Cuba Libre

2013

Experience the Cuban Revolution first-hand in 'Cuba Libre', an immersive board game. Strategize as Castro, Batista, or Syndicate, and change history!

180
minutes

1 - 4
player(s)

14+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Cuba Libre is a captivating board game that plunges players into the tumultuous and vibrant world of 1950s Cuba, during the pivotal historical period of Castro’s revolutionary movement. This game reflects the dynamic and complex socio-political environment of the era, offering players a unique blend of strategy, historical immersion, and intrigue.

The setting of Cuba Libre is a captivating reproduction of 1950s Cuba, with its palm-fringed beaches, bustling cities, and hidden guerrilla camps. The game board represents a detailed map of the island, divided into various territories that players fight to control. Each territory features different resources and strategic advantages, adding depth and complexity to the gameplay.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Cuba Libre is a board game that takes players into the Cuban revolution. The components of the game are designed to facilitate the gameplay and provide a rich, immersive experience. Here is the list of components and their specific roles:

1. Game Board:

The game board represents the map of Cuba, divided into various provinces. The provinces have different resources, populations, and other attributes. Players move their pieces around the board to control different areas and achieve their objectives.

2. Rulebook:

The rulebook provides detailed instructions on how to play the game. It includes information on setup, gameplay, scoring, and endgame conditions. It is critical for understanding the game mechanics and strategy.

3. Faction Sheets:

There are four faction sheets, each representing a different group involved in the Cuban revolution. Each sheet provides information about that faction’s unique abilities, strategies, and victory conditions.

4. Wooden Pieces:

The wooden pieces represent the different forces each faction can deploy. They come in different shapes and colors to distinguish between factions and unit types. The pieces are used to control areas on the game board and engage in combat with other factions.

5. Action Cards:

These cards drive the game’s events and player actions. Each card has a specific effect that can alter the game state, such as changing control of areas, adding or removing pieces, or triggering special events. Players draw and play these cards during their turns.

6. Propaganda Cards:

These cards represent the influence of propaganda in the revolution. When drawn, they trigger special rounds where players can score points, recruit new forces, or carry out other special actions. The propaganda cards also act as a game timer, with the game ending after a certain number have been drawn.

7. Dice:

The game includes a set of dice used for resolving combat and other random events. The outcome of a die roll can determine the success or failure of an action, adding an element of chance to the game.

8. Money Tokens:

These tokens represent the resources each faction has to carry out actions. Players spend money tokens to recruit forces, move units, and carry out other actions. Managing your resources effectively is a key part of the game strategy.

Each component of Cuba Libre contributes to the overall experience of the game, creating a rich and engaging simulation of the Cuban revolution.

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

‘Cuba Libre’ is a historical board game that allows you to step into the shoes of one of the factions involved in the Cuban Revolution. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you set up the game.

Step 1: Player Roles

Each player should choose a faction to play. The four factions are:

26 July: The leading revolutionary movement.
Dirección de Inteligencia (Government): The ruling Batista regime.
Syndicate (Casino Owners): Mobsters who had a stranglehold on the casinos in Cuba.
DR (Directorio Revolucionario): The revolutionary students.

Step 2: Board Placement

Place the game board in the center of the table where it’s easily reachable by all players. The board represents the island of Cuba, divided into different provinces, each with different resources and population values.

Step 3: Initial Resources

Each faction starts with a specific number of resources:

26 July: 6 resources
Dirección de Inteligencia (Government): 20 resources
Syndicate (Casino Owners): 15 resources
DR (Directorio Revolucionario): 6 resources

Step 4: Initial Placement

Each faction’s pieces are placed on the board according to the initial setup specified in the game’s rulebook. For example, the 26 July faction might start with pieces in the Oriente province.

Step 5: Initial Card Draw

Shuffle the event deck and draw the first card. This card will determine the first player (the faction listed on the farthest left of the card) and the initial turn order.

Step 6: Random Elements

During the game, players will draw event cards that can significantly affect the game’s progress. These cards represent historical events and can provide additional resources, change turn order, or introduce other unpredictable elements.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you’re ready to start playing Cuba Libre!

Game flow Round and round we go

Cuba Libre is a board game that explores the Cuban Revolution, where players represent historical factions seeking to strengthen their positions throughout the game. The game is typically divided into campaign rounds, each consisting of several card rounds.

Campaign Rounds

A campaign round begins with a Propaganda Round and continues until the next Propaganda Round. Each campaign round consists of several card rounds. During a Propaganda Round, players perform the following actions in order:

Resources Phase: Factions gain resources according to control and support.
Support Phase: Factions adjust support based on opposition and terror markers.
Momentum Phase: Factions remove half of their momentum markers from the map.
Redeployment Phase: Factions may redeploy their forces.

