Artificium (2014) Board Game

Artificium is a board game released in 2014 by designer Timofey Shargorodskiy and published by Asmodee. The game is set in a medieval world where players take on the role of merchants trying to outsmart their opponents by collecting resources and trading goods.

Game Components of Artificium

7 boards (1 victory point tracker and 6 player boards)

108 cards (building and action cards)

Yellow acrylic pieces representing goods and coins

8 wooden markers (6 player VP trackers, 1 first player marker, and 1 round marker)

Coins (represented by acrylic pieces off the player board).

How To Setup Artificium

To set up **Artificium**, place the victory point tracker board in the middle of the table with each player’s token on the “0” spot. Each player takes a player board and 5 gold coins. Shuffle the 108-card deck and distribute 5 cards to each player. Deal an additional 6 cards face-up to form the card market. This setup is quick and can be handled in under 5 minutes.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Card Market Phase: Players can swap cards from their hand with those in the card market, with additional swaps costing 2 coins.

Simultaneous Play: Players play cards simultaneously, with each card either creating or improving resources, or performing actions.

Resource Conversion: Cards transform one type of resource into another, with the player board visualizing the production chain.

Action Cards: Allow players to manipulate their hand and those of their opponents.

Game Objective: Earn victory points by refining resources and building efficient production chains. The player with the most victory points after four turns is declared the winner.

Player Experience

**Artificium** is designed for 2-6 players and lasts between 20-50 minutes. The game is praised for its elegant and streamlined resource conversion mechanics, making it easy to learn but with enough depth for strategic planning. The simultaneous play mechanism ensures little downtime, keeping players engaged. However, the game has a notable luck factor, mitigated by card market swaps and resource purchases. The theme, while somewhat abstract, is compensated by the fun and interactive gameplay.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple and accessible mechanics.

Streamlined Resource Conversion: Player boards clearly visualize production chains.

Simultaneous Play: Reduces downtime and keeps players engaged.

Strategic Depth: Requires careful planning of card chains.

Interactive: Allows players to interfere with opponents’ plans.

Cons

Luck Factor: Cards dealt can significantly impact gameplay.

Theme Drift: The theme does not strongly tie into the gameplay mechanics.

Dependence on Card Draws: Requires strategic mitigation of bad card draws.

Personal Thoughts on Artificium

**Artificium** is ideal for players who enjoy quick, strategic games with a focus on resource management and production chain building. It’s a great choice for those looking for a game that’s easy to learn but still offers depth and interaction. While the luck factor can be a drawback, the game’s mechanisms to mitigate it make it a compelling addition to any board game collection. It’s particularly suited for players who appreciate card-driven games and are looking for a fun, engaging experience that doesn’t require a large time commitment.

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