La Cosa Nostra is a board game released in 2014, designed by Johannes Sich. The game is set in the world of the Mafia, where players take on the roles of mob bosses trying to gain control of the city. With elements of bluffing, negotiation, and hand management, La Cosa Nostra offers a unique experience for 3-5 players.
Game Components of La Cosa Nostra
Player Cards: Each player starts with a Boss card, indicating their player color.Gangster Cards: Provide the foundation for gameplay actions; players start with three and can purchase more.Business Cards: Depict various criminal activities (e.g., drug dealers, pimps) and are prerequisites for job cards.Job Cards: Allow players to perform specific actions like Investment Fraud or Price Rigging.Influence Cards: Can be used to manipulate dice rolls.Dice: Used for resolving job card actions.Money: Players earn and use money to hire gangsters, buy business cards, and perform other actions.
How To Setup La Cosa Nostra
To set up the game, each player receives a Boss card, a small amount of money, three gangster cards, and three business cards. The remaining cards are placed within reach of all players. The game is divided into four rounds, with new action cards and opportunities introduced each round.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
Action Planning: Players secretly plan their actions by placing cards on top of their gangsters.Resource Management: Manage gangsters, business cards, and money to execute actions.Negotiation: Players must negotiate with each other to obtain necessary business cards for job cards.Deal-Making: Deals are non-binding, allowing for backstabbing and betrayal.Dice Rolling: Resolve job card actions using dice, with influence cards optionally used to manipulate rolls.Objective: The goal is to accumulate the most money by successfully completing job cards, managing businesses, and strategically negotiating and betraying other players.
Player Experience
La Cosa Nostra offers a dynamic and intense gameplay experience, emphasizing negotiation, strategy, and a bit of luck. Players must navigate the complexities of mafia politics, making deals that may or may not be kept. The game is known for its potential to create memorable moments of betrayal and strategic play.
Pros
Deep Negotiation Mechanics: Encourages complex deal-making and strategic alliances.High Replayability: Each game can unfold differently due to player interactions and dice rolls.Thematic Integration: The game’s mechanics are tightly tied to its mafia theme, enhancing the immersive experience.Portable: The game is highly portable, making it easy to take to game nights or other gatherings.
Cons
Luck Factor: Dice rolls introduce a significant element of luck, which may not appeal to all players.Non-Binding Deals: While adding realism, non-binding deals can lead to frustration if trust is broken repeatedly.Not for the Faint of Heart: The game’s mean and malicious nature may not suit all players, especially those looking for more cooperative or family-friendly experiences.
Personal Thoughts on La Cosa Nostra
La Cosa Nostra is tailored for players who enjoy heavy negotiation and strategy games with a strong theme. It is ideal for those who relish the challenge of making and breaking deals, and who can handle the unpredictable nature of dice rolls and player betrayal. If you are looking for a game that packs a lot of interaction and strategy into a relatively short gameplay time (under two hours), La Cosa Nostra is definitely worth considering. However, it may not appeal to players seeking more cooperative or light-hearted gaming experiences.
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