How to play Firenze Official Rules

By: Dennis B. B. Taylor

Welcome to the Firenze Game!

Are you ready to embark on a thrilling adventure through the beautiful city of Florence? In this game, I’ll guide you through the winding streets and historic landmarks, testing your knowledge of this magnificent city.

Let’s delve into the game rules, shall we?

Objective

The objective of the Firenze Game is simple – explore the city, answer questions correctly, and collect as many points as possible!

Gameplay

As I lead you through the game, I’ll present you with multiple-choice questions about Florence and its rich history. It’s up to you to choose the correct answer and earn points.

Be careful though! Each question has a time limit, so you’ll need to think quickly and make your decision before time runs out.

At the end of the game, your points will be tallied, and you’ll receive a final score based on your answers.

Tips and Strategies

If you want to maximize your chances of winning, here are some tips and strategies to keep in mind:

  • Pay attention to the question: Read each question carefully and don’t rush to answer. Take a moment to understand what’s being asked before making your choice.
  • Trust your instincts: Sometimes, your first instinct is the right one. Trust your gut and go with the answer that feels most correct to you.
  • Use your lifelines: You have three lifelines at your disposal – 50/50, Ask the Audience, and Phone a Friend. Don’t be afraid to use them if you’re unsure of the answer. They can greatly increase your chances of getting it right.
  • Stay calm and focused: The game can be fast-paced, but try to stay calm and focused. Take deep breaths and don’t let the pressure get to you. Remember, it’s just a game, and the most important thing is to have fun!

Now that you know the rules and have some strategies in mind, it’s time to start the Firenze Game. Are you ready to explore Florence and test your knowledge? Let the adventure begin!

In the bustling city of Florence during the 12th-14th centuries, the powerful and influential families engage in more than just trade and politics. They strive to outshine each other by constructing towering homes as a symbol of status.

As a master builder in this game, your job is to fulfill the families’ construction commissions for these impressive towers. You will use different-colored bricks, which you obtain from the game’s cards, to build these towers.

However, caution is necessary. Once you begin constructing a tower, you must continue working on it every turn. If you neglect it, your construction will be deemed abandoned and torn down. Keep an eye on your opponents’ projects, as they may steal the commissions you were counting on right under your nose!

Objective of the Game

When you finish a job, you earn Prestige Points. The person with the most Prestige Points at the end of the game is the winner.

Parts

In this game, you’ll find everything you need to start building and creating. Here’s what’s inside the box:

– 1 Game Board

– 88 Bricks

– 52 Action Cards

– Overview Cards

– 4 Construction Sites

– 4 Prestige Markers (in the 4 player colors)

– 36 Seals (in the 4 player colors)

– 7 neutral Seals

– 4 small Seals (in the 4 player colors)

– 19 Balcony Tiles

– 4 Level Tiles

– 1 End of Game Tile

– 1 Pouch

– 1 Action Card Overview Sheet

The Game Board is where all the action takes place. It’s where you’ll build your structures and make your moves. The Bricks are what you’ll use to construct your buildings, and the Action Cards will give you special abilities and options as you play.

Don’t forget the Overview Cards, which will help you keep track of important information throughout the game. The Construction Sites are where you’ll place your buildings, and the Prestige Markers and Seals are used to keep score.

The Balcony Tiles, Level Tiles, and End of Game Tile add strategic elements to the game, while the Pouch and Action Card Overview Sheet help to keep everything organized.

Now that you know what’s inside, you’re ready to start playing and let your creativity flow! So grab a friend or two, and let the building begin!

Getting Started

  1. To start the game, place the Game Board in the center.
  2. Next, place the Level Tiles on the four small spaces to the left of the white tower. These tiles should match the corresponding levels.
  3. Now, position the End of Game Tile on the oval space above the two towers in the center.
  4. Take the Balcony Tiles and shuffle them. Turn over four tiles with Roman numerals: one I, one II, one III, and one IV. Place these balconies on the Game Board, aligning them with the appropriate Level and color of the tower they cover.

