Taj Mahal

It takes about half the first game to understand, and then takes a couple more to get the strategy. After that, it is a really fun experience.

Game was shipped in a thin plastic bag and arrived with a damaged box. Amazon games frequently arrive with damage, I would recommend buying from a different supplier that takes more care with their packaging.The game itself is great!

Hard to believe Taj Mahal has been around for nearly 20 years. If you have a previous printing of the game, there's probably no reason to have this one. You still get those cool stackable plastic palaces. The only changes (aside from the art) are that the crown is now a cardboard support instead of a plastic ring, and the black pawns have been replaced by a cardboard tower that elevates the current province token. If you are relatively new to hobby board games and want a definitive Euro-style game, this classic Reiner Knizia design is a solid pick for up to 5 players.Turns are very simple. You either play a card to extend your visit to the current province, or you withdraw from the province and possibly score some points. You score by placing a palace in the current province, which happens as a result of you having the most of certain types of symbols in your line of cards at the time you withdraw. Having the most elephants earns you the province token, which also scores you points for the symbols on it. You might also score points by having a chain of palaces through several provinces, or by having previously collected tokens with identical symbols to what you just snagged. Points are tallied after 12 rounds regardless of the number of players, so expect the game length to vary at about 15 minutes per player after setting up.For a game with such simple mechanics, you have a lot to think about each round. It's a fine mix of tactics and strategy, as you weigh the benefits of maximizing points on your current turn versus setting up for some huge come-from-behind scores in the final few rounds. I also recommend Knizia's other classics: Through the Desert (emphasis on chain-building), Ra (bidding for limited actions), and Samurai (area control without dice).

Product delivered in good quality.