Have The Most Influence at the Fancy Ball in Rococo
We’re heading back to the ‘Rococo’ period and going from humble dressmaker to the most prestigious person at the ball of the year.
Rococo is a game that takes place during the reign of Louis XV. The fashion is fabulous, the gossip is good, and lavish balls are the social events to make a name for yourself at. And you’re using your dressmaking business to make sure that your place in society is set in stone.
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Rococo
It’s the mid 18th century France. Fashion, art, and architecture are flourishing, and society’s elite pass their time with fancy parties. And in Rococo players try to earn the most prestige (points) by managing their people, making the trendiest and most head turning dresses, and generally securing their place in high society.
In Rococo, players take on the role of the owners of some of the most well respected dressmaking shops in town. And with the biggest social event of the season in just a few weeks, everyone has the opportunity to make it known that they’re the best. Whether the requests from local nobles is a new dress, or a donation towards the entertainment, players have the opportunity to have a direct hand in managing and planning the event of the season.
Rococo is a deck-building game where you assemble your team and send them out to tackle your most important tasks. But not every employee is up to every task. You may need high fashion outfits crafted, or decorations picked out, or even just somebody to buy supplies. Because even in games, sometimes parties are less glamorous and more ‘detail planning’. But don’t worry, in the end everyone gets to attend the ball.
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READ MORE: BUILD YOUR CITY AND CALL UPON YOUR PANTHEON: ‘SANTORINI’ EXPLAINED
How To Play
In Rococo, each player owns a dressmaking business and has the goal to earn as much ‘prestige’ as possible.
To setup the game, place out the game board, ‘Favor Card’ the 28 ‘Employee’ cards, as well as the resource tiles and dress tiles. Each player choses their color and takes the corresponding player board, base employee cards, and markers. Then each player receives their starting items of fifteen livre, one lace marker, and one thread marker.
The game consists of seven rounds and each round has four phases. So each player goes through each of the four phases seven times before the game is concluded. These phases are:
- Prepare for a new round: This is where a player can use favor acquired in the previous round, hire new employees, pick up new resources, or lay out any new dresses for sale.
- Select three hand cards: Here players can simultaneously and secretly pick up new employee cards.
- Take actions: Each player must play exactly one of their cards and may perform one action as well as the employee’s bonus as depicted on their card. Actions include claiming the queen’s favor, acquiring resources, making a dress, hiring new employees, depute employees, or fund decorations.
- Collecting income: When players are done with the action phase and have no cards left, they collect any income earned.
After seven rounds, the score is tallied. Players earn prestige points for a number of in-game accomplishments. For example, a point is awarded for every ten livre they have in the bank, as well as any scorable bonuses from employees, as well as three for the player who has the favor card. Points are also awarded for funders of the halls, fireworks, decorations, statues, and of course, the dresses worn to the ball.
Spin-Offs and Expansions
In addition to Rococo, there is Rococo: Deluxe Edition, and La Patisserie Rococo. La Patisserie is similar to Rococo, but players are preparing pastries for the Versailles Garden Festival. There are also expansion, with an additional employees, each with new bonuses.
The Deluxe Edition includes the Jewelry Box Expansion, the Festivity Dresses Expansion, and the Fancy Dresses promo, as well as the “Madame du Barry” solo mode expansion.
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Nominations & Awards
Rococo was nominated for the following awards:
- 2013 Meeples Choice Awards
- 2013 Gollden Elephant Awards -Finalist
- 2014 Kennerspiel des Jahres
- 2014 Lys Passione – Finalist
- 2015 MinD-Spielepreis Complex Games
Additionally, Rococo: Deluxe Edition was nominated for:
- 2020 Board Game Quest Awards, Best Production Values
- 2020 Golden Geek, Best Board Game Artwork & Presentation
Is Rococo Hard To Play?
I would say that it’s harder to learn than to play. The game itself is broken down into a steady and repeating pattern of moves. Even if you don’t quite get it in the first round, you’ll pick it up as you go and probably have it pretty well figured out by your second or third. Once you have a handle on the rules, playing through the steps isn’t difficult at all. But the rules are a bit dense and some phases have many steps or options, so learning all of the parts may take a little time for some.
Additionally, there is a strategy component to the game between trying to earn the most prestige and figuring out how to most effectively use your various employees.
How Many Players is Rococo For and How Long Are Games?
Rococo is a game for two to five players. It is a somewhat involved and complex game, with play time averaging between one and two hours. Rococo isn’t recommended for players under twelve years old because of its relative complexity.
Happy adventuring!
