One of my favorite elements of board games is the concept of pushing your luck, of delaying longer and longer for a sweeter prize, but knowing that each delay increased the risk of things exploding in your stupid, stupid face. Jaipur is one of the smoothest executions of that concept I’ve ever seen, seeing two players carefully plucking silks, spices, gems, and more out of a market crowded with smelly camels and a mysterious panda. The panda has nothing to do with the game, it’s just a really strange addition.
As you snatch up goods to sell later, the puzzle of Jaipur pops into perspective. If you sell a single good early in the game, it’ll be worth much more, as the market has yet to be swamped with Emeril’s Seafood Delight Seasoning (I’m assuming that’s what the spices are). But, if you’re patient, and are able to collect sets of three, four, or five of a particular good, you get a bonus, gobbling up large chunks of points.
Games that offer me interesting decisions will always have a place on my shelf, and Jaipur is crammed to the gills with interesting decisions. Do you sell that gold now, or wait in desperate hope that two more appear? How many camels are too many camels? Is it really morally wrong for you to stab your friend with a board game box for grabbing those silks that you needed because he’s clearly a jerk who was raised with poor morals? Jaipur may not look like much, but it will definitely surprise you.
And seriously, what the hell is up with the panda?
- Dietrich Stogner
As you snatch up goods to sell later, the puzzle of Jaipur pops into perspective. If you sell a single good early in the game, it’ll be worth much more, as the market has yet to be swamped with Emeril’s Seafood Delight Seasoning (I’m assuming that’s what the spices are). But, if you’re patient, and are able to collect sets of three, four, or five of a particular good, you get a bonus, gobbling up large chunks of points.
Games that offer me interesting decisions will always have a place on my shelf, and Jaipur is crammed to the gills with interesting decisions. Do you sell that gold now, or wait in desperate hope that two more appear? How many camels are too many camels? Is it really morally wrong for you to stab your friend with a board game box for grabbing those silks that you needed because he’s clearly a jerk who was raised with poor morals? Jaipur may not look like much, but it will definitely surprise you.
And seriously, what the hell is up with the panda?
- Dietrich Stogner
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