The setting is England at the beginning of the 12th century. The construction of what is to be the greatest and most beautiful cathedral in England begins. Builders compete against each other to contribute the most to this cathedral’s construction and, in so doing, score the most victory points. To play the game, players must first use workers to procure raw building materials, and then use craftsmen to refine the materials into victory points. What actions will you take on your path to victory? Will you seek an audience with the king perhaps, to get to the metal you need? Or should you avail yourself of the support of influential personalities? A brief stay in the monastery could be as beneficial to you as strong ties to your craftsmen. Your workers may also be used to produce gold, the currency of the game. Players are given three master builders each turn, each of which can do a variety of tasks, including recruiting more workers, buying or selling goods, or directly obtaining victory points. Getting early choices with a master builder costs gold, as does purchasing more capable craftsmen. Players must strike a balance between earning gold to fund their purchases and earning victory points. Transport yourself to Medieval England as described by Ken Follett in his best-selling masterpiece novel, Pillars of the Earth.

A Targi is a male member of the Tuareg people, who live in the Sahara desert. As tribe leader, you will be trading dates, salt, and pepper to obtain coveted gold coins and advantages. In the game, the desert is a five-by-five grid of cards. Position your Targi figures on the cards that border the desert. You carry out the actions of those cards as well as the cards at the crossroads between them. If you don’t go to the merchant, you won’t be able to trade — and even worse, your opponent will. Or maybe a caravan will bring the merchandise you desire. There are many choices to consider. But don’t wait too long, the desert is harsh and you might miss an opportunity to make a deal. In the next round, a completely different set of offerings will be on the table. The goods cards are the means to the end of getting highly desired tribe cards. These in turn bring advantages during the game and victory points at the end. You can win only if you plan shrewdly and always keep some gold in your pocket.