Fresco

2010

Fresco is a strategic board game where players become Renaissance painters, juggling time, resources, and worker happiness to recreate a grand fresco. With optional expansions, it offers high replay value.

60
minutes

2 - 4
player(s)

10+

Medium

About the game

Welcome to the vibrant world of Fresco, a captivating board game that immerses players in the life of a master Renaissance painter. This game, published by Queen Games and designed by Marco Ruskowski and Marcel Süßelbeck, is a wonderful blend of strategy, tactics, and beautiful components, making it an exciting gaming experience.

In Fresco, you step into a 16th-century artist’s shoes, tasked with restoring a grand fresco in the cathedral’s ceiling. The setting is incredibly immersive, transporting players back in time to a world of artistic mastery and Renaissance intrigue. Each player manages their own team of apprentices, planning their tasks meticulously to restore the fresco and earn the most prestige points.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Fresco is a popular board game that revolves around the restoration of a cathedral’s fresco. The game consists of several components, each serving a specific purpose and contributing to the overall gameplay. Here’s a detailed description of each component:

1. Game Board: The game board is the main component of the game. It features various locations such as the market, workshop, cathedral and more, where players can perform different actions. The cathedral is at the center of the board and is the place where players restore the fresco to earn points.

2. Player Boards: Each player in the game receives a player board. This board represents the player’s workshop where they mix and store their paints, and it also shows the player’s current mood status.

3. Paint Cubes: There are several paint cubes of different colors included in the game. These cubes represent the paints that players use to restore the fresco. Players can mix these paints in their workshop to create new colors.

4. Bishop: The bishop is a special piece that moves around the cathedral. The presence of the bishop can increase or decrease the points a player gets for restoring a fresco piece, depending on the player’s actions.

5. Portraits: These cards provide additional ways to earn points. Players can paint these portraits using their paints to receive bonus points.

6. Money: Fresco includes money tokens that players can use to buy paint cubes from the market.

7. Master Painters and Apprentices: Each player has one Master Painter and several apprentices. These pieces are used to perform actions at different locations on the board. The Master Painter is also used to determine the player’s turn order.

8. Tiles: The game includes several types of tiles. Market tiles show the available paints in the market, while fresco tiles are the pieces of the fresco that players restore.

9. Mood Marker: Each player has a mood marker on their player board. This marker moves up and down the mood track, influencing the wake-up time of the player’s apprentices and how many additional actions they can perform.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Fresco is an engaging board game where players take on the roles of master painters in the Renaissance period. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game.

Step 1: Board Placement

Set the game board in the middle of the table where all players can easily reach it. The game board displays the market, the cathedral, and the workshops of the painters.

Step 2: Tiles and Cards Placement

Tiles:

Arrange the paint market tiles in the paint market quadrant of the board.
Place the fresco tiles on the cathedral, covering all the spaces. Make sure the dark spaces are filled with the tiles with the dark backs.

Cards:

Arrange the portrait cards in a stack next to the game board.
Prepare the bishop’s request cards by shuffling them and placing them in a draw pile.

Step 3: Player Roles and Initial Resources

Each player chooses a color and takes the matching player board, paint tokens, and master painter. The player board represents the player’s workshop.

Place the paint tokens on the indicated spaces of the player’s workshop.
Place the master painter on the 5th space of the wake-up track.

At the beginning of the game, each player starts with one paint of each color (red, blue, and yellow) in their workshop.

Step 4: Random Elements

Random elements are introduced through the bishop’s request cards. These cards are drawn at random and provide players with specific tasks to complete in order to gain extra points. The player who draws the highest numbered bishop’s request card goes first.

Step 5: Starting the Game

The starting player takes the starting player marker. Players then determine their wake-up time by secretly choosing a time on their player board. The player who chose the earliest time goes first in the next round.

Now, the game is set up and ready to be played!

Game flow Round and round we go

Fresco is a popular board game where players take on the roles of master painters. The game is divided into several distinct phases and requires strategic planning to accumulate the most victory points. Below is a detailed description of the game structure and the actions players perform during each phase.

