Florenza: The Card Game Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Game Components
• Set Up
• Playing the Game
  • Phase 1: Draw Artists and Monuments
  • Phase 2: Draw Florenza Cards
  • Phase 3: Take Actions
    • A. Play a Florenza Card
    • B. Complete a Monument
    • C. Reserve a Monument
    • D. Reserve an Artist
    • E. Activate a Location Card
    • F. Send Out Workers
    • G. Go to Market
    • H. Search for Inspiration
  • Phase 4: End of the Round
• Winning the Game
• Scoring Prestige Points
• Resource Limits
• Legend of Symbols
• Guild Cards (Arte Cards)
• Income Cards
• Strategy Hints

Game Components

220 standard-sized cards, including:

• 76 Florenza cards, including:
  • 9 Residences ("Abitazione" - purple)
  • 13 Workshops ("Bottega" - yellow)
  • 12 Guilds ("Arte" - orange)
  • 12 District Churches ("Chiesa di Rione" - blue)
  • 12 District Buildings ("Edifici di Rione" - grey)
  • 6 Preachers ("Predicatore" - brown)
  • 12 Family Palaces ("Palazzo di Famiglia" - green)
• 27 Monument cards
• 1 Captain of the People card
• 86 Resource cards, including 21 each of Marble and Wood, and 11 each of Metal, Fabric, Gold, and Spice
• 28 Money cards ("Fiorini" - 8 x 50, 16 x 100, and 4 x 500)

110 small cards, including:

• 85 Artist cards: Sculptors (in green), Architects (in red), and Painters (in blue)
• 17 Location cards
• 1 Action Marker card
• 3 Anonymous Artist cards
• 4 Family cards
• 2 Summary cards

Set Up

• Based on the number of players, remove any Florenza cards that won't be used: in a 3-player game, remove all cards with the "4" symbol. In a 2-player game, remove all "4" and "3+" cards.
• Divide the rest of the Florenza cards into three decks by the numbers shown on the cards (Deck I, Deck II, Deck III). Shuffle each deck separately, and put them on the table, face down.
• Place the 17 Location cards, the 3 Anonymous Artist cards, the Resource cards, and the Money cards on the table, as shown below:
  • Location cards that produce resources: Fabbro, Lanaiuolo, Erbolaio, Monte di Pietà, Picconiere.
  • Location cards that convert resources into Fiorini: Ottonaio, Tintore, Speziale, Orafo, Scarpellino.
  • The Resource card decks (Marble, Wood, Metal, Fabric, Gold, Spice).
• Shuffle the Monument cards and place them face down on the table. Randomly draw 7 Monument cards and place them in a row in order of value, with the highest value on the left and the lowest on the right. If cards have the same value, place them in the order drawn.
• Shuffle the Artist cards, face down. Based on the number of players, draw a number of cards and place them on the table, divided by type, without turning them over:
  • 2 players: 6 Artists
  • 3 players: 8 Artists
  • 4 players: 10 Artists

Each player chooses a Family and takes the following:

• 1 Family card (the back of your card shows a summary of your income each round)
• 300 Fiorini (Money cards)
• 1 Resource card of each kind
• 5 Florenza cards, randomly drawn from Deck I

Your Fiorini, Resources, and Florenza cards make up your hand, and must be kept secret from the other players. Finally, choose a first player randomly and give him the Captain of the People card, the Action Marker card, and a Summary card.

Playing the Game

The game is played over five rounds. Each round is divided into 4 phases. All players complete each phase before the next phase begins:

1. Draw Artists and Monuments
2. Draw Florenza Cards
3. Take Actions
   • a. Play a Florenza Card
   • b. Complete a Monument
   • c. Reserve a Monument
   • d. Reserve an Artist
   • e. Activate a Location Card
   • f. Send Out Workers
   • g. Go to Market
   • h. Search for Inspiration
4. End of the Round
   • a. Discard Cards
   • b. Collect Income
   • c. Elect the Captain of the People
   • d. Reset Location Cards

Note: The first two phases are skipped during the first round (they are included in the set up).

Phase 1: Draw Artists and Monuments

Important: Skip this phase during the first round of play.

Draw a number of Artist cards based on the number of players:

• 2 players: 6 Artists
• 3 players: 8 Artists
• 4 players: 10 Artists

Place the cards as shown in the illustration. These Artists will be available for use until the end of the round, when they will be discarded and replaced for the next round.

Next, turn over 5 Monument cards and place them on the table in order of value (highest to the left - if tied, place in the order drawn), adding them to any remaining from the previous round (see Phase 4).

Phase 2: Draw Florenza Cards

Important: Skip this phase during the first round of play.

Starting with the Captain and going clockwise, each player draws 4 Florenza cards, plus 1 card for each Residence card (purple) in front of him.

