El Capitán

Build warehouses, send merchants across Renaissance cities and fight for the best payday in a rebuilt Tycoon.

Designers: Wolfgang Kramer, Horst-Rainer Rösner
Published by: Quined White Goblin Games
Editions by: Z-Man Games, Ystari Games, Pro Ludo

El Capitán is a reworked version of Tycoon, now for two to five players instead of two to four. It is a game of merchant travel and area majority in the age of the Renaissance, and the new edition changes a lot: re-grouped cities on the board, a new payout table, three fresh Distribution Cards, new rules for forts and loans, and up to twelve warehouses in a city (but no more than three in a row). You start with 20 florins rather than 15, and a start player figure moves after every payday. The first expansion, Portuguese Powers, is included. A 2007 game for people who like economics over combat, around seventy-five minutes.

Reworked Tycoon for two to five playersUp to twelve warehouses per cityIncludes the Portuguese Powers expansion

Who it's for

You like area-majority trade games where timing a payday matters, and you want a Tycoon with updated rules.

Not for you if…

You want a very light game with few choices. There are loans, forts and warehouse limits to track.

Vibe's take

A calculating, patient trade game. You pick your cities, build up a business and wait for the payday that pays out your majorities.