 “I didn't fail the test, I just found 100 ways to do it wrong.” - Benjamin Franklin Hey, maybe you can use that one the next time you lose a board game! And then hopefully you'll learn from those mistakes and win the next 100 times! Anyway, I digress. If you're looking for a short, sweet, and simple deck builder that might teach you a thing or two, I think I have the game for you! Franklin's Fortune presents you with a world of opportunity where you'll use your energy and persistence to achieve great success! Let's check it out... What Is It?  A light and educational deck builder where players try to acquire cards and Sterling from the Common to build their own engines of opportunity. Using Energy to gain Persistence, combining those with Sterling to earn education which, along with Experience, helps you earn more at your Occupations, and using Persistence to overcome Obstacles and gain Virtues, all work together to help players acquire Franklin's fortune. At the end of the game, the player with the most points from cards (1 point each) and Sterling (1 point per 10) wins! Who Is It For?  I'd highly recommend this game to history buff gamers and would even say that it would be a great tool for history classes as well. It is helpful in highlighting the importance of education and how to balance your available resources to make the best of what you have in order to come out ahead. I think that it is good for both deck building fans and those who are new to/want to try deck builders; it is a good one to start with because of its smooth and easy to understand gameplay. Finally, the game itself recommends ages 14+ which is a pretty good estimate in my opinion so that players can appreciate both the game mechanics and how they work with the theme. Quality  The cards, which are the main component here, are a bit thin, so I would recommend sleeves to keep them pristine longer. However, be advised that the cards are a bit harder to fit in the box while sleeved. The Sterling are cardboard chits, fine quality, especially since you don't have to handle them very much. The rules are printed on nice paper and everything is organized well, and easy to read, which is always a ton of points in my book! (You wouldn't believe how many games are ruined by a bad rule book). Overall, it's a pretty nice game! PROS
CONS
Difficulty I would give this about a 2.5/5 for difficulty. As I mentioned, this would be a good starting deck builder for those who are not as familiar with the mechanic because it's not too difficult to learn. Everything fits and flows well together, so it is easy to follow as well. However, it does have some challenge and availability for strategy, so that takes it up a notch for more experienced gamers as well. Final Thoughts  Overall, we have a really solid game here! While I do wish Franklin himself would manifest and take me on a New Year's quest with Rudolph (click here to understand that reference), even without that, it's a game I can see getting to the table frequently, and being helpful in getting newbies into deck builders, or gaming in general. It's very solid all the way around, and gets a big thumbs up from me!
Happy Gaming~ Additional Information: Designer - Shane Newell BGG - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/275890/franklins-fortune Website - https://franklinsfortune.com/ How To Play - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcute4xFKFk&feature=youtu.be Amazon-https://www.amazon.com/Franklins-Fortune-Incredibly-Strategy-Educational/dp/B07C86W4GP *I was provided a copy of this game to do this review*
2 Comments
James
3/29/2019 09:34:11 am
I bought this game when I saw it on TV and I completely agree with your assessment here. Great write up.
Steph
3/31/2019 09:33:44 pm
Thanks, James! A really fun game indeed, glad to see another lover of it out there! ^_^ Leave a Reply. |