Alright, let’s go ahead and get started. First, grab the 5 neutral Seals and use them to cover 5 Levels of any towers you want. Just make sure those towers don’t already have a Balcony Tile on them. You can choose any Levels you like, but try not to put more than two tiles (Balconies or neutral Seals) on one tower. For the third and fourth Levels, it’s best to place two or three neutral Seals. You don’t have to use the two leftover neutral Seals if you don’t want to, so you can put them back in the box. Here’s a tip: If you need more help with placing the Balconies and neutral Seals, check out page 8. Or you can simply follow the pictures in the instructions.

Next, each player gets a Construction Site and one of the Overview Cards. Put them in front of you where you can easily see them.

Now it’s time to pick a Seal Color. Choose the color you like and take a certain number of Seals, depending on how many people are playing. Here’s a quick breakdown:

– If there are two players, take 25 Seals.

– If there are three players, take 20 Seals.

– If there are four players, take 15 Seals.

– If there are five players, take 12 Seals.

– If there are six players, take 10 Seals.

That’s it! You’re all set to start playing. Good luck!

Let’s talk about the importance of choosing the right number of Seals in the game of Evolution.

First, let’s consider the number of players. This will determine how many Seals each player should have to start the game. I’ll break it down for you:

  1. If there are 2 players, each player should start with 9 Seals.
  2. If there are 3 players, each player should start with 7 Seals.
  3. If there are 4 players, each player should start with 6 Seals.

Remember, only keep the Seals you need and place the rest back in the box. Each player should also have a Small Seal in front of them to show their color.

Construction Commissions

In the top part of the Game Board, you’ll see six towers. They have the same colors as the Bricks. Each Level of the towers represents a different Construction Commission.

The small numbers on the left show how many Levels a tower needs to complete the commission. The big numbers show how many Prestige Points you get for completing the commission.

For example, let’s say there’s a commission for a tower with exactly five green Bricks. If you complete this commission, you’ll earn 4 Prestige Points.

There are a total of 36 Commissions. However, some Commissions are already covered by neutral Seals and can’t be chosen in this game. Once you complete a Commission, cover it with your personal Seal. Remember, each Commission can only be done once.

Now, let’s talk about Balconies.

I want to talk to you about Balcony Tiles. These tiles are pretty special because they can give you extra Prestige Points. You know, those points that make you feel really important. So, if you’re looking for a way to stand out in the game, Balcony Tiles are the way to go.

But here’s the catch – you can’t just do any Balcony Commission whenever you please. No, no, no. There’s a sequence you gotta follow. It’s all about those Roman numerals. At the start, you can only do Balcony Commission I. Once someone does that, then Balcony II becomes available. And it goes on like that. You can only move on to the next Balcony Commission once the previous one has been completed by someone.

Let’s Play

Alright, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how to play this game. We’ll take turns clockwise, starting with the Starting Player – that’s an important role, you know. And when it’s your turn, you’re the boss. Nobody else can do anything until you’re done. Here’s how it goes:

  1. Choose a card (you have to do this, no skipping allowed)
  2. Exchange Bricks (this one’s optional, you don’t have to if you don’t want to)
  3. Build Towers (also optional, but it’s a fun part, so I recommend giving it a shot)
  4. Tear down abandoned construction (mandatory)
  5. Fulfill Commissions (optional)
  6. Check Limits (mandatory)

1. Choose A Card

When it’s my turn, I need to pick 1 of the 6 face-up Action Cards in the Card Row. The symbol on the Game Board beneath the chosen card tells me how many Bricks I need to pay for that card.

We call these prices Card Costs. The card on the far left doesn’t cost anything. The others each cost one extra Brick compared to the one to their left.

To pay the Card Costs, I have to use Bricks from my Storehouse. I need to place one Brick on each Card Row card to the left of my chosen card. I can use any color Brick to pay for the Costs.

Hey, listen up: Here’s a helpful trick for you. Make sure to remember the order: pay the Costs first, then take the Card and the Bricks. You can’t use the Bricks on the Card to pay for it, got it?

Alright, now that we’ve got that straight, grab the Card you chose and the Bricks on top of it. Take them off the Game Board and put the Bricks safely in your Storehouse. Now, what happens next depends on the Symbol you see at the top left of the card.

If you’re reading this, it means you’re looking for some important information. Well, you’ve come to the right place! Today, I want to talk to you about the significance of Event Cards.

First, let me explain what Event Cards are. These cards are a special type of card that you need to use right away. They have a unique power that can really change the game for you.