Card Rounds

A Card Round represents a historical event and each player decides in order how they wish to respond to the event. The player’s choice influences the sequence of play for that round. There are four options to choose from:

Event: The player chooses to execute the event described on the card.
Ops: The player performs operations, potentially with special activities.
Special Activity: The player performs a special activity without conducting operations.
Pass: The player chooses to not take any actions.

End of Game

The game ends either after a predetermined number of campaign rounds, or when a victory check reveals a player has met their faction-specific victory condition. At the end of the game, the player with the highest total of support and available resources is declared the winner.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

Cuba Libre is a highly strategic board game that simulates the Cuban Revolution. Each player represents a different faction with unique abilities and goals. During a player’s turn, they can take a variety of actions and make strategic decisions that will influence the course of the game. Here are the possible actions and strategic choices a player can make.

1. Rally: The player can choose to rally their forces. This involves adding guerillas to the map, increasing their influence in certain areas. This action can be crucial for securing control over key regions and resisting enemy attacks.

2. March: A player can order their guerillas to march to a different area of the map. This can be a strategic decision to reinforce areas under threat or to launch an attack on a weakly defended enemy region.

3. Attack: If a player’s guerillas are in the same area as enemy forces, they can launch an attack. This involves a dice roll to determine the outcome of the conflict. The player must weigh the potential gains against the risk of losing guerillas in battle.

4. Terror: A player can opt to carry out terror operations. This reduces the support for other factions in the area and can help to undermine their influence. However, it also increases the chances of a military response from those factions.

5. Organize: The player can organize their forces, increasing their capabilities and efficiency. This can be a good long-term strategy for strengthening their position on the board.

6. Propaganda: The player can also choose to spread propaganda to increase their faction’s support among the population. This can be a powerful tool for gaining influence and winning the game.

Each of these actions can have a significant impact on the course of the game, and players must carefully consider their options and the potential consequences of their decisions. The key to victory in Cuba Libre is not just about making the right moves but also about understanding and anticipating the strategies of your opponents.

Strategic Choices: Strategic choices in Cuba Libre involve deciding which actions to take and when. For example, a player might decide to focus on building up their forces before launching an attack, or they might opt for a strategy of disruption, carrying out terror operations to undermine their opponents. The choice of strategy will depend on the player’s faction, their position on the board, and the actions of their opponents.

Gameplay Impact: The decisions a player makes during their turn can have a dramatic impact on the game. For example, a successful attack can swing the balance of power in a region, while a failed attack can leave a player’s forces vulnerable. Likewise, a successful propaganda campaign can significantly increase a player’s influence, while a poorly timed terror operation can provoke a damaging backlash.

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

Cuba Libre is a board game that captures the Cuban revolution in the late 1950s, where each player represents a faction seeking to impose its vision of Cuban post-Batista Cuba. The game ends under two conditions: either the game has reached the predetermined number of Propaganda cards drawn, or one faction meets their automatic victory conditions.

Victory Conditions:

Automatic Victory: At the end of each Propaganda round, players will check for an automatic victory. If a faction has reached or surpassed its victory condition (specified as a number of control and/or support in the provinces and cities of Cuba), the game immediately ends and that faction is declared the winner.
Final Scoring Victory: If no faction has achieved automatic victory by the end of the final propaganda round, the game moves to final scoring. In the final scoring phase, players calculate their total support and opposition (for the Syndicate and 26 July factions) or bases (for the Directorio and Government factions). The faction with the highest total wins. Ties are broken in favor of the faction with the most resources remaining.

Actions Before Final Scoring:

Before final scoring, players must ensure that they have performed the following actions:

Complete any remaining operations and special activities in the current campaign.
Adjust the victory track to reflect the current state of the game.
Adjust each faction’s resource total to reflect any changes due to operations or special activities.
Resolve any final event cards that may influence the state of the game.

Remember, strategic planning and understanding each faction’s strengths and weaknesses are key to winning in Cuba Libre. Good luck!

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Cuba Libre is a strategic board game in which players take on the roles of various factions vying for control of Cuba. The game’s scoring system is designed to reflect each faction’s specific goals and ambitions, adding a layer of complexity and strategy to the game.

Each faction can score victory points (VPs) through a variety of ways:

Government: The Government faction gains VPs through controlling population. One VP is gained for every 3 points of population under control.
26th July: The 26th July faction gains VPs through opposition plus bases. One VP is awarded for every point of opposition, plus one for each base on the map.
Directorio: The Directorio faction gains VPs through bases plus opposition in provinces where they have bases. One VP is awarded for each base on the map, plus one for every point of opposition in provinces where they have bases.
Syndicate: The Syndicate faction gains VPs through open casinos plus cash. One VP is awarded for each open casino, plus one for every $3 in cash.

