Guillotine - Tips & Strategies

Just a couple of pointers:
1) Action cards are really handy, so don’t forget to take 1 at the end of every turn – and any Nobles or action cards that allow you to take more are really worth it. Remember there’s no hand size!

2) It’s not always necessary to play an Action Card, sometimes it worth it to hold on to these when really needed and just take the next Noble in line (as long as it is worth some points)

3) Try to get any action cards that will give you bonuses at the end of game out before the third day. There are a few ways the game can end early and those cards are not worth points if still in your hand.

I put this in my review, but thought it might go well here, too.

If you are offended by the theme of the game, remove the guillotine and turn it into a party invitation game. Same mechanics, but you’re inviting the “finest” nobles to your castle for a night of revelry. This turns the theme more “family friendly” allowing younger children to play a game that doesn’t involve decapitating cartoon nobles.

This is a good game to play if you are waiting for that last guy that’s running late and doesn’t know when he’ll get there. The game is split into three days, so you could play with the understanding that if the late person arrives before your game is over, you end it with whatever day you are on.

This way, the game can be as long or short as you need it to be.

It’s already been said, so I thought I’d reinforce the point. If a card effect tells you to reverse the line, don’t bother moving all the cards. Rather, simply move the guillotine to the other side of the line.
/
This game also possesses historical accuracy. To add some depth to the game, you can wikipedia the unique characters in the game to see how they played a role in the French Revolution. For instance the reason the game ends with Robespierre, is because he was the judge that decided who would go to the guillotine. In this way he played an important role, but people became so fearful of him and his ’22 Prairial’ (imagine being put in sentenced to a beheading without the need for a legitimate trial!), that they decided to execute him as well!

There are various cards that can change the overall score of the game in an instant. Have a card that turns your grey card negatives into a positives or one that gives bonus to red cards? Don’t play them right away. Let your opponents move the line around and give you grey cards. Take the red cards that are not all that high of a point score to begin with. Once you have gotten a little built up towards the end of the game somewhere, then you can put out your card and reveal your strategy. Just make sure you don’t do it to soon or they will not play into your trap.

You probably can’t rely on these cards to win you the game though. You will still have to have some other good point cards, but those will usually happen anyway.

Ok, maybe this isn’t a good strategy, but I just love that this card is even in the game, so I always take it!