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Description
In the 15th and 16th century, Portugal is thriving under its leading role during the Age of Discovery. Nestled in the heart of Portugal, the city of Coimbra serves as a cultural center of the country. As the head of one of Coimbra's oldest houses, you seek to earn prestige by deepening relationships with nearby monasteries or funding expeditions of the era. To reach this goal, you must vie for the favors of the city's most influential citizens, even if you must offer a bit of coin or some protective detail.
Coimbra introduces an innovative new dice mechanism in which the dice players draft each round are used in multiple different ways and have an impact on many aspects of their decision making. While there are many paths to victory, players should always seek to optimize their opportunities with every roll of the dice. Combined with ever-changing synergies of the citizens, expeditions, and monasteries, no two games of Coimbra will ever be the same!
Year Published
2018
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 7
This page: 7
Sentiment:
pos 7 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–7 of 7
Video JS70yFHwWCw
Going Analog general_discussion at 7:17 sentiment: positive
video_pk 13361 · mention_pk 39194
Click to watch at 7:17
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- beautiful art and production value
- deep, multi-layered engine-building with interesting interaction
- quite replayable for Euro-game fans
Cons
- heavy for casual players
- rule complexity can hinder quick teach/learning
Thematic elements
- economic and social engine-building in a 18th–19th century Iberian context
- Portugal; historical urban elite life, with a focus on social maneuvering and influence
- euro-style game with layered action economy and engine-building
Comparison games
- Orléans
- Caverna
- Puerto Rico
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- 3D buildings and tactile components — Miniature buildings and visually rich components enhance the thematic feel
- Dice drafting/placement — Dice are drafted and placed to trigger actions and progression on a layered board
- multi-layer action economy — Die color and position affect cost and activation order across several tracks
- resource management and engine building — Acquire resources and assemble engines that generate ongoing benefits
- worker placement-like cog system — Players place cogs/henchmen on a multi-layered action track to activate effects
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Gen Con is North America's biggest game convention - in tabletop gaming.
- I hate that from working in video games when I hear the word cog the first thing I think of is cost of goods.
- There's a lot of panels and places for people to learn how to paint miniatures.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video LkLlnqhP3ks
The Dice Tower top_100_list at 11:12 sentiment: positive
video_pk 5796 · mention_pk 17121
Click to watch at 11:12
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Layered dice drafting as a strategic engine-building tool
- Versatile engine with many viable routes
Cons
- Dice drafting can feel punishing if luck swings
- Rulebook can be intimidating to newcomers
Thematic elements
- Political influence, religion, and exploration
- Renaissance Portugal with noble families
- Dice drafting as a core strategic puzzle
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card_cycle_and_actions — Dice values influence action costs and availability; high value costs more
- city_area_placement — Dice are placed in four city areas and resolved by value
- dice_drafting — Players draft dice of different colors to influence tracks and turns
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The joy of Power Grid comes from the economic planning and watching what the other players are doing.
- The better you're doing, the later in turn order you go.
- One of the key gameplay mechanisms for me is I always have to be anticipating the future actions and making my board ready to take full advantage of it.
- The game does an excellent job of blending dice drafting, tile placement, and engine building into a satisfying strategic puzzle.
- This game is a feast for Odin.
- The engine building and kind of a deck builder. The theme is pretty shaky for this one.
- What sets this game apart is the time aspect.
- The joy of this one is seeing what cards you have to work with and coming up with a long-term strategy, but being agile enough that if you get cards that may be a better engine or scoring, you can pivot midame, maybe even pivot several times during the game to figure out what's best for you.
- The dice drafting is not just about luck. It is a layer decision-making puzzle.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 8kM76YpNW_E
Carat Rhino game_review at 0:04 sentiment: positive
video_pk 2694 · mention_pk 7918
Click to watch at 0:04
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Robust and innovative dice drafting mechanic
- Easy to understand with multiple paths to victory
- Beautiful, colorful art
- Strong integration of mechanics affecting income, influence, and scoring
- High player interaction through bidding and card choices
Cons
- No major downsides discussed in the clip; potential complexity for newcomers
- Requires strategic planning and anticipation; can be punishing for mistakes
Thematic elements
- influence, prestige, and city-building in a competitive social-diplomatic context
- Portugal during the Age of Discovery, Coimbra as the cultural and political hub
- historical-tinged board game with economic and political maneuvering
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- area_and_resource_management — City locations, pilgrim map, and resources (shells, coins, guards) are managed for scoring.
