Objective of Istanbul
The objective of the game Istanbul is to be the first player to collect a certain number of rubies. The number of rubies required varies with the number of players. With 2 players, you need 6 rubies; with 3 players, you need 5 rubies; and with 4 or 5 players, you need 4 rubies.
Setup
- Setting up the board: The game consists of 16 square location tiles laid out in a 4x4 grid. Location tiles are double-sided, offering variability in how each game plays out.
- Placing rubies: Rubies are placed on specific locations such as the Gemstone Dealer and the Sultan's Palace.
- Money and Goods: Each player receives a player tableau, a merchant piece, five assistants, and a starting amount of Lira.
Gameplay
Istanbul is played in rounds. During a round, each player will perform a turn in the following phases:
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Move the merchant: Move your merchant up to two spaces in any direction on the board.
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Deploy or retrieve assistants:
- Deploy: Leave an assistant on the current location to perform the location's action.
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Retrieve: If you already have an assistant at a location, you can pick them up and perform the location's action again.
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Interact with other players: If there is another merchant on the same location, you must pay them 2 Lira to perform the action.
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Perform the location's action: This is the core of the game. Each location has a special function, such as gaining money, collecting goods, purchasing rubies, collecting additional action cards, etc.
Strategic Considerations
- Route Planning: As you must place or pick up assistants, it's important to plan an efficient route so you're not stranded without assistants.
- Interaction: Other players are a critical component of your strategy as their positioning can affect your moves.
- Optimization: Use location actions effectively and plan ahead, particularly regarding how much Lira and goods you need to obtain rubies.
Winning the Game
When a player collects the required number of rubies, the current round is completed so that all players have had an equal number of turns. The player with the most rubies wins. In the event of a tie, the player with the most money is the winner.
Istanbul requires both strategic planning and tactical adaptation to the actions of other players, allowing for a wide variety of play styles and unique experience each game.
