# Princes of the Renaissance ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2003 - **BGG Rating**: 7.3 - **BGG Rank**: #1584 - **Players**: 3-6 (Best with: 5) - **Duration**: 180 min - **Weight**: 3.50 / 5 - **Designers**: Martin Wallace - **Artists**: Michael Christopher, Peter Dennis, Richard Hanuschek - **Publishers**: Mercury Games, Warfrog Games, Giochix.it, Heidelberger Spieleverlag - **Categories**: Economic, Negotiation, Renaissance - **Mechanics**: Area Majority / Influence, Auction / Bidding, Dice Rolling, Interrupts, Variable Player Powers ## Verdict If you enjoy games with lots of interaction, auctions, and a well-explored historical theme, Princes of the Renaissance is a feast! Get ready to negotiate, betray, and dominate Renaissance Italy.Tense auctions full of twistsUnique and interesting player powersConstant player interactionWell-integrated Renaissance themeRules can seem complex initiallyLanguage dependency can be a factorDice luck might frustrate someRECOMMENDED ## Description Get ready to dive headfirst into Renaissance Italy, a turbulent and fascinating period where power, intrigue, and war went hand in hand! In "Princes of the Renaissance," you take on the role of one of the Condottieri family leaders, like the famous Gonzagas or d'Estes, competing to become the dominant force on the peninsula. The game is set between 1470 and 1500, an era when Italy was a mosaic of powerful city-states like Venice, Milan, Florence, Rome, and Naples, each with its own influential characters and secrets. Your goal is to accumulate Victory Points (VP) by controlling interests in these major cities. Each city has tiles representing iconic historical figures, such as Lucrezia Borgia or Lorenzo de' Medici. Each of these characters grants unique abilities: one helps you become more treacherous, another increases your income. These tiles also award VP at the end of the game, depending on the city's status. And a city's status changes, primarily through war! When cities go to war, they need Condottieri to fight for them. That's where the action heats up! You'll use your influence points to bid in auctions, deciding who will represent each side in the battle. The outcome of the war depends on a touch of luck with dice rolls and the size of your army, but don't worry, you get paid gold for fighting, regardless of the result. That gold can be reinvested in more city tiles, strengthening your position. But wait, treachery is part of the game! You can buy "Treachery" tiles to perform sneaky actions like stealing influence or sabotaging auctions. Or you can be subtle: rig a war so the city you want to lose has a terrible army, or use treachery to make your own troops not fight. And when the Pope enters the scene, forming the "Holy League," you might even try to bribe him to ensure he's on your side. The game doesn't force you to negotiate, but the opportunities for bargaining and making deals are plentiful, making each game a complex web of alliances and betrayals. "Princes of the Renaissance" is a rich experience for those who enjoy strategy, negotiation, and good historical drama! ## FAQ ### What is the average playtime for 6 players? The playtime is fixed at 180 minutes (3 hours), regardless of the number of players. It's a game to sit down and dedicate a good chunk of time to! ### Is it a very complex game for beginners? It has a medium-high complexity rating (3.5/5 on BGG). The complexity comes from the various mechanics and player interaction, so players experienced with strategy games will adapt better. ### Do I need to know a lot about the Italian Renaissance to play? No! The theme is very present and the characters add a special charm, but the game works perfectly without prior knowledge. The rules explain everything you need to know. ### Is negotiation mandatory or optional? The game offers many negotiation opportunities, but it doesn't force you into it. You can play focusing more on the auction and area control mechanics, but negotiating can open up possibilities. ### Are the player powers balanced? Yes, the powers are different and offer varied strategies. The balance is good, but how you use your power and interact with others is what truly defines the game. ### Do I need translated cards? Yes, the game has a moderate language dependency. It is highly recommended to have the cards and possibly a sheet with translated texts to facilitate gameplay. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 31.45 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=151462&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 46.50 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=1664445&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 50.33 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3438129&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 56.62 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5295561&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 59.57 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3137936&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 61.17 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6911040&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 67.97 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=2090150&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/11016/princes-of-the-renaissance?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com