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Masters of Renaissance: Lorenzo il Magnifico – The Card Game (2019) Board Game

ByMichail

Masters of Renaissance: Lorenzo il Magnifico – The Card Game is a spin-off of the popular board game “Lorenzo il Magnifico,” designed by Simone Luciani and Nestore Mangone. This card game version was released in 2019 by Cranio Creations and focuses on the economic aspects of Renaissance Florence.

Game Components of Masters of Renaissance: Lorenzo il Magnifico – The Card Game

  • Player boards**
  • Marble tray and marbles**
  • Development cards (48)**
  • Leader cards (16)**
  • Resource tokens**
  • Faith track and Pope Favor tokens**
  • Storage cells for resource management**

    How To Setup Masters of Renaissance: Lorenzo il Magnifico – The Card Game

    To set up the game, each player receives a player board and places their faith marker at the starting point of the faith track. The marble tray is filled with marbles, and the development and leader cards are shuffled and placed in their respective stacks. Each player starts with a set of resources and some initial storage cells. The Vatican Report areas on the faith track are also prepared.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Resource Management: Players manage resources stored in unique sets of 1, 2, and 3.
  • Marble Mechanic: Players use a marble tray to gain resources, where pushing a marble into the grid forces another marble out.
  • Engine Building: Players buy and use development cards to convert resources into more resources.
  • Faith Track: Players progress on the faith track to earn bonuses.
  • Leader Actions: Players can use leader cards for additional abilities.
  • Game End: The game ends when a player buys their seventh development card or reaches the end of the faith track.
  • Objective: Score points from development cards, faith track progress, Pope’s Favor tokens, leader cards, and unused resources.

    Player Experience

    Masters of Renaissance offers a quick and tactical engine-building experience, lasting about 30-45 minutes. Players need to balance resource management, engine card purchases, and faith track progress. The game has a satisfying marble component but lacks strong thematic integration and player interaction.

    Pros

  • Engaging Marble Mechanic: The marble tray provides a unique and satisfying way to gain resources.
  • Deep Strategic Choices: Despite simple rules, the game offers meaningful action selection and engine-building decisions.
  • Quick Gameplay: The game is relatively short, making it accessible for various play sessions.

    Cons

  • Low Interaction: The game has minimal player interaction beyond the marble mechanic and occasional card competition.
  • Thematic Disconnect: The game feels disconnected from its theme and predecessor, Lorenzo il Magnifico.
  • Limited Card Variety: Development cards lack diversity, making the choices less impactful.

    Personal Thoughts on Masters of Renaissance: Lorenzo il Magnifico – The Card Game

    This game is suitable for those looking for a low-interaction, 30-minute engine builder. While it lacks strong thematic ties and player interaction, it offers solid strategic choices and an engaging marble mechanic. However, it may not satisfy players seeking a deeper connection to the Lorenzo il Magnifico series or more complex gameplay. If you enjoy light, tactical games with unique components, Masters of Renaissance might be a good fit, but for others, it might feel too bland and forgettable.

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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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