How To Play: Agricola (Revised Edition) – Setup, rule summary and strategy

Overview

Welcome to our comprehensive strategy guide for Agricola (Revised Edition). Whether you’re a novice farmer or a seasoned strategist, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and tactics necessary to dominate the farming world and claim victory.

In this guide, we will explore the game rules of Agricola, providing you with a solid understanding of how the game functions. From there, we will dive into the exciting realm of strategies, unraveling the best approaches to maximize your chances of triumph.

Are you ready to embark on a journey where resource management and strategic decision-making are the keys to success? This guide will not only offer in-depth analyses of various gameplay aspects, but also provide you with valuable tips, tricks, and strategies to help you build a prosperous farm, outwit your opponents, and claim the title of the ultimate farmer.

Whether you’re looking to improve your ability to allocate resources efficiently, master the art of action selection, leverage the power of special buildings and occupations, devise the best family growth strategy, or unlock the potential of card combos and synergies, we have it all covered for you.

What’s in the box

• 1 Game Board
• 5 Game Board Extensions (pre-printed on both sides)
• 2 Goods/Occupation Boards (double-sided)
• 3 Goal Tiles
• 1 Red Building
• 270 Cards (including Occupations and Minor Improvements)
• 50 Small tokens
  • 28 Wooden “resources” markers
  • 4 Wooden “general” markers
  • COD convoy tile
  • Factory marker
  • Riverboat tile
  • Publishing House tile
• 9 Room tiles
• 33 Stable tiles
• 15 Storage tiles (5 for each material type)
• 4 Place tiles for competition setup
• 1 First Player token
• 48 Wooden family members (12 each of 4 colors)
• 90 Wooden “vermin” pieces
  • 60x Sheep
  • 30x Wild boar
• 2 White status markers
• Various markers (e.g., clay oven, attic, grain imps)
• 318 Plastic/paper markers
• Rulebook

How To Play Agricola (Revised Edition): Rules Summary

1. Setup

1. Place the game board in the center of the table.
2. Give each player a player board, resources, and family members of the same color.
3. Assemble the cards according to their deck types and place them near the board.
4. Prepare the room, stable, and storage tiles, along with the other markers and tokens.
5. Determine the starting player and give them the first player token.

2. Rounds

1. The game is played over a series of rounds, with each round representing a year on the farm.
2. During each round, players take turns to carry out actions by placing their family members on available action spaces on the board.
3. Actions can involve collecting resources, plowing fields, sowing seeds, building structures, and more.
4. Players must be strategic and plan their actions carefully to maximize their farm’s development and secure victory.

3. Harvesting and Feeding

1. After every few rounds, a harvest phase occurs.
2. All players must harvest crops, breed animals, and feed their family members with food resources.
3. Failure to properly feed your family will result in victory point deductions, so careful resource management and planning are key.

4. Special Buildings and Occupations

1. Throughout the game, players have the opportunity to acquire special buildings and occupations by using the appropriate action spaces and cards.
2. These cards provide unique abilities and advantages, allowing players to enhance their farm’s productivity and strategies.
3. Strategically selecting and utilizing these cards is crucial for success in Agricola.

5. Scoring and Endgame

1. At the end of the game, final scoring takes place.
2. Players earn points based on various factors, such as the size of their family, the development of their farm, accumulated resources, and achieved goals.
3. The player with the most victory points wins the game and is declared the most successful farmer.

Now that you have a summary of the rules, you are ready to embark on your farming journey in Agricola (Revised Edition). Remember to plan your actions carefully, balance resource management, and strategically use special cards and abilities to thrive in this exciting agricultural challenge!

Best Agricola Revised Edition Strategies

Resource Management – The Key to Success

Resource management is a crucial aspect of achieving victory in Agricola (Revised Edition). Effectively utilizing and maximizing your resources will give you the upper hand in creating a prosperous farm. Here are some strategies to help you master resource management:

1. Prioritize Resource Acquisition

1. Focus on collecting essential resources like wood, stone, and food early on.
2. Strategically take actions that allow you to acquire resources efficiently and consistently.
3. Consider the long-term benefits of certain resources over short-term gains.

2. Plan Ahead for Resource Consumption

1. Assess the resource requirements of your actions and plan your moves accordingly.
2. Avoid unnecessary waste by ensuring that you have the necessary resources before taking actions.
3. Balance your resource consumption to prevent shortage in crucial areas of development.

3. Optimize Resource Conversion

1. Utilize conversion actions to transform resources into valuable benefits.
2. Explore synergies between different types of resources.
3. Strategically convert surplus resources into more beneficial forms.

By mastering resource management, you will be able to build an efficient and flourishing farm. Allocate your resources wisely, plan ahead, and optimize their utilization to gain a significant advantage over your opponents. Remember, every resource counts, so prioritize acquisition, plan for consumption, and harness the power of resource conversion.

Action Selection – Making Every Move Count

Mastering the art of action selection is a crucial aspect of achieving victory in Agricola (Revised Edition). Making strategic choices and utilizing actions wisely will give you a significant advantage over your opponents. Here are some strategies to help you excel at action selection:

1. Analyze Available Action Spaces

1. Evaluate the benefits and limitations of each available action space.
2. Consider the repercussions of allowing your opponents to access certain actions.
3. Prioritize actions that align with your farm’s needs and strategic direction.

