Contents
Medici Game Rules
Welcome to the Medici Game! I’m excited to explain the rules to you. The Medici Game is a fantastic strategy game that will challenge your skills and decision-making abilities. Let’s dive right in!
Objective: The goal of the Medici Game is to be the player with the highest score by the end of the game. To achieve this, you’ll need to acquire valuable goods and score points based on their worth. Game Components: The game consists of various components, including a game board, auction cards, scoring cards, and money cards. Each of these elements plays a crucial role in the game, and you’ll need to use them strategically to maximize your points. Game Setup: To begin, the game board is placed in the center of the table. Money cards are shuffled and distributed, and each player starts with a specific amount of money. Auction and scoring cards are also shuffled and placed face-down. Gameplay: The game consists of three rounds. In each round, players take turns being the auctioneer. The auctioneer reveals the top card from the auction deck and offers it for auction. Each player, including the auctioneer, has a chance to bid on the card. Bidding: Bidding in the Medici Game is a thrilling experience. You can bid any amount of money up to your current cash balance. Once a player passes, they can no longer bid on that card. The highest bidder wins the card and pays the amount of money they bid to the bank. Acquiring Goods: After winning a card in the auction, the player adds it to their collection. Each card represents a valuable good, such as spices, textiles, or gems. These goods have different values, and you’ll need to acquire a variety of them to score big points. Scoring: At the end of each round, players score points based on the value of the goods they collected. The scoring cards provide a breakdown of the points assigned to each type of good. The player with the most points at the end of the game is declared the winner. Strategic Decision-making: The Medici Game is not just about bidding and collecting goods; it’s also about making strategic decisions. You’ll need to decide when to bid aggressively, when to conserve your money, and when to let go of certain goods to focus on others. Every decision you make will impact your overall score. Conclusion: The Medici Game is an exciting and challenging strategy game that will test your decision-making skills. By bidding wisely, acquiring valuable goods, and making strategic choices, you can maximize your points and emerge as the ultimate Medici Game champion. So gather your friends, set up the game board, and let the auction begin!
I’m a buyer for one of the many merchant houses in the exciting age of the powerful Medici family. I sail across the Mediterranean and beyond, seeking out rare and valuable goods and profitable markets for the items I purchase.
Every day, I head to the wholesale market and face off against other buyers in a fierce competition for the available merchandise. I hope to discover luxurious furs, bountiful grain from distant fields, exotic spices, vibrant dyes, the finest fabric, and, if I’m lucky, even gold from faraway mines.
The Parts I Get
When I get my hands on a copy of Medici, it comes with:
- A game board with 7 sections to keep track of money and purchases
- 36 cards – 7 of each type showing cloth, fur, grain, dye, and spice (with values 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5) and a gold card worth 10
- 6 large ship mats, one for each player color
- 2 smaller ship mats (for use in the 2 player game)
- 36 playing counters, six for each player color (*)
- 5 red counters to score commodities
- 2 blue counters to track days
- 2 scoring aid cards
- 7 start player tokens
Hey there! Let me tell you about the components you’ll find in this amazing game. We’ve got a game board that’s divided into 7 sections. This will help you keep track of your money and purchases. You’ll also find 36 cards in the game, which are divided into different types – cloth, fur, grain, dye, spice, and a special gold card. Each type has 7 different cards with different values, ranging from 0 to 5. Oh, and the gold card is worth a whopping 10 points!
Now, let’s talk about the ship mats. We’ve got 6 large ship mats, each one in a different player color. These mats are used to keep track of your ships and their cargo. In addition, we have 2 smaller ship mats specifically designed for the 2 player game. So, no worries if you’re playing with a friend!
To make the game even more colorful, we’ve included 36 playing counters. You’ll get 6 counters in each player color. These counters will be used to mark your progress and keep score during the game. Speaking of score, we’ve got 5 red counters that are used to score commodities. And if that’s not enough, we also have 2 blue counters to help you keep track of the days.
To assist you in understanding the game and its rules, we’ve included 2 scoring aid cards. These cards will provide you with helpful information and tips as you play. And finally, to start the game off right, we’ve included 7 start player tokens. Just pick your favorite color and you’re ready to go!
