Mercante (2012) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Mercante is a board game that was released in 2012, designed by Thomas Deeny, Andrew Hepworth, and Jeff Himmelman. The game is set in the Renaissance period and focuses on economic themes such as auction/bidding, commodity speculation, and worker placement. Players take on the roles of merchants trying to build their trading empires in a competitive marketplace.

Game Components of Mercante

Player boards

Agents

Warehouses

Goods tokens (Luxuries, Raw Materials, Precious Metals, Foodstuffs)

Contracts

Event cards

Merchant house cards

Crowns (currency)

Market board

Ships with goods

How To Setup Mercante

To set up *Mercante*, each player starts with a player board, 10 crowns plus additional crowns based on their starting position, one contract, two event cards, and one merchant house card. Each player begins with one warehouse and two agents. The game also starts with an enduring event in play, and all five shipment slots are filled with ships carrying various goods.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Auction Mechanics: Players bid on incoming goods from ships, with the player who chose the shipment having the last chance to buy it.

Action Selection/Worker Placement: Players use agents to sell merchandise, improve facilities, and manipulate the market.

Game Objective: The goal is to accumulate victory points (VP) by selling goods, fulfilling contracts, and strategically managing resources.

Contracts: Players can take contracts to sell specified goods in one turn for 1-2 VP, but unfulfilled contracts incur penalties.

Market Management: Selling goods affects the market board, where more goods in a category reduce their value.

Game End: The game ends when the VP/agent track is fully advanced or all ships have arrived in the harbor.

Player Experience

*Mercante* offers a dynamic and engaging experience with multiple moving parts that keep the game interesting throughout. Players need to balance resource management, auction strategies, and market manipulation. The game is designed for 3–5 players, ensuring a good level of interaction and competition. Events and reactions add an extra layer of complexity, keeping players attentive to other players’ actions.

Pros

Engaging Mechanics: Combines auction, action selection, and worker placement seamlessly.

Strategic Depth: Requires resource management, market manipulation, and strategic bidding.

Player Interaction: Events and reactions keep players engaged with each other’s turns.

Variable Player Powers: Each merchant house has a unique ability, adding variety to gameplay.

Cons

Complexity: May overwhelm new players due to multiple mechanics and strategies.

Market Flooding: The market can become saturated quickly, reducing the value of goods.

Penalties for Unfulfilled Contracts: Can be harsh, adding stress to contract management.

Personal Thoughts on Mercante

*Mercante* is ideal for fans of economic and strategic games who enjoy a mix of auctioning, resource management, and market manipulation. It is suited for experienced players who can handle the complexity and multiple layers of strategy. However, new players might find it challenging to grasp all the mechanics at once. Despite this, the game’s engaging nature and the variety offered by different merchant houses make it a rewarding experience for those who enjoy economic warfare in board games.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.