How To Play: It’s a Wonderful World – Setup, rule summary and strategy

Quick Summary

It's a Wonderful World is a strategic board game that combines resource management, card drafting, and player interaction to challenge players in their pursuit of victory points. To succeed in this captivating game, you must carefully manage resources, develop projects, control territories, and adapt your strategies to outwit your opponents.

In this game, players engage in card drafting, selecting and prioritizing project cards in strategic ways to build a powerful card engine. Balancing your resource production, carefully allocating resources, and optimizing project development are essential to gaining victory points. Forming alliances, competing for territory control, and disrupting opponent plans are all part of the player interaction tactics that will lead you to success.

With a beautifully designed game board, stunning artwork, and immersive components, It's a Wonderful World offers a thrilling and strategic gaming experience. Each decision you make will impact your chances of victory. As you navigate through the rounds, navigating the phases of card drafting, development, production, action, and scoring, you'll feel the excitement and anticipation of building your empire.

Master resource management, employ effective card drafting techniques, optimize project development, strategize territory control, and utilize player interaction strategies to seize victory in It's a Wonderful World. Prepare to immerse yourself in a dynamic and competitive game that will challenge your strategic thinking and lead you to claim triumph in this wonderful world.

Overview

Welcome to our comprehensive strategy guide for It’s a Wonderful World! Whether you’re a newcomer to the game or an experienced player looking to refine your tactics, this guide is packed with valuable insights and expert advice to help you achieve victory.

Within this guide, you’ll find a thorough outline of the game rules, ensuring that you have a solid understanding of the gameplay mechanics and objectives. We’ll also delve into the best strategies to employ, empowering you to make informed decisions and outmaneuver your opponents.

It’s a Wonderful World is a captivating board game that combines elements of resource management, card drafting, and player interaction. The game challenges players to strategically allocate resources, develop projects, and control territories to gain victory points. With its deep strategic gameplay and rich thematic components, every decision you make will greatly impact your chances of success.

Whether you’re aiming to dominate through resource management, card drafting techniques, optimizing project development, strategic territory control, or mastering player interaction, our guide will provide you with the knowledge and strategies to achieve your goals.

So, gather your resources, prepare your plans, and get ready for an exciting journey into the world of It’s a Wonderful World as we unravel the secrets to success!

What’s in the box

  • Main Game Board x1
  • Player Boards x5
  • Reference Cards x5
  • Project Cards x150
  • Building Cards x15
  • Event Cards x30
  • Territory Control Tokens x17
  • Building Tokens x4
  • Multiplier Tokens x30
  • Round Tokens x5
  • Action Tokens x45
  • Energy Tokens x45
  • Science Tokens x45
  • Workforce Tokens x45
  • Faction Marker Tokens x20
  • Bid Tokens x25
  • VP Tokens:

    • x2
    • x5
    • x10
    • x15
    • x20
  • First Player Marker x1
  • Rulebook x1

How To Play It’s a Wonderful World: Rules Summary

Objective

  1. The objective of It’s a Wonderful World is to accumulate the most victory points (VP) by the end of the game.
  2. Players will earn VP by developing projects, completing objectives, controlling territories, and other strategic actions.

Game Setup

  1. Place the main game board in the center of the play area.
  2. Give each player a player board, reference card, and a starting hand of project cards.
  3. Shuffle the project cards and create a draw pile, face-down, near the game board.

Gameplay

  1. Each round consists of several phases: Card Drafting, Development, Production, Action, and Score.
  2. In the Card Drafting phase, players simultaneously choose one project card from their hand to keep and pass the remaining cards to the next player.
  3. During the Development phase, players decide whether to develop their chosen cards by allocating resources. They can also activate special powers on certain cards.
  4. In the Production phase, players place resource tokens on cards to indicate their production values.
  5. The Action phase allows players to perform various actions, such as trading resources, denouncing projects, or engaging in territory conflicts.
  6. Lastly, during the Score phase, players earn victory points based on completed projects, controlled territories, and objectives.

Endgame and Winning

  1. The game ends after a set number of rounds or when specific conditions are met.
  2. Players tally their victory points earned from developed projects, territories, and completed objectives.
  3. The player with the highest total VP at the end of the game is declared the winner.

