Playing VP cards at the FINAL Courtship?

[Larry Ted]

As the last action of the final courtship the game ask you if you want to "Play VP cards for favors instead of gaining those VPs". Why would anyone do this as no more actions can be taken right? Or am I missing something?

[2mid]

The most common reason would be to play a VP card that gives you a reputation increase in order to bump you up to the maximum level of reputation. If you have been struggling with rep during the game or you spend or lost some late, you might need the opportunity to push yourself over the line to get those extra points for maximum reputation. In some cases, you might have been holding onto a reputation VP card, but you also might have just drawn it on the final turn, so that would be your opportunity to play it or maybe you simply miscounted (raising hand because this has happened to me) and didn't realize you were going to come up a little bit short. Since increasing your reputation to the max level will gain you either 9 points (extended game) or 7 points (standard game) it can be a good idea to sacrifice a 3 or 4 point VP card to get there.

[2mid]

Another case where this might be a good idea is if you are working on the objective card that awards you 10 VP if you finish the game with at least 1,200 pounds. If you are a little short after the final turn, spending a 3-4 point VP card with a money reward that will allow you to fulfill the 1,200 pound objective and secure those 10 points would be worth it.

[Larry Ted]

Ahh, yes, thanks. I see now. I guess I haven't seen enough of the Objectives and VP cards to make that connection. I had one where I could gain a servant to get 4 VP on an Objective card but the VP card gave me 5 points so it wasn't profitable

[2mid]

Yeah, it's pretty rare that I need it, but when I do it can be a lifesaver!

[GeoPaladin]

Ahh, yes, thanks. I see now. I guess I haven't seen enough of the Objectives and VP cards to make that connection. I had one where I could gain a servant to get 4 VP on an Objective card but the VP card gave me 5 points so it wasn't profitable

For what it's worth, servants are worth +2 VP each so that would actually have been a tiny profit. It's not usually going to turn a game, but every little bit helps.