Sankore: The Pride of Mansa Musa - We Just Played It!

Sankore is the latest game from Osprey Games and designers Fabio Lopiano and Mandela Fernandez-Grandon. This is the follow-up to Merv, but this is a far heavier experience. But will it be too heavy for some? Does it strike an amazing balance to find a wider audience?
We share everything you might want to know about the game, and try to give you an idea of who it's for, and who it might not be for. Check it out, and let us know what you think.
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[@BruceBelafonte]

That's Africa, not the middle east.

[@sporadic08]

Can you guys comment on how the two player game was? Did it feel good?

[@meeple]

I've played a few times now, and two of the games were at the 2-player count. I feel that the game gives enough to enjoy at any player count. I imagine that most players will find it best at 3 or 4 though, as I feel any game that involves fluctuating value of the things you score in the end can feel more dynamic with more players affecting it. But again, everyone who's played at our table at 2-players enjoyed that experience as well.

[@jeffmackey2740]

We've been looking forward to this game for awhile. Hopefully coming in January? Will just have to settle with a game or three of Merv over the holidays while ae wait. Would you compare this to / say it has a similar style to any other games?

[@stefanbauer7875]

Maybe I missed it. How does 1 turn look like? Taking a student and placing it somewhere for an action?

[@meeple]

We didn't really give a thorough turn overview, but on your turn, you take 2 DIFFERENT of the following actions: 1.Enrol a Student (taking a student from the main board, and placing it below one of your intro classes on your player board) 2. Establish an Advanced Class (taking any of the face up advanced classes from the display, and adding it to one of the appropriate spaces on your player board, and paying the same colored book as the class) 3. Teach a Class (this is sort of the "bigger" action of the game - moving a student onto a class, taking its bonuses, and then taking the corresponding action on the main board) 4. Graduate a Student (paying a book of the color of the student, and placing them at the top of your player board on top of the corresponding graduation tile) 5. Exchange a Favour (either taking a favor token in order to also take a bonus from the favor track, OR simply returning a favor token from your player board)

[@stefanbauer7875]

@@meeple Thank you very much for the detailed overview. Now I understand the flow of the game much better! 👍

[@CharacterFormationCoaching]

From not hearing about the game to purchasing after watching your and Jon Gets Games streams! Looks beautiful! Go Ian O'Tool plus heavy Euros!

[@markhaessler4395]

I've had my eye on this one for awhile, do we know the NA release date?

[@meeple]

Not specifically, but I'm guessing Jan/Feb 2024.

[@laurencesingh3948]

Great review and synopsis! Have you had the chance to try the solo mode?

[@DanielSolis]

How much does Mansa Musa's pilgrimage play a part of the game? I've always thought his pilgrimage and its wave of gold inflation would be a fantastic subject for an economic game.

[@meeple]

Well I must admit, my knowledge of the historic source material is nearly non-existent, but after looking into it a little, I would say his gratuitous spending of gold is certainly present in the game. Across the top of the board, which is the only element that could be connected to the pilgrimage, every stop has players spending gold and getting salt in return. Gold also feels like the least valuable resource in the game (in a way), which would seem thematically accurate.

[@jasonpreder5173]

Looks interesting. Did a preorder on Amazon.

[@DanielSolis]

@@meeple Thanks!

[@meeple]

@@DanielSolis You're welcome!

[@jasonpreder5173]

Thanks for highlighting this. Preordered it.

[@meeple]

Nice. If it sounded interesting in the least, I'm guessing you'll dig it.

[@stevensum2011]

It's a buy

[@meeple]

I've played it a few times now, and wow is it good. Probably one of the heavier games I've ended up really enjoying.

[@stevensum2011]

@@meeple any game you cAn compare with? For example is it similar to trajan or gugong?

[@bijanajamlou5152]

Regarding being the least skilled player in the group. It is your responsibility to learn how to compete with the other players. There is a loot of strategy you can learn. If you try to improve for each play you will notice that you close the gap. Dont tell yourself you are the slow or stupid one. You have more likely bad strategy and dont put enought effort into winning. The most important thing you need to learn is to how to calculate action to vp. Ask the other players how much vp did the winner get last time. Then calculate amount of actions there us during the game. Divide actions with total vp and that is the expected vp output per action. It it is a enginebuilding game you need to calculate in loans/investments into that calculation. Also ask the other players to play the same game at least 5 times before changing so you have chance to win over them :)