Great Western Trail: Argentina

2022

Great Western Trail: Argentina combines deck management and strategic gameplay, as you navigate Argentine plains, manage new resources like grain, and race to deliver your herd to Buenos Aires!

150
minutes

1 - 4
player(s)

12+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Great Western Trail: Argentina is a captivating board game that transports players into the vibrant heart of South America, specifically, the alluring landscapes of Argentina. This immersive game is an iteration of the much-loved ‘Great Western Trail’ series and offers an enchanting new setting that breathes fresh life into the classic game.

In this game, players take on the roles of ambitious ranchers navigating the expansive Argentine pampas. The objective is to strategically herd your cattle, explore the wilderness, and deliver your livestock to the bustling markets of Buenos Aires. The game beautifully captures the essence of the Argentine countryside and the pioneering spirit of its ranchers.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Great Western Trail: Argentina is a fantastic strategy board game that immerses players in the life of Argentinian hacienda owners. The game includes several components, each of which plays a unique role in creating its immersive experience. These components are:

1. Game Board: This is the main component where all the action takes place. It represents the Argentinian landscape, including various locations and trails that players will use to move their cattle and trade. It’s divided into several sections for different types of actions.

2. Player Tokens: Each player is given a set of tokens in a specific color to represent their cattle and gauchos. Players move these tokens around the game board to indicate their progress, claim locations, and perform other actions.

3. Cattle Cards: These cards represent different types of cattle that players can buy and sell to earn points. Each card has a specific value and breed, affecting its price and the points it gives at the end of the game.

4. Gaucho Cards: Gaucho cards are used to recruit gauchos, who can perform various actions like moving cattle, building structures, or combating local threats. Each card has a different cost and ability, offering a range of strategic options.

5. Building Tiles: These tiles represent buildings that players can construct on the game board. Buildings provide various benefits, such as bonus points, additional actions, or special abilities.

6. Money: The game includes paper money that players use to buy cattle, recruit gauchos, and construct buildings. Managing money is a crucial aspect of the strategy in Great Western Trail: Argentina.

7. Threat Tokens: Threat tokens represent local threats that players must overcome using their gauchos. Overcoming threats can provide players with rewards but also carries risks.

8. Objective Cards: Objective cards give players specific goals to achieve, offering a way to earn bonus points. However, if a player fails to achieve their objectives, they may lose points instead.

9. Player Boards: Each player has a personal board where they can plan their strategy, keep track of their gauchos, cattle, and buildings, and store their money and cards. These boards also show each player’s progress towards their objectives.

All these components interact to create a rich and complex strategic environment. Players must carefully manage their resources, plan their actions, and adapt to changing conditions to succeed in Great Western Trail: Argentina.

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

Step 1: Setting up the Game Board

To begin, lay out the main game board in the center of the table. The board is divided into several areas: Buenos Aires, the Pampas, the Andes, and the Market. Each player will be moving their cattle herder around this board.

Step 2: Preparing the Buildings

Separate the neutral building tiles by letter (A, B, C, D) and place them on their corresponding spaces on the game board. Each player will also receive a set of personal building tiles, which they should keep face-down in front of them.

Step 3: Setting up the Cattle Market

Shuffle the cattle cards and place them in a face-down deck at the Cattle Market. Reveal the top six cards and place them in the market slots. These represent cattle available for purchase during the game.

Step 4: Preparing the Workers

Sort the worker discs by color (gauchos, farmers, and engineers) and place them next to the game board. Set the rondel marker on the “1” space of the rondel.

Step 5: Preparing the Player Pieces

Each player chooses a color and takes the corresponding pieces: a player board, a cattle herder, a player disc, and a set of action markers. The player disc is placed on the “0” space of the scoring track, and the cattle herder is placed in Buenos Aires.

Step 6: Initial Resources

Players start with a hand of four random cattle cards from the deck. They also receive starting resources according to the turn order: the first player gets 6 pesos, the second player gets 7, and so on. These resources are placed on their respective spaces on the player board.

Step 7: Random Elements

Shuffle the hazard tiles and distribute them face-down on the corresponding spaces on the board. These are revealed when a player encounters them. Also shuffle the objective cards and deal two to each player, who will choose one to keep.

Now you’re ready to start the game! As you move your cattle herder around the board, you’ll be building buildings, hiring workers, buying cattle, and managing hazards – all in the pursuit of the most victory points.

Game flow Round and round we go

‘Great Western Trail: Argentina’ is an exciting board game where players take on roles as ranchers in Argentina during the 19th century. The game is played over several rounds, each consisting of three main phases: Movement Phase, Action Phase, and the End of Round.

