Board Game - Lacrimosa

Lacrimosa will shed light on these questions. For this is the name not only of one of the parts of Mozart's last work but also, perhaps, the most musical euro-strategy of modernity. The authors were so inspired by the personality of the genius composer that every element of the game resonates with his biography. The main role is played by the unusual mechanics of card play and the formation of the player's personal deck, while the luxurious design in the baroque style immerses you in the atmosphere of a European music salon. And yes, this is still a crisis euro!

The inconsolable widow of Mozart wants to write a biography of her great husband and finish his last work. For help, Constanze turns to wealthy patrons of the arts, who will be happy to share their money and stories to impress her. As patrons, you will begin the race for influence, eagerly recounting how you sponsored the composer's travels across Europe and commissioned musical works from him.

By laying out cards one by one in a two-layer tablet-wallet, you are essentially recording the history of Mozart's life. The cards in the upper slots of the tablet activate actions that can be performed immediately. This could be another journey of the maestro, a new musical masterpiece, a performance or sale of an opus, work on the biography, or the completion of the Requiem. Cards in the lower slots allow you to earn history points at the end of the round — resources that pay for actions.

On your turn, you play two cards from your hand, placing them in the upper and lower slots. Each memory card is divided into two parts and can be played in two ways. Thus, you will always have a difficult choice: what to do now, what to save for later, and which card to replace with a more powerful one since each player’s deck contains only nine memory cards.

— Only nine? — you might ask, puzzled.
— And always nine! — the authors of the game will answer. — And all but one will be played during the round.

The deck building here is indeed unusual. By acquiring a memory, you permanently remove the old one from the game. Thus, the size of the deck never changes, and sometimes you must sacrifice very good cards for future gain. Additionally, the new memory is not received in hand but is immediately played in the lower part of the tablet to earn history points. The action of the new card can only be used in the next round.

Interestingly, these history points are represented in the game in two formats: round tokens and markings on a special scale. And while you can have an unlimited number of the former, the scale has a limit and resets at the end of each round. This creates tension and forces you to constantly monitor the number of resources and their timely exchange.

Almost a third of the game field is occupied by a staff with familiar and unfamiliar scribbles for some. But everyone immediately understands: this is where music will happen, and the true fight for the authorship of the great master's last masterpiece will unfold! To make the most substantial contribution to the completion of the Requiem, pay for the composers' work, choose an instrument, and place your token in the corresponding field slot. At the end of the game, victory points are distributed among players based on their advantage in each part of the work. Mechanically, writing the Requiem resembles a territorial battle, while the feeling is akin to a race for inspiration against competitors. Successfully played notes are generously rewarded, while mistakes and misses mercilessly bruise the creator's ego.

Do you think that during your opponent's turn, you can calmly examine your (beautifully illustrated) cards and board or engage in small talk? Cast aside those illusions! Lacrimosa melodically pulls you into the tense gameplay and forces you to closely monitor your opponents' actions. Suddenly, they might snatch a valuable position right from under your nose, and you'll have to compose the entire score again? The competition reaches its highest note on the Requiem field, as there you can not only seize the initiative from another player but also outbid your own bet.

The game lasts five rounds — corresponding to Mozart's five creative periods, but the authors have hidden other references to the composer's biography in the game. For instance, the map of Europe marks the cities that the maestro actually visited, the opus cards contain the titles of real works, and the round bonuses correlate with key achievements of Mozart during that period. So, five epochs, four moves in each, seven notes in an octave — will you manage to weave a story better than others and perform your brilliant piece? Only one will win — the most successful patron who scores the highest number of victory points and wins Constanze's favor.

This is a game about vivid contrasts and tough decisions. Sometimes it seems that there are incredibly many options for action. You can give a concert at the Vienna Opera or compose a new opus, add a violin part to the Requiem or commission a piece in honor of a generous count… But there are never enough free carriages for the next trip, composers demand their fees, and there are so few talent points left that Mozart is no longer favored at court. And the more interesting it is to find original paths and build, note by note, unparalleled combinations.

Lacrimosa is a multifaceted strategy that will make your synapses not only crackle but also pleasantly resonate as you think through new tactics and options for action. There is plenty of variety and room for maneuver. The game changes depending on the number of players at the table; it is unlikely that all cards from the deck will make it out in a round, and the bonuses of the epochs and composers can be chosen independently or left to chance. Play solo or in an ensemble, tailor the part to yourself, just like a musical instrument or an entire orchestra, where the role of each performer is important.