Viticulture: Tuscany

BASE GAME IN THIS BOX

Prefer to only play with Tuscany. All in except for Formaggio and Fruit Cellar. Same comment here and for Rhine Valley, which makes the game better. Over all there are so many better games out there.

Amazing modular expansion (and I was so excited to play it I didn’t even take the time to do the legacy aspect of it), that I would never play without.

It’s modular and can be “unlocked” through gameplay or you can just dive right in. There are so many modules....

1. new board- at first I wasn’t so keen on this, but after really giving it a try I would always use this it turns 2 seasons into 4 and gives you more options/decisions
2. mommas & poppas - basically you start with an asymmetric income. I like this but it can sometimes result in a “bad draw” so I like to give out a few extra cards to choose from
3. special workers - this one is awesome, you choose 2 different types of special ability workers (from a large pool) that you can hire instead of regular workers. Changes the game up nicely
4. buildings - adds a new card type where you can build unique buildings that give private action spots, powers, income etc. I personally really love this add on but I can be swingy and really change the game
5. cheese - adds a whole sideboard where you can get cows and harvest cheese to supplement your wine for more points. I quite like this not sure why it was left out of the new printing
6. aboriculture - adds a sideboard (reverse side is cheese) where you can harvest apples, I don’t know kind of cool but given a choice I play cheese (you can’t do both at same time)

There are a few other modules but the ones I listed are the ones I use.

It turns the base game into a heavy game. Essential for experienced gamers. I still play the base game with non-gamers.

1 jugador

The expansion improves on a few issues with the base game, but adds too much game length. I don't think the expansion is as necessary as popular opinion says.

Makes a very good game great.

1 play / 6 players (3.5h)

LIKE: Great choices, engine building. Fun to run a winery. Same feel as the original Viticulture.

DISLIKE: Longer, as the seasons are broken up into 4. Also, at 6 players there will be many point options that players will be shut out from, rendering many workers useless. Lots of variance in the card draws.

OVERALL: Great game, but not at 6 players. Too long and too chaotic, the end game becomes all about turn order. 1st player option is too strong at 6, and renders whomever is last, useless. I'd like to try this at 4 players, but so far the updated original game seems shorter and more fun for how much variance there is in the cards.