So, now that you know all the components that come with this game, are you ready to start your seafaring adventure? I bet you are! Time to set sail and explore the high seas!
(*) Before we get started, I wanted to let you know that this game includes player counters with symbols on one side to help those who are color-blind. You can choose whether to play with the symbols face up or down to keep track of each player’s counters.
The Goal of the Game
In Medici, the goal is to win the auctions over the course of three days or rounds. Each player takes turns offering goods to be auctioned off. If you successfully bid on a good, you’ll add it to the deck of your ship. Once all the ships are full or there are no more commodity cards left, the day comes to an end.
At the end of each day, players earn florins, which is the game’s currency. You’ll receive florins based on the value of the goods in your ship and how much of each commodity you’ve purchased so far.
But hey, here’s something to keep in mind – the money you spend at auctions is also the key to your victory! The player who gathers the most florins over three days and three scorings will come out on top.
Getting Started
Take a glance at the picture on the left. It’ll give you a good idea of how to set up the game.
When you play this game, each of us gets to choose a color. I chose red because it’s my favorite. After choosing our colors, we each get a ship mat and six wooden counters in that color. If we’re playing with just two people, we also get smaller ship mats to place next to the longer ones.
| 2-4 | 40 |
| 5-6 | 30 |
| 2 | 18 cards | 18 cards |
| 3 | 18 cards | 18 cards |
| 4 | 24 cards | 12 cards |
| 5 | 30 cards | 6 cards |
| 6 | 36 cards | 0 cards |
Game Play
Selecting the Groups for Auction
When I play this game, we take turns picking out cards that we can sell at an auction. It’s exciting because we get to see what everyone else gets as well.
When it’s my turn, I have to draw the top card from the pile and show it to everyone. Then, I can choose to draw a second and third card if I want, but I can’t draw more than that.
Once I’ve chosen my cards, they become a group that will be sold at the auction. If I manage to collect one, two, or three cards in a group, it’s time for the auction.
Auctioning the Group
The group of cards can only be sold as a whole, you can’t sell them individually. The bidding for the cards starts with the person sitting on the left side of the person who formed the group.
When we play this game, each of us takes turns bidding on different groups of cards. You can decide to bid or pass, but remember, once you pass, you can’t bid again for that group. The bids have to keep getting higher until someone wins the group.
Getting the Cards
The player who made the highest bid gets the cards from the group they bid on. They place these cards face up on their ship mat in the spaces created just for them.
Now comes the fun part! The player has to pay the price they bid. They do this by moving their counter down the money track, the same number of spaces as their bid amount. But, here’s the catch – a player can’t bid more money than they have. So, if you don’t have the money, you can’t bid it!
It’s now your turn to play. You are the next player after the previous one. First, you take the start player token. Then, you choose a new group of 1, 2, or 3 cards to auction off.
Here are some other rules to keep in mind during the auction:
1. Once a group is purchased, it cannot be returned, traded, split, or discarded. It must be placed in its entirety on your ship mat.
2. You can only buy as many cards as your ship can hold. Your ship mat has five spaces, each holding one card (except in a two-player game, where it has seven spaces).
3. If bidding on a group would cause you to exceed the five-space limit on your ship (or seven-space limit in a two-player game), you must pass and not bid on that group.
Sometimes in the game, I might offer a group of cards for bidding that’s bigger than what I can buy myself. But there’s a catch – I can only do this if there’s at least one player who can actually bid on the group. We don’t want anyone feeling left out, after all!
Now, when a player’s ship is full and they can’t fit any more cards, that’s when they’re out for the rest of the day. They won’t be able to choose or buy any more groups. It’s a tough break, but it happens to the best of us.
Here’s an important rule – no one can win an auction with a bid of zero. You have to bid at least 1 florin. And if no one wants to or can bid on a group, well, those cards are discarded and put aside with the others that were removed at the start of the day. They’re unwanted, but don’t worry, we’ll keep the game moving!
