat and cubes of a single color to represent their enterprise.

Step 2: Shuffle the Cards

Shuffle the 220 cards and divide them into four equally sized decks. Place these decks face down in the center of the playing area. This is the draw pile.

Step 3: Player Roles

Each player chooses one of the historical Hacendado characters. These characters do not have special abilities but do add flavor to the game. The chosen character card is placed on the player’s mat.

Step 4: Initial Resources

Each player starts with 10 gold and a number of cubes in their color equal to the number of players. The gold and cubes are placed on the player’s mat in the appropriate spaces.

Step 5: Board Placement

There is no traditional board in Pax Porfiriana. Instead, each player has a play mat where they will place their cards. The play mats should be arranged around the draw pile for ease of access.

Step 6: Market Setup

Draw six cards from the draw pile and place them face up in a row next to the deck. This row of cards represents the market where players will purchase cards during the game.

Step 7: Random Elements

The main random element in Pax Porfiriana is the draw pile and the market. The cards drawn will vary each game, introducing new opportunities and challenges. As players purchase cards from the market, replace them from the draw pile to keep six cards available.

Step 8: First Player

The youngest player goes first. Play then proceeds clockwise around the table.

Now that you have set up the game, you are ready to start playing Pax Porfiriana!

Game flow Round and round we go

Pax Porfiriana is a game set in the time of Porfirio Díaz, the longtime dictator of Mexico. Players assume the roles of Hacendados (businessmen) attempting to build business empires and potentially take over the government. The game proceeds in a sequence of rounds, each of which consists of several phases. Below is a detailed description of how these rounds and phases are structured:

1. Draw Phase: At the beginning of each round, players draw cards up to their hand limit, which is initially five cards but can be expanded during the game.

2. Action Phase: During this phase, each player, starting from the dealer and proceeding clockwise, takes one action on their turn. There are several actions to choose from:

Buy Card: Players can buy a card from the market (the row of face-up cards) by paying its cost in gold.
Play Card: Players can play a card from their hand onto the table in front of them, paying its cost in gold.
Sell Card: Players can sell a card from their hand or the table back to the bank for half its cost in gold, rounded down.
Operate Enterprise: Players can operate an enterprise card on the table in front of them to generate income.
Speculate: Players can speculate on a card in the market, potentially buying it for less gold later.
Revolution: Players can attempt a revolution by playing a revolution card from their hand.

3. Discard Phase: After all players have taken their actions, the dealer discards any cards remaining in the market and refills it with new cards from the deck.

4. Revolution Phase: If a player has played a revolution card during the action phase, a revolution occurs. The player attempts to overthrow the government by comparing their total revolution points to the government’s stability. If the revolution succeeds, the game ends and the player becomes the new ruler of Mexico. If the revolution fails, the game continues to the next round.

5. Scoring Phase: If no player has won the game by revolution, each player scores victory points based on their business empire and prestige. The player with the most victory points at the end of the game wins.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

In Pax Porfiriana, a game that simulates the Mexican Revolution, each player’s turn is divided into distinct phases, each with its own set of possible actions and strategic choices. Understanding these different phases and the options they present is crucial to mastering the game.

1. Draw Phase:

During the Draw phase, the active player may draw up to five cards from their deck. They may also opt to draw fewer cards if they so choose.
This phase encourages strategic deck management, as players must consider both their current hand size and the potential benefits of drawing new cards.

2. Action Phase:

During the Action phase, the player may take up to two actions. These actions include playing cards, purchasing cards from the market, playing a tableau card, or initiating a revolution.
The choices made during this phase significantly impact the player’s overall strategy. For instance, playing cards can help build up the player’s tableau and provide them with more resources or abilities. On the other hand, purchasing cards can give the player additional options for future turns.

3. Discard Phase:

In the Discard phase, the player must discard down to their hand limit if they have more cards in hand than allowed. The standard hand limit is five cards, but certain cards or effects may alter this limit.
The Discard phase often requires careful decision-making, as players must weigh the value of each card in their hand and decide which ones are worth keeping for future turns.

4. Income Phase:

The final phase of a player’s turn is the Income phase. During this phase, the player collects gold from their enterprises and other sources.
Income is a critical aspect of the game, as it allows players to purchase cards, hire troops, and fund revolutions. Thus, managing income sources and ensuring a steady flow of gold is a key strategic consideration.

In summary, a player’s turn in Pax Porfiriana involves a series of decisions around card management, resource allocation, and strategic planning. The actions taken during each phase can significantly affect the game’s outcome, emphasizing the importance of careful decision-making and long-term planning.

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

Pax Porfiriana is a complex and strategic board game where players aim to build business empires in Mexico during the Porfirian era. The game ends when a player achieves the status of ‘Topple’ and subsequently wins, or when the draw deck is exhausted. There are several victory conditions which are detailed below:

Victory Conditions:

Topple Victory: This is the most common way to win. A player may declare a ‘Topple’ at the start of their turn if they have a ‘Topple’ card in their tableau. This triggers the end of the game. The victory type (Loyalist, Revolution, Command, or Outrage) is determined by the active regime at the time of the Topple. The player with the most victory points in the corresponding victory type wins the game.
Deck Exhaustion: If the draw deck is exhausted and no player has achieved a ‘Topple’ victory, the game ends. The player with the most gold wins. If there is a tie for most gold, then the player with the most total victory points (regardless of type) wins.

