Influentia (2020) Board Game

Influentia is a card game released in 2020, designed by Franklin Chan and illustrated by Ludonova. It falls under the category of Science Fiction and involves set collection and trick-taking mechanics. The game is designed for 3-4 players, with a recommended age of 10 and above.

Game Components of Influentia

Resource Cards

City Cards

Governor Cards

Control Cards

Scoreboard

Influence track

Quarantine Zone

Plague tokens

Player tokens and score pieces

How To Setup Influentia

Setting up Influentia involves several steps. Each player chooses a corporation and takes their token, placing the matching score piece on the 10 spot on the Score track. The Influence marker is placed on a random resource, and the priority marker is set on the “10>1” space. Each city has its own card deck; players are dealt one card from each deck, and one card from each deck is placed in the Quarantine Zone. The Exterminator card for each deck is shuffled in, and the top card is dealt as the first available City card. Players then participate in a drafting process, secretly and simultaneously choosing cards to lay face down, passing the rest of their hand to the left until each player has a hand of 4 City cards. Finally, the resources are shuffled, and each player receives a starting hand of 6 Resource cards.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Trick-taking: Players play one Resource Card per trick.

Card Collection: The winner of the trick chooses a City Card or a Resource Card played by another player.

Symbol Matching: Players aim to collect Resource Cards with identical symbols to activate various effects.

Influence Tracking: The game tracks influence through the scoreboard and influence area.

Game Objective

The objective is to become the most powerful family by controlling key sources of power in Northern Italy.

Players compete over three rounds, with the player having the most victory points at the end declared the winner.

Player Experience

Influentia offers a dynamic and competitive experience, particularly suited for fans of trick-taking games with a futuristic twist. Players must strategically choose cards to maximize their influence and control over key cities and resources. The game’s fluidity, with changing trump suits and priority orders, keeps players on their toes, constantly adapting their strategies.

Pros

Engaging Mechanics: Combines classic trick-taking with strategic resource management.

High Interactivity: Players are constantly engaged in making tactical decisions.

Variety of Effects: Collecting identical symbols activates various effects, adding depth to the game.

Short Playtime: With an average playtime of 45 minutes, it’s perfect for game nights.

Cons

Complex Setup: The initial setup can be somewhat intricate and time-consuming.

Limited Player Count: Designed for 3-4 players, which may limit its appeal for larger groups.

Luck Element: The drafting process and card draws can introduce a significant luck factor.

Personal Thoughts on Influentia

Influentia is ideal for families and adults who enjoy strategic card games with a science fiction theme. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate the intricacies of trick-taking games and the need for adaptive strategy. While it may not be the best fit for very young children due to its complexity, it is recommended for players aged 10 and up who are looking for a challenging yet fun game night experience.

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