Post by Gilvan Blight on Aug 6, 2005 8:44:02 GMT -5
Overall: Great Game.
Summary: you are a landowner in Florence trying to become the most famous in the Land. You do this by hiring artists to make great works of art. Artists are picky types and make better work if you provide them with the right inspiration. Build your land to provide inspiration, build works and do it better then the other players.
My thoughts:
The first thing about this game that really made me like it is that there is barely any randomness in it. 99% of the outcome of the game are determined by the players alone. There are a few card systems that are randomized but even then you get to pick 1 of 5 for each of these so you still have a great deal of control over your destiny.
The game is fairly complex and I won't get into too much detail as its hard to explain without playing. The rules aren't that bad once you have played a round and once done a full game you shouldn't have to go back.
You start each round with an auction. Here is a huge strategy element where you try to get things cheap while trying to prevent others from getting what they need. The second round you can do a few things like building buildings (which uses an odd tetris system, where you only have so much land and the buildings are oddly shapped), creating works of art, purchasing freedoms, and buying bonus cards (increase the value of a work).
The only way to make money is to create works of art. Interestingly this is also the main way to get Fame (Victory Points). Every time you create a work you can immediately sell the proceeds for VPs. This is a huge part of the game, trying to decide what to sell and how much to keep. Other VPs are rewarded for building buildings, having multiple landscapes, having builders, having the best art work created that round and more.
To summarize: a great game with more then the usual amount of strategy. Definately a thinkers game and not good while consuming alcohol.
Summary: you are a landowner in Florence trying to become the most famous in the Land. You do this by hiring artists to make great works of art. Artists are picky types and make better work if you provide them with the right inspiration. Build your land to provide inspiration, build works and do it better then the other players.
My thoughts:
The first thing about this game that really made me like it is that there is barely any randomness in it. 99% of the outcome of the game are determined by the players alone. There are a few card systems that are randomized but even then you get to pick 1 of 5 for each of these so you still have a great deal of control over your destiny.
The game is fairly complex and I won't get into too much detail as its hard to explain without playing. The rules aren't that bad once you have played a round and once done a full game you shouldn't have to go back.
You start each round with an auction. Here is a huge strategy element where you try to get things cheap while trying to prevent others from getting what they need. The second round you can do a few things like building buildings (which uses an odd tetris system, where you only have so much land and the buildings are oddly shapped), creating works of art, purchasing freedoms, and buying bonus cards (increase the value of a work).
The only way to make money is to create works of art. Interestingly this is also the main way to get Fame (Victory Points). Every time you create a work you can immediately sell the proceeds for VPs. This is a huge part of the game, trying to decide what to sell and how much to keep. Other VPs are rewarded for building buildings, having multiple landscapes, having builders, having the best art work created that round and more.
To summarize: a great game with more then the usual amount of strategy. Definately a thinkers game and not good while consuming alcohol.