Azul Solo Game Rules

Welcome to the world of Azul, a captivating puzzle game where your goal is to decorate the Royal Palace of Evora with beautiful tiles.

In this solo version of the game, I take on the role of the tile-laying artist. My objective is to score as many points as possible by strategically placing tiles on my personal board.

Let me walk you through the rules:

Setup

I start with a single tile randomly placed on each of the five factories. The factory boards should be set up horizontally next to the factory display board.

Gameplay

The game is played over six rounds, and each round consists of three phases: Factory Offer, Wall Tiling, and Cleanup.

Factory Offer Phase

In this phase, I select one type of tile from any factory and move the chosen tiles to my personal board. Any remaining tiles in the factory slide down towards the center.

Wall Tiling Phase

During this phase, I must place the tiles from the factory onto the corresponding row on my personal board. Each row can contain only one type of tile.

Cleanup Phase

In this phase, I check if any rows have been completed. If a row is complete, I score points based on the number of tiles in that row and then move those tiles to the corresponding pattern on the wall. If there are any tiles left on the factory display board, they are moved to the floor line.

End of Round and Scoring

At the end of each round, I score points based on the number of tiles on the floor line. If the floor line becomes full, I lose points.

End of the Game

After six rounds, the game ends. I calculate my final score by adding up the points from completed rows, the pattern on the wall, and deducting any negative points from the floor line. The player with the highest score wins!

I hope you’re ready to dive into the enchanting world of Azul. Have fun playing!

Welcome to Azul, the engaging tile-laying game that will challenge your strategic thinking! In this version of the game, you’ll need to make tactical adjustments every round to come out on top. To score well, you’ll have to master not only your player board but also the action board, where most of the scoring takes place.

Your ultimate goal is to achieve a high score within 8 rounds. Rest assured, this variant has undergone extensive playtesting to ensure a satisfying solo gaming experience.

These additional rules were created by BGG User: GameRulesforOne.

Objective

Reach a scoring goal by the time a specific end game condition is met.

Setup

I’m going to explain how to set up and start playing the game. First, you’ll need 2 player boards – one called the action board and the other the scoring board. Place them on the table where both players can reach them. The action board should be faceup with the tile pattern showing. As for the scoring board, you can decide which side to have faceup.

Next, grab all 100 tiles, except for the “1” tile, and put them in a bag.

Now, you’ll need 5 factory display tiles. Line them up and label each one from 1 to 5.

The next step is to draw 4 tiles and place them on each of the factory display tiles, following the order from 1 to 5. If you happen to draw 4 tiles of the same type, put one back in the bag and keep drawing until you get a different type.

Finally, fill the penalty row on the action board from left to right. The number of tiles you need to draw depends on the game level you choose. In an easy game, draw 5 tiles; in a normal game, draw 6 tiles; and in an expert game, draw 7 tiles.

You’re all set now and ready to start playing!

Note: If a third tile of the same color is drawn, put it to the side and draw a replacement. Once all the tiles have been placed, return the tiles that were set aside back into the bag.

1. Now, let’s put the action board scoring tile into play. Here’s how: a) Take one tile from the bag, look at its color, and put it back in the bag. b) Place the scoring tile onto one of the 9 center squares on the action board that matches the color of the tile you drew.
2. It’s time to get your scoring marker. Find your level of play and put your marker on the designated space: Easy or Normal Game: 20 Expert Game: 15 (Optional, if you want a more challenging game)

Bring it on down, folks! Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty details of the Action Board. This is where the real action happens!

First things first – let’s talk about the Penalty Row. It’s like this mysterious floor line, and it’s gonna give you a run for your money. This is where things get interesting. Every round, you’re gonna subtract some points based on the tiles that are left after you’ve tackled all the action rows, so be prepared for some serious strategy.

Now, let’s move on to the Action Rows. We’ve got five of them, each offering you a special action when you fill the row and move the tile to the action board wall. It’s like unlocking a whole new world of possibilities!

Let’s break it down, one row at a time:

Row number one, with a single tile space – this is your bread-and-butter, your mandatory action. You’re gonna set aside that leftmost penalty row tile (if there is one) and slide the rest of the tiles to the left. But wait, there’s more! You’ll also get to draw a tile, if possible, to fill in that empty space on the left. And what about the tile you set aside? Well, that little guy goes right back into the bag where it belongs. We don’t leave any tiles behind!