The Movement Phase is where each player moves their Rancher along the trail. The number of spaces a player can move depends on the player’s current position and movement points.

Start of the Phase: At the beginning of the Movement Phase, the active player decides how many spaces they want to move their Rancher. The number of spaces a player can move is indicated on their player board.
During the Phase: The player then moves their Rancher along the trail, counting the number of spaces moved. The player can choose to move fewer spaces than they are allowed.
End of the Phase: The Movement Phase ends when the player has moved their Rancher the number of spaces they chose at the start of the phase, or they decide to stop moving early.

The Action Phase follows the Movement Phase. In this phase, players perform actions based on the location their Rancher ended up at the end of the Movement Phase.

Action at Building Tiles: If the Rancher ends the movement on a building tile, the player can perform the action indicated on the tile.
Action at Location Tiles: If the Rancher ends the movement on a location tile, the player can perform one of the actions indicated on the tile. These actions can include buying cattle, hiring helpers, or constructing buildings.
Action at Buenos Aires: If the Rancher ends the movement at Buenos Aires, the player can perform the Buenos Aires action, which involves selling cattle and gaining victory points.

Lastly, the game proceeds to the End of Round. The end of a round occurs after all players have completed their Movement and Action Phases.

End of Round Scoring: At the end of each round, players score points based on the cattle they have sold and the buildings they have constructed. The player with the most victory points at the end of the game wins!

In conclusion, ‘Great Western Trail: Argentina’ is a game that tests players’ strategic planning and decision-making skills. Each round is a new opportunity to advance along the trail, improve your herd, and build your ranch.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

In Great Western Trail: Argentina, players can perform various actions during their turn. The game’s objective is to strategically move your cattle herder across the Argentine Pampas, trade, breed cattle, and build estancias. Here is a breakdown of all the actions a player can perform during their turn:

Movement

Move Your Cattle Herder: On your turn, you can move your cattle herder up to three spaces on the trail towards Buenos Aires. Each location and obstacle counts as one space. You must stop on a location to perform an action.

Location Actions

Trading with the Indians: If you stop on a location with an Indian trading post, you can trade with the Indians. This trade usually involves exchanging money or cattle cards for goods or benefits.
Building an Estancia: If you stop on a building site, you can build an estancia. Building an estancia requires you to discard a number of matching cattle cards from your hand and pay a building cost. The estancia will provide you with ongoing benefits for the rest of the game.
Breeding Cattle: If you stop on a location with a cattle symbol, you can breed cattle. Breeding cattle requires you to discard two matching cattle cards from your hand. You will then receive a new cattle card of the next highest value.
Visiting Buenos Aires: If you reach Buenos Aires, you can sell your cattle. The value of your cattle is determined by the individual value of each cattle card in your hand.

Other Actions

Draw Cards: At the end of your turn, you must draw back up to your hand limit. Your hand limit is determined by your player board.
Discard Cards: You may also choose to discard cards from your hand at the end of your turn. This can be beneficial if you have low-value cattle cards that you want to get rid of.

Strategically choosing your actions can greatly affect the outcome of the game. For example, building estancias early can provide you with a steady stream of benefits that can aid your journey towards Buenos Aires. Trading with the Indians can also provide valuable goods and benefits that can be used later in the game. Finally, effectively breeding and selling your cattle can lead to large profits that can help you win the game.

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

‘Great Western Trail: Argentina’ is a board game that revolves around the theme of cattle herding in Argentina. It is a game that requires strategic planning and careful execution of plans to gather the most victory points and win. The game ends when a particular condition is met. Here are the details:

The game of ‘Great Western Trail: Argentina’ ends when the Job Market can no longer be refilled as there are no more workers left in the bag. This signifies the end of the cattle herding season and triggers the final scoring phase.

Before moving to the final scoring, players should complete their current round so that each player has had an equal number of turns. The player who triggered the game end will finish their turn, and all remaining players will get one more turn. After this, no more turns are taken.

In terms of victory conditions, players earn victory points (VPs) through various actions and achievements throughout the game:

Hacienda Tiles: Players earn VPs based on the number of Hacienda tiles they have placed on the game board.
Cattle Cards: Players earn VPs for the unique types of cattle in their deck at the end of the game.
Buildings: Players earn VPs for the buildings they have built on the game board.
Craftsmen: Players earn VPs for the craftsmen they have hired.
Objectives: Players earn VPs for meeting their objective conditions.