By following these rules and strategically managing resources, developing projects, and interacting with other players, you’ll be on your way to mastering It’s a Wonderful World. Embrace innovative strategies and make calculated decisions to lead your faction to victory!

Best Its A Wonderful World Strategies

Resource Management Strategy

In It’s a Wonderful World, mastering resource management is essential to maximize your chances of victory. Efficiently allocating and utilizing your resources will determine your ability to develop projects and gain victory points. Here, we’ll explore some key strategies to help you excel in resource management:

1. Plan ahead and prioritize

  1. Analyze the project cards in your hand and identify their resource requirements.
  2. Prioritize projects that align with your overall strategy and have a feasible resource allocation plan.

2. Establish a reliable resource engine

  1. Focus on projects and cards that provide steady resource production.
  2. Combine cards that synergize well together to create an efficient resource engine.
  3. Efficiently balance the production of energy, workforce, and science points to meet your project requirements.

3. Adapt to changing circumstances

  1. Stay flexible and adjust your resource allocation based on the evolving game state.
  2. Monitor the resource allocations of other players and adapt your strategy accordingly.

4. Explore trading opportunities

  1. Identify trading opportunities with other players to acquire the resources you need.
  2. Negotiate favorable trades and make offers that align with your resource management plan.

By carefully managing your resources, planning ahead, and adapting to the ever-changing game dynamics, you’ll increase your chances of success in It’s a Wonderful World. Keep these resource management strategies in mind and stay one step ahead of your opponents on your path to victory!

Card Drafting Techniques

Mastering card drafting in It’s a Wonderful World is key to building a powerful and efficient card engine. Through careful selection and consideration, you can maximize the potential of your hand. Here are some essential card drafting techniques to improve your chances of victory:

1. Assess card value and requirements

  1. Evaluate the value and strategic relevance of each card before making your choice.
  2. Prioritize cards with synergies to amplify their impact.
  3. Consider the resource requirements of the cards and ensure they fit within your resource management plan.

2. Focus on generating resource diversity

  1. Choose cards that produce different types of resources to maintain a balanced resource income.
  2. Strategically select cards that address resource shortages and work towards stabilizing your resource production.

3. Keep an eye on opponent’s choices

  1. Observe the cards being passed to you and anticipate the strategies of your opponents.
  2. Strategically denounce or limit the options available to other players by passing specific unfavorable cards.

4. Adapt your tactics based on rounds

  1. Vary your drafting strategy as the game progresses to align with evolving project and territory control needs.
  2. Identify critical late-round cards with unique abilities or high victory point potential and adjust your picks accordingly.

By utilizing effective card drafting techniques, you increase your chances of constructing a strong card engine in It’s a Wonderful World. Consider the value, requirements, and resource diversity of the cards available while paying attention to your opponents’ choices. With strategic card drafting, you’ll have a solid foundation to pave your path to victory.

Optimizing Project Development

Efficiently developing projects in It’s a Wonderful World is vital to gaining victory points and outpacing your opponents. By employing smart strategies, you can maximize the value of your projects and propel yourself towards victory. Here are some key techniques to optimize your project development:

1. Prioritize high-scoring projects

  1. Identify projects with high victory point rewards and prioritize their development.
  2. Create a balance between short-term point gains and long-term benefits to maintain a competitive position throughout the game.

2. Chain cards with synergies

  1. Build projects that synergize well with your existing card engine to create powerful combinations.
  2. Look for cards that directly benefit from or enhance the abilities of your previously developed projects.

3. Strategically deny and denounce

  1. Deny or actively pursue projects that are beneficial to your opponents’ strategies.
  2. Use strategic denouncement to nullify the value of specific projects your opponents are trying to complete.

4. Develop multi-resource projects

  1. Prioritize projects that require a combination of different resources to diversify your point generation capabilities.
  2. Balance the allocation of resources to fulfill project requirements efficiently.

