Splendor

Splendor is in my top ten of games.  Ranked 7th in my game collection list at present.

GAME OVERVIEW
During the game, the players take gem and gold tokens.  With these tokens, they purchase cards which can be worth points and help towards purchasing more cards.  If a player has a bunch of certain cards, a noble will visit them giving them even more points.  As soon as a player reaches 15 points, the current turn ends and they player with the most points is the winner.

WHAT I LIKE

• It is easy to teach.
• The artwork.
• The tactile feel of the gem chips, (you can't help playing with them between turns)
• It is fun with about the right amount of thinking involved to make it interesting.
• It doesn't take too long for people who are new to playing board games, about 30 to 40 minutes.
• Gems!!
• There is nothing I have to niggle about it.  I like it, full stop.

THINGS YOU ARE LIKELY TO HEAR WHILE PLAYING IT
"That's the card I want!"
"Click clickety click" (Players playing with their gem chips).
Various comments about favorite gem stones.
"There is no more of the gems I need!  Who's got them all!?"
"Hurry up and spend those gems, I need them!"
"Don't think you're too good for us now, just 'cos your the only one with a visiting noble."
"15 points already!!  How?"
Beware the silent players, they are probably doing really well.

GAME AUTHOR: Marc Andre'
ARTIST: Pascal Quidault