Vinhos (2010) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Vinhos is a board game designed by Vital Lacerda and published by What’s Your Game? in in 2010. The game is set in the world of Portuguese wine production, where players take on the role of wine producers aiming to create the most successful winery.

Game Components of Vinhos

Double-sided board (allowing for the original 2010 game or the simplified 2016 Reserve version)

Tokens for various actions (e.g., buying vineyards, building wineries, hiring enologists)

Wine expert tiles

Weather tiles

Action selectors

Cylindrical turn marker

Player boards

Barrels and wine tokens

Score multipliers and bonus tokens

Two manuals.

How To Setup Vinhos

Setting up Vinhos involves placing the double-sided board, distributing player boards, and preparing the various tokens and tiles. Players start by choosing their action selectors and placing their wine barons on the board. The game’s cylindrical turn marker is positioned according to the game phase. Each player receives initial funds and starts with basic vineyards and wineries. The setup also includes preparing the wine fair and the wine expert tiles, which are crucial for gameplay.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Action Selection: Players move their wine barons to different actions on the board, such as buying vineyards, building wineries, hiring enologists, and visiting the bank.

Resource Management: Managing funds and resources to develop wine estates.

Wine Production and Selling: Producing, aging, and selling wine, as well as exporting it to maximize profits.

Wine Fairs: Participating in regular wine fairs to gain prestige and score points.

Influence and Prestige: Building relationships with wine magnates to gain extra moves and score multipliers.

Objective: The goal is to become the most prestigious winery by accumulating the most points through strategic management of wine production, sales, and influence.

Player Experience

Playing Vinhos is a deeply strategic and immersive experience. The game combines simple, intuitive mechanics with complex strategic depth, making it both rewarding and challenging. Players must balance short-term financial needs with long-term goals of building a prestigious winery. The game’s design ensures that players’ strategies are constantly evolving in response to changing conditions like weather and market demand.

Pros

Deep Strategic Depth: Offers a rich and complex gameplay experience.

High Replayability: Different game phases, weather conditions, and player interactions ensure unique games.

Engaging Theme: The theme of wine production is well-integrated into the gameplay mechanics.

Visual Appeal: The Deluxe Edition features updated graphic design and attractive components.

Cons

Steep Learning Curve: The game is challenging to teach and learn due to its complex rules and numerous components.

Long Playtime: Games can be quite lengthy, often exceeding several hours.

Arcane Mechanics: Certain aspects, such as the wine fairs and magnates’ preferences, can be confusing and overwhelming.

Personal Thoughts on Vinhos

Vinhos is ideal for experienced board game enthusiasts who enjoy complex, strategic games. It is not a game for casual players due to its intricate rules and lengthy playtime. However, for those who relish a challenge and are willing to invest the time to learn and master it, Vinhos offers a highly rewarding and engaging experience. It is perfect for players who appreciate the interplay between short-term tactical decisions and long-term strategic planning.

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