# Quorum ## General Info - **Year Published**: 1993 - **BGG Rating**: 6.0 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 2-7 - **Duration**: 45 min - **Weight**: 2.00 / 5 - **Designers**: Andrea Angiolino, Fabio Di Iorio, Fabrizio Casa, Giorgio Accascina, Luca Giuliano, Marco Bardella, Massimo Casa, Stefano Giusti - **Publishers**: GUT, Unicopli - **Categories**: Humor, Negotiation, Political, Racing - **Mechanics**: Voting ## Verdict Perfect for those who love intrigue and want to laugh at their friends while betraying them. The highlight is the satirical theme.Funny and acidic political themeConstant player interactionSimple movement rulesFun betrayal dynamicsSecret scoring can be confusingPacing depends on negotiationFOR GENRE FANS ## Description Ever wondered what it's like to assemble a government? Quorum drops you right into the chaos of Italian politics, where the goal isn't just to enter Parliament, but to secure Ministerial seats to dominate the game. The dynamics are a curious mix of a racing game and political cunning. You control Leaders (who move faster) and Pawns, maneuvering your characters up the palace stairs while dealing with your opponents' intrigues. The spice of the game lies in the Attack, Defense, and Special cards. They aren't just for movement bonuses; they bring sarcastic comments and effects that can send your opponent straight to prison or put them under investigation. It's the kind of game where you make a deal now only to betray your partner in the next round, all to ensure your pawns occupy the available spots. Tension rises because scoring is partially secret, so you never know exactly who is leading until the dust settles. If the situation stalls and no one can form a government, a special procedure kicks in to break the political deadlock. The game ends when someone reaches 51 points, usually after the formation of two or three governments. For those who love political themes but prefer something light and satirical over a heavy geopolitical simulator, Quorum is the perfect choice. Additionally, the game includes optional rules to adapt the experience to the majority system, reflecting real changes in Italian politics post-1993. It's all about intrigue, laughter, and that feeling of 'who just betrayed me?' ## How to Play Game Objective In Quorum, players take on the role of Roman senators competing for influence in Rome and its provinces. The objective is to become the most powerful senator by accumulating victory points over 12 rounds. These points are earned through cards played in the provinces and the influence exerted in each region. Setup Place the central board on the table and randomly position the 6 province boards around it, fitting them into the indentations. Each player chooses a color and places a province token on space 1 of each province. Unused tokens remain in the box. Position each player's score token in the center of the map, with the +40 side face down. Randomly distribute one help card per player, ensuring one of them has the starting player icon. Shuffle the Rome cards (province side face up) and reveal 5 cards, forming the area called Rome. Each player receives 4 cards for their hand. Add the 14 god cards to the deck (temple side face up), shuffle, and place it next to Rome. Place 6 influence tokens with a value of 2 on the designated spaces on the map. The player with the icon on the help card will be the first to play. Game Flow Each turn follows this sequence: Draw a Rome card: The player chooses one of the visible cards in Rome and adds it to their hand, refilling the space with the next card from the deck. If there are 3+ god cards in Rome, the player can choose to remove all of them and reveal 5 new ones (only once per turn). Play a card: The player selects a card from their hand (excluding god cards) and places it in their play area, influencing a province according to the colored stripe on the card. They advance their token in the corresponding province. Pass the turn: The turn proceeds to the player on the right until everyone has played 12 cards (12 rounds). Actions and How to Play Rome Cards Each card has: Power: Determines the final score. Province: Indicated by the colored stripe and the back of the card. Type: Architecture, Intrigue, Trade, or Military, each with distinct scoring criteria. God Cards Upon receiving a god card: Reveal it, apply its effect immediately, and keep it in your hand (maximum of 3). Advance your token in a province of your choice and adjust the influence tokens in adjacent provinces (+1 or -1, respecting the limits of 1 to 4). God cards do not score at the end. End of Game and Scoring After 12 rounds, calculate points: Scoring per province: For each province, multiply the number of relevant cards (by type/power) by the value of the influence token, adjusted by the position on the marker (1st place: total value; 2nd: value -1, etc.). Scoring by card type: Military: Consecutive pairs/triples are worth 5 or 10 points. Trade: Sets of identical products (2+ items) are worth 2 to 6 points. Architecture: Points for different cards played. Intrigue: Multiplier based on power 3 cards. The player with the most points wins. In case of a tie, it is decided by the highest total influence or, if still tied, the tied players rule together. Tips for Winning Manage your god cards: Use them to adjust influence tokens in strategic provinces and advance your position. Focus on complementary card types: Combinations like Military (pairs/triples) and Trade (sets) can maximize points. Monitor adjacent provinces: Effects of god cards affect neighboring influence tokens; plan chain movements. ## FAQ ### Is the game too complex? Not at all! Movement is simple (Leaders move 2, Pawns move 1), making the learning curve very fast. ### How many people can play? The game supports 2 to 7 players, making it great for larger groups who enjoy chatting and negotiating. ### How long does a game last? About 45 minutes on average, though it may vary depending on how much time you spend negotiating alliances. ### Is it a serious political simulation? Not at all! It's a satire. The focus is on humor and the absurd situations of Italian politics. ### Do I need to know about Italian politics to play? Nope! The rules are universal. The Italian context adds flavor, but anyone who loves intrigue can enjoy it.