Hint: You can draw a maximum of 7 cards, if you have the Palagio, Casamento, and Casa.

The Florenza cards available changes each round:

• Round 1: Only the cards in Deck I are available.
• Round 2: Shuffle all cards from Deck II with any left over from Round 1.
• Round 3: Shuffle all cards from Deck III with any left over from Round 2.
• Round 4: Shuffle any cards in the discard pile to the cards left over from Round 3.
• Round 5: Only the cards left over from Round 4 are available.

Phase 3: Take Actions

This phase is the heart of Florenza: the Card Game.

In this phase, the players take actions in turn, starting with the Captain and going clockwise. The Captain keeps track of the number of actions taken by using the Action Marker card and the back of the Captain of the People card.

Each player will take at least 4 actions. Players who have played Residences (purple) or Preachers (brown) receive additional actions, in this order:

• Palagio
• Casamento
• Casa
• Predicatore

Example (turn order): The order of play is Medici, Pazzi, Pitti, then Strozzi. Medici has the Captain of the People card. He places the Action Marker card on the back, just below the number 1. Medici has built a Casamento, Pazzi has a Palagio and a Predicatore, Pitti owns a Casa and a Predicatore, and Strozzi has a Casamento.

The phase is played as follows:

• a. All players take their first action in turn order (Medici, Pazzi, Pitti, Strozzi).
• b. Medici moves the Action Marker card to show the next action number.
• c. Steps a and b are repeated 3 more times, until Strozzi has taken her fourth action.
• d. Medici moves the Action Marker card to show the Palagio action. Only Pazzi gets to take an action.
• e. Medici moves the Action Marker card to show the Casamento action. Now Medici and Strozzi each take an action, following the normal turn order.
• f. Medici moves the Action Marker card to show the Casa action. Only Pitti takes an action.
• g. Medici moves the Action Marker card to show the Predicatore action. Only Pazzi and Pitti take actions, in the normal order.
• h. The end of the action phase. In the next round, the players will draw extra Florenza cards for the Casa, Casamento, and Palagio cards in front of them. Predicatore cards do not award extra cards.

A. Play a Florenza Card

You may play a Florenza card from your hand. You must pay all the Resources and Money shown on the left side of the card by returning those cards to the supply. If you play a Family Palace (green) or District Church (blue) card, you must also hire an Artist (as described under "Hiring Artists").

The Florenza card is placed face up in front of you. The effects of the card are shown on the right side of the card:

• If the card gives you income (from a yellow Workshop or purple Residence), you receive it at the end of each round.
• If the card gives you an extra action (from a purple Residence or brown Preacher), you take it after all players have taken their normal actions, as shown on the back of the Captain of the People card.
• If the card lets you draw additional Florenza cards (purple Residences), you draw the card at the beginning of the round (starting with the next round).
• If the card awards you Prestige Points, they are scored at the end of the game (see "Winning the Game").
• The effects of the Guild cards (orange) are described under "Guild Cards" below.

Important: You may never play 2 identical Florenza cards. You can never have 2 cards of the same kind with the same name in front of you. Also, you may never have more than 1 Preacher card (brown) in front of you.

Hiring Artists. In order to play some Florenza cards or to complete any Monument, you must "hire" an Artist. Each card that requires an Artist will show 1 or more types of Artists that can complete the project. You only need 1 Artist to play the card, but it must be 1 of the types of Artist shown on the card.

There are 3 types of Artists: Painter, Sculptor, and Architect.

The back of the Artist card shows the range of Prestige Points you could earn for using that Artist, and the cost you must pay to hire the Artist. After you pay to hire the Artist and complete the project, turn the Artist card over. The front of the card shows the actual number of Prestige Points you earned from that Artist.

You may choose to hire an Anonymous Artist, if that Artist card is still face up (i.e., no one has hired that artist yet this round). You don't get any Prestige Points, but you only pay 50 Fiorini. After you hire an Anonymous Artist, turn the card face down (it will be turned face up again at the end of the round).

Example (hiring an Artist): It is Strozzi's turn. He decides to play a Palazzo di Famiglia: Fontana. The card costs 1 Marble, 1 Metal, and 50 Fiorini, as shown on the card. He pays those Resources and Money from his hand. He must also hire an Architect or Sculptor.

The only choices this round are Giulio Romano (an Architect costing 100 Fiorini) and Giambologna (a Sculptor costing 100 Fiorini). They have the same cost, but Giambologna has the potential to be worth more Prestige Points, so Strozzi chooses him. He pays 100 Coins and turns over the Artist card: he gets 3 Prestige Points! Since that value is in gold, we see that this is Giambologna's "Masterpiece" - the highest Prestige Points that the Artist can award. (Masterpieces don't have any special effect on the game, except letting the player be satisfied by the work of the Artist.)