- card_draft_and_placement — Each round features unique character cards available for bidding; ownership yields benefits.
- dice_drafting — Roll dice and place them to bid for actions; higher bribe determines turn order and card acquisition.
- influence_tracks — Colored dice activate corresponding influence tracks to grant guards, money, or points.
- round-based_scoring — Player scores accrue from voyages, diplomas, influence bonuses, and tiles; ends after four rounds.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a really good dice drafting euro game set in a beautiful city in Portugal its Coimbra the game
- the dice drafting mechanic is the heart of the game its innovative and it offers a very refreshing feel to it
- Coimbra I'm up for playing it anytime
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video LUWGaJh8m-g
Board Game Geek Podcast top_5_list at 38:36 sentiment: positive
video_pk 2136 · mention_pk 6266
Click to watch at 38:36
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Elegant, bright production with a distinctive style
- Tight optimization and planning
- Strong interaction via shared action economy
Cons
- Steep teach for new to mid-weight euros
- Can reward perfect information and planning more than playful exploration
Thematic elements
- economic competition and social climbing in a historical setting
- Portuguese city of Coimbra; social and cultural influence
- classic euro with thematic flair
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card drafting — Players draft action cards to influence their actions and timing.
- multi-path scoring — Points can be earned through several routes, not a single linear track.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- It's like a board game summer camp at a hotel.
- You just get so much gaming in.
- Board game goals. I like that.
- It's always a lot of fun when you find the right people.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video gmEru-yOBzM
Chairman of the Board game_review at 4:50 sentiment: positive
video_pk 311 · mention_pk 940
Click to watch at 4:50
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Innovative and intuitive dice-drafting mechanism
- Deep yet balanced engine-building with multiple viable paths
- High replayability via voyages and variable track values
- Excellent production value (dice, components, visuals, and storage)
- Smooth game flow with manageable downtime and engaging pacing
- Strong player agency; tight, tense decisions without excessive downtime
- Clear footprint and approachable for medium-weight euros
- Nice integration of color and pips into strategic choices
- Minimal rules friction; quick setup and solid rule comprehension
- Strong thematic flavor despite abstract presentation
Cons
- Theme is abstract and may not appeal to players seeking a strong narrative
- Occasional AP can creep in due to multiple paths and card interactions
- Some players may prefer more direct interaction or competition for spots
- Publishing and designer credit not clearly defined in the transcript context
Thematic elements
- abstract engine-building driven by color-coded dice
- abstract euro game setting with historical flavor, not strongly defined
- Array
Comparison games
- Lorenzo il Magnifico
- Grand Austria Hotel
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- dice drafting — draft dice to acquire cards and climb different tracks
- engine building — combine card effects to grow your engine and gain resources
- initiative and crowns — player order is influenced by crowns; last round rewards impact next turn order
- resource/track management — manage income, military, merchants, and victory points across color tracks
- set collection / endgame bonuses — collect specific items (rosettes) to trigger endgame scoring
- variable scoring and voyages — voyages and track values shift per game, enhancing replayability
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I'm really really impressed by the kind of innovativeness of it
- the game flows very very smoothly from one face the next
- this is definitely staying my shot
- Coimbra a fantastic amazing game
- if you like your medium weight euros this is one definitely to check out
- a real real success of 2018
- I've got no complaints whatsoever from what I've paid
- the track values are balanced and the variability really spices things up
- the engine really starts to click and it's incredibly satisfying
- it doesn't feel like a race; you can play at your own pace and still feel competitive
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video K8GCx6Vavdc
Unknown Channel top_20_list at 7:59 sentiment: positive
video_pk 239 · mention_pk 686
Click to watch at 7:59
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- genius engine-building
- enjoyable dice drafting
Cons
- weight may deter lighter gamers
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- dice drafting with color selection — Dice values and dice color influence card acquisition and track advancement.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- mind was a big hit for me in 2018
- this is the second Wolfgang Warsch game
- Gloomhaven really did blow me away
- absolutely genius mechanisms
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 3g94C0Im4XY
Unknown Channel top_10_list at 13:06 sentiment: positive
video_pk 276 · mention_pk 849
Click to watch at 13:06
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Pleasing dice mechanic integration
- Engaging map progression
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Dice drafting with map progression
- Duke-narrative map-based
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- dice drafting — Use dice to activate regions and advance on the map
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- card drafting to the forefront of gaming mechanisms
- it's very difficult but again if you especially love the Lord of the Rings this is one to definitely sink your teeth into
- this really is a family weight game you can play this one with just about anybody
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–7 of 7