A SUBTLE STRATEGY GAME

FOR 2-5PLAYERS AGED 12 AND UP

FROM WOLFGANG KRAMER & RICHARD ULRICH

CONTENTS

Game board

5 Grandes (the large cubes) in 5 colors

155 Caballeros (the small cubes) in 5 colors (31 per color)

1 King (large black pawn)

1 Round marker (small black cube)

65 Power cards in 5 colors (numbered 1-13 in each color)

45 Action cards

9 Region cards (with rule summary on the backs)

5 Secret disks with pointers

1 Castle (Castillo)

2 Mobile scoreboards with the values “8/4/0“ and “4/0/0“

1 Sample game sheet

1 game rules

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The game is based on Spain in the 15th Century. There are twelve kingdoms, one county, one principality, and the Basque provinces. The country is made up of five ethnic groups: Spaniards, Basques, Galiciens, Catalans, and Mauren. The aristocracy, especially the Grandes, the high aristocracy, controlled events in Spain. However, the average aristocracy, the Caballeros, also enjoyed extensive powers. All regions wanted to develop their own power and influence. To this end, the Castles (Castillos) played an important role.

Pronunciation Note: In Spanish, the “ll“ is pronounced as a “y”;

Castillo = Castiyo; Caballero = Cabayero).

OBJECT OF THE GAME

In El Grande, each player is the Grande in one region. He is allied with 30 Caballeros. Each Grande attempts, to the benefit of Spain and for his own benefit, to extend his influence across the whole of Spain. To accomplish this, he must control the majority of Caballeros in as many regions as possible. The Grande who succeeds in this is on the path to success and winning the game.

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Rio Grande Games 80 manual Subtle Strategy Game For 2-5PLAYERS Aged 12 and UP, Contents, Historical Background