In the event of a tie, the game has a specific set of tie-breaking rules:

If two or more factions have the same VPs at the end of a victory check, the faction with the most resources (cash and bases for 26th July and Directorio, cash and open casinos for Syndicate, and population control for Government) wins.
If there is still a tie, the faction that would play next (in the order of play) wins.

Understanding the unique scoring system of each faction is key to strategizing and winning the game. The balance between pursuing short-term gains and long-term goals adds an exciting dimension to Cuba Libre.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Cuba Libre is a rich and complex game that seeks to simulate the political and military struggles of the Cuban revolution. There are a few special rules and exceptions that can be easy to overlook. Here, we’ll discuss a few of these to help clarify the game’s mechanics.

1. Special Activities

In Cuba Libre, each faction has access to a set of unique Special Activities. These are not available to other factions and often have specific prerequisites or restrictions.

26 July’s March: This activity allows the 26 July faction to move any number of its Guerillas from one space to another. However, this can only be done if the March does not pass through a space that contains an active enemy piece.
Casino’s Mob: The Syndicate can use this activity to place a casino marker in a space. This can only be done if there are no guerillas in the space, and the space has a population value of 1 or more.
Directorio’s Rally: This activity allows the Directorio to place a number of Guerillas equal to the population value of a space. However, this cannot be done in a space that contains a base or an active Syndicate piece.
Government’s Air Strike: The Government can use this activity to remove up to two enemy pieces from a space. However, this cannot be done in a space that contains a Government base.

2. Propaganda Rounds

Propaganda rounds in Cuba Libre are not standard game rounds. They have a unique set of rules and procedures that must be followed. These include things like removing all Terror markers, determining and adjusting Support and Opposition, and determining and adjusting Resources and Bases.

3. Restrictions on Movement

In Cuba Libre, there are a number of restrictions on movement. For example, a faction cannot move its pieces into a space that contains a base or an active enemy piece. Further, if a faction wishes to move its pieces through a space that contains an enemy piece, it must first win a battle in that space.

4. Control of Spaces

A faction gains control of a space in Cuba Libre when it has more pieces in that space than any other faction, and there are no enemy bases in the space. However, it’s important to note that only the 26 July, Directorio, and Government factions can control spaces. The Syndicate cannot control spaces and instead operates its casinos in spaces controlled by other factions.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Cuba Libre is an engaging board game that revolves around the Cuban revolution. As a player, your strategic decisions can significantly influence the outcome of the game. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, understanding the game’s nuances can help you maximize your gameplay. Here are some advanced strategies, beginner tips, common mistakes to avoid, and ways to optimize gameplay.

Advanced Strategies:

Effective Resource Management: Use your resources wisely. Efficient resource management is essential to secure victory. Consider investing resources in activities that give you an edge over your opponents.
Mastering Faction Abilities: Each faction has unique abilities. Understanding and leveraging these abilities is crucial. For example, the government faction can leverage their air strike ability to weaken the opponent’s positions.
Strategic Alliances: Forming temporary alliances can be a powerful strategy, especially when facing stronger opponents. However, remember that alliances in Cuba Libre are fleeting and can change quickly.

Beginner Tips:

Understand the Game Mechanics: Before starting the game, familiarize yourself with the game mechanics. Understand the role of each faction, their abilities, and how the event cards work.
Keep an Eye on Victory Conditions: Each faction has different victory conditions. Keep these conditions in mind throughout the game and plan your moves accordingly.
Experiment with Different Factions: Each faction offers a unique gameplay experience. Try playing with different factions to understand their strengths and weaknesses.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Ignoring Opponents’ Strengths: Never underestimate your opponents. Keep a close eye on their resource pool, event cards, and faction abilities.
Overcommitting Resources: Avoid overcommitting resources in one area. It’s essential to maintain a balance and have resources available for unexpected situations.
Ignoring Synergies: Factions in Cuba Libre have synergies. Ignoring these synergies and focusing only on your faction might cost you the game.

Optimizing Gameplay:

Plan Ahead: Try to anticipate your opponents’ moves and plan your strategy accordingly. This will give you a significant advantage.
Use Event Cards Wisely: Event cards can turn the tide of the game. Use them at the right time to gain maximum advantage.
Adapt your Strategy: Cuba Libre is a dynamic game. Be ready to adapt your strategy based on the current game state.

Remember, the key to winning ‘Cuba Libre’ lies in strategic thinking, effective resource management, and a bit of luck. Happy gaming!