Review by William Keech

The basics
A wonderful card game disguised as a board game.

Goal
Your goal is to conquer cities, unite them and create the most powerful kingdom in Italy. The first player (in a 4-6 player game) to conquer three adjoining regions is the winner. Four regions are needed in a 2-3 player game. To do this, you build up an invading army using Mercenary Cards with various values on them (1-10). The player with the highest value army, wins the city.

Gameboard
The board shows central and northern Italy more or less as it was during the Renaissance. Each of the 17 major cities represents its own region. Construction of the board is top notch, its sturdy, the artwork is nice, if not a bit plain, and it works well to set the mood of the game.

Game components
For some reason, the Germans love little wooden blocks of all shapes, sizes and colors. Which is a good thing. I think it gives there games an old world kinda feeling plus, I prefer them to their American plastic counterparts. Which are a sometimes hard to replace and a pain to step on. Anyway, each player is supplied with 10 wooden markers to denote their conquered cities. There is also a large wooden block (about the size of a fat zippo lighter) to represent the Condottiere (the player that gets to choose the site of the next battle). Now to the bread and butter of the game, the cards. The artwork is beautiful, stylized like the old wooden block cut illustrations of Medieval Europe. The cardstock is a little thin but the lamination is pretty good, they should hold up for quite a long time. My only real gripe is their shape. Shuffling can be a pain, but in its defense, holding them in your hand is a lot easier. Guess you can't have everything.

How to play

Initially, each player is dealt 10 cards and the Condottiere chooses the site for the first battle.

Each turn, the player does one of the following;

1. Play a card in front of himself (thus building his invading army)
2. Pass the turn and not play a card. (Once this is done, the player may not place any more cards into play)

The battle continues until all players say "I pass" or a Surrender Card is played. At that time all of the players add up the values of the mercenary cards they played, taking into account any modifications caused by Special Cards. The player with the highest number has amassed the strongest army and conquers the city. The Condottiere piece then passes to the winner of that city, who chooses the next battle site and the round continues.

The round is completed when there is only one player left with cards in his hand. All the cards are then collected and 10 more cards are dealt out to each player plus 2 extra cards are given out to each player for every city he now controls. i.e. If you control Roma, Milano,and Torino you would receive 6 extra cards, for a total of 16.

My opinion
This is a great light game that I highly recommend. The bluffing aspect is high and the strategies of the Special Cards make each turn a challenge. If you like poker, you'll love this.

 

Number of players: 2-6	Complexity:	Strategy:	Luck:
Playing time: 30 minutes	Manufacturer: Eurogames Descartes USA

In Renaissance Italy, armies of mercenaries fought to conquer the fragmented city-states for the highest bidder. Elite mercenary leaders, known as Condottiere, led these armies to victory under such fabled banners as Medici, Sforza and Colleoni.

Recreate this era as you, an elite Condottiere, strive to carve out your own Renaissance kingdom! Using a unique deck of cards and a map of Italy, you must exploit the assets in your hand and thwart the traps set by your adversaries.

Your task is difficult, your mercenaries are unreliable, the Church may intervene, and you are surrounded by others who envy your position! This game is loaded with intrigue and subterfuge. To win, you must be both a clever diplomat and a daring general. Succeed at both, and you will triumph!