So, those are the basic rules to keep in mind. Remember, we’re here to have fun and enjoy the game. Let’s get started and see who comes out on top!
I’m playing a game called “Commodity Cards” with my friends. Today, it’s my turn, and I have two cards on my ship. I decide to select a group of three cards to auction. Kylie already has three cards on her ship, and Jason has four, so they both have to pass. Diane, who has two cards, decides to bid 7 florins for the group. Then, I make a bid of 8.
Since I am the last one to bid, I end up winning the auction. I place the cards on my ship mat and pay 8 florins by moving my money counter 8 spaces back on the money track.
If someone were to choose another group of three cards, Diane would be the only one with room for three, so she could buy the group for just one florin because all the other players would be required to pass.
The End of the Day
So, here’s the thing: when everyone else has gotten their share of cards to fill up their ships, it’s your turn. You gotta take enough cards from the deck to fill your own ship. But here’s the catch: you don’t get to choose those cards. Nope, you gotta take ’em as they come, no ifs, ands, or buts. They don’t cost you anything, though. But hey, if the deck doesn’t have enough cards left to fill your ship, well, tough luck, your ship goes out with empty holds. And that’s when the day comes to an end and we tally up the scores.
But, hold on, that’s not the only way a day can end. See, sometimes we run out of cards in the deck. When that happens, some ships might end up sailing with empty holds too. This usually happens if folks have been discarding too many cards without anyone bidding on ’em. Oh, and just to be clear, you can’t peek at the remaining cards in the deck until it’s time to auction ’em off. That’s the rule!
Cracking the Code of Daily Scores
Hey there! Just a quick reminder on how to score each day.
When the day is done, it’s time to cash in on the cards you’ve acquired. Let’s break it down. To tally up your score, simply add up the numbers on your cards aboard your ship.
Now, here’s the catch. The player with the ship that holds the most valuable cards will take home the biggest chunk of change in payment. Meanwhile, the unlucky sailor with the least valuable cards gets bubkus, nada, zilch. Tough break. Take a look at the handy-dandy table below to see how much each player earns – keep in mind that payments depend on the number of folks playing the game.
| Number Of Players: | 23456 | ||||
| 1st place: | 20 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| 2nd place: | 0 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| 3rd place: | 0 | 10 | 10 | 15 | |
| 4th place: | 0 | 5 | 10 | ||
| 5th place: | 0 | 5 | |||
| 6th place: | 0 |
When it comes to the game, the number of players is a crucial factor. In this game, the number of players can range from 2 to 6. The players will compete against each other to secure their place in the ranking.
The first place winner will receive 20 points and get to progress along the money track. The second-place winner will receive 15 points, while the third-place winner will receive 10 points. Finally, the fourth-place winner will receive 5 points.
If two or more players manage to tie with each other, their payments will be combined and then divided equally among the tied players. It’s interesting to note that these payments are rounded down to the nearest whole number.
Now, let’s consider an example. Imagine we have a game with 3 players. Here’s how the payments would be distributed:
- The first-place winner will receive 30 points and advance along the money track.
- The second-place winner will receive 20 points.
- The third-place winner will receive 10 points.
Overall, the number of players and their placements greatly impact the payments and the progress along the money track in this game. It’s important to strategize and aim for higher ranks to maximize your payments and increase your chances of winning.
Hey there! Let me tell you a story about Adam, Kylie, Jason, Diane, and Kevin, who each filled their ships with different items and earned payments based on the value of their cargo. Adam packed his ship with a total value of 23, including 5 cloth, 5 dye, 3 grain, 0 grain, and 10 gold. Kylie, on the other hand, filled hers with 20, consisting of 5 grain, 4 dye, 4 fur, 3 fur, and 4 spice. Jason opted for 16, bringing along 3 cloth, 5 spice, 2 cloth, 1 cloth, and 5 dye. Diane’s ship carried 16 as well, holding 3 spice, 5 grain, 4 grain, 2 grain, and 2 fur. Lastly, Kevin sailed with 14, carrying 5 spice, 2 spice, 3 dye, 0 dye, and 4 cloth.
