Dice Town board game brings the Wild West to your tabletop, combining poker-inspired dice rolling with strategic resource management. This creation invites 2-5 players to compete for frontier riches in about an hour of play. Let’s saddle up and explore what this rootin’ tootin’ game has to offer.
Overview of Dice Town Board Game
Dice Town is a Wild West-themed board game designed by Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc, published by Matagot in 2009. This game corrals 2-5 players for about 45-60 minutes of frontier fun. Aimed at players aged 14 and up, Dice Town brings the spirit of the Old West to your gaming table with a unique blend of dice rolling, poker hands, and resource management. Although all these elements exist separately in many different types of board games, they work perfectly together in this game. Dice Town is one of the top gateway board games, perfect for introducing new players to the hobby.
Theme and Setting
Set in a bustling frontier town, Dice Town immerses players in the roles of pioneering settlers looking to strike it rich. From panning for gold to robbing the local bank, players use their dice-rolling skills and a dash of luck to become the most successful resident of this colorful Western outpost.
Dice Town Game Mechanics
Dice Town’s mechanics revolve around dice rolling and set collection, with a poker-inspired twist. Here’s how it all shakes out:
Dice Rolling and Poker Hands
Each player begins their turn by rolling five custom dice, which represent a poker hand. Players can then choose to re-roll some or all of their dice up to two more times (the player has to pay 1$ to re-roll), aiming for the best possible combination. The final results determine which actions players can take.
Actions Based on Dice Results
The final dice results determine which actions players can take:
- 9s: Claim gold nuggets – The player with the most 9s gets to take gold nuggets from the mine.
- 10s: Gain money from the bank – The player with the most 10s receives the money from the bank.
- Jacks: Draw cards from the General Stores – The player with the most Jacks draws cards from the General Store deck.
- Queens: Steal cards from other players – The player with the most Queens can steal a card from one opponent.
- Kings: Become the Sheriff – The player with the most Kings becomes the Sheriff, gaining a special ability.
- Aces: Claim property cards – The player with the most Aces gains nothing however if they have the best poker hand, they get to take extra card for each ace they have.
The player with the most of each face value gets to perform the corresponding action.
Tiebreakers and Doc Badluck
In case of ties for majority, the Sheriff decides who wins. It is at this point that the players can bribe the sheriff with money gold nuggets and even property card in order to make him choose them. The player who didn’t win anything this round gets to visit Doc Badluck for a consolation prize. Since rewards stay the same at higher player count like 4 or 5 players the game gets more competitive and some players might find themselves visiting doc badluck more than others.
Dice Town Board Game Components
Dice Town comes with a variety of high-quality components that bring the Wild West theme to life:
- 1 game board representing the town
- 25 custom dice (5 per player in different colors)
- 5 dice cups
- Gold nugget tokens
- General Store cards
- Property claim cards
- Money tokens
- 1 Sheriff badge token
- 5 player aid cards
The game board is beautifully illustrated, depicting various locations in the town. The custom dice are high-quality and feature Old West-themed icons instead of standard pips. Dice cups provide a thematic way to roll dice. Gold nuggets and money tokens are made of sturdy cardboard. The General Store and property cards are well-designed with clear text and artwork.
Dice Town Set-up
To set up Dice Town, place the game board in the center of the table. Each location on the board corresponds to a specific dice face:
- Gold Mine (9s): Place gold nugget tokens here.
- Bank (10s): Stack the money tokens nearby.
- General Store (Jacks): Shuffle the General Store cards and place them face-down
- Sheriff’s Office (Kings): Place the Sheriff badge here.
- Property Office (Aces): Arrange property claim cards face-up.
Board Locations
Let’s take a stroll through the vibrant locations of Dice Town:
Gold Mine (9s): This is where fortune-seekers flock to strike it rich! The player with the most 9s gets to grab gold nuggets from this location. The more 9s you roll, the more nuggets you’ll collect each round.
Bank (10s): Need some cash? The bank’s the place to be! Rolling the most 10s lets you withdraw money from this fine establishment. The higher your roll, the fatter your wallet becomes.
General Store (Jacks): Step right up to the General Store, where rolling the most Jacks lets you draw cards. These cards offer various bonuses and special abilities that can turn the tide of the game.
Saloon (Queens): The player with the most queens gets to choose any card, but there’s a catch… The player can see the cards (depending on the number of queens) of the opponent he chooses and choose only one.
Sheriff’s Office (Kings): Law and order in Dice Town is maintained at the Sheriff’s Office. Roll the most Kings, and you’ll get to pin on that shiny Sheriff’s badge, gaining a powerful ability for the round.
Property Office (Aces): Want to own a piece of Dice Town? The Property Office is your destination. The player with the best poker hand gets to claim a valuable property card, which can be worth big points at the end of the game. For every ace that the winning player has he/she gets another faceup property card.