The game is played in rounds, each consisting of the following phases:

Planning Phase

In the Planning Phase, players decide their wake-up time for the following day. The earlier a player wakes up, the earlier they can act, but they risk upsetting their apprentices which can lead to loss of victory points. The wake-up time also affects the market prices of paints. Players also plan their actions secretly on their individual action boards during this phase.

Market Phase

During the Market Phase, players can buy paints from the market. The earlier a player acts, the more choices they have, but the more expensive the paints are. Paints are crucial for painting the fresco and mixing new colors.

Workshop Phase

In the Workshop Phase, players can mix paints to create new colors. This is a strategic action since certain fresco segments require specific colors. The ability to mix paints efficiently can give a player an advantage.

Painting Phase

During the Painting Phase, players paint parts of the cathedral’s fresco. Each fresco segment requires certain colors and grants a certain amount of victory points. Players also receive coins as payment for their work, which they can use to buy paints in the market.

End of the Round

The round ends with the Bishop’s scoring. The player whose paint stroke impresses the Bishop the most gains an additional victory point. Players then prepare for the next round, replacing spent fresco tiles and refilling the paint market.

Strategy and forethought are key to winning in Fresco. The game continues in this cycle until the final round, which is triggered when one player reaches a specified number of victory points or the fresco is completed. The player with the most victory points at the end of the game wins.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

In Fresco, a renowned board game, each player’s turn is critical and possesses several strategic choices and actions. These choices can dramatically affect the gameplay, the player’s progression, and ultimately the outcome of the game.

Each player’s turn in Fresco consists of the following actions:

Wake Up: The player decides the wake-up time for their Master Painter. The earlier the Master Painter wakes up, the fewer options the player will have at the market but more opportunities they have to paint the fresco.
Buy Paint: The player may choose to visit the market to buy paint cubes. The price and availability of these cubes depend on the wake-up time. It’s a strategic choice, as buying more expensive paints early can help complete more valuable sections of the fresco.
Paint the Fresco: The player may decide to paint a section of the cathedral fresco. Doing this increases the Archbishop’s happiness and scores victory points for the player. The player must have the correct paint cubes to paint the desired fresco section.
Attend the Theatre: The player can choose to go to the theatre, which increases the Master Painter’s mood. A happier Master Painter means more apprentices available for work in the next round.
Mix Paints: The player can decide to mix two basic paint cubes to create a new one. This action allows the player to get the necessary paint to complete more complex sections of the fresco.
Paint a Portrait: The player may choose to paint a portrait, which earns them money. This action is strategic as money is necessary to buy more paints and manage the game’s economy.

Strategic choices during a player’s turn can significantly affect the gameplay. For example, waking up early allows the player to have first pick of the paints but can result in a grumpy Master Painter with fewer available apprentices. Similarly, deciding when and how to spend money, whether on paints or increasing the Master Painter’s happiness, can also have a considerable impact on the game.

Ultimately, the goal in Fresco is to score the most victory points, which requires careful planning and smart use of resources. Each player’s turn is a balance of managing paints, money, and the mood of the Master Painter to strategically paint the fresco and earn the most points.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

Fresco is a popular board game where players are master painters working to restore a grand fresco in a Renaissance church. The game ends when a certain condition is met and then players proceed to final scoring. Here are the detailed end game conditions and final scoring rules:

The game of Fresco ends when one player purchases the last Fresco tile on the game board. Once this occurs, the current round is finished to ensure all players have an equal number of turns. After the round is complete, players proceed to the final scoring.

In the final scoring, players earn additional points for:

Portraits: Players receive 3 victory points for each portrait they have painted.
Unused Money: Each money value of 1 is worth 1 victory point.
Remaining Paints: Each remaining paint in a player’s workshop is worth 1 victory point.
Bishop Score: Each player’s Bishop score is added to their total.

It’s important to note that players’ scores are kept secret throughout the game, only being revealed at the end during final scoring. The player with the highest total score is declared the winner. In case of a tie, the player with the most money wins.

Before final scoring, players must ensure that:

All Fresco tiles that were purchased during the game have been placed on the game board.
All portraits that were painted during the game have been accounted for.
All money and paints in their possession are accurately counted for.

Understanding these rules is crucial to strategize and maximize your points in a game of Fresco.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In the board game ‘Fresco’, players score points by completing various tasks and activities throughout the game. The scoring system is as follows:

Painting the Fresco: Players earn points for each section of the fresco they paint in the cathedral. The points awarded vary depending on the size of the fresco section, with larger sections earning more points.

