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The ancient city of Merv. A gateway between the East and the West. A hub of scholarship and trade. The greatest city in the world.
In Merv: The Heart of the Silk Road players are vying to amass power and wealth in the prosperous city at the centre of the land. Through careful court intrigue, timely donations to the grand mosque, and securing favourable trade deals, players attempt to redirect as much of that prosperity as possible into their own pockets.
Meanwhile, beyond the city walls Mongol hordes approach. If you help construct the city walls you give up on precious opportunities to build up your own stature, but leave it unprotected and you will burn with the city. Every decision is weighty and the consequences of each misstep are dire. Will you rise to prominence or fade into oblivion?
Number of players: 1-4
Ages: 14+
Play time: 90 - 120 minutes
Components: Board, 25 tiles, 48 cards, 100+ wooden pieces, 100+ tokens
Merv
Fabio Lopiano and Ian O'Toole
Designed by Fabio Lopiano and with graphic design and illustrations by Ian O'Toole, Merv is a tense economic game charting the rise and fall of what was once the greatest city in the world. Through trade and politics players build their wealth and power, but it could all come to nothing if they do not defend the city against the approaching Mongol hordes.
Game Details
Imprint: Osprey Games
Publication Date: 26-11-2020About the Designer
Having enjoyed a distinguished programming career, working for Google, Facebook, and DeepMind, Fabio Lopiano has recently turned his attention toward game design. With several well received and critically acclaimed titles in the last few years, including Calimala and Ragusa, Fabio is widely considered one of the most promising up and coming designers in the UK.
Having grown up in Sicily, and studied in Tuscany, Fabio now lives in London, UK.
Ian O'Toole is an Irish graphic designer and illustrator working out of Perth in Western Australia, particularly acclaimed for his work on titles such as Lisboa and The Gallerist. Focused primarily on tabletop gaming, Ian?s work combines his experience in concise visual communication with his flexible approach to illustrationRights Sold
Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Spanish