Actions Before Final Scoring:

Before final scoring, players should ensure they have taken the following actions:

Resolve all cards: All cards in a player’s tableau should be resolved. This includes earning income, adjusting victory points, and dealing with any card effects.
Pay off debts: Any outstanding debts should be paid off. If a player cannot pay off a debt, they lose victory points equal to the unpaid amount.
Convert resources: Any remaining resources (such as troops or railroads) can be converted into gold at their current market value.
Finalize victory points: Players should calculate their final victory point totals. This includes points from cards, gold, and any bonus points from card effects or achievements.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Pax Porfiriana is a game where victory is not determined by a traditional scoring system. Instead, players aim to topple the regime of Porfiriano Díaz by accumulating certain types of power. There are four types of victory conditions – Command, Loyalty, Outrage, and Revolution. Each of these victory conditions corresponds to a type of power card – Troops, Loyalists, Martyrs, and Rebels respectively.

The game is segmented into multiple turns, with each turn representing a different regime. At the start of each turn, the regime card is flipped and the victory condition for that turn is revealed. Players will then attempt to meet the victory condition using the corresponding power cards. For instance, if the regime card reveals a Command victory condition, players will use Troops power cards to meet this condition.

Meeting a victory condition involves having more power in the specified category than Díaz. Each power card has a power value and the player with power cards totaling more than Díaz’s power in the same category, by the end of the turn, is declared the winner.

In the event of a tie, the game has specific tie-breaking rules. Here are the rules in order:

Gold: The player with the most gold wins.
Enterprises: If there’s still a tie, the player with the most enterprises wins.
Points: If there’s still a tie, the player with the most points (earned from power cards) wins.
Card Draw: If there’s still a tie, the player who draws the highest card from the deck wins.

Note that these victory conditions, power cards, and tie-breaking rules make Pax Porfiriana a dynamic and strategy-driven game where players must constantly adapt to the changing regimes and victory conditions.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Pax Porfiriana is a highly strategic and complex board game, and its rules can be daunting for beginners. Here are some rare rules, special exceptions, and important rule clarifications:

Revolutionaries and the Loyalty Track: One unique aspect of Pax Porfiriana is the Loyalty track. It’s important to note that revolutionaries do not move on the Loyalty track at the end of the turn like other troops. Instead, they only move when a revolution occurs.

When a revolution happens, each revolutionary moves one space towards the player who initiated the revolution. This can vastly change the balance of power in the game.
If a player controls more revolutionaries than the current regime’s loyalty level, they can initiate a revolution. This rule is often overlooked by new players.

Card Play Exceptions: There are several exceptions to the normal card play rules in Pax Porfiriana.

Enterprise cards can be played on top of other enterprise cards of the same type. This is known as “stacking”. The stacked enterprises act as one entity and can be affected by events and actions as if they were a single card.
Personality cards cannot be assassinated or scandalized if they are currently in jail. This provides a strategic advantage to players who can manage to get their personalities incarcerated at opportune times.

End of Game Scoring: One rule that often confuses players is the end of game scoring. The game does not end immediately when a player reaches the victory point threshold. Instead, the game continues until all players have had an equal number of turns.

This means that the last player in the turn order has the opportunity to surpass the leader before the game ends.
If there is a tie in victory points at the end of the game, the player with the most cash wins. If there is still a tie, the player with the highest total value of cards in their tableau wins.

Regime Change Events: Another area of the game that requires clarification is regime change events. When a regime change event is triggered, all players must immediately adjust their strategies to the new regime.

Each regime has different effects on enterprises, troops, and card play. The effects of the previous regime are immediately cancelled and replaced by the effects of the new regime.
Regime change events can be triggered by certain cards or by player actions. It’s important to keep track of the current regime and plan your strategy accordingly.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies for Pax Porfiriana:

When it comes to mastering Pax Porfiriana, it’s crucial to take into account advanced strategies that can give you an upper hand. Here are some tips to consider:

Focus on Diversifying Enterprises: Don’t rely on a single type of enterprise. It’s wise to diversify your income sources to weather the changing political environment.
Use Revolution Cards Wisely: Revolution cards can be game-changers when used correctly. Don’t use them just because you can, but when they can serve your strategy.
Keep an Eye on the Game’s End: The game can end abruptly, so always keep an eye on the possible end game conditions and align your strategy accordingly.

Beginner Tips for Pax Porfiriana:

If you’re new to Pax Porfiriana, don’t worry. Here are some essential tips to help you get started:

Understand the Game’s Mechanics: Pax Porfiriana can be complex, but understanding the mechanics will help. Learn how cards can interact with each other and how the market works.
Start Small: Don’t rush to build a big empire. Instead, start with a few enterprises and gradually expand as you understand the game better.
Explore Different Strategies: Don’t stick to one strategy. Try different ones in order to understand the game from various angles.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Pax Porfiriana:

Even seasoned players can make mistakes in Pax Porfiriana. Here are some common ones to avoid:

Ignoring the Market: The market can greatly affect your strategy. Ignoring it can lead to downfall.
Overlooking Opponents’ Actions: Pax Porfiriana is a highly interactive game. Overlooking your opponents’ actions can cost you the game.
Not Planning for the End Game: The end game in Pax Porfiriana can be sudden. Not planning for it can be a costly mistake.

Optimizing Gameplay in Pax Porfiriana:

Finally, to optimize your gameplay in Pax Porfiriana, consider these tips:

Stay Flexible: The game’s dynamics can change quickly. Staying flexible with your strategy is key to adapting and overcoming.
Learn from Mistakes: Every game is a learning experience. Learn from your mistakes and apply those lessons in future games.
Practice: As with any game, practice makes perfect. The more you play, the better you’ll understand the game’s intricacies and nuances.