Small section: 1 point
Medium section: 3 points
Large section: 6 points

Purchasing Paint: Players can also earn points by purchasing paint from the market. Each time a player purchases paint, they earn 1 point.

Attending Theater: Every time a player chooses to attend the theater, they earn 2 points.

Portraits: Painting portraits earns the player points based on the value of the portrait. These values can range from 1 to 5 points.

Bonus Tiles: Throughout the game, players can also earn bonus tiles, which award points at the end of the game. These points can range from 1 to 10.

In the event of a tie at the end of the game, the tie-breaking rules are as follows:

The player with the most leftover paints wins.
If there’s still a tie, the player with the most leftover money wins.
If there’s still a tie, the player who is first in the player order wins.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

The game of Fresco is a strategic board game where players take on the roles of fresco painters during the Renaissance period. While the game is largely straightforward, there are instances where rare or special rules and exceptions come into play. Below are some of the important rule clarifications:

Scoring:

Portrait Cards: These cards are scored immediately after they are bought. The player receives the number of victory points shown on the card.
Alter Pieces: Alter pieces are scored at the end of the game. Each alter piece is worth 1 victory point. If a player has all three pieces (cross, book, and chalice), they receive an additional 6 points for a total of 9 points.

Market:

At the market, the order of players is determined by who arrives first. In case of a tie, the player who is earlier in the turn order goes first.

Special Tiles:

Special tiles affect the gameplay in various ways. Here are some clarifications:

Double Turn Tile: This tile allows a player to take two consecutive turns. However, they must pay 2 florins each time they want to use it.
Early Morning Tile: This tile allows a player to wake up one hour earlier than any other player.

Extra Rules for Two Players:

In a two-player game, some special rules apply:

Each player uses two apprentices instead of one.
The bishop moves randomly at the beginning of each round.
Only three out of the five market stalls are available each round.

End of the Game:

The game ends when one player has painted all their fresco tiles or when the bishop has moved around the cathedral one full round. In case of a tie, the player with the most leftover money wins.

House Rule:

A popular house rule among players is to allow the trading of paint colors between players. This is not an official rule, but many players find it adds a fun and strategic element to the game.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Fresco is an intriguing board game that combines strategic planning, resource management, and a bit of luck. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, these tips, strategies, and common mistakes to avoid will help you optimize your gameplay.

Advanced Strategies:

Market Timing: Timing is everything in Fresco. Try to wake up early to get the best colors at the market, but remember that this will impact your mood negatively, which can affect your actions.
Color Combinations: Always keep a good stock of red, blue, and yellow paints. These are crucial for mixing and creating other colors. Keep in mind that purple, which requires both red and blue, is usually in high demand.
Plan Ahead: Try to anticipate what paintings the bishop will request next and prepare for them in advance. This will give you a competitive edge.

Beginner Tips:

Understand the Scoring: Make sure you understand how the scoring works. Remember that restoring the fresco in the cathedral earns you points, but so does increasing your workers’ happiness and buying paints from the market.
Keep an Eye on Your Opponents: Keep track of the paints your opponents have, what they might be after in the market, and try to block their strategies if possible.
Utilize the Workshop: Use your workshop effectively. It’s where you mix colors to make new ones. Be smart about what colors you mix and when.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Ignoring Worker Happiness: Don’t forget about your workers’ happiness. Happy workers mean more actions, which can make a significant difference in the game.
Poor Resource Management: Avoid using up all your paints too quickly. It’s essential to maintain a balanced stock of paints to be able to adapt to changing demands.
Not Planning Ahead: Don’t focus solely on immediate gains. Have a long-term strategy in mind and plan your moves accordingly.

Gameplay Optimization:

Balance Your Actions: To optimize your gameplay, balance your actions between buying paints, painting the fresco, and managing your workers’ happiness. Striking a balance will ensure you have a steady flow of points throughout the game.
Master Color Mixing: Understand the color mixing chart well. Knowing the right combinations will help you make the most of your paints.
Use Portraits Wisely: Portraits can provide a quick boost of points. Use them wisely and at the right time for maximum benefit.