Note: There are two cards showing Giulio Romano. Both have the same value (2). There are four cards showing Giambologna. Three of them have a value of 2, one has a value of 3.

B. Complete a Monument

You can complete any of the Monuments that are in the middle of the table, or any that you reserved during an earlier turn (see below).

To complete a Monument, pay the required Resources and Fiorini (as shown on the card), then take the card and place it in front of you. You must also hire an Artist (as described under "Hiring Artists"). You may hire an Anonymous Artist (if available).

C. Reserve a Monument

You may reserve a Monument to complete later. Take 1 Monument card from those available for the round and place it face down in front of you. Later on, you can complete that Monument by using another action. If you do not complete your reserved Monument before the end of the game, you lose the Prestige Points shown on the card.

You may reserve as many Monuments as you wish (by spending 1 action each), and you may complete other Monuments before completing your reserved ones.

Hint: Reserving a Monument and then completing it later takes 2 separate actions!

D. Reserve an Artist

You may reserve Artist cards also (but not Anonymous Artists). Take 1 Artist card from those available for the round and place it in front of you, without turning it over or looking at the other side of the card.

Later on, you can hire the Artist to play a card or complete a Monument that requires an Artist. You must pay the cost of the Artist when you use him.

If you do not use the Artist before the end of the game, you lose the Prestige Points shown on the card.

You may reserve as many Artists as you wish (by spending 1 action each).

E. Activate a Location Card

You can activate a Location card (that is face up in the middle of the table), as follows:

• Boscaiuolo, Erbolaio, Fabbro, Lanaiuolo, Monte di Pietà, or Picconiere: Flip the card face down and take the Resource shown from the supply.
• Legnaiulo, Orafo, Ottonaio, Scarpellino, Speziale, or Tintore: Flip the card face down and spend the Resource shown to take 200 Fiorini from the supply.
• Baratto: Flip the card face down to exchange 1 Resource from your hand for a different Resource from the supply.
• New Captain: Take the card and place it in front of you. You will be the first player in the next round.

Note: If the New Captain card has not been taken from the middle of the table, you may take it and place it in front of you. You will be the first player in the next round.

F. Send Out Workers

Take 50 Fiorini from the supply.

G. Go to Market

You may choose only one of the following:

• Sell 1 Resource from your hand to the supply for 100 Fiorini.
• Buy 1 Resource from the supply for 100 Fiorini.
• Exchange 2 Resources from your hand for 1 Resource from the supply.

During a round, you may go to the market as many times as you wish, as long as you have actions.

H. Search for Inspiration

Draw 1 Florenza card from the current deck.

Important: You may not choose this action if there are no cards left in the deck!

Phase 4: End of the Round

Once all players have completed their actions for the round, the round ends. You must now follow these steps, in order:

Step a: Discard unused cards (you can skip this step in Round 5)

• Discard the Monument cards left in the middle of the table except for the 2 at the left end of the row (the highest values). If there are only 2 or fewer cards left, they remain where they are. These cards are removed from the game.
• Discard all Artist cards left in the middle of the table. These cards are removed from the game.
• Choose 1 Florenza card from your hand to keep for the next round. Discard the rest of your Florenza cards into the discard pile.

Step b: Collect Income

Each player receives a base income from his Family card:

• 1 Marble Resource
• 1 Wood Resource
• 200 Fiorini
• 1 Resource, chosen by the Captain (it could be another Marble or Wood) - all players receive the same Resource.

Remember: You may receive additional income from Workshop and Residence cards you have completed (see "Income Cards")!

Step c: Elect the Captain of the People

If you took the New Captain card during the Take Actions Phase, you become the Captain of the People. Return the New Captain card to the center, take the Captain of the People card, the Action Marker card, and the Summary card and place them in front of you.

If no one took the New Captain card, the office of Captain passes to the player to the left of the previous Captain.

Important: You must always follow the steps of this phase in order! The extra Resources are always chosen by the Captain before a new Captain is elected.

Step d: Reset Location Cards (you can skip this step in Round 5)

All cards that were flipped face down during the round, including any Anonymous Artists used, are flipped face up again.

Winning the Game

The game ends at the end of the fifth round. After the End of the Round Phase is complete (you only need to complete Step b: Collect Income and Step c: Elect the Captain of the People).

Hint: If you correctly draw the Monument cards during Phase 1, you won't need to count the rounds: at the beginning of Round 5, the deck will run out.

