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Dreaming Spires

Colleges in Oxford

Oxford, City of Dreaming Spires, thus named for the architecture of its colleges - you lead one of these colleges from the founding times of Richard the Lionheart into modern times. In four eras - Medieval, Enlightenment, Imperial and Modern - you play two rounds each; before the first round the new era is prepared with new Event and Scholar cards as well as new money for all players.

In each of the two rounds of an era the Chancellor reveals an event card for later resolving and then all players, beginning with the Chancellor, have four actions in any order, even one action several times: Build, admit a Scholar, use a so far unused Scholar or draw a coin. Then the event previously revealed is auctioned according to the notation on the card - this is meant to represent rivalry among colleges - and resolved by the winner, he is also Chancellor for the next round. At the end of the round a scoring evaluates reputation on Subjects and in relation to Fellows, Students or Tradition. Buildings - tiles you placed - represent advantages of a college, represented by completed icons; advantages are used to attract famous persons which in turn raise the reputation of the college. Events are historical ones, for instance Building of the Ashmolean Museum.

This is a game for enthusiasts or connoisseurs, not as regards to playing the game, but as regards to the topic. If you are interested in Oxford and its history, you will enjoy the game and meet lots of famous persons - who thinks of Oxford when Tolkien is mentioned - he held the Chair of Merton Professor of English Language and Literature there.

Players: 3-5

Age: 14+

Time: 90+

Designer: Jeremy Hogan

Artist: Jessie Price, Amber Anderson

Price: ca. 50 Euro

Publisher: Secret Games Company 2014

Web: www.secretgamescompany.com

Genre: Tile placement, development

Users: With friends

Version: en

Rules: en

In-game text: yes

Comments:

Kickstarter project with game salute

Attractive components

Rare, alluring topic

Simple basic rules

Compares to:

Tile placement games, first game of its kind with this topic

Other editions:

Currently none

Chance (pink): 2

Tactic (turquoise): 2

Strategy (blue): 0

Creativity (dark blue): 0

Knowledge (yellow): 0

Memory (orange): 0

Communication (red): 0

Interaction (brown): 2

Dexterity (green): 0

Action (dark green): 0