- BGG rank
- BGG #13,853
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Parts Unknown
- 4–10 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 1999
- BGG rank
- BGG #15,863
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Jacob Marley, Esq.
2004
Rules assistance for Jacob Marley, Esq.
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–6 players
- 90 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.2/5
Rules assistant for Jacob Marley, Esq.
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Jacob Marley, Esq. is a board game released in 2004 for 3–6 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by James Ernest and its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move and Commodity Speculation.
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About the game
From the publisher: "Jacob Marley is alive and well. And what’s more, he’s the boss of you. "You’re a lowly clerk in young Jacob Marley’s powerful investment firm, which lends money to needs people throughout the city of London. Marley has decided to elevate one lucky clerk to the status of “friend,” meaning a partnership in Marley’s business, a handsome promotion, and Marley’s lifetime friendship. He’ll even get you out of Hell if you manage to outlive him. Such a deal! "To make the most points with the boss, you must lend his money to the most trustworthy clients, and stay away from the ones that will ruin you. If you’re lucky, you’ll even grow up to be as stingy and horrible as he is. "Jacob Marley, Esquire is a banking game with all the fun and excitement that implies. No, seriously, it’s good. "As a clerk in Marley’s investment firm, you are given an account of £12 to lend to various ne’er-do-well clients in London. Each turn, you move Marley through the streets of the city, randomly affecting the economy of London with a cool Economy Chart. Then you can see what’s going on in the street where Marley stopped. Will you lend your money to a lawyer, a financial institution, or a petty criminal? The choice is yours, but make sure you’re not the only player with a client like this, or it can cost you a bundle of money and points!" The version which was subsequently published is significantly different, and (claims Cheapass, with some justification) much improved.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Cheapass Games
Questions and answers
Jacob Marley, Esq. supports 3–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Jacob Marley, Esq. is 90 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Jacob Marley, Esq. for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Jacob Marley, Esq. has a complexity rating of 2.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Jacob Marley, Esq. belongs to these categories: Economic and Novel-based. Its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move and Commodity Speculation. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Jacob Marley, Esq. are: James Ernest. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Jacob Marley, Esq. as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.