San Juan (2nd Edition)

San Juan (2nd Edition) is a dynamic and strategic card game set in the vibrant colony of Puerto Rico. With a deck of 110 cards, players encounter production buildings such as indigo, sugar, tobacco, coffee and silver, as well as special buildings that can offer unique powers or extra victory points. Participants must manage their cards carefully, as they can be used both to construct buildings and as currency for future constructions. During the game, the goods produced are represented by face-down cards, adding a layer of strategy to resource management. Hand limits are applied, requiring players to think carefully about their actions each round. In this second edition, all the cards from the original game are included, along with new options from alea's Treasure Chest, except for the event cards from this expansion. A notable addition is "The Hut", a new building that rewards the player with an extra card when there are no sales during the merchant phase, offering a new dimension to game tactics. San Juan (2nd Edition) promises an experience rich in decisions and planning, making it an unmissable choice for card game lovers.

Age 10 + 60 min 2 to 4 players

BUY USA

BUY BRAZIL

Artists: Harald Lieske; Mia Steingräber

Designers: Andreas Seyfarth;

Date: 2014

Note: 7.7

Mechanics: Collecting Sets, Hand Management, Variable phase order, Follow Action, Action Selection

Topics: Economy / Production

Table of Contents
- How to Play
- Tips for playing
- Game mechanics
- Game components
- Additional Information

OBJECTIVE OF THE GAME

The main objective of the game San Juan (2nd Edition) is to accumulate as many victory points as possible by building a prosperous colonial city in Puerto Rico, using cards that represent buildings and crops. Players take turns selecting specific roles, such as builder, producer or merchant, which allow them to carry out strategic actions to develop their cities and maximize the efficiency of the constructions, seeking to achieve the highest score at the end of the game.

Tips for playing

Here are some tips for doing better in the game San Juan (2nd Edition):

Prioritize building the Mayor early in the game; this can speed up your building capacity throughout the match.
Use the Library Building when possible to double the benefits of your action selections.
The Altar is valuable if you can accumulate a lot of victory points quickly, but be careful not to sacrifice your deck's versatility.
The strategy of constructing buildings that generate resources automatically can give a significant economic advantage in the long term.
Combining the Palace with other high-value cards is an effective way to maximize your final points.
Pay attention to special buildings that grant permanent bonuses; they can level the playing field quickly.
It's important to manage your cards in hand efficiently; avoid being overwhelmed by options that you won't be able to play.
Try to predict your opponents' actions and block them when possible, especially if you see that they are putting together a powerful strategy.

Video about the game

GAME mechanics

Collecting Sets - In San Juan, players seek to build different buildings to maximize their score. Each type of building offers unique abilities or victory points, encouraging the collection of specific cards that complement each other or offer greater strategic advantages.
Hand Management - Players use cards both as resources to build and also to represent the buildings they want to erect. Efficiency in managing the cards in the hand, deciding which will be used as payment and which will be built, is crucial to success.
Variable Phase Order - In each round, the order of the phases is determined by the players' choice of function cards. This affects the sequence of production, construction and trade actions, adding an element of planning to the game, where players must anticipate their opponents' decisions.
Follow Action - When a player chooses a function card, all players have the opportunity to perform the basic action of that function. However, the player who chose the card performs an improved version of the action, encouraging the strategic choice of function cards.
Action Selection - Before each round, the players select function cards that determine the actions taken during that round. The choice of which card to select directly influences the opportunities available to all players, allowing tactical control over the possibilities of the game.