Wisdom of Solomon Board Game

The directions for gameplay were overwhelming but I am not a prolific board game player. I decided that there was too much info for me to remember so I just set up the game and told my husband we would read the directions for each move as we played. It worked. After we finished the set up, it took a couple of moves and then we understood the concept. You do have to keep the instruction book handy during gameplay as the moves are quite involved. But the game is fun and moves fast. Aside from the setting and theme, the game does not present Bible knowledge or require Bible knowledge to play. The game cards do have Bible verses printed on them but it would be nice if the game had a moral or story.

I'm a Christian, so I'm going to like any game with a Biblical theme, right? Wrong. Sadly there’s an all too frequent reality that applies to many games which have a Biblical or Christian theme, and that's this: mediocre game-play. In other words, despite a thick coat of Christian paint, you can't hide the fact that there's a very poor gaming engine underneath. While such games might prove appealing from a pedagogical standpoint, they are frequently so substandard in terms of gameplay that they prove too painful to be worth playing.So what's the solution? Well to begin with, to have any enduring value, a Christian game should first and foremost be a good game. One of the rare games that does get all this right is Wisdom of Solomon (2018).Wisdom of Solomon was designed by Philip duBarry and published by Funhill Games, the same publisher that previously brought us another Biblically-themed game with strong game-play, Kings of Israel (2014). Wisdom of Solomon is a worker placement game that had a previous life in a slightly less polished form from a different publisher, under the name Kingdom of Solomon (2012), but has been completely revamped. Given the title, it won't be a surprise to discover that Wisdom of Solomon is themed around King Solomon and his kingdom in ancient Israel, as recorded in the Bible.In this game for two to four players (plus a solo mode), you will take on the role of a governor in the land of Israel during the time of Solomon. As governor, you will be responsible for overseeing the massive building and expansion efforts that were undertaken during Solomon’s reign. To do so, you will need to access and collect resources drawn from throughout the Israelite territories. In addition, you’ll also assist in the construction of the Temple – one of the greatest architectural wonders of the ancient world. You might even succeed in climbing the ladder of power and becoming the High Priest of the Israelite people – a position that will give you access to the vast resources of the kingdom!This is a theme that will feel like an exciting novelty to most of us, because it's a radical departure from the standard fare we've come to see, where some themes seem beaten to death at this point - go talk to Tom Vasel if you want examples. All this makes Wisdom of Solomon stand out by virtue of its theme, not just among worker placement games in particular, but among euros in general, and this historical flavour rightly gives it immediate appeal especially to Jews and Christians.But while the theme is one solidly rooted in Biblical history, and skillfully woven into the game-play, the game doesn’t make the mistake of becoming tacky, preachy or trying to convey a religious message by means of cheesy mechanics, or at the cost of excellence in the game design. I won't go into details about all the mechanics, because I've covered that at length in a previous article on the original game. But I will say that if you like euro games in general and worker placement games in particular, and you’re looking for a good medium weight title that will present you with some challenging decisions and choices then you'll find that Wisdom of Solomon is a very satisfying game with some unique elements.I especially liked the options for worker placement, particularly the notion of "Holy Places Bonuses" which give lucrative benefits but require you to commit all your remaining workers in order to claim them. The turn order mechanism also works well, because turn order is critical on this game, and this creates additional tension and tough choices. Building in spaces that generate resources ensures that you have to have a strong economy, but there's other mechanics that give alternate paths to points and victory, such as the High Priest and building of the Temple. The High Priest in particular adds real excitement to the game and functions somewhat similar to the Longest Road and Largest Army in Catan, and it is fascinating and rewarding to explore ways to use this to your advantage. There are also Building cards and Fortune cards which have a significant and positive impact on the game. It can feel a bit swingy at times, but part of that is by design, and if you give the game a chance it can really grow on you.Wisdom of Solomon is a very fine worker placement game that definitely has some legs, and worthy of recommendation simply as a game, independent of its theme. The theme of Biblical history is certainly one that many people will find appealing. But what makes this game stand out is that Wisdom of Solomon is a fine a fine addition to the genre of worker placement games given its unique flavor and blend of mechanics, and its excellence when judged on its merits purely as a game.For me personally, my Christian convictions will naturally enhance my appreciation for the theme of Wisdom of Solomon. But it needs to be recognized that Wisdom of Solomon is first and foremost a good game, strong enough to stand on its own merits and compete with the rest as a game. Let's face it, being a Christian doesn't mean I'm going to like other hobbies just because you give them a Christian coat of paint. Similarly, I like the gaming hobby because I like games, so if you expect me to enjoy a Christian themed game, it needs to be a good game first of all. Fortunately, Wisdom of Solomon really is, in view of the particularly interesting ways it works with the worker placement mechanic. The good news is that while the theme does bring aspects of the Biblical narrative to life in a respectful way, it doesn't at all compromise quality of game-play.All this means that Wisdom of Solomon is a fully independent and well designed worker placement game that has the maturity and quality to stand on its own, without needing to rely on the theme as a supporting crutch. Granted, it just happens to have a solid Biblical theme, although it's not one that is so over the top that it will send those who are unfamiliar with the Bible running and screaming. But it sure is refreshing to discover a Biblically themed game that is a satisfying, medium weight euro, and that can go the distance on its merits as a game. A game of this sort has real potential to get some mileage in the Christian market, and in my opinion deserves to make its mark there, but the good news is that its appeal should stretch well beyond that. For this accomplishment the efforts of designer Philip duBarry and publisher Funhill Games are ones that Christian gamers like myself should applaud, support and encourage.Anyone who loves medium weight board games in general, and worker placement games in particular, should definitely give this great title a closer look!

A solid game for anyone looking for bible-themed worker placenta game. The networking mechanism is unique and makes this game fun to play. It is competitive and a lot of fun.

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