Atelier: The Painter’s Studio (2019) Board Game

Atelier: The Painter’s Studio is a board game set in the post-Napoleonic era, where players take on the role of artists competing for prestige and recognition in the art world. The game features famous artists such as Jules Bastien-Lepage, Rosa Bonheur, Jules Breton, and Gustave Caillebotte, among others, each with their unique abilities and styles.

Game Components of Atelier: The Painter’s Studio

Player Boards: Each player receives a personal board.

Student Meeples: 12 meeples per player, colored to match their dice.

Dice: Four dice per player, matching the color of their meeples.

Paint Tokens: Cylindrical paint tokens in blue, green, red, and yellow.

Painting Cards: 40 cards, with seven revealed at the start of the game.

Patron Cards: Each player starts with two Patron cards and keeps one.

Inspiration Tokens: Used for various free actions during the game.

First Player Token: Indicates the starting player.

First Master Token: Awarded to the first player to complete their third Masterpiece Painting, worth +4 VP.

How To Setup Atelier: The Painter’s Studio

To set up the game, each player is given a player board, 12 student meeples, four dice, one Inspiration token, and two Patron cards (keeping one and discarding the other). The painting cards are shuffled, and seven are revealed and placed face-up. The paint tokens are separated by color and set up. Players choose a starting player and each places one of their student meeples adjacent to a paint pile of their choice. Ensure the paint tokens are standing up to prevent them from rolling away.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Roll Dice: Players roll their unused dice to determine actions.

Paint a Painting: Rolling a 5 allows a player to paint a painting by discarding the required paint tokens.

Collect Paint Tokens: Rolling a 6 lets a player take any paint token from the supply.

Take Inspiration Token: A die can be spent to take an Inspiration token.

Inspiration Actions: Inspiration tokens can be used for actions like rerolling dice, painting without rolling a 5, or drawing a Patron card.

Complete Masterpiece Paintings: The game ends after a player completes their third Masterpiece Painting and the current round is finished.

Score Points: Points are collected from paintings, patrons, and the First Master token.

Player Experience

In Atelier: The Painter’s Studio, players engage in a delightful and educational experience, managing their atelier and creating masterworks. The game combines resource management with strategic dice rolling, allowing players to cultivate the talents of their students and gain patronage. The unique effects of each painting card add a layer of depth and strategy, making each game unique and challenging.

Pros

Unique Theme: The game offers a charming and unique theme centered around art history.

Educational: Players learn about various paintings and periods of art.

Cute Components: The student meeples and the art museum brochure-like rulebook are visually appealing.

Quick Gameplay: Games can be completed relatively quickly, especially with two players.

Strategic Depth: The combination of dice rolling and card effects provides a engaging experience.

Cons

Rolling Tokens: The cylindrical paint tokens tend to roll away if not stood up.

Random Synergies: The unique powers of the cards can result in random synergies.

Complex Rules: The game mechanics, while fun, can be complicated to learn.

Personal Thoughts on Atelier: The Painter’s Studio

Atelier: The Painter’s Studio is an excellent choice for those who enjoy resource management, dice rolling, and strategic planning. It is particularly suited for art enthusiasts and anyone looking to learn a bit about art history in a fun and interactive way. The game’s balance between luck and strategy makes it appealing to both casual and experienced board game players. However, it may not be the best fit for those seeking extremely simple rules or a game with highly predictable outcomes.

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