The Book Women

<p>During the Great Depression, thousands of families living in the isolated Appalachian Mountains had little or no access to books, schools, or libraries. To address this challenge, the United States government launched the Pack Horse Library Project, employing women who traveled on horseback through Kentucky to bring books and knowledge to isolated communities. These extraordinary women became known as the Book Women.</p><p>In The Book Women, 1 to 4 players take on the roles of these pioneering librarians. Over the course of three rounds, they will ride through the Appalachian countryside delivering books, establishing community libraries, supporting local families and documenting their experiences in personal diaries.</p><p>The Book Women is a mid-weight eurogame built around dice drafting and placement, resource management, route optimization and engine building through a personal rondel.</p><p>On each turn, players draw a die from a common pool, gaining resources and actions based on its value and color. The chosen die is then placed at one of several locations, unlocking additional effects and creating meaningful tactical decisions.</p><p>Throughout the game, players travel on a modular map delivering books to remote homes, build libraries in growing communities, recruit support from local authorities and develop their personal diary board by adding new rondel tiles that enhance future turns.</p><p>The game combines short-term tactical choices with long-term strategic planning. Players must balance expanding their library network, completing deliveries, collecting scoring opportunities and improving their engine, while adapting to the changing state of the board.</p><p>After three rounds, players score points from completed sections of their rondel, libraries built, deliveries made, end-game objectives, collected rewards and personal achievements. The player with the highest score wins.</p>