By optimizing project development in It’s a Wonderful World, you can rapidly gain victory points and maintain a competitive advantage. Focus on high-scoring projects, create card chains with synergies, strategically deny and denounce, and pursue multi-resource projects to propel yourself closer to victory. With strategic development strategies, you’ll dominate the game and leave your opponents in awe of your accomplishments.

Territory Control Tactics

Mastering territory control in It’s a Wonderful World is crucial to gain advantages over your opponents and claim valuable resources. With the right tactics, you can establish dominance and secure victory. Here are some effective territory control strategies to consider:

1. Identify strategic territories

  1. Analyze the benefits and resources associated with different territories on the game board.
  2. Identify territories that align with your overall strategy or provide significant advantages and prioritize their control.

2. Plan expansion and defense

  1. Strategically expand your control over territories to gain project bonuses or secure victory points.
  2. Defend your controlled territories by allocating resources for battles, ensuring they cannot be easily taken by opponents.

3. Balance control and resource allocation

  1. Find a suitable balance between expanding your territory control and managing your resources efficiently.
  2. Avoid overextending your influence to prevent resource shortages that could weaken your overall position.

4. Utilize event and building powers

  1. Make strategic use of the powers granted by event and building cards to bolster your control over territories.
  2. Carefully select projects and cards that enhance your ability to control and manipulate territories to gain advantages.

By employing effective territory control tactics in It’s a Wonderful World, you can gain a significant edge over your opponents. Identify strategic territories, plan expansion and defense, carefully balance control and resource allocation, and leverage event and building powers to optimize your territory control efforts. With a well-executed territory control strategy, victory will be within your grasp.

Player Interaction Strategies

Mastering player interaction in It’s a Wonderful World is a key element to secure victory. The strategic choices you make and how you engage with other players can heavily influence the outcome of the game. Here are some effective player interaction strategies to consider:

1. Establish diplomatic relations

  1. Build alliances and negotiate favorable trades to gain resources or project assistance.
  2. Engage in diplomacy by forming temporary partnerships or agreements that benefit both parties.

2. Compete for territory control

  1. Strategically engage in battles for territory control to deny your opponents valuable resources or project bonuses.
  2. Allocate your resources wisely to ensure your chances of winning in territory conflicts.

3. Observe opponent strategies

  1. Pay close attention to your opponents’ actions and strategies throughout the game.
  2. Study their card drafting choices, resource management, and project development to anticipate their moves.

4. Disrupt opponent plans

  1. Utilize project denouncements and strategic card drafting to disrupt your opponents’ strategies.
  2. Consider blocking them from acquiring key cards or resources that would greatly benefit their progress.

By employing strategic player interaction strategies in It’s a Wonderful World, you can gain a competitive edge over your opponents. Form alliances, compete for territory control, observe your opponents’ strategies, and disrupt their plans as necessary. With well-executed player interaction, you can tip the scales in your favor and emerge victorious in this strategic board game.

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing our strategy guide for It’s a Wonderful World! Armed with a comprehensive understanding of the rules and expert-tested strategies, you are now equipped to conquer the game and achieve victory. Remember, success in It’s a Wonderful World lies in careful resource management, astute card drafting, optimal project development, shrewd territory control, and effective player interaction.

As you embark on your journey, adapt your tactics to the ever-changing game state, anticipate your opponents’ moves, forge alliances, and assert your dominance over the wonderful world before you. With determination, skill, and a pinch of luck, you can emerge as the triumphant leader.

We hope this guide has provided valuable insights and inspiration to elevate your gameplay experience. Embrace the challenges that lie ahead, explore new strategies, and above all, savor the enjoyment of building your own empire. Now, go forth and create your wonderful world!

Want to know what we think of It’s a Wonderful World? Read our detailed review of It’s a Wonderful World here

Jamie in his proper element: With all of his board games
Jamie Hopkins

With years of dice-rolling, card-flipping, and strategic planning under my belt, I've transformed my passion into expertise. I thrive on dissecting the mechanics and social dynamics of board games, sharing insights from countless game nights with friends. I dive deep into gameplay mechanics, while emphasizing the social joys of gaming. While I appreciate themes and visuals, it's the strategy and camaraderie that truly capture my heart.