Now, it’s important to understand why Event Cards are so crucial. One key reason is that they can dramatically impact the outcome of a game. Imagine you’re playing a card game and you’re stuck in a tough spot. You need something to turn the game around and give you an advantage. That’s where Event Cards come in.

When you’re in a tough situation, Event Cards can be your saving grace. They have the power to completely change the game in your favor. These cards can help you escape dangerous situations, gain new opportunities, or even hinder your opponents. The possibilities are endless!

But remember, Event Cards can also have a downside. They can sometimes backfire and work against you. It’s a double-edged sword. So, it’s important to use them wisely and consider the potential risks before playing an Event Card.

Overall, the meaning of Event Cards is clear – they are game-changers. They have the potential to elevate your gameplay to a whole new level. So, if you like strategies and surprises, then you’ll love Event Cards. They add an extra layer of excitement and unpredictability to any game.

So, the next time you’re playing a game that involves Event Cards, don’t forget their importance. Take into account their unique powers, their potential risks, and their ability to regenerate your gameplay.

When you use Personnel Cards, you get to take them into your hand. Then, you have a choice: you can either play them right away or save them for later, until it’s your turn again.

#image.jpg

Hey there! Listen up, because I have something really cool to tell you. You know those Celebration Cards? Well, you can put them right into your hand! They’ll stay there until the game is over. How awesome is that?

#image.jpg

Let’s talk about Building Cards. These are cards that you can lay out in front of you, facing up. They’re pretty handy because you can use them whenever you want, right from the get-go!

If you want to play a game called Church Cards, here’s what you need to do:

First, make sure to place the Church Cards on the Church Spaces with the cards facing up.

Next, you’ll notice that there’s a hole in the Card Row. To fix this, you need to move all the cards to the right, one place to the left, following the direction of the arrows. This will fill the hole.

After that, it’s time to turn over the top card of the Deck and place it on the newly opened, rightmost field. Make sure to take 4 Bricks from the Pouch and put them on the new card.

Tip: If you find that the Pouch doesn’t have enough Bricks (less than 4), just put all the Bricks left in the Pouch onto the card. However, be aware that you don’t add any Bricks to the card when someone puts Bricks back in the Pouch!

Here’s how it goes: I choose the third card from the left, which happens to be the Princess. To pay the Card Cost, I grab 2 Bricks from my Storehouse and put one on each of the two cards to the left of the Princess. After that, I add the Princess to my hand along with the four Bricks that were on top of the card, which all go into my Storehouse.

Next, I shift the three right-hand cards to the left, so that there’s an empty space on the right in the Card Row. Then, I take the top card from the Deck and place it in that open field. As a final touch, I grab 4 Bricks from the Pouch and put them on the fresh new card.

2. Swap Bricks

Hey there! Let me show you how to trade Bricks in your game. You have the option to swap 1 Brick from a card in the Card Row for 3 Bricks from your Storehouse. It’s pretty simple – all you have to do is place the 3 Bricks from your Storehouse on the card where the Brick you want is sitting, and then put the Brick you desire in your Storehouse. You can choose any color for the 3 Bricks.

But remember, you can only make this exchange once per turn. And don’t worry if you don’t feel like exchanging Bricks – it’s completely optional. You can just skip this part if you prefer.

For example: Let’s say Daniela wants the blue Brick from the Wholesaler card. She can place 3 Bricks from her Storehouse onto the Wholesaler, take the blue Brick from that card, and finally place it in her Storehouse.

3. Build Towers

Now let’s talk about building Towers. In this phase, you can use the Bricks in your Storehouse to either create new Towers or expand existing ones. Here are the rules to follow when constructing:

  • Each Brick you use represents one Level in the Tower.
  • Remember, each Tower must be made up of Bricks of only one color.
  • To start building towers, always begin on the Construction Site.
  • You can work on multiple towers at the same time. They can be different colors or the same.
  • Remember that once a tower is built, it cannot be made smaller.
  • Each turn, you can add up to 6 Bricks to your towers
  • For free, you can use 2 Bricks per turn. If you want to use more, you need to pay for them from your Storehouse. These additional Bricks are called Construction Costs.

The Construction Costs depend on how many Bricks you use in a turn:

Bricks used to build
Construction Cost
1 0
2 0
3 1
4 3
5 6
6 10

You’ll find a summary of these costs on your Construction Site.

