Cyclades

2009

Immerse yourself in 'Conquer the Cyclades', a thrilling strategy board game. Build two cities, appease five Greek gods, and outbid your opponents to victory!

90
minutes

2 - 5
player(s)

13+

Medium

About the game

Welcome to the world of Cyclades, an enthralling and strategic board game that will transport you back to the golden age of ancient Greece. This game is a spectacle of strategic planning, bidding, and warfare, all set within a mythologically rich and historically inspired setting.

Cyclades is set amidst the archaic period of Greek history, where you are placed in the shoes of a noble leader. Your aim is to establish your dominance over the Cycladic Islands. With the favor of the Gods, you will build an empire that surpasses all others. The theme is deeply rooted in Greek mythology, adding an extra layer of fascination and immersion to an already engaging game.

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

Cyclades is a strategy game set in the Greek islands, where players compete to control mythical creatures and build metropolises. This game blends strategy, bidding, and warfare. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up and play Cyclades.

1. Prepare the Game Board:

Place the rectangular game board in the center of the table. The side used depends on the number of players: 2-3 players use the side with less islands, while 4-5 players use the side with more islands.
Arrange the five God tiles in a column next to the board. The order from top to bottom should be: Apollo, Poseidon, Ares, Athena, and Zeus.
Place the Creature tokens face up next to the board, and shuffle the Mythological Creature cards, placing them as a deck next to the board.

2. Distribute Player Materials:

Each player chooses a color and takes all the corresponding pieces. This includes 8 fleets, 8 troops, 2 prosperity markers, 4 buildings (port, fortress, temple, university) and a screen to hide their resources.
Each player places one prosperity marker on the “0/10” space of the prosperity track, and the other on the “5” space of the bidding order track.

3. Set Up Initial Resources:

Each player receives a starting amount of gold. The amount of gold depends on the number of players and is indicated on the game board.
Players hide their gold behind their screens.

4. Place Initial Troops and Fleets:

Players take turns placing their troops and fleets on the game board. The starting player places one troop on a vacant island and a fleet in a sea area adjacent to that island.
Players continue in clockwise order until all players have placed two troops and two fleets.

5. Prepare the First Round:

Shuffle the Mythological Creature cards and draw the top three. Place them face up next to the game board.
Place the Priestess token on the Athena God tile.
Set the offering markers on their corresponding spaces on the bidding order track.

The game is now setup and ready to play. Remember, the goal of the game is to be the first to control two metropolises. Good luck and may the Gods be in your favor!

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

Cyclades is a thrilling board game where players compete for control over mythological Greek islands. On each turn, players must make strategic choices to manage their resources, build structures, and engage in combat. The objective is to be the first to control two metropolises. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what happens during a player’s turn.

Phase 1: Offering to the Gods
The first phase involves players making offerings to the gods. The gods grant various benefits, so players must choose wisely. The order of play is determined by how much gold each player offers.

Apollo: Players who do not make an offering or have the lowest bid will receive Apollo’s benefits. They gain a gold coin and an extra income from each unoccupied island they control.
Poseidon: Poseidon allows players to build, move, and protect their fleets. This is especially beneficial to players with control over many islands.
Ares: Ares allows players to build and move troops, and build fortresses. This is beneficial for players planning to engage in combat.
Zeus: Zeus allows players to recruit priests and build temples. Priests can reduce the cost of offerings, while temples are required to build metropolises.
Athena: Athena allows players to recruit philosophers and build universities. Philosophers are also needed to build metropolises.

Phase 2: Activation of the Gods
In the second phase, players activate their chosen god’s powers in the order of Apollo, Poseidon, Ares, Zeus, and Athena. Players perform these actions one after the other in the order determined during the offerings phase.

Building: Depending on the god’s powers, players can build fleets, troops, fortresses, temples, or universities. These structures enhance players’ capabilities and are often critical for achieving victory.
Moving: Players can move their troops or fleets across the map. This is crucial for taking control of new islands or engaging in combat.
Recruiting: Players can recruit priests and philosophers. Priests reduce the cost of offerings, while philosophers are needed to build metropolises.

Phase 3: End of the Turn
The turn ends after all players have activated their god’s powers. Players then collect income and prepare for the next round. Income is gained from each island a player controls, along with any bonuses from Apollo or other sources.

Each turn in Cyclades presents strategic choices. Players must balance their resources and decide which god’s powers will best serve their current situation. With careful planning and a bit of luck, players can achieve victory by controlling two metropolises.

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

Cyclades is a fast-paced, strategic board game set in the world of ancient Greek mythology. Players act as leaders of city-states, vying for control over the islands of the Cyclades archipelago.

The game of Cyclades ends when a player successfully builds or controls two metropolises at the end of a complete game round. The metropolises can be built through four different methods: through Philosophy, through Military, through Trade, or through the control of four different types of buildings.

