Go hands-on to create beautiful stained-glass windows in this standalone version of Sagrada! Compete with 2-4 players to play this legacy campaign consisting of 10 individual game challenges and see who can attain the best overall score after designing different windows with varying patterns, rules, and goals for each chapter.
To begin, each player receives their own book to personalize, which contains all the window patterns that are used during the campaign, records their progress, and stores any components and tools they receive. Among other items included are:
- Colored pencils, eraser, colored dice, and a bag to hold them.
- Lettered envelopes to open when instructed.
- Tuck boxes to house story cards, tool cards, and other cards removed from the game during the campaign.
- A packet of windows maps to be used for additional play after the campaign.
- Rulebook and cathedral board.
As with the other games and expansions in the Sagrada series, players draft colored dice to determine which numbers and colors are available to them each round and use the colored pencils to draw in the numbers and colors on the corresponding pattern page in their book. There are tools to help overcome some of the challenges when placement restrictions and dice available don’t work with available pattern areas. You can play just one or several games in each session and pick up a new chapter at any time.
At the end of each game, players add their scores to determine a winner. The winner gains legacy points that can be added to their overall point total and the opportunity to sign the back of the cathedral board. Players get rewards such as tool cards that can be used in future games and coins that can be spent at the market, where players can upgrade their overall game by marking off spaces along three distinct tracks. Once all 10 games are completed, the winner is the player with the highest total score.
Sagrada Artisans is a great legacy implementation for fans of the base game but could be a little overwhelming for those new to the Sagrada system. After playing this game, here are my thoughts:
- I would recommend playing the base Sagrada game and learning the basic placement rules before playing Sagrada Artisans to make it easier to comprehend overall.
- There may be times when you wonder why you have not been given relevant information or items needed as a current chapter starts to wrap up. Rest assured that when you move to the next chapter, the information or items you need will be revealed. If you do feel “stuck” with the rulebook, there is a link to a helpful video to help get you going as you work on the first game.
- As the story progresses through chapters, new rules are added, and you will need to keep track of more things. Some players might feel like they are juggling a bit, but if you slow your pace, you will find that these added rules and items (such as tools) help balance the game and give players aids to catch up if they are lagging. Those who value winning more than just enjoying the experience of this game might not like the aids given to help those whose scores fall behind.
- Don’t worry too much about making a few “mistakes.” Enjoy the variety of windows to create and the journey through new experiences provided.