# Viticulture World: Cooperative Expansion ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2022 - **BGG Rating**: 7.6 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 1-6 (Best with: 2) - **Duration**: 60-120 min - **Weight**: 3.27 / 5 - **Designers**: Francesco Testini, Mihir Shah - **Artists**: Andrew Bosley - **Publishers**: Stonemaier Games, Albi, Arclight Games, Board Game Rookie, Delta Vision Publishing, Feuerland Spiele, Ghenos Games, Korea Boardgames, Lavka Games, Maldito Games, Matagot, PHALANX, Surfin' Meeple China - **Categories**: Economic, Expansion for Base-game, Farming - **Mechanics**: Contracts, Cooperative Game, Solo / Solitaire Game, Turn Order: Auction, Victory Points as a Resource, Worker Placement, Worker Placement, Different Worker Types ## Verdict Perfect for Viticulture fans who want to swap fighting for strategic cooperation. The highlight is the interdependence between players.Turns competitive dynamics into cooperationWell-implemented regional asymmetrySeamless integration with the base gameRewarding strategic challengeRequires the base game to playModerate language dependency for cardsRECOMMENDED ## Description Ever wondered what happens when the fierce competition of the vineyards turns into a family effort? Viticulture World: Cooperative Expansion does exactly that. Instead of trying to outdo your friends, you now form a network of winemakers spread across various global regions, working together to achieve worldwide recognition. It's the kind of game where the table talk shifts from 'I'm blocking you' to 'how do we solve this together?'. The dynamics are intriguing because it blends the individual management of your own vineyard with the collective need to boost the group's influence in the region. You have six years (rounds) to hit two crucial milestones: every single player must reach 25 victory points, and the shared influence token must reach the end of its track. If one person falls behind, everyone loses. This tension creates a level of asymmetry and cooperation reminiscent of hits like Spirit Island or Orleans: Invasion. To bring this experience to life, the expansion introduces a new game board, new tiles, and event cards that integrate seamlessly with the base game's vineyard mats and cards. It's the perfect choice for those who love Viticulture's worker placement mechanics but want to test the group's patience and strategy toward a common goal. Keep in mind that, as with any expansion, the base game is required to play. The great news? It's compatible with other expansions in the line, so you can further enhance your global winery. Get ready to plan every planting and harvest carefully, as coordination between players is the key to success. Will your family manage to dominate the global wine market, or will a lack of synergy ruin the vintage? ## How to Play Goal of the Game In Viticulture World: Cooperative Expansion, players cooperate as members of a family of viticulturists in different regions of the world, seeking global recognition. The game combines individual vineyard management with collective efforts to gain influence in the chosen region. You have 6 years (rounds) to fulfill two victory conditions: Each player must reach 25 victory points (reputation). The shared influence token must reach the end of the influence track. Everyone wins or loses together! Setup Board: Place the Viticulture World board (use the side with orange spaces if you are using the Tuscany expansion structure cards). Cards: Shuffle the small decks (green, yellow, purple, blue, and orange, if used) and place each in its designated location. Tokens: Position the temporary token (gray) on the wake clock and organize the grape/wine and lira tokens in a general supply. Continent: Choose a continent (it is recommended to start with Greengully). Read the story card aloud and follow the specific setup instructions. Event Deck: For the first game, use event cards 1–6 from the chosen continent, in numerical order. For future games, shuffle 6 random cards. Innovations: Shuffle the innovation pieces (rectangular and oval) and place them next to the board. Players: Each player receives: One vineyard board and field cards. 4 regular workers (2 with yellow hats, 2 with blue) and 1 large worker. 1 red card and 1 blue card (gaining the indicated benefits). Consult the manual for details on specific continent configurations. Game Flow The game takes place over 6 years, each consisting of the following phases: Spring: Reveal 1 event card (effect applies only to the current year). Discard old innovation pieces and reveal 4 new ones (2 rectangular, 2 oval). Players collectively choose their positions on the wake clock (turn order for summer/winter). Summer: In clock order, players place workers on summer actions or pass (entering autumn). Autumn: Upon passing, choose a benefit (gain lira, a card, or age a grape). Winter: Similar to summer, but with winter actions. End of Year: Retrieve workers, age grapes/wines, discard up to 5 cards, receive residual payments, and advance the year marker. Actions and How to Play Workers and Restrictions Seasonal workers: Yellow hat (summer) or blue (winter) only act in their respective seasons. Trained workers: Without a hat, the large worker, or the gray token act in any season and gain bonuses from oval pieces. Large worker: Can use actions even when full and perform trades with another player during the same action (items such as lira, cards, grapes/wines). Main Actions Innovate (H Action): Pay lira to take an innovation piece from spring: Rectangular: Place it on the corresponding action (letters on the board). Oval: Upgrades an action, allowing multiple workers. Only trained workers gain bonuses. Train a Worker (L Action): Pay lira to remove a hat, transforming them into a trained worker. Influence (P Action): Pay lira to advance the influence token. Consult the manual for details on other specific actions. End of Game and Scoring The game ends after the 6th year. Check: Each player must have 25+ victory points (if someone reaches 30, they gain 1 influence). The influence token must be at the end of the track. If both criteria are met, everyone wins. Otherwise, the group loses. Tips for Winning Innovate early: Use the Innovate action at the beginning of each year to improve actions and unlock bonuses. Lira management: Money is scarce and vital for gaining influence. Prioritize actions that generate lira. Trained workers: Remove hats to access bonuses and seasonal flexibility. ## FAQ ### Do I need the base game to play? Yes, absolutely. This is an expansion and cannot be played standalone. ### How many players can join? From 1 to 6 players, including a solo mode. ### How long does a game take? Usually between 60 to 120 minutes, depending on the group's experience. ### Is it much more complex than the original? The weight is similar (around 3.27), but the cooperative layer requires more group discussion and planning. ### Can I use it with other expansions? Yes, it is compatible with other Viticulture expansions. ### Is the game difficult? It's an 'Expert' level game, so it requires attention to rules and strong coordination between players. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 36.00 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4285823&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/42506/viticulture-world-cooperative-expansion?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com