Terracotta Army

This is the first Essen release that left me with genuinely good impressions. The production has the familiar quality I expect from Board & Dice and, on the table, Terracotta Army looks exactly like what it is: a carefully made medium-weight euro that knows what it wants to do.

Here, we take on the roles of artists preparing the Terracotta Army. The main framework is worker placement, with a small dose of rondel: I choose actions, pay masters, and work toward building statues in the palace. The order of my choices matters, because the available actions, bonuses, and tracks need proper weighing rather than rushed moves.

Interaction mainly comes through competition for options, racing, and the cuts that can disrupt someone else’s plan. Thankfully, it does not turn into annoying take-that; it is more the honest kind of “I got to the thing you wanted first,” while the set bonuses give me another reason to watch carefully what everyone else is chasing. The result is a pleasant brain-burn, as I try to build my plan without letting the others take the right timing away from me.

The bonuses, tracks, and actions felt properly measured, and overall the game shows care and solid work. You will not get FOMO if it is missing from your collection, but there are certainly far worse new additions out there. For me, it is recommended.