Regarding Construction Costs, it doesn’t matter how many towers you’re building or how tall they are. The only thing that matters is the total number of bricks you use in a turn.

To cover the Construction Costs, simply move the corresponding number of bricks from your Storehouse to your Pouch. The colors of the bricks don’t matter at all. You can pick any color you like, regardless of the colors you’re using in your construction.

Example: I’m building 4 Towers right now and I have 8 Bricks in my Storehouse. I decide to add two Bricks to my white Tower. I also want to add one Brick each to my green and yellow Towers. Unfortunately, I don’t have any red Bricks, so I can’t expand my red Tower this turn.

In total, I’m adding four Bricks, which costs me 3 Bricks to construct. I put 1 white, 1 green, and 1 blue Brick in the Pouch. I have one yellow Brick left in my Storehouse, but I can’t use it this turn because I don’t have enough Bricks to meet the Construction Cost of 5 Bricks.

4. Bring down abandoned construction

All the towers on your Construction Site that were in progress at the start of your turn but weren’t worked on are considered abandoned. Now, I have to tear them down.

Let’s talk about what you need to do with the bricks in the towers. You’re going to take half of the bricks in each tower, rounding up if there’s an odd number. Put those bricks in the pouch. The remaining bricks go into your storehouse.

For example, let’s say you have a tower with 3 bricks. You can’t add any more bricks to it, so you have to tear it down. Take 2 bricks and put them in the pouch, and put the remaining brick in your storehouse.

5. Complete Commissions

In this phase, you have a choice. You can either use your towers to fulfill commissions, or you can keep building them. But remember, you can only fulfill commissions that don’t have a seal on them. And you can only fulfill the balcony commission with the lowest Roman numeral.

When fulfilling a commission, the number of levels in your tower must match the number exactly. You can’t have more or fewer levels.

Here’s what you need to do to fulfill a commission:

    When you’re ready to use a Tower, simply state which one you want. Then, move your Prestige Marker forward based on the number of Prestige Points indicated on the Game Board. This is how you claim your reward. After that, cover the Commission you completed with one of your Seals. You’ll also need to return all the Bricks from the Tower back to the Pouch.

    Once you’ve completed these steps, you can move on to fulfilling other Commissions. And if you’ve just completed a Balcony Commission, you have the option to fulfill another one in the same turn.

    Example: Let me tell you about what happened when I played this amazing game called Tower Builders. I had this tower, a green one with 6 levels, and there was this commission that matched it perfectly. So, I decided to go for it, and when I completed the commission, I earned 5 Prestige Points. It was awesome!

    After that, I had this other tower, a white one this time, and there was another commission that could fit it. So, I thought, why not? I completed the commission and got 7 more Prestige Points. I was on a roll! I placed my seal on the commission and put the bricks back in the pouch. And you know what? Now there’s another commission available for a red tower on the balcony. How cool is that?

    But here’s the thing, I couldn’t fulfill a commission with my yellow tower because there was already a seal on the commission for three stories. Bummer, right?

    Level Bonus

    Oh, wait! I almost forgot to tell you about the level bonus. Right next to the white tower, there were these 4 level tiles. And if you’re the first one to complete a commission for a tower of a certain height, you get a bonus! Isn’t that exciting?

    Hey there! Did you know that this Commission could also be called a Balcony Commission? Pretty cool, right? If you’re lucky enough to get this bonus, you’ll move your Prestige Marker forward the number of spaces indicated. Just remember, you can only receive this bonus once, so make it count!

    When I, Holger, complete the green Tower Commission for 6 Levels, the Level Tile for 6 remains on the Game Board.

    I gain 2 extra Prestige Points and put the Level Tile in the box.

    Now, it’s time to check some limits.

    6. Check Limits

    After I finish my turn, I need to check 2 limits: the Storehouse Limit and the Card Limit. These limits only matter at this phase, meaning that earlier in the turn, they can be exceeded as much as I like; they only matter at the end of the turn.

    The Storehouse Limit means that I can have a maximum of 10 Bricks in my Storehouse. The Bricks of the Towers on my Construction Site don’t count towards this limit. If I have more than 10 Bricks in my Storehouse, I must give away enough Bricks to the Pouch to bring the count down to 10. I can choose the colors of the Bricks I surrender freely.