After all VPs are calculated, the player with the highest total of VPs is declared the winner. In case of a tie, the player with the most money left wins. If there is still a tie, the player who reached the job market first during the last round is the winner.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In ‘Great Western Trail: Argentina’, players accumulate victory points (VPs) throughout the game through various activities. The player with the most VPs at the end of the game is the winner. Let’s take a detailed look at how these points are awarded:

1. Herding Cattle:

Each player gains VPs based on the total value of different cattle types in their herd at the end of the game. The cattle cards in hand are shown to everyone, and VPs are awarded as per the value on the cattle cards.

2. Completing Objectives:

Objective cards provide players with specific targets to aim for during the game. Each completed objective card is worth a certain number of VPs as indicated on the card. Incomplete objectives, however, can result in a loss of points.

3. Building Trading Posts:

Each trading post a player builds on the game board awards them a certain number of VPs. These points are determined by the location of the trading post and any bonus points from the board.

4. Shipping Cattle:

Players gain VPs for shipping cattle to various cities across Argentina. The further the city, the more points a player can earn.

5. Money:

At the end of the game, every $5 a player has is converted into 1 VP.

After the final round, all these points are added up. The player with the most VPs is declared the winner.

In the event of a tie, the following rules are used to determine the winner:

The player with the most completed objective cards wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most money wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who is earlier in the turn order wins.

These rules ensure that every game of ‘Great Western Trail: Argentina’ is competitive until the last round and rewards strategic planning and efficient resource management.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Great Western Trail: Argentina is an engaging board game that features interesting mechanics and a unique setting. This game has a few special rules and exceptions that set it apart from other games. Here are some rare or special rules, exceptions, and any rule clarifications that might be important:

1. Province Cards: Unlike other games, in Great Western Trail: Argentina, players have the ability to acquire province cards which provide special abilities or bonuses. Each player can only have one of each province. If a player already has a province and draws the same province again, they must discard the duplicate and draw a new one.

2. The Estancia: The Estancia is a special location on the board that players can visit. When a player ends their movement on the Estancia, they can purchase cattle from the cattle market, or they can purchase a new worker. This is different from other locations, where typically, only one action can be performed.

Worker Actions: If a player chooses to purchase a new worker, they can place that worker on any free spot in their player area. This worker can perform actions immediately.
Cattle Market: When purchasing cattle from the cattle market, players can only buy one cattle card per visit. The cost of the cattle card is indicated on the card itself.

3. Gauchos: In Great Western Trail: Argentina, players can hire Gauchos to help manage their cattle. Gauchos can be used to increase the value of cattle, protect cattle from hazards, or they can be used to gain additional bonus actions. Gauchos are a limited resource, so players need to use them wisely.

4. Barrier Tokens: Barrier tokens are a unique feature in Great Western Trail: Argentina. These tokens are placed on the game board at the start of the game, and they limit player movement. Players can remove barrier tokens by using certain actions or by paying a cost. Once a barrier token is removed, it cannot be placed back on the board.

5. End of Game: The game ends when the Job Market is empty. Players then calculate their final scores based on the cattle they have herded, the workers they have hired, the provinces they have acquired, and the barriers they have removed.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies:

Plan Ahead: Great Western Trail: Argentina is a game that rewards long-term planning. Try to strategize your moves multiple turns ahead to maximize your points.
Balance Your Herd: Having a diverse herd can be beneficial in this game. It allows for more options when selling cows and can provide a healthy income stream.
Utilize the Gaucho: The Gaucho can be a valuable resource. Use them to gain influence in different areas and to gain additional benefits during the game.

Beginner Tips:

Start Simple: If you’re new to the game, focus on mastering the basic mechanics before diving into more complex strategies. Understand the importance of each action and how they can contribute to your overall strategy.
Use your Coins Wisely: Coins are a limited resource. Make sure to use them wisely and only when necessary. They can be crucial in the end game scoring.
Don’t Ignore the Market: The market can be a great source of income and resources. Be sure to check it regularly and take advantage of any profitable opportunities.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Ignoring the Train: The train can provide significant benefits, but it’s easy to overlook. Ignoring the train can cause you to miss out on valuable opportunities.
Overlooking the Objective Cards: Objective cards can offer substantial rewards. However, they require careful planning and execution to achieve. Overlooking them can lead to missed scoring opportunities.
Spreading Yourself Too Thin: It’s easy to get caught up in trying to do everything in Great Western Trail: Argentina. However, spreading yourself too thin can prevent you from effectively executing your strategy.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Focus on Key Areas: Instead of trying to do a little bit of everything, focus on a few key areas where you can maximize your points.
Manage Your Resources: Effective resource management is crucial to success in this game. Always ensure you have enough resources to execute your planned actions.
Adapt Your Strategy: The game state can change rapidly in Great Western Trail: Argentina. Be ready to adapt your strategy based on the current game state and the actions of your opponents.