Learn to Play: Cyclades and Santorini! Games About Greek Islands (and building things on them)

Join us at Pandemonium for a slightly different 3-hour session to learn and play one of two very different games about building things on Greek Islands. You’re especially welcome if you’ve never before played hobby board games (and are curious about where to start).

Hello, all – or, as you might say in Ancient Greek, Χαιρετε! This weekend, we’re featuring games set in Ancient Greece that, coincidentally, both involve islands. As mentioned, however, they are very different: one is about conquest and expansion, and the other is about putting domes on top of buildings.

In Cyclades: Legendary Edition, 2-5 players will compete to see who can be the first among them to hold enough territory to build four metropolises – despite the navies, armies, and characters of Greek mythology your opponents will be using to prevent you from doing so (good thing you have those too!). In some ways the game is about holding and developing territory while under attack, but it’s much less chaotic than that may sound. Key to the entire game is a bidding mechanism where you aim to win the favor of the gods to accomplish certain tasks, immediately injecting the game with political and social intrigue. It’s a clever and strategic game, well enough loved to inspire this second edition!

And speaking of second editions, we’ll also be featuring Santorini: Second Edition (1-4 players)! Although this is an abstract game at its core (if you remember Block Dude, just think of it in 3D), it’s lovingly themed to Greek mythology, promising an easy-to-learn, but difficult-to-master competitive experience. Plus, we’ll have access to Santorini: Riddle of the Sphinx, the cooperative, ongoing adventure book recently released for the game, if you’d rather play side-by-side rather than head-to-head after learning the base game.

So if you think you might like either of these games, come on out! And if you prefer your games less insular (an etymology pun), stay tuned to the Events Calendar for future announcements about our next board game event.

RULES FOR ATTENDING: 

• Proof of vaccination is no longer required. If COVID levels rise, masking will be required. We will make an announcement about this on our website and social media if re-instated. 
• Photos may be taken at events to be used in our social media or promotional materials. Please inform the staff member running the event if you do not want your photo taken.
• Advance online registration is required.
• Anyone not registered in an ongoing event will not be allowed in the event space to maintain capacity limits.
• Food is not allowed in our event space. Drinks are allowed.