    Hey there! Did you know that you can only have a maximum of 5 Action Cards? This includes all the Personnel and Celebration cards in your hand, as well as the Buildings you have in play. If you happen to possess more than 5 Action Cards, you’ll need to get rid of some Personnel and Building Cards from your hand and put them in the discard pile until you have only 5 cards left. Pretty straightforward, right?

    Now, usually, you can’t discard Celebration Cards during this specific phase. Even if you have more than 5 Celebration Cards, you’re not allowed to discard any. However, there’s a special exception to this rule. In this case, you can actually keep more than 5 cards in your hand, but you must discard all the Personnel and Building Cards. It’s a bit peculiar, I know, but that’s how the game works!

    Oh, and here’s a handy tip for you: if you happen to have the Patrician card in your hand, you can play it and use it to discard a Celebration Card. Once you do that, make sure to reassess your Card Limit to see if you’re still within the allowed limit. Cool, right?

    Action Cards

    Hey there! Let’s dive right in. The thing you need to remember is that the instructions on the Action Cards always take precedence over the general rules. Oh, and when it comes to keeping track of points, just look for “PP” – it stands for Prestige Points.

    During the game, you’ll be discarding cards. Just put them in a Discard Pile next to the Game Board. Once the Deck on the Game Board is all used up, gather all the discarded cards, give them a good shuffle, and use them as the new Deck.

    We’ve got five different kinds of Action Cards, each with its own Symbol at the top left. Easy peasy, right?

    Event Cards

    When it’s my turn and I pick an Event Card, I need to do exactly what it says on the card. If it doesn’t say everyone is affected, it only affects me. Once I’ve done what it says, I throw the card away.

    Cards with People on Them

    If you choose a Personnel Card, keep it in your hand. You can play the card right away or save it for later, but only on your turn. During your turn, you can play as many Personnel Cards as you want, but you can’t play two or more cards with the same name. Once you play a Personnel Card, it goes into the discard pile.

    Now let’s talk about Celebration Cards.

    When you choose a Celebration Card, you add it to your hand and keep it there until the End of the Game. The only exception is the Monument card, which you can receive even if it’s not your turn. You can’t get rid of a Celebration Card, even if you have too many already. The Patrician card is the only one that allows you to discard Celebration Cards.

    Now, let’s talk about Building Cards.

    When you get a Building Card, put it face up in front of you. You can use its ability from that point on. You can’t have two of the same Buildings. If you get a card that matches one you already have, put it in the discard pile right away. For instance, if you already have a Workshop, you can still take another Workshop from the Card Row, but you have to discard it immediately.

    About Church Cards

    When you choose a Church Card, you need to place it face up on one of the 4 Church Spaces. It stays there until its effect is complete. After that, it goes to the Discard Pile.

    Here’s a tip: You can find a summary of all the Action Cards in the handy Overview Sheet.

    The Game Ends

    If you’re the first player to place your last Seal on the Game board, you get a bonus of 5 Prestige Points. Congratulations! Take the End of Game Tile and put it in front of you face-down.

    All the other players still get one more turn. The game actually ends with the player to the right of the one with the End of Game Tile. Then, there is a Final Scoring.

    Final Scoring

    First, we look at the Majority Bonus for each tower color. You can see the bonuses for each color on the flag flying from the top of the tower on the Game Board.

    If you’ve completed the most Commissions of one color, you’ll receive a special reward! It’s called the Seal, and you’ll place it on the tower of that color. Remember, Balconies count towards this total too.

    But what if two or more players have the same number of Seals? In that case, the bonus goes to the player who completed the biggest Commission, based on its Level. Basically, the player with the highest Seal on the tower.

    Now it’s time to reveal your Celebration Cards! Based on the cards you have, move your Prestige Marker forward or backward accordingly. The player with the most Prestige Points wins the game!

    If there’s a tie, don’t worry! Multiple players can be winners.

    Example: I have completed 1 white Commission, while Holger has completed 2 of them, and Daniela hasn’t completed any. So, Holger gets the white Majority Bonus, earning 2 points.

    When it comes to yellow Commissions, Thomas and Daniela are tied.

    Daniela wins the Majority Bonus because her biggest yellow Commission is 6 Levels high, whereas Thomas’s highest is only 5 Levels.

Leave a Comment