Victory Conditions:

Philosophy: If a player collects four philosophers, they can build a metropolis. The philosophers are collected through card draws, but players must be cautious as opponents can steal philosophers through certain actions.
Military: If a player controls four different types of troops, they can build a metropolis. The troops include Soldiers, Cavalry, Fleet, and Priests. The troops must be stationed in the player’s city-state to count towards the metropolis.
Trade: If a player collects four merchants, they can build a metropolis. Merchants are gained through card draws, and unlike philosophers, they cannot be stolen by other players.
Control of Buildings: If a player controls one of each of the four different types of buildings (Port, Fortress, Temple, and University), they can build a metropolis. The buildings must be in the player’s city-state to count towards the metropolis.

End of Game Actions:

Before the final scoring, players must complete the following actions:

Confirm that they control two metropolises. If more than one player has built two metropolises, the player with the most metropolises wins.
If there is a tie in the number of metropolises, the player with the most gold wins. If there is still a tie, the player with the most troops wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who was the first to bid in the last round of the game wins.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In the board game ‘Cyclades’, the main objective is to establish two cities in the Cycladic Archipelago. A player wins the game immediately as soon as they build their second city. The game does not traditionally use a point scoring system, but rather a victory condition. This is represented by building two Metropolises, either through building four different buildings or obtaining a combination of Philosophers and/or Monsters.

However, if you want to introduce a scoring system to the game, you can consider the following:

Each Metropolis is worth 10 points.
Each building (Port, Fortress, Temple, University) is worth 2 points.
Each Philosopher is worth 1 point.
Each Monster is worth 3 points.
Each Gold or Prosperity marker is worth 1 point.

This system allows players to keep track of their progress throughout the game and adds a more competitive edge to the gameplay.

In the case of a tie, use the following tie-breaking rules:

The player with the most total buildings (including Metropolises) wins.
If still a tie, the player with the most total creatures wins.
If still a tie, the player with the most gold wins.

These rules ensure that every aspect of the game can potentially contribute to a player’s victory, making for a more strategic and engaging experience.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Cyclades is a strategic board game that requires players to build their civilization in a way that is most pleasing to the gods. The game is intricate and has many rules that players need to follow. Some of the rare or special rules, exceptions, and any rule clarifications that might be important in the game are:

1. Bidding for Gods:

Minimum Bid: Each player must place a minimum bid of one gold coin for the favor of the gods. The player also has the option to increase the bid to ensure they gain the favor of the desired god.
Bidding Order: The bidding order is determined by the order of the gods on the divine favors track. It is not always determined by the clockwise direction.

2. Building Metropolis:

Building Conditions: A player can only build a Metropolis once they have either four different types of buildings or four philosophers. This is an exception to the rule which usually requires a specific god’s favor to build.
Location: A player can decide where to place the Metropolis. However, once placed it cannot be moved.

3. Creatures:

Creature Cards: Creature cards are not replenished immediately after use. They are only replenished at the start of a new cycle.
Use of Creatures: A player can use the power of a creature only once during their turn and can’t use the same creature’s power twice in a row in consecutive turns.

4. Battle:

Victory Points: In case of a battle, the player who loses a territory doesn’t lose Victory Points.
Troop Movement: The troops can only be moved from one island to another if the islands are connected by a chain of ships. This is an exception to the rule of moving troops only to an adjacent territory.

5. End of the Game:

Victory: The game ends immediately when a player builds their second Metropolis. There is no need to finish the current cycle.
Multiple Victories: If multiple players are able to build their second Metropolis in the same cycle, the player who bid on the god that is earlier on the divine favors track wins.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies for Cyclades

Balance your resources: Use the income from your cities wisely. It’s essential to have the right balance of soldiers, ships, and cities to win the game. Building too many soldiers and ships at the expense of cities is a common pitfall. Remember, you need 2 metropolises to win, and cities are vital to building them.

Use monsters effectively: Monsters can be game-changers. Using them effectively can swing the game in your favor. For instance, the Kraken can wipe out a whole fleet, giving you a significant advantage in a naval battle. But remember, they come at a cost. So use them wisely.

Beginner Tips for Cyclades

Understand the bidding system: Cyclades uses a unique bidding system to determine player actions. It’s essential to understand this system to plan your strategies. Don’t bid too high early in the game as it may leave you with fewer resources later.

Focus on building Metropolises: Your ultimate goal in the game is to build two Metropolises. Don’t get too caught up in battles that you forget to focus on your main aim. Make sure you have a clear strategy for building your Metropolises.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Cyclades

Ignoring the gods: Each god in Cyclades grants different benefits. Ignoring a particular god because you think their benefits are not useful can be a grave mistake. Each god has its place and can be vital in certain situations.

Overcommitting to battles: Engaging in too many battles can be a mistake. Battles cost resources, and losing a battle can be a significant setback. It’s often better to negotiate or avoid battles when possible.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay in Cyclades

Plan your moves ahead: Always try to plan your moves ahead. Try to predict what your opponents will do and plan your moves accordingly. This strategy will help you stay one step ahead of your opponents.

Use your special abilities wisely: Each player has unique special abilities. Using these abilities wisely can give you a significant advantage. For instance, if you play as Zeus, you can build temples at a reduced cost, which can be a significant advantage early in the game.