Fairgrounds
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Fairgrounds (Cornucopia)

Cost: $6

Type: Victory

Text: Worth 2VP for every 5 differently named cards in your deck (round down).

Strategy Review

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Fairgrounds:

Fairgrounds Strategy Guide

Overview

Fairgrounds is a unique Victory card that rewards variety in your deck composition. Unlike traditional victory cards with fixed victory point values, Fairgrounds scales based on how many different cards you have in your deck. Each set of 5 different cards is worth 2VP, rounded down.

Basic Math

  • 5 different cards = 2VP
  • 10 different cards = 4VP
  • 15 different cards = 6VP
  • 20 different cards = 8VP
  • 25 different cards = 10VP

This scaling makes Fairgrounds potentially more valuable than Provinces (6VP) in games where you can acquire numerous different cards.

When to Buy Fairgrounds

Favorable Conditions

  1. Kingdoms with Many Low-Cost Options
  2. When the Kingdom offers numerous affordable cards ($2-$4), it's easier to diversify your deck

  3. Having many different low-cost cards available makes it more practical to grab variety without sacrificing deck efficiency

  4. Card-Drawing Engines

  5. Strong card draw helps you cycle through a larger deck
  6. Makes it easier to actually play your variety of cards

  7. Reduces the downside of deck dilution

  8. Late Game

  9. Like most victory cards, Fairgrounds is typically a late-game purchase
  10. Best bought when your engine or economy is already established

  11. Consider buying when Provinces would start clogging your deck

  12. Multiple Fairgrounds Available

  13. The strategy becomes more appealing when you can acquire multiple copies
  14. Each Fairgrounds counts all unique cards independently

Unfavorable Conditions

  1. Limited Kingdom Variety
  2. Kingdoms with few unique cards available

  3. Kingdoms focused on specific card types or strategies

  4. Strong Alternate VP Sources

  5. When Gardens would be more effective
  6. When Colony/Platinum is in play

  7. When other VP tokens or special victory conditions are available

  8. Fast Game Pace

  9. In games where Province rush is viable
  10. When opponents are executing quick strategies

Building Around Fairgrounds

Early Game Strategy

  1. Diversified Opening
  2. Consider split openings with two different cards
  3. Prioritize cards that will remain useful throughout the game

  4. Don't sacrifice early economy just for variety

  5. Economic Foundation

  6. Establish reliable buying power first
  7. Mix different treasure cards when possible (Silver, Gold, Platinum if available)
  8. Consider alternative treasure cards if available

Mid-Game Approach

  1. Balanced Acquisition
  2. Get useful cards that serve different purposes
  3. Mix actions, treasures, and other card types

  4. Don't forget about duration cards, reactions, etc.

  5. Engine Building

  6. Develop card draw and actions
  7. Include different villages if available

  8. Mix terminal and non-terminal actions

  9. Tracking Progress

  10. Keep count of unique cards in your deck
  11. Plan purchases to hit VP breakpoints (multiples of 5)

Late Game Considerations

  1. VP Card Mix
  2. Mix different victory cards when possible
  3. Consider Duchies and Estates if they add variety

  4. Don't forget about alternate VP cards

  5. Final Purchases

  6. Calculate whether new cards will increase Fairgrounds value
  7. Consider cheap cards to hit next breakpoint
  8. Balance victory points vs. deck function