Moving right along to row number two, with two tile spaces. This is where things really start to heat up. You’ve got two possibilities here, and they’re both equally exciting. Option number one: you can switch the places of two neighboring tiles in the penalty row. Mix things up a bit, keep your opponents on their toes. Option number two? Well, that’s a surprise! You’ll have to wait and see.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! We’ve still got three more rows to explore, each with its own unique action. So grab your dice and get ready to roll ’cause the Action Board is waiting for you!

• Hey there! So, here’s what I’ve come up with for you: in the next round, let’s add an extra tile to the 5th factory display, making it 5 tiles instead of the usual 4. But, hold on! We’ll only do this if we can’t make a switch. There might be a rare situation where we can’t draw a tile or doing so would end the game because there aren’t enough tiles left.
• Now, onto the 3rd row, which has 3 tile spaces. Here’s the deal: if the leftmost tile of the penalty row matches the tile you’re about to place on the wall, no worries! Just remove that penalty tile and set it aside for a bit. You can bring it back into play when we refill the bag after the 4th round. Oh, and don’t forget to slide any remaining penalty tiles to the left, if there are any.
• Fourth row (4 tile spaces): If one of the first two tiles on the penalty row matches the tile I’m placing, I remove a penalty tile and put it aside. I can return it to the bag later. Any remaining penalty tiles shift to the left.
• Fifth row (5 tile spaces): If any tiles in the penalty row match the tile I’m placing, I remove a matching penalty tile and put it aside. I can return it to the bag later. Any remaining penalty tiles shift to the left.

Scoring Tile: (1 Tile Placed On The Action Board)

When I put a tile next to the scoring tile, I score points once the action is finished, like this:

In this game, you can earn points by placing tiles next to the scoring tile. Each placement will earn you a certain number of points, based on the number on the placed tile.

If you choose to place a tile on the scoring tile position, the matching tile will be placed there. As a result, the scoring tile will be removed from the board. However, this action will not give you any points.

How to Play

1. Take all the tiles of the same kind from the first factory display and place them on the action board.
2. Take all the tiles of the same kind from the first factory display and place them on your player board.
3. Move any remaining tiles from the factory display to the floor line on your player board. You may need to place some of these tiles on the action board penalty row.
4. Repeat these steps for the remaining factory displays (2 – 5).

How to Play the Game

In this guide, I’ll explain the basic steps to follow when playing the game. Don’t worry, it’s not complicated!

Step 1: Resolve the Action Board

The first thing I do when playing the game is to resolve the Action Board. This board contains different actions that players can take on their turn. Each action has its own benefits and consequences. It’s important to choose wisely and plan your strategy.

Step 2: Resolve the Player Board

After resolving the Action Board, it’s time to move on to the Player Board. The Player Board is where you manage your resources and track your progress. You can take actions to gather resources, upgrade your abilities, or gain special powers. Think carefully about your choices and how they will help you in the game.

Step 3: Perform the End of Round Cleanup

Once all players have taken their turns, it’s time to perform the end of round cleanup. This includes resolving any ongoing effects, scoring points, and preparing for the next round. Pay close attention to the rules and make sure you don’t miss any important steps.

Step 4: Repeat for 8 Rounds

The game is played over 8 rounds, or until an end game condition is met. Each round consists of resolving the Action Board, resolving the Player Board, and performing the end of round cleanup. Keep track of your progress and adapt your strategy as the game progresses.

And that’s it! Now you know the basic steps to play the game. Remember to think carefully and plan ahead. Good luck and have fun!

Placing Tiles

When I’m playing the game, I follow the normal rules for placing tiles onto each board. It’s just like how you would normally do it.

Here’s what you do: grab all the tiles of one color and put them into a single pattern line. Make sure it’s right next to the wall display for that color.

