HIGHLIGHTS AMONG GAMES
LA CITTÀ
Among Italian Princes
Dear reader! According to information in the designer’s biography the mechanical Engineer Gerd Fenchel did work more than five years at this game. No lost time at all, when you look at the final product. This heavy weight from the “Spiele Galerie” series from Kosmos impresses by an immense amount of components, among them tiny, yet clearly distinguishable men and women. In this the publisher has very generously implemented ideas by the designer. The landscape that you spread out on your table is visually immensely impressive, especially due to the steady stream of townsmen and townswomen as well as the colorful building tiles for palazzi, convent schools, university and many more. This is nicely supplemented by the fun in considering what should be placed where and when. One more reason for my readers to wend their ways into the Austrian Games Museum at Leopoldsdorf im Marchfeld. www.spielen.at
Each individual game will gleam afresh in the light of an observer’s lamp, because the Italian landscapes are manifold and changeable, but yet the aim is always the same: Players in the guise of Italian princes must try to settle as many townsmen and townswomen in their cities as possible and to avoid migration of those citizens into more enticing regions by providing necessary achievements like culture, education and health. Each prince starts the game with two castellos and a certain number of townsmen and townswomen, according to the number of players. In six rounds permanently new citizens will enter the prosperous town, albeit with the restriction that they can be fed and kept in town with attractive offers there. Magnificent buildings can be erected due to political decisions, whose quality in turn is determined by popular vote. And this vote, to a certain extent, will always remain incalculable, as men in Italian Realms are fickle and opportunistic, too. Migration sometimes in unavoidable, but should ideally be balanced by corresponding immigrants.
Which leaves us with the vexatious problem of nourishment: Many citizens need much food, and this is permanently scarce in the universe of La Città. Conclusion: Live and goings-on in La Città very pictorially tell the sage of Renaissance migration on the permanent search for a better live. But usually the decisions demanded from the princes, that is, players, are not easy, even then when you have emulated the copious rules. There are always a thousand things you want to do and yet the scarce actions keep you on a tight reign. La Città presents a challenge, with joy at the end of your efforts, with lots of dynamics during all five political rounds. What is the translation of the Latin quote on the start player symbol? „The Master was richly rewarded and honored!“
Comments to: hugo.kastner@chello.at
Homepage: www.hugo-kastner.at
RECOMMENDATION # 94
Players: 2-5
Age: 12+
Time: 100+
Designer: Gerd Fenchel
Art: Studio Krüger
Price: currently not available
Publisher: Kosmos
www.kosmos.de
Year: 2000
Competence: 4 von 9
Info±: 2 von 9
Chance: 3 von 9
La Città provides a tight-rope walk between short-term and long-term decisions. Without a tactical-strategic approach you will not achieve much, and also not without a certain amount of luck. A wonderful balance with a guarantee for an enjoyable game!
Hugos EXPERT TIP
For you first game, please keep to the set-up suggested in the rules; the flow of the game is vastly improved by this. Also a lot of help are the strategic tips from the designer, as there are: Keep an eye on food, build quarries early, ensure your access to water and, finally, don’t forget to acquire the bonuses for three achievements.
Hugos FLASHLIGHT
At first glance, La Città comes across as more complex than it plays in the end, especially if you restrict yourself to two to three players. With that number of players moves remain easy to plan, and down-time within a tolerable length. Fun is a high priority, again according to “The Master was richly rewarded and honored!”
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