Key Synergies

Card Types That Support Fairgrounds

  1. Card Draw
  2. Laboratory
  3. Smithy
  4. Council Room

  5. Library These help you manage a larger, more diverse deck

  6. Deck Sifting

  7. Warehouse
  8. Cellar

  9. Hunting Grounds Help you get through varied cards efficiently

  10. Gainers

  11. Workshop
  12. Artisan

  13. Horn of Plenty Allow quick acquisition of different cards

  14. Cost Reducers

  15. Bridge
  16. Highway
  17. Quarry Make it easier to acquire variety

Specific Card Combinations

  1. Horn of Plenty
  2. Natural combo as it rewards variety
  3. Helps gain more different cards

  4. Creates positive feedback loop

  5. Tournament

  6. Prizes add guaranteed variety

  7. Each prize is unique and useful

  8. Capitalism

  9. Makes more Action cards also Treasure cards
  10. Increases functional variety without hurting deck consistency

Counter-Strategies

Playing Against Fairgrounds

  1. Aggressive Province Rush
  2. End the game before Fairgrounds strategy develops

  3. Focus on efficiency over variety

  4. Pile Depletion

  5. Remove key variety options

  6. Target cards necessary for engine function

  7. Attacks

  8. Cursers hurt more due to deck size
  9. Junking attacks are especially effective
  10. Hand size reduction limits ability to play variety

Defending Your Fairgrounds Strategy

  1. Maintain Efficiency
  2. Don't sacrifice too much consistency for variety
  3. Keep strong economy cards

  4. Include deck management tools

  5. Protection

  6. Consider including Moat or other defensive cards

  7. Reactions add variety while protecting

  8. Backup Plans

  9. Don't rely solely on Fairgrounds
  10. Include alternative victory paths
  11. Maintain ability to pivot strategies

Advanced Considerations

Deck Composition Planning

  1. Card Type Distribution
  2. Mix of Actions, Treasures, Victory cards
  3. Include Duration cards when available

  4. Consider Reactions and other special types

  5. Cost Curve

  6. Balance of costs throughout deck
  7. Mix of cheap and expensive cards

  8. Use cost reducers effectively

  9. Function Distribution

  10. Different card draw methods
  11. Various sources of +Actions
  12. Multiple ways to gain cards

Timing Considerations

  1. When to Start Collecting
  2. After basic engine/economy established
  3. Before deck becomes too focused

  4. When variety is still available

  5. Purchase Order

  6. Get key engine pieces first
  7. Add variety gradually

  8. Time victory card purchases

  9. Game End Timing

  10. Monitor Province pile
  11. Watch other pile depletion
  12. Calculate VP race scenarios

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Over-Diversification
  2. Adding variety at expense of function
  3. Ignoring deck consistency

  4. Collecting cards without purpose

  5. Under-Diversification

  6. Focusing too much on engine pieces
  7. Ignoring useful variety options

  8. Sticking to familiar cards

  9. Poor Timing

  10. Buying Fairgrounds too early
  11. Waiting too long to start collecting

  12. Missing key breakpoints

  13. Strategy Inflexibility

  14. Forcing Fairgrounds strategy
  15. Ignoring other victory paths
  16. Not adapting to opponent's play

Kingdom Evaluation

Favorable Kingdoms

  1. Variety Support
  2. Multiple card gainers
  3. Different cost-reduction options

  4. Various utility cards

  5. Engine Components

  6. Strong card draw
  7. Multiple village options

  8. Deck management tools

  9. Economic Options

  10. Different treasure cards
  11. Alternative money sources
  12. Cost reduction

Unfavorable Kingdoms

  1. Limited Options
  2. Few unique cards
  3. Similar card functions

  4. Narrow strategies

  5. Aggressive Kingdoms

  6. Strong attack cards
  7. Fast Province rush potential
  8. Pile depletion enablers

Conclusion

Fairgrounds is a unique victory card that rewards careful deck building and strategic planning. Success requires:

  1. Balance
  2. Between variety and function
  3. In timing of purchases

  4. In resource allocation

  5. Adaptability

  6. To kingdom composition
  7. To opponent's strategy

  8. In victory path selection

  9. Careful Planning

  10. Of deck composition
  11. Of purchase timing
  12. Of game end conditions

When played correctly, Fairgrounds can provide substantial victory points while encouraging interesting and varied deck building. The key is maintaining deck functionality while pursuing variety, and knowing when the strategy is viable in a given kingdom.