Doc Badluck’s Office: Located in the center of town, this is where players with the worst dice rolls go for a consolation prize. Even bad luck has its perks in Dice Town!
Summarizing Points
After the final round, it’s time to tally up the scores. Here’s how points are calculated:
- Gold Nuggets: Each nugget is worth 1 point.
- Money: Every $2 is worth 1 point (round down).
- Property Cards: Each card is worth its face value in points.
- General Store Cards: Some cards provide additional points.
- Property Sets: Bonus points are awarded for collecting sets of different properties.
Players add up all their points from these various sources. The settler with the highest total is declared the winner and the most successful citizen of Dice Town! In case of a tie, the player with the most gold nuggets wins. If there’s still a tie, the player with the most money claims victory.
Dice Town Gameplay
The game kicks off with all players simultaneously rolling their dice in cups. If you’re satisfied with your initial roll, you can keep all five dice. Re-rolling is free if you only keep one die, but there’s a cost for keeping more. For Keeping two or more dice and re-rolling them all there is fee, for each additional die you keep beyond the first, you must pay 1$ from your starting 8. Also if you keep none of them you must pay 1$. If any player decides to keep all five dice on their second or third roll, everyone else must also take a final re-roll, regardless of their preferences.
Once rolling is complete, resolution begins at the Gold Mine and proceeds through each location in order. At each spot, the player with the most corresponding dice faces gets to take the associated action. In case of ties, the current sheriff decides who will claim the prize.
Endgame and Finding a Winner
The final round of Dice Town is triggered when either the last gold nugget is claimed from the Gold Mine or the last Property Claim card is taken with no replacements available. Players complete the current round, ensuring everyone has had an equal number of turns.
Strengths of Dice Town
Dice Town has several strong points that make it a standout game:
- Accessible Gameplay: The rules are easy to learn, making it suitable for both casual gamers and more experienced players.
- Thematic Integration: The Wild West theme is well-integrated into the mechanics, creating an immersive experience.
- Varied Strategies: Multiple paths to victory allow for different strategies and playstyles.
- Humor and Fun: The game’s lighthearted approach and humorous elements make for an enjoyable gaming experience.
Weaknesses of Dice Town
While Dice Town has many strengths, it’s not without its flaws:
- Luck Factor: The reliance on dice rolling can sometimes overshadow strategy, which may frustrate more tactically-minded players.
- Downtime in Larger Games: With five players, turns can sometimes drag, leading to periods of downtime for some participants.
- Limited Depth: Some experienced gamers might find the game lacking in long-term strategic depth after multiple plays.
Personal Opinion and Rating
After mulling over for some time, we can confidently say that this game is a barrel of laughs. Our group’s resident card shark, Mike, thought his poker skills would give him an edge, but the dice had other plans. His string of bad luck had us in stitches, especially when he kept ending up at Doc Badluck’s doorstep.
The highlight of the evening was when Sarah, normally the quietest of the bunch, suddenly turned into a cutthroat bandit. She used her Queens to steal cards left and right, cackling with glee as she amassed a small fortune. It was like watching a Western version of a heist movie unfold before our eyes.
One particularly memorable moment came when two players tied for the most Kings. The ensuing quick-draw contest (a rock-paper-scissors showdown we improvised) to determine who got the property card had us all on the edge of our seats. It added an unexpected layer of excitement to the game. Later we found out that this decision is made by the sheriff as well.
We at BoardGamesLand are tipping our hats to Dice Town with a solid 4 out of 5 stars. The game excels in creating a fun, thematic experience that’s easy to get into. The mix of luck and strategy keeps things interesting, and the various paths to victory ensure that no two games feel quite the same. The components are top-notch, and the artwork really brings the Wild West theme to life.
However, it loses a star due to the sometimes overwhelming luck factor and the lack of catch up mechanic. While these issues don’t derail the fun, they do prevent Dice Town from achieving perfection. Despite these minor hitches, it’s a game that’s found a permanent place in our collection, always ready for when we need a dose of frontier fun.
Final Thoughts
Dice Town successfully captures the spirit of the Wild West in a box, offering a delightful mix of luck, strategy, and player interaction. Its accessible rules and thematic elements make it a great choice for family game nights or as a lighter option for more serious gaming groups.
While it may not satisfy those looking for a deeply strategic game experience, Dice Town shines in creating memorable moments and encouraging player engagement. The various mechanics work together seamlessly, providing multiple paths to victory and ensuring that players remain invested throughout the game.
Whether you’re a experienced gamer or new to the hobby, Dice Town offers an entertaining journey to the frontier that’s worth experiencing. So gather your posse, roll those dice, and see who can become the most successful settler in Dice Town!
Have you tried your luck in Dice Town? We’d love to hear about your Wild West adventures in the comments below. Share your stories, strategies, and favorite moments from this dice-rolling frontier escapade!