Now, considering this chart for a five-player game, let’s see how much each player received in payments:
| Boat Value | Payments | |
| Adam | 23 | 30 |
| Kylie | 20 | 20 |
| Jason | 16 | 7 |
| Diane | 16 | 7 |
| Kevin | 14 | 0 |
Isn’t it fascinating how different combinations of items offer various payments? This game is all about strategy and choosing the right cargo to transport, so make sure to plan your moves wisely!
Now, let’s take a look at the number of purchases each player has made for the different commodities such as cloth, fur, grain, dye, and spice. Remember, we’ll score each commodity separately. To keep track of this, each player will move their counter up on the triangular track by the number of cards of that type they currently have on their ship.
Keep in mind that the counters can’t go beyond the highest level on the track. We’re only interested in the quantity of cards, not their specific value. But here’s an important note: don’t count the rare Gold 10 card.
After moving the counters, we’ll determine who is in the highest position on each commodity track. The player in that position will be awarded 10 florins. The player in the second highest position on each track will receive 5 florins (unless it’s a two-player game, in which case they get 0).
If there’s a tie on any track, we’ll add up the awards and then divide them among the players involved. Just remember, we always round down.
If you haven’t bought any of a certain item, you can still get florins if you tie for first or second place at the lowest level of each track, marked by a gold frame.
For instance:
So, here’s what happens: the yellow player gets 10 florins, and the pink, white, and green players, who are all tied for second place, each get 1 florin. It’s because there are 5 florins to divide among them, and when you divide 5 by 3, you get 1 (and a bit, but we round down).
Oh, and let me tell you about something cool! If you reach the top three levels of a commodity track, you get a bonus! And the bonus can be 5, 10, or 20 florins, depending on what the board says. And get this: if more than one player is in the same bonus level, they all get the full bonus! Nobody’s gonna take a share away, that’s for sure.
When all five commodities have been scored and everyone’s been paid by moving their counters on the money track, it’s time for a new day to start. But hey, just a little reminder: those counters on the commodity tracks stay right where they are. We don’t reset them because we’ll need them again tomorrow.
Here’s an Example:
When I play this game, I get really excited when I receive 30 florins as the yellow player. It’s like a special bonus added to my score!
But it’s not just about me. The white and green players, who are tied for second place, also get 12 florins each. They divide 5 florins by 2, round down, and then add the bonus of 10. It’s a decent reward for their effort.
On the other hand, the pink player doesn’t get anything. Tough luck for them, I guess.
Oh, and here’s a useful tip: to keep track of which commodities have been scored, make sure to flip over the red commodity scoring counters as scoring happens. It helps everyone stay organized and on top of things.
Now, let’s talk about preparing for the next day.
- After day one, remove the top counter on the day counter stack to keep track of the rounds. And when day two comes to an end, take off the second counter to reveal the symbol with three fleur de Lis on the board. That symbol marks the third and final day of the game. Exciting stuff!
At the start of days two and three, let’s gather all 36 cards together again. We’ll shuffle them, and then remove the specified number of cards on page 4, creating a new draw deck for the new day.
Now, the player with the least amount of florins will become the new start player. If there’s a tie, we’ll randomly select one of the tied players to begin.
Once the third day has been scored, the game will end. The player with the most money will be the winner. In case of a tie, the players will share the victory!
When it comes to tactics, you don’t always need to have the most valuable ship to win the game. It can be more profitable to fill a medium value ship at a low cost than to bid high for high-value cards. Plus, if you buy cards in just one or two commodities, you can earn a lot of money with bonuses over the three days.
Remember, after drawing the first card on your turn, think about the value of the current group to you and the other players. The higher the value to you and the lower the value to the others, the better. Keep drawing if you think it’ll improve your situation. Bidding last gives you control over the auction.
If you’re a beginner, it’s best not to bid too high. Only bid high for groups with high values and commodities that will bring you bonuses. Of course, this all changes if several lots have been discarded and the cards are running low. Ending up with empty holds is usually a disaster, as it leaves you with a low-value ship and lower positions on the triangular tracks.