Lego Azul

[zephyr1934]

I normally hang out in the Trains forum, but every now and then I wake up and find something that is not a train sitting in my workspace. It happens to be digital this time. This one combines two of my hobbies.

I'm happy to present my Lego-ized take on the board game Azul designed by Michael Kiesling.

 

There is just something so enjoyable about a well designed board game, the combination of deep play and an attractive presentation. Azul delivers on both counts. Azul is a Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) winner along with just about every other award in the board game industry. As of this writing Azul is ranked in the top 100 board games (#3 strategy and #17 family) by Board Game Geek. I wanted to replicate the look and feel of the original game while bringing in the comfy feel of Lego and a few quality of life improvements literally built right in.

 

Like a duck in the water, it looks pretty calm on the surface, but there is a lot of snot going on under the surface to get the 2x2 squares offset by a sideways plate in two directions (okay, maybe ducks don't have much SNOT under the water, but somewhere there's something similar... maybe)

 

I really liked how well the 1x2 ingots captured the feel of the original boards. In translating the design to Lego the proportions shifted, giving me some room at the top to embellish the tiling. 

For reference, the minifig is holding the original board "printed" on a 2x2 tile

 

I'd be interested in hearing your impressions, and if you really like it, as the minifig's shirt suggests, you can find it on IDEAS.

 

 

[Toastie]

Wow. This is amazing.

I don't do games, for some reason they simply don't work for me. No idea why, family has accepted this, and I am very happy about that.

Of course, I never heard about Azul. So I did a little search here and there. 

Your realization of this board (and the replicated if not improved playability!!!) with existing LEGO pieces is mind-blowing. Normally, transferring something into LEGO world, e.g., super cars, which are in my view every time a total disaster, as super cars have seemingly seamless curves, leaves the viewer with some sort of imagination. A game board however is not without seams, it literally needs them. But there are these seams and there are beautifully played seams. This is what I see here: A piece of true artwork, despite being restricted by LEGO geometry ... but in contrast using that limitation in such a masterful way, that it vanishes. What is left, is - true art.

And then it sinks in: This is not only about appearance, or artwork: It is a fully functional, and what I have read, award-winning game!

Man.

I sure hope this gets through - but you know what: I am just so thankful that you posted it here.

Cross my fingers.

All the best
Thorsten 

[zephyr1934]

You are very kind. There are elements of Lego and good board games that are similar, e.g., pieces you just want to pick up and play with. Then there are the head scratching moments where you have to ask yourself, "how am I going to do this?" With Lego you have all the time in the world, but in a game you only have the amount of time before your friends start yelling at you to hurry up (grin).

There are some incredible board game interpretations in Lego, e.g., versions of Settlers of Catan and Ticket to Ride. Compared to those either non-rectangular or non-linear playing boards, it almost feels like cheating with all the straight lines of Azul.

[nimrod6134]

Really cool build, Azul is a very fun game! The board proportions are spot on, and the added depth for tile placement looks really good. An Azul set would have some fantastic prints!

[_TLG_]

Nice and clean version of the game!

[idlemarvel]

Mind-blowing. Almost craftsmanship not just brick building, and great artistry too. Great job. Vote from me on Ideas.

[zephyr1934]

23 hours ago, nimrod6134 said:

Really cool build, Azul is a very fun game! The board proportions are spot on, and the added depth for tile placement looks really good. An Azul set would have some fantastic prints!

Thank you for the kind words. I think there is huge potential to use lego for all sorts of abstract games. TLG missed the mark with their wave of games 10-15 years ago. Heroica worked across ages but most of the other games didn't enough depth for adults. Imagine an abstract game where you pulled parts off of your pawn throughout the game or added bricks to go from a field to a full city. So many possibilities.

 

21 hours ago, _TLG_ said:

Nice and clean version of the game!

Thank you kindly, I was surprised how well it worked in Lego. There's a lot to be said for picking a good prototype, helps the MOC shine brighter.

 

18 hours ago, idlemarvel said:

Mind-blowing. Almost craftsmanship not just brick building, and great artistry too. Great job. Vote from me on Ideas.

Okay, if I ever need someone to do my PR you're on the shortlist (grin). You are too kind.