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Tiffin (2016) Board Game

ByMichail

Tiffin is a card game that was released in 2016 and designed by Kurt Miller. It is a strategic game that requires players to use area majority/influence and hand management to outwit their opponents. The game is set in a world where players are competing to become the most influential members of society by collecting and playing cards strategically.

Game Components of Tiffin

  • Delivery cards: 4 colors and a grey wild color, with values from 1 to 4.
  • Route cards: Double-sided, with four possible colors, and travel spaces along with tiffin spaces.
  • Tiffin delivery tracking cards: Arranged in ascending order.
  • Special cards: Flat tire and Shortcut cards for each player.
  • Competitor card** and neutral wooden cubes.
  • Player cubes: For tracking movement and tiffin placements.

    How To Setup Tiffin

    To set up Tiffin, each player is dealt a hand of 4 Delivery cards and a pair of special cards (Flat tire and Shortcut). The remaining Delivery cards are formed into a deck, and six cards are laid out on the table. The Route cards are mixed, flipped, and three are placed on the table. The Tiffin delivery tracking cards are stacked in ascending order. The Competitor card is placed on the board with a neutral wooden cube on the “0” space. A start player is chosen randomly.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Place a Tiffin: Place a colored cube on the leftmost available tiffin space on an unstarted Route card.
  • Draft two cards: Take 2 cards from the display or the deck, replacing face-up cards immediately.
  • Play a card: Use a Delivery card to add movement cubes to a Route card matching the card’s color.
  • Objective: Score points by placing tiffins and moving along Route cards, with scoring values increasing as the game progresses.

    Player Experience

    Tiffin presents a challenging and engaging experience, with gameplay lasting around 30-40 minutes once familiar with the rules. Players face constant decisions on which actions to take, balancing tiffin placements, card drafting, and route movement. Early in the game, focus is on placing cubes for movement, while later rounds emphasize higher scoring tiffin deliveries.

    Pros

  • Strategic Depth: Players must carefully plan their moves to maximize scores.
  • Dynamic Gameplay: The game ramps up in scoring potential as it progresses.
  • Interactive Elements: Special cards like Flat tire and Shortcut add an extra layer of strategy.

    Cons

  • Complexity: New players may find the rules and multiple card types overwhelming.
  • Luck Factor: Card draws can significantly impact gameplay.

    Personal Thoughts on Tiffin

    Tiffin is ideal for fans of area control and card drafting games who enjoy strategic planning and interactive gameplay. The game’s setting, based on Mumbai’s lunch-delivery system, adds a unique and fascinating theme. However, it may not be the best fit for casual gamers due to its complexity and the need for strategic thinking. For experienced players, Tiffin offers a well-tuned and balanced game that challenges and rewards strategic play.

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    • Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

    Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
    Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl

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