Objective of the Game
In The Princes of Florence, players take on the roles of Renaissance princes. The objective is to amass the most prestige points by strategically acquiring buildings, landscapes, and action cards, and by attracting artists and scholars to create the most prestigious works.
Game Components
- Game board with a round tracker and scoring track
- Building tiles in various shapes
- Landscape tiles (parks, lakes)
- Action cards (Jesters, Priests, Builders)
- Bonus cards
- Prestige cards
- Person cards
- Florins (money in coins)
- Wooden markers for score tracking
Game Play
The Princes of Florence is played over 7 rounds. Each round consists of several phases.
Auction Phase
- In each round, players bid for the following elements: Builders, Jesters, Prestige Buildings, and Landscapes.
- Each player can acquire only one element per round through bidding.
- The starting player makes an opening bid. Clockwise, players can increase the bid or pass.
- Note that a player may win at most one Prestige Building or Landscape per round.
Action Phase
- Each player has two actions to perform per round. Options include:
- Building a structure: Add a building to their principality. Buildings increase the work value of certain personalities.
- Recruiting a personality: Bring a scholar or artist into their principality who creates works, generating points.
- Acquiring a prestige card: Enhances the value of an ongoing work.
- Changing a profession card: Allows changing a personality's profession to enable easier work completion.
Work Phase
- Players can complete works from their personalities.
- The value of a work is influenced by various factors, such as surroundings, buildings, jesters, or prestige cards.
- After calculating the work value, the player receives prestige points or money.
Scoring
Works are evaluated at the end of each round and the end of the game. The higher the work value, the more prestige points or Florins a player receives.
End of Game and Final Scoring
After 7 rounds, the final scoring occurs: - Players receive additional prestige points for money, completed prestige projects, and certain prestige cards. - The player with the most prestige points wins the game.
Strategic Tips: - Plan your buildings and landscapes wisely, as placement is crucial in the game. - Selecting personalities and using actions requires careful management and optimization to achieve maximum prestige points. - In auctions, it's beneficial to not only raise your opponents' costs but also secure important elements for yourself.