2. Diversify Your Actions

1. Avoid getting stuck in repetitive actions and seeking variety in your choices.
2. Utilize a mix of acquiring resources, expanding your farm, and developing family members.
3. Balance short-term benefits with long-term goals to maximize your efficiency.

3. Leverage Occupations and Improvements

1. Capitalizing on the unique abilities of your occupations and improvements can provide significant benefits.
2. Select occupations and improvements that complement your overall strategy.
3. Strategize around actions that synergize well with your chosen cards.

By honing your action selection skills, you can make every move count and optimize the growth and development of your farm. Analyze available action spaces, diversify your choices, and leverage the power of occupations and improvements. With strategic and thoughtful action selection, you will gain a competitive edge and pave your way to victory in Agricola.

Special Buildings and Occupations – Keys to Farming Success

Special buildings and occupations hold immense potential in your journey to victory in Agricola (Revised Edition). These powerful cards offer unique abilities and advantages that can significantly boost your farm’s growth. Here are some strategies to maximize the potential of special buildings and occupations:

1. Prioritize Early Access

1. Seek out special buildings and occupations that provide essential resources or actions early in the game.
2. Give priority to acquiring cards with abilities that align with your overall strategy.
3. Keep an eye on the available cards and make calculated decisions about which ones to pursue.

2. Synergize and Combo

1. Identify combos between special buildings, occupations, and other game elements to maximize their effectiveness.
2. Aim for card combinations that provide exponential increases in resource production or point generation.
3. Strategically plan your family growth and actions to capitalize on your card synergies.

3. Adapt to Card Availability

1. Be flexible and adapt your strategy based on the special buildings and occupations that are available to you during the game.
2. Consider various synergistic options and adjust your gameplay accordingly.
3. Keep track of the cards your opponents acquire and adjust your strategy to counter their strengths.

By effectively utilizing special buildings and occupations, you can unlock hidden potential within your farm and gain a significant advantage on your path to victory. Prioritize early access, create synergies and combos, and adapt your strategy based on card availability. Embrace the power of these unique cards and watch your farm flourish like never before!

Family Growth Strategy – Expanding Your Farmstead

Family growth is a vital aspect of achieving victory in Agricola (Revised Edition). By strategically expanding your family, you can increase your productivity, tackle more actions each round, and edge out your opponents. Here are some strategies to master the art of family growth:

1. Balance Between Creating and Feeding Family Members

1. Create a well-balanced plan that allows you to grow your family without sacrificing your ability to feed them.
2. Strategize by acquiring improvements or utilizing acquired resources to ensure food sustainability.
3. Consider taking actions that provide both fertility and immediate food rewards.

2. Timing Is Key

1. Time your family growth appropriately to ensure maximum efficiency.
2. Avoid premature growth that may overextend your resource availability.
3. Only add additional family members when you are certain that their contributions will have a positive impact on your farm.

3. Leverage Advantages of Larger Families

1. Capitalizing on the advantages of having a larger family is crucial for success.
2. Prioritize actions that provide additional benefits for each family member.
3. Strategize to create a harmonious balance between familial expansion and resource acquisition.

By mastering the family growth strategy, you can gain a substantial advantage over your opponents. Strive for a balanced approach, time your family growth carefully, and leverage the advantages of having a larger family. With a well-executed plan, your family will become the driving force behind your farm’s success, leading you on the path to victory in Agricola.

Card Combos and Synergies – Unleashing the Power of Combinations

In Agricola (Revised Edition), the game is replete with cards that can be combined in strategic ways for optimal outcomes. Unlocking card combos and synergies is a key aspect of achieving victory. Here are some strategies to help you make the most of card combinations:

1. Identify Powerful Card Combinations

1. Analyze the abilities of your cards and identify combinations with the potential for exponential benefits.
2. Seek out cards that complement each other, enhancing resource production, action efficiency, or point generation.
3. Plan your actions and card acquisitions strategically to set up profitable combinations.

2. Timing Is Essential

1. Understand the optimal time to play certain cards to maximize their impact.
2. Consider seeking cards that can enhance long-term strategies or create immediate advantages when played at the right moment.
3. Be patient and wait for the opportune time to unleash the full potential of your card combinations.

3. Adapt to Emerging Synergies

1. Remain attentive to the cards chosen by both you and your opponents.
2. Stay open to adjusting your strategy to capitalize on new synergies that present themselves.
3. Keep a keen eye on cards that complement the evolving game state and adjust your gameplay accordingly.

Mastering card combos and synergies in Agricola is pivotal for achieving victory. Identify powerful combinations, time your plays effectively, and adapt your strategy to capitalize on emerging synergies. By unleashing the power of strategic card interactions, you’ll gain a distinct advantage over your opponents and pave your way to triumph.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have now acquired a comprehensive understanding of strategy and gameplay techniques in Agricola (Revised Edition). Armed with this guide, you are ready to embark on a fruitful farming adventure and outmaneuver your opponents. By effectively managing your resources, making strategic decisions, leveraging special abilities, and expanding your family, you will be on the path to victory.

Remember, the key to success lies in thoughtful planning, adaptability, and seizing opportunities. Agricola offers a rich and immersive experience where you can develop your own unique farming strategies and witness the fruits of your labor.

So gather your family members and dive into the world of agrarian ambition. The challenges and rewards that await you on your path to becoming the ultimate farmer are boundless. Good luck, and enjoy the exhilarating journey that Agricola (Revised Edition) offers!

Want to know what we think of Agricola (Revised Edition)? Read our detailed review of Agricola (Revised Edition) here