Cartagena

The Basics
Cartagena takes as its theme the famous 1672 pirate-led jailbreak from the fortress of Cartagena. Each player has a group of six pirates and the objective is to have all six escape through the tortuous underground passage that connects the fortress to the port, where a sloop is waiting for them.

Each card bears one of six symbols (dagger, pirate hat, etc.), and you move a pirate forward by playing a card and moving ahead to the matching symbol in the tunnel, leapfrogging over those where another pirate already stands, but the only way to get more cards is to move backwards. This turns into a simple but smart game of patience and opportunity, well received by casual gamers.

How to Play

• Spielezeit (Power Point)
• You Play It (Online Rules)
  
• Rio Grand Games (Official Rulebook)

Where to Play Online (I recommend You Play It)

• You Play It (Free - Registration Required)
• Cartagena Online (Free - Registration Required)
• Brett Spiel Welt (Free - Registration Required)

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Teaching Aid (Downloads a Pdf)

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread on the Geek
  
• My Tips: Nothing wrong with sliding a piece back to collect more cards.

Views

• Opinion: I do enjoy this game. Light and very quick with 2-3 players.
• Online: Works fine online, if everyone is online goes by real quick.
• Work: Could play 2-3 games worth at lunch.
• Home: Could easily hit the table, a quick filler. Kids like the theme, others like the simplicity.
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 2-5 players, best with 2-3.
• Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn, might take two games to grasp moving back.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy like the tile placement and spreading the board.
• Re-playability:This can see lots of action when you get into it.
• Real Life Setup: 2-5 minutes, placing tiles and sorting cards..
• Real Life Time/Length: 20 minutes.
• Link at the Geek: http://boardgamegeek.com/game/826