The Little Flower Shop
The Little Flower Shop Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- 96 Shop Cards: 39 Flower Cards, 12 Basket Cards, 21 Vase Cards, 15 Salary Cards, 9 Order Cards, Back of Shop Cards
- 16 Player Cards: 12 Starting Vase Cards (3 in each player color), 4 Register Cards (1 in each player color)
- 25 Money Cards (6x $1, $2; 5x $3; 8x $5)
- 4 Shop Windows
Multiplayer Rules
Setup
- Each player chooses a color and takes the matching colored shop window and 3 starting vase cards.
- Players place their shop window in front of themselves and their starting vase cards onto their shop window.
- Players take a register card and put it next to their shop window.
- Sort the money cards by denomination and place within reach in the "bank." Note: Be careful not confuse money cards with salary cards, which also depict money.
- Shuffle the 96 shop cards and place the deck face-down within reach.
Overview of the Game and Components
Shop Window
Players try to score the most Flower Power (FP) by filling vases in their shop windows and by hanging baskets. The window holds up to 6 vase cards on the lower shelf and 1 vase card in each hanging shelf. The top of the window has 3 spaces for baskets.
Vase and Flower Cards
Each vase card holds exactly 1 flower card and only with the kind and number of flowers specified. There are four flower types: Rose (red), Tulip (pink), Sunflower (yellow), and Iris (purple). The black and white flower icon means "any flower".
The order of the flowers does not matter, just the flower type and number.
Filler (Optional Rule)
Each flower card also has 1 of 3 fillers: baby's breath, hypericum, or fern. These are not relevant, unless using filler scoring (see Filler Scoring below). We suggest that you ignore the filler during your first few games.
Areas
To the left of the window is a storage area that holds a maximum of 4 cards. Above the window are pass areas for cards being passed to the next player. To the right is a trash area for trashed cards. Below is a keep area to place the card you intend to keep during play.
Flower Power
Flower power is shown by the number of petals at the bottom of the vase cards. A vase is worth flower power only if it is filled. On basket cards, flower power is shown by number next to the petal icon.
A perfectly designed shop window at game end will have 8 filled vases, 3 hung baskets and no cards in the trash.
Playing the Game
The game lasts 3 rounds. After the final round, scores are tallied. In each round, players choose 7 cards, one at a time, as described below.
Picking Cards
- Deal a hand of 7 shop cards to each player.
- Players simultaneously choose a card from their hand and place the chosen card face-down in their keep area.
- Players put the remaining cards face-down in their pass area. Use the left area for the first and third rounds. Use the right area for the second.
- When all players are ready, they simultaneously reveal the chosen card and use it (see "Using Cards" below).
- After using the card, players pass the card(s) in their pass areas to the player on the left (first/third round) or right (second round).
- As before, players choose a card from their new hand.
- Repeat the process of picking, using, and passing until no cards remain.
- Special Seventh Card Rule: After seeing the final card received in a round, you may spend $2 (once per round) to discard it and draw a random card from the deck, which you keep and use accordingly.
Using Cards
After a chosen card is revealed, it is used. There is no turn order; players act simultaneously. Cards are used according to their type.
Vase Cards
Place vase cards in 1 of the 8 vase spots on your window. If your window has 8 vases, excess vase cards must be put in storage.
Flower Cards
Tuck flower cards under the topside of a matching vase card so the flower remains visible. If the flower card does not match an open vase card, the flower card must be put in storage. Reminder: Each vase may hold only 1 card.
Salary Cards
Tuck salary cards under your register card so the total amount remains visible. Salary cards in the register function as money.
Basket Cards
Place baskets in storage. Anytime during the game, you may spend money from your register (by putting the money in the bank) to "buy" the basket and hang it in 1 of the 3 spots at the top of your shop window. You may hang a maximum of 3 baskets. Excess baskets must be put in storage.
Order Cards
Put order cards in storage until you use it to fulfill an order. Anytime during the game, you may pause play to fulfill an order according to the rules below.
Fulfilling an Order
- A player may fulfill an order (i.e., "sell flowers") by discarding from the game exactly 1 flower card along with the order card. For this, a player collects money from the bank:
- $3 for a 1-flower card
- $4 for a 2-flower card
- $5 for a 3-flower card
- A player may sell a vase card by itself for $2.
