What is a Franchise in PlateUp?

A franchise in PlateUp! is a special gameplay mode that allows players to extend their culinary journey beyond the confines of a single run. Instead of starting from scratch with each game, a successful run can be ‘franchised,’ allowing you to continue the restaurant’s legacy with a new iteration. This means you’ll essentially be creating a new restaurant using the same map (layout) and recipe (menu) from your previous run. Crucially, a key aspect of franchising is the ability to carry over a limited number of cards acquired during your original run. This continuity provides a strategic advantage and allows players to build upon their previous successes, making each subsequent franchised run more customized and efficient. The game mechanic allows you to essentially ‘copy’ successful business model and re-implement it.

Understanding the Franchising Mechanic

Reusing Map and Recipe

When you decide to franchise in PlateUp!, you’re not just starting a new game; you’re building on a foundation. The layout of your restaurant (the map) remains exactly as it was in your previous run, as does the recipe (the food you’ll be serving). This removes the challenge of adjusting to a new environment and menu, and allows you to focus on refining your operational strategy. This can mean that a restaurant optimized for speed is continued with a high-speed staff and menu, while a different design can be replicated for a more intricate, high-end feel.

Carryover Cards

Perhaps the most impactful aspect of franchising is the ability to carry forward three or four cards (the game’s developers are not clear on the precise number) that you carefully selected during your previous successful run. These cards provide significant upgrades, special abilities, or other enhancements that impact your restaurant’s performance. These cards, once selected, dictate how you approach the next run and provides you with a head start. Choosing which cards to bring forward is vital as it will form a strong base for your next franchise run. Deciding what to leave behind can be as equally as difficult as these choices are strategic.

Strategic Planning

Franchising encourages a deeper level of strategic planning in PlateUp!. Players must consider not only how to succeed in the current run but also which enhancements to carry into the next franchise. Should you focus on carryover cards that improve workflow, increase customer patience, or boost the efficiency of your cooking? The strategic choices you make in earlier runs can have a long-lasting impact on your subsequent franchise operations. This introduces a compelling metagame, where each run is not just about immediate success but also about building a powerful foundation for future restaurant expansions.

The Value of Franchising

Franchising in PlateUp! isn’t just about extending gameplay; it offers real strategic value:

• Continuity: Maintaining the same map and menu allows players to perfect their systems and strategies.
• Efficiency: Carrying over key cards provides a significant advantage in the early stages of a new run.
• Progress: Franchising allows for a sense of progression, where each run builds upon previous successes.
• Experimentation: With a familiar base, you can take risks and experiment with different approaches.
• Challenge: While keeping the same map and recipe initially sounds easier, it actually allows for higher levels of game difficulty as you try to perfect the recipe and layout.
• Rewarding: Players will find the process of setting up a powerful business in a game is a very rewarding experience that requires strategic thinking and planning ahead.

FAQs about Franchising in PlateUp!

1. How Many Cards Can I Bring to a Franchised Run?

You can bring either 3 or 4 cards from your previous run to your new franchised run. The exact number is unclear as the game’s developers have not confirmed this detail. It’s important to choose wisely as these cards will form a base for the success of your new franchise.

2. Do I Get to Choose the Cards I Carry Over?

Yes, you get to choose the specific cards you want to bring to the new franchise, adding a layer of strategy to the end of each run.

3. Does the Difficulty Increase With Each Franchise?

Yes, the game’s difficulty will increase with each successful franchise. The number of customers and the complexity of the requests will rise as you expand your chain of restaurants.

4. Can I Change My Menu When I Franchise?

No, your menu (recipe) remains the same when you franchise. The idea is to refine the same restaurant concept and create more efficiencies through card selections, and not to change everything.

5. Is There a Limit to How Many Times I Can Franchise?

There doesn’t appear to be a limit on how many times you can franchise. You can essentially turn your business into an ever-evolving empire, but this will greatly depend on the amount of time you wish to put into the game.

6. What Happens If I Fail My Franchised Run?

If you fail a franchised run, you will have to start from the beginning again. There is no saving between runs, so each game is separate, but the lessons learnt will form a foundation for your future play-through.

7. Can I Re-roll My Map in a Franchise?

No, you cannot change the map when franchising, you are trying to replicate the business of the previous map. If you require a different map you will need to start a new game, and not franchise your last run.

8. Do I Start With the Same Starting Equipment?

Yes, you start with the same basic equipment as you did in your initial run, and then your chosen cards will begin to take effect.

9. What Happens to Cards I Don’t Carry Over?

Any cards that you do not select will be lost and will not be available to you in the subsequent franchised run. Choose carefully as they form the foundation for your new restaurant.

10. Are There New Cards Available in Franchised Runs?

Yes, the card system is the same as in the base game, with new cards available to you as your franchise progresses. Your carried over cards only form a starting point for your restaurant’s progress.

11. Does Franchising Cost In-Game Money?

No, franchising is a mechanic that is accessed through the base game. It does not require any in-game monetary outlay.

12. How Do I Decide Which Cards To Keep?

You should prioritize cards that align with your restaurant’s efficiency and strengths. Consider the long term impacts, rather than just cards that seem useful in the moment.

13. Is Franchising the Best Way to Play PlateUp!?

Franchising is a fantastic way to experience PlateUp! and build a legacy of restaurants. It is a rewarding way to play and will allow for long-term planning and efficiency. The amount of planning and care you put into your franchises is what makes the process enjoyable.

14. Can I Franchise in Co-Op Mode?

Yes, you can franchise in co-op mode, allowing multiple players to contribute to the long term business goals of the game.

15. Is there a ‘best’ strategy for franchising?

There is no one ‘best’ strategy for franchising, as this is dependent on your restaurant style and personal preference. There are, however, strategies that will help you be more efficient and successful.