Scoring Prestige Points

Once the game is over, it's time to add up your score! You earn Prestige Points for the following:

• For each Monument, District Building, Family Palace, and District Church you have completed: You score the points shown on the card.
• For each Artist you hired to complete projects: You score the points shown on the card.
• For each complete set of 1 Family Palace (green), 1 District Church (blue), and 1 District Building (grey) you have completed: You score 5 bonus points.
• For each Guild card you played: You score points as described under "Guild Cards" below.
• For Resources in your hand: You score 4 points if you have the most Resource cards, 2 points if you have the second most, or 1 point if you have the third most (even if there are less than 4 players). If there is a tie, all tied players earn the full points.
• For Fiorini in your hand: You score 4 points if you have the most coins, 2 points if you have the second most, or 1 point if you have the third most (even if there are less than 4 players). If there is a tie, all tied players earn the full points.
• For the Captain of the People: You score 1 point if you are the Captain of the People at the end of the game.

You must subtract points for the following:

• The value of each reserved Monument that you did not complete.
• The value of each reserved Artist that you did not hire.

The player with the most Prestige Points is the winner! If there is a tie, the winner is the tied player who completed the single most valuable artwork (i.e., any card that requires an Artist to play), including the value of the Artist that created it. If there is still a tie, compare their second most valuable artwork, and so on.

Resource Limits

During the game, it is possible (but unlikely) that the supply will run out of a type of Resource or Fiorini. If that happens, you must follow these rules:

• If possible, all players must "make change" with their coins for other values, including exchanging cards with other players.
• If there are no more cards of a type left in the supply, no one can take any (those incomes are lost).
• If there are not enough cards to give everyone the cards they earn (i.e., income), they are distributed in turn order.
• The Captain of the People cannot choose a Resource for the extra income unless there are enough in the supply to give 1 to every player.

Legend of Symbols

• Sculptor, Architect, Painter — Artist types.
• Resource: Marble, Resource: Wood, Resource: Metal, Resource: Fabric, Resource: Gold, Resource: Spice — the six Resource types.
• Extra Action — the card grants an additional action.
• Draw an Extra Card — the card grants an additional Florenza card draw.
• 3+ people — to be used only in 3- or 4-player games.
• 4 people — to be used only in 4-player games.
• 50, 100, and 500 Fiorini — the Money card denominations.
• Prestige Point — points scored at the end of the game.
• Deck I, Deck II, Deck III — which Florenza card deck the card belongs to.
• Captain of the People — marks the player holding the office.

Guild Cards (Arte Cards)

Guilds are an important part of the strategy in the game, because they can change your objectives. Players may find them easier to understand and manage once they have learned the game dynamics. For this reason, the game designer recommends that you remove them from the deck for your first game. Starting from your second game, you should be able to use them without any problem.

• Arte dei Mercatanti (Merchants' Guild): During the Collect Income step of the End of the Round Phase, you receive 1 additional Resource of your choice from the supply.
• Mastro Artista (Patron of the Arts): At the end of the game, you receive 5 Prestige Points for each complete set of Architect, Painter, and Sculptor you have hired.
• Arte Maggiore (Craftsmen's Guild): At the end of the game, you receive 3 Prestige Points for each Workshop (yellow) card you have completed.
• Padrone (Landlord): At the end of the game, you receive 3 Prestige Points for each Residence (purple) card you have completed.
• Bottega d'Arte (Art College): You receive a discount of 50 Fiorini when you hire any kind of Artist, including Anonymous Artists.
• Protettore (Protector): At the end of the game, you receive 3 Prestige Points for each Monument you completed.
• Edificatore (Master Builder): You receive a discount of 50 Fiorini when you pay to complete any Monument.
• Signore de lo Rione (Lord of the District): At the end of the game, you score 2 Prestige Points for each complete set of Family Palace (green), District Church (blue), and District Building (grey) you have completed.

Income Cards

• Residences: In addition to the extra action and Florenza card, the Casamento and Palagio also give additional Fiorini, as shown on the card.
• Workshops: All Workshops grant additional income, in Resources and/or Fiorini during the income step of Phase 4, as shown on the card.

Strategy Hints

At first glance, it appears that cards that allow you to take extra actions (the Residences and Preachers) are necessary to win the game, or that they are too cheap. But, our many playtests have shown that even though this is a common impression it is not correct. These cards are important - just like every card in the game - but they do not guarantee victory!

There are many ways to win the game - different strategies and tactics - and you must continually make crucial choices. There is no single, certain winning strategy, and there is not enough "luck of the draw" to ensure victory. You must be clever and manage the cards in your hand if you are going to find the route to victory!

Placentia Games would like to thank everyone who, in any way, helped us realize this game. In particular, Orizzonte degli Eventi, SlowGame, Ludoteca Galliatese, and Andrea Chiarvesio, in addition to those already mentioned in the game.

English rules by Mario Sacchi & William Niebling.