Arabian

1598. Yspahan the fair becomes the capital of the Persian empire. Thus, being placed at the center of the world, the city enjoys a period of cultural and economic blossoming. The cities and villages of the region intend to take advantage of this expansion. Caravans loaded with goods and jewels set out for the desert, bearing the promises of a radiant future....

The players embody merchants trading with Yspahan. Meaning to take advantage of the coming of the Shah’s supervisor, they score points by placing their merchandise in the right shops, by sending them to the caravan, and by constructing buildings.

In Yspahan, players draft their action for the turn in order, but a roll of the dice determines which actions are available and how powerful they will be. You can earn points in the short-term by claiming shops in the city or by sending your traders to the caravan. You can also improve your infrastructure by constructing buildings that improve your actions or picking up action cards that give you extra options. Every 7 turns (each "week"), points are scored in the city and caravan, and after 3 weeks, the wise traders will see who among them has profited the most....

Each player attempts to score the most points by snaking caravan routes through the desert, trying to reach oases and blocking off sections of the desert. Many people feel that it is reminiscent of Go.

Publisher's Description
From the award-winning game designer Reiner Knizia comes a game of strategy, patience, and cool plastic camels! The desert is still treacherous, mysterious, and without mercy. But for those willing to risk the dangers of the shifting, sun-baked sands, the desert holds riches beyond compare.
In Through the Desert, two to five players each control a tribe of nomads vying for control of the desert. By establishing caravans and taking over oases, the players gain points as their tribes increase in power.
Strategy is essential in deciding how and where to build your tribe's caravans. There are multiple ways to gain points and several ways to win. Should you try to build the longest caravan? Or should you dominate the desert's oases? Don't forget to keep an eye on your opponents' caravans, or you may find your own tribe cut off from valuable water holes.

Through the Desert is part of the so called Knizia tile-laying trilogy.

Each player will lead a group of thieves and try to gain the best booty for them. But the treasure is hidden in the palaces of Baghdad and is well guarded. Therefore, the leaders slip their men into the guards corps and try to bribe the rest of the guards. The player who plays his cards the best and reacts the most cleverly to the different situations will be successful in getting his thieves and guards well distributed in Baghdad, and therefore be the first to get four pieces of treasure.

Description from http://www.spieltest.at

Follow the Pilgrim on the path to Mecca, capturing wild camels, goats, donkeys and horses on the way. The desert shifts -- don't let your herds get lost in the desert! In cities along the way you can sell your animals and find new handlers to help you capture different animals. When you reach Mecca, the Nomad who makes the largest offering to Allah wins the game!

Choose a first player. Players will take turns in clockwise order. On a turn, you will move your Nomad (or not), use Handlers to capture or call wild animals, shift the desert, or sell your animals in the cities. Nomads must keep moving to avoid being lost in the desert, and the Pilgrim travels constantly toward Mecca. When the players reach Mecca, the Nomad who is able to make the most generous offering becomes most blessed in the eyes of Allah and wins the game.

72 Dinar cards 43x66mm

In Emira the players are Arabian Sheiks looking to expand their harem with more princesses. They try to make themselves more attractive to convince as many princesses as possible to come to live in their harem. Each round, another princess with different preferences comes into play and chooses the sheik that she is most attracted to.

The game is played in several rounds. The 3 to 5 players have auctions where they bid to perform actions: play event cards, buying spice caravans, palace sections, camels, or improve his appearance and status. After all players have performed an action the princess will chose which sheik she prefers (according to her preferences).

Each player has a goal card that defines his goal for the game, for example acquire 4 princesses with three specific skills or 6 princesses.

1st Place 2004 Hippodice Spieleautorenwettbewerb (as Harem).