- A player may use a vase card and a flower card to fulfill the same order only if the flowers match the vase's requirements.
- Sales do not happen in any turn order. Just announce and sell.
- Money cards are placed in one's register and remain visible to all.
- A player may sell cards in storage or in the shop window, but not those in the trash.
Example: Red sells a bouquet of 3 flowers, which he removes from his shop window. Both cards are discarded and he earns $5.
Reorganization Rule
Anytime during the game, a player may freely reorganize cards she possesses, whether in the shop window or in storage. Cards in the trash, however, cannot be reorganized. A player may trash any card possessed, whether in storage or in the shop window.
Storage Maximum of 4 Cards
A player's storage may hold up to 4 cards. Excess cards must be moved to the trash. Before resorting to trashing a card, a player may reorganize and/or use cards (to fulfill an order) in their storage and/or shop window. A player may trash a card in storage to make room for a card just taken. Money and salary cards are not in storage.
Game End and Scoring
After 3 rounds, do the following before scoring:
- Move empty vase cards from your shop window to your trash.
- Trash all cards in storage.
- Keep money cards and salary cards in one's register.
Calculate Flower Power (FP)
- Each petal at the bottom of a filled vase card is worth 1 FP.
- Score 2/3/4 FP for each hung basket (as shown on card).
- Score 1 FP for every $5 in your register.
- Deduct 1 FP for every 2 cards in your trash (round down).
In case of ties, the player with the most vases in their shop window wins the tie. If still tied, the player with the most money, i.e., excluding money used to score FP, wins the tie. If still tied, the players remain tied.
Filler Scoring
After playing a couple of games, try adding "filler scoring" to the game. Each player chooses 1 type of filler at the game's end to score for herself. For each card with that filler, the player scores 1 Flower Power, which is added to her final score.
Example: You have 5 flower cards with baby's breath, 2 with hypericum, and 1 with fern. You choose to score the baby's breath and earn an additional 5 Flower Power.
Solo Rules
Challenge yourself with this solo variant to see how high you can score. Follow the same rules as in the multiplayer game, with the changes below.
- Deal yourself 7 piles of shop cards, face-down, and place them under your shop window. The number of cards in each pile is determined as follows:
- In the first pile, deal 7 cards.
- For each subsequent pile, deal 1 card fewer. Exception: Put 2 cards in the final pile, rather than 1.
- When complete, you'll have 7 piles, going from left to right, with 7 cards in the first pile and 2 cards in the final 2 piles.
- Starting with the pile on the left, flip 1 card at a time.
- If you discard the card, flip the next card in the same pile and decide again to keep or discard it.
- If you keep a card, discard the remaining cards in the pile, and then use the kept card, according to the standard rules.
- When discarding cards, you may look at them.
- If you reach the final card in a pile, you must keep it or pay $2 to draw a random card from the deck.
- After keeping and using a card from 1 pile, move onto the next pile and follow the same process.
- Continue the process until you've taken 1 card from each pile.
Game End and Scoring (Solo)
After 3 rounds, calculate your score. If you have exactly 8 filled vases and 3 baskets, add a completion bonus of 5 FP, then determine your level.
Bouquet: 37+; Flower: 35-36; Bud: 32-34; Sprout: 30-31; Seed: 28-29; Soil: <28
If you use filler scoring, add 4 to the values above to determine your level.
Thanks
Dr. Finn's Games thanks all the Kickstarter backers of this game. Without the support of these backers, the Little Flower Shop would not exist. Thanks also to the playtesters: Anthony, Michael, Yami, Seth, Becca, Seamus, Orion, Chris and to the playtesters at various conventions (whose names I do not have). As usual, if I have inadvertently forgotten someone, I apologize. Thanks to the following for their help with the rulebook: Daniel, Tahsin, Morgan, Tracy, Michael. Thanks also to you for playing this game. I hope you enjoy it.
Art Credits
Flowers, Store, and Window Artwork by Sarah Wry Character Illustration by Rocio Ogñenovich Graphic Design by Sebastián Koziner