FAQ
29 answered questions1 official
Rules questions from the BoardGameGeek forum. Answers marked Official were confirmed by Portal Games or the designers.
Common mistakes
- Resolving pawns before abilities that need no pawn — those go first, except the two Contracts that take a Building or an Employee. Ruling · Rule
- Letting a discount make a Material free — every Material costs at least 1. Ruling · Rule
- Showing a different Collection at each Fashion Show — one Collection is judged at every show of the round. Ruling · Rule
- Placing in a category without showing a Collection — you need at least one finished Design on show. Ruling · Rule
- Counting Employee Prestige in the Prestige exchange — it arrives at the start of the Award phase, after the exchange. Ruling · Rule
- Forgetting the Loan interest in the round the Loan is taken — a Loan nets only 18. Ruling · Rule
Showing 29 of 29
When several players have abilities at the same location, who goes first?
First every player, in turn order, uses their abilities that need no pawn at that location; then the pawns there resolve from left to right, each owner also using their pawn abilities. The two Contracts that take a Building or an Employee (With Real Estate Agent, With Employment Agency) are the exception: they resolve after the pawns (rulebook p. 9).
Source: BGG thread
Is a card row refilled as soon as someone takes a card?
No. The rows are filled at the start of each Working round and cleared in every Upkeep phase, so over the game every card is seen once.
Source: BGG thread
Does a discount apply to the total or to each Material? Can green become free?
To each Material — but no Material ever costs less than 1.
Source: BGG thread
Do two Sales Representative discounts add up?
No. Each card is its own action at location 6 with its own discount, so you buy twice (two colours), never at a double discount.
Source: BGG thread
When a card says "draw a Design", may I take a face-up one?
No, you draw from the top of the deck, as the almanac says each time.
Source: BGG thread
Must I act with a pawn I no longer need?
No. You may take any pawn back without resolving its location (rulebook p. 12).
Source: BGG thread
When does the First Player token move in the normal game?
At the start of each Working round it passes to the left — not in round I and not in Exhibition rounds.
Source: BGG thread
How does the Logistics Office work?
After all pawns are placed, swap one of your pawns with an adjacent pawn at the same location, to resolve earlier. Upgraded, you may instead ignore the pawn limit when placing one pawn.
Source: BGG thread
Do I pay severance to replace a Starting Employee?
No. Covering a Starting Employee with a new hire costs nothing; severance (twice your Upkeep) applies only when you fire a hired Employee.
Source: BGG thread
Does the Accountant pay in the Exhibition round's Upkeep too?
Yes, in every Upkeep phase.
Source: BGG thread
My Accountant gives 5 and my Upkeep is −3. What happens?
Take the 5, pay the 3: you end up 2 ahead. If your Upkeep total is positive, use the +1 side of the marker.
Source: BGG thread
May I own two copies of the same card?
Yes, nothing forbids it.
Source: BGG thread
Do I pay a Loan's interest in the round I take it?
Yes. The new Upkeep applies in the round the Loan is granted, so a Loan nets 18.
Source: BGG thread
At an Exhibition, do I pay interest before repaying my debts?
Yes. Pay your Upkeep (interest included), repay the Credits and Loans, then lower your Upkeep track.
Source: BGG thread
When With Rental Office expires, does my Upkeep go back up?
Yes. Upkeep is always the sum of the cards in front of you.
Source: BGG thread
When With Freelance Designer is discarded, do I keep its Clothing Type token?
No, the token leaves with the Contract.
Source: BGG thread
Can I show a different Collection at each Fashion Show of the round?
No. You show one Collection per Exhibition round, judged at every show of that round.
Source: BGG thread
Are several shows in one round added together?
No. Each tile is a separate show, scored on its own.
Source: BGG thread
Can I win awards without showing a Collection?
No. You need at least one finished Design on show (and at least one token of the category) to place.
Source: BGG thread
Do Prestige tokens from an Employee count before the Prestige exchange?
No. Those abilities give Prestige at the start of the Award phase, after the exchange; they count for this round's sale and become VP at the next Exhibition.
Source: BGG thread
Why do some Designs show a "2 Cash" symbol beside the price? Official
It marks that the Design is more valuable than the others, so you see it when you pick cards. By the rulebook (p. 15) it is a bonus: the Design sells for 2 more when it is in your Collection.
Source: BGG thread
In the rulebook's p. 18 example, shouldn't Matt also gain a Trend token?
Yes. His Collection includes a jacket, his Clothing Type, so he gains 1 Trend.
Source: BGG thread
If I sell a Collection with Trader or For Ready-to-Wear Collection, do I get its bonuses or Prestige?
No, only the Cash prices — and the Designs must be finished with their Materials.
Source: BGG thread
My upgraded Spokesman and an opponent's upgraded Machine Facilities both win Quality ties. Who wins?
Neither: the tie is resolved by the standard rules, as the almanac says.
Source: BGG thread
Does the Makeup Artist count every kind of Model?
Yes: Model, Experienced Model, Model Superstar and Experienced Model Superstar.
Source: BGG thread
What do the 2 and 3 on Prestige tokens mean?
Their value. Prestige tokens work like money: make change as you like.
Source: BGG thread
Can the Investment House be used in every Upkeep phase?
Yes, every round. It turns Cash into VP early, at the cost of Cash you might need later — remember Cash also scores at the end.
Source: BGG thread
Can I use With Audit Company in the last Upkeep to sell all my Buildings and Employees?
Yes, Upkeep abilities work in the last Upkeep phase too.
Source: BGG thread
Our scores ran into the hundreds. Is that normal?
Yes. With a working engine, totals of 300 to 700 are common.
Source: BGG thread