Pastiche -- Art Has Never Been so Much Fun

[Gerald]

Pastiche is a game for two to four players, designed by Sean MacDonald and recently published by Gryphon Games.  It is also a 2011 Mensa Select Winner.  A game runs around forty to sixty minutes (maybe longer if alot of the participating players are prone to analysis paralysis).  Pastiche is about restoring artworks by great European masters. 

Before you go further, let me just say that Pastiche is considered by many to be a family or a gateway game.  To some extent, that is true.  So if you're only interested in deep, thought provoking, three-hour long games, you MIGHT be better suited to look elsewhere.

Disclaimer: Truth be told, I was never a big fan of art.  I don't go "ooohh" and "aaahh" while looking at paintings, and I've never understood when people talk about depth or life or shadows and all that.  I'm not ashamed to say that I just don't get it.

COMPONENTS:
Pastiche comes with a board (sort of), a rulebook, a bunch of cards divided into various color categories, square tiles depicting aforementioned artworks by great European masters (i.e. Monet, Manet, Da Vinci, etc.) and a bunch of hexes.  I'd also like to point out that the insert that came with the game works very well.  It is rare these days to have a game that doesn't need a refined storage solution.

Picture Submitted By: Ender Wiggins || Taken From the BGG Database

The cards are the usual euro size (similar to Ticket to Ride) hence quite small.  The quality of the cards are average, nothing to write home about.  The hexes are sturdy and seem to quite well-made, guaranteeing no visible wear and tear after (hopefully) multiple plays.  The tiles are quite thick and the art is very nice (they were done by masters after all) and the way everything is laid out is excellent.  Information you need is easily come by, while not overcrowding the picture of the artwork itself.

Picture Submitted By: Sean MacDonald || Taken From the BGG Database

The board used in the game is in the form of a palette (pictured below).  It serves as a placeholder for the different colored cards you'll be using during the game.  Its actually a very nice board... its just a little sad that it serves such a simple purpose (though admittedly, I've seen odder uses for boards in my time). 

Picture Submitted By: Sean MacDonald || Taken From the BGG Database

Overall, the quality of the components are quite satisfactory, and do add to the thematic feel of the game.  From the various hues to the palette board to the artworks.  Have I seen better components?  Yes.  But am I complaining?  No.

GAMEPLAY:
Setup is a breeze.  You arrange the cards by color type on the palette board after each player receives one card of each type of the secondary colors (brown, green, orange & violet).  Each player receives two hexes and two artwork/commission tiles each, you place the starting hex in the middle of the table, deal out four artwork/commission tiles for public viewing, and game begins.

On a player's turn, he MUST put down a hex.  I won't go into detail, but suffice to say that that hex determines what color(s) he/she will acquire that turn.  After he/she lays down the hex, he/she can now initiate trades with other players and/or the palette board.

Picture Submitted By: my eye (earache) || Taken From the BGG Database

He/she can also trade a commission he/she has in hand with one in public display.  The commissions that are displayed can be completed by anyone while the ones the player has in hand can only be completed by them. 

After all the trading is done, the player then proceeds to complete a commission should he/she choose to do so (of course barring the fact that he/she must have the required colors to do so). 

The player then refills his/her hand back to two hexes and discards any cards in excess of eight he/she has in his/her hand.  Play then passes to the next player.  Rinse and repeat.

The game ends when a certain score is reached, depending on the number of players.  Everyone then totals their points, adding bonuses if you're able to complete commissions on paintings done by the same painter and for colors you have leftover that can be used by incomplete commissions you have on hand.

COMPARING IT TO OTHER SIMILAR GAMES:
At its heart, Pastiche is a set collecting game.  You acquire the colors/hues you need to complete your commissions.  As such, I feel it should be compared to other set collecting games, in this case I'll be using Ticket to Ride as a basis of comparison.

As with Ticket to Ride, you are trying to get all the colors you need to complete something.  The difference is you can't hoard a bunch of cards and unleash them when your grubby little hands can't hold 'em no more.  There is also alot of blocking in the game, as you don't want people to be able to acquire the colors they need to complete commissions, so you position your hexes in certain ways to help prevent it. 

As with the destination cards in Ticket to Ride, the commission cards in Pastiche also provide points when completed.  I can actually see this game doing what Ticket to Ride did, in coming up with expansions that give slight tweaks to the gameplay, but maintaining the overall feel of the game.

The trade aspect in Pastiche is a nice touch though, but mutually beneficial deals are a little hard to come by at times.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Pastiche hasn't given me a new appreciation about art.  I'm still not gaga over it and know next to nothing about it... but, I must admit, that Pastiche has made learning a little more about it alot of fun.

I like this game, and despite a little fiddliness, I can see myself playing and teaching it alot more in the near future.  I know, I know... it doesn't seem to be my usual cup of tea.  But somehow, it just works for me and I like it alot.

If you like art, this game should be a no brainer for you.  If you like games like Ticket to Ride, you can't go wrong by giving this game a try.  The colors take a bit of getting used to, but after a game or two, you should have it down pat.