About Calico
A good quilt needs more than pretty colors. In Calico, every patch has a job to do, and placing one in the wrong spot can make a scoring opportunity much harder to complete. This tile-laying board game welcomes one to four players, each trying to turn a small hexagonal board into a beautiful quilt that attracts cats and earns colorful buttons. Each player starts with a board containing 22 empty spaces and three design goals. The available patches come in six colors and six patterns, creating 36 possible combinations. On a turn, players choose one of the two patches in their hand, place it on a space, and then pick a replacement from the three tiles displayed in the shared market.
Cats Have Their Own Decorating Rules
The cats are not impressed by just any arrangement. Each one prefers a particular pattern group, such as three connected striped or polka dot patches. Complete the required arrangement, and that cat can settle onto the quilt, bringing points when the game ends. It is worth checking the active cat requirements before placing a tile, especially when one patch could help attract a cat and support a design goal at the same time. Buttons offer another way to collect points. Connecting three or more patches of exactly the same color earns a matching button worth three points. Collecting all six button colors also brings a bonus, making color planning important from the beginning.
Think Ahead Before Filling a Space
A useful approach is to avoid filling the board too quickly without considering the surrounding spaces. Design goals depend on the patches around them, so leaving room for useful combinations can make a big difference. Keep an eye on the market as well. A tile that looks unimportant now might be exactly what is needed a few turns later.
One Quilt, One Final Score
The game finishes when every space on the 22 tile boards has been filled. Points come from completed design goals, attracted cats, and collected buttons. If players finish with the same score, the player with more cats wins the tie, followed by the number of buttons. Calico makes every placement count. Its cozy appearance hides a thoughtful puzzle where a little planning can turn an ordinary collection of fabric patches into a high-scoring quilt.
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