Lords of Vegas
Designed by: James Ernest,Mike Selinker
In Lords of Vegas players take on the role of casino owners in 1950s Las Vegas, fighting for the most financially lucrative spots on and around the central boulevard. But, as appropriate for a game about gambling, much of the play is determined by rolling dice.
The casinos are divided up into different colours and at the start of every turn a particular colour (revealed from a deck of cards) will pay out. So at the outset there is risk-taking in what colour casinos you choose to build, but as the game progresses this element becomes more strategic, because all players will be aware of what colour ‘payout’ cards are still to come. When building casinos you put a die on it of your own colour to show that you own it, and the game board itself specifies what the value of this die is.
Building casinos is just one option on your turn, however. Casinos can expand, and when casinos of the same colour join up they become one large casino. The player with the highest die value showing is the casino boss, and consequently takes any points winnings when the casino pays out (cash is shared according to the pips on all dice in the casino). But players can also ‘re-organize’ – paying a fee for the privilege of re-rolling all dice in the casino, hoping to get a favourable result that makes them the boss instead.
They can also trade casinos with each other and gamble in each other’s casinos. If gambling, or dice, or just the flavour of high-rolling in Vegas has any appeal, then Lords of Vegas is a winner.
Sam says
Lords of Vegas is a game that throws strategy out of the window and forces everyone to play reactively, adapting to the landscape of the board as it changes and gamble, literally, on things going their way. It tends not to reward conservative play, but encourage risk-takers to do their thing. As a result you can certainly feel the burn of bad fortune – it’s absolutely not a game devoid of chance, and being lucky will help you win. If that doesn’t frustrate though, it’s a hugely fun experience of swings from last to first and back again – how lucky do you feel?
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Take That!
Everyone is jostling for position, and players can find themselves on the receiving end, losing control of casinos and missing out on the big pay-outs.
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Fidget Factor!
It's reasonably fast and you need to keep an eye on what the other players are doing.
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Brain Burn!
At first it may appear a game of pure luck, but playing reveals actually there is room for strategy. But nothing that should make the game grind to a halt.
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Again Again!
Lords of Vegas is fast and fun, and the random elements of payout cards and dice rolls means it's never the same.
