Mille Fiori (2021) Board Game

Mille Fiori is a card game designed by Reiner Knizia and published by Schmidt Spiele in in 2021. The game falls under the category of Industry/Manufacturing and involves players competing to create the most beautiful and intricate floral patterns.

Game Components of Mille Fiori

Game Board: Divided into five distinct areas – Workshops, Residences, Townspeople, Trade, and Harbor.

Cards: 110 cards in the deck, each with a background color indicating the region and a symbol for the specific space. Cards also feature scoring rubrics and a ship’s wheel for alternate uses.

Diamonds: 27 translucent diamonds in each player’s color, with a few set aside for endgame use.

Player Tokens: Boat tokens and scoring markers.

How To Setup Mille Fiori

Setup involves unfolding the board and distributing components to each player. Players choose their color and place their boat token at the start of the boat track. Each player receives five cards, and additional cards are placed face up in the market area based on the player count. Three diamond tokens are set aside for each player for potential endgame use. The first player is determined, and the game is ready to begin.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Card Drafting: Players simultaneously choose a card from their hand, reveal it in turn order, and place a diamond token in the corresponding area on the board.

Scoring Areas:

Workshops: Score points for adjacent tiles.

Residences: Score points by filling rows from top to bottom.

Townspeople: Build upwards, with scoring increasing as you go higher.

Trade: Score points based on column completions.

Harbor: Interacts with Trade, scoring points for column completions and interactions.

Bonuses: Complete specific tasks in each area to earn bonuses of 20, 15, 10, or 5 points.

Action Chaining: Fulfill conditions to play additional cards from the market, potentially creating large scoring chains.

Player Experience

Mille Fiori offers a mix of strategy and tactical play, with each turn simple yet rich in depth. The game is easy to learn but requires several plays to master its complexities. Players must navigate the different scoring areas, manage card drafts, and balance short-term gains with long-term strategies. The game’s interactive elements, such as passing cards to other players and the potential for disrupting opponents’ plans, add a layer of tension and social interaction.

Pros

Beautiful Components: Tactile and visually appealing, with translucent glass-like tiles.

High Scoring: Players score hundreds of points, making each game close and competitive.

Easy to Learn: Simple initial steps, but deep in strategy.

Interactive: Significant player interaction through card drafting and board placement.

Expansion Available: Enhances gameplay, especially for two-player experiences.

Cons

Initial Complexity: Can be overwhelming due to multiple scoring rules and areas.

Rulebook Mistakes: Some minor errors in the rulebook can cause confusion.

Box Size: The box is unnecessarily large, leading to wasted space.

Lack of Blue Player Option: Historically inaccurate and may bother some players.

Personal Thoughts on Mille Fiori

Mille Fiori is ideal for fans of point salad games and Eurogames, particularly those who enjoy strategic planning and tactical execution. It is suitable for players looking for a game that is easy to learn but challenging to master. While it can be enjoyed with two players, the game truly shines with a full complement of four players, showcasing its vibrant and interactive gameplay. If you’re ready to dive into a game that offers layers of strategy and the thrill of big scoring combos, Mille Fiori is a great addition to your gaming collection.

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