Now, let me tell you what happens if you have too many tiles:

• If you can’t fit all the tiles into the line, or if you just don’t want to put them there, you have some options. You can move the excess tiles to the floor line of your player board, or maybe even to the penalty row on the action board.
• If you have extra tiles on the action board, you get to choose one tile and put it in the leftmost open spot in the penalty row. The rest of the extra tiles go into your player board’s floor line.
• If the excess tiles are on your player board, things work a little bit differently. If you have two or more tiles that can’t fit, one of them gets moved to the penalty row. But if you only have one tile left, you can just add it to your floor line.

Now, let’s talk about how to clear the current factory display.

When you’re playing the game, make sure to take any remaining tiles on the factory display and move them to your player board floor line. If there are two or more tiles of the same color, put one in the penalty line and the other in the floor line.

And here’s another tip: if there isn’t enough space on the floor line for all the tiles, one of them will go in the penalty line. The rest of the extra tiles will wait until the bag is filled again.

Now let’s move on to resolving the factory displays.

Repeat steps 1 and 2, four more times.

Next, let’s resolve the action board.

For each full row, go through each action row one by one from top to bottom. Move the tiles to the wall according to the normal rules, but keep an eye out for special scoring opportunities:

1. Do the action that the row requires or allows.

Header

Understanding the Scoring and Resolution of Tiles in the Game

In the game, there are specific rules that determine how the scoring and resolution of tiles are handled. These rules ensure a fair and balanced gameplay experience for all players.

Scoring line

Score if the tile is placed next to the scoring tile as noted above (1 to 5 points).

1. Remove the scoring tile from the line and award points based on the indicated value.
2. Remove all other tiles from the line and place them out of play.

If any lines are not completely filled, the tiles that remain on the action board will stay there until further notice.

The points obtained from the scoring line are added to the player’s overall score.

Player board

Resolve the player board

Starting from the top and working downwards, take the following actions:

• Move a tile to the wall and score according to the regular rules.
• Place any remaining tiles out of play and keep them there until the bag is refilled.

If any rows are not completely filled, the tiles that remain on the player board will stay there.

End of round cleanup

End of round cleanup

Temporarily remove all tiles from the floor line of the player board and keep them out of play until the bag needs to be refilled. You will not be penalized for these tiles.

In order to complete the game, you need to check for an end game condition. This is a crucial step to determine if the game has come to an end.

Next, draw or place four, and possibly even five, tiles for each factory display, one after the other. Make sure to have at least two different types of tiles.

If there aren’t enough remaining tiles in the bag to completely fill the displays (this usually happens in the 5th round), it’s time to retrieve all the tiles that were placed out of play, as well as those on the factory displays, and put them back in the bag. Then, redraw all the tiles for the factory displays.

Here are the conditions that will signal the end of the game:

If any player has a score of zero, the game is lost and it will end immediately. However, if this doesn’t happen, we’ll move on to the next condition.

If a player adds an eighth tile to the penalty row, the game is lost and it will end immediately. Only the luckiest players can avoid this unfortunate outcome.

If either board has at least one completely full horizontal row of wall tiles, it’s time to proceed to scoring. This is a crucial moment as it determines who will emerge victorious.

Finally, if the game has lasted for a total of seven to eight rounds, and there are not enough tiles left in the bag to fill the factory displays for the second time, it’s time to proceed to scoring. This means that the game has reached its natural conclusion and it’s time to determine the winner.

End Game Scoring

Penalty Row Scoring

• If you have no tiles, you’ll score 5 points.
• If you have 1 or more tiles left in the line, you’ll lose 8 points for each tile.

Clear Board Award

For each board where none of the 5 tile lines or rows, including the wall, have any tiles, you’ll score 5 points.

Score Full Horizontal Rows

For each complete row on your player board, you’ll score 2 points.

Score Full Vertical Columns

For each complete column on your player board, you’ll score 7 points.

Score 5 Like Tiles Placed

If you place all 5 tiles of the same type on your player board, you’ll score 10 points for each tile type.

Determine Your Victory Condition

Strategy Session

It’s important to focus on reducing penalty scores from the beginning of the game. This will help you avoid losing early and improve your overall score.

When you fill a line on the action board, you’re setting yourself up for some awesome combos that can clear multiple tiles from the penalty row. It’s a strategic move that can really give you an advantage.

Now, there might be times when you want to let the boards build up a bit, especially the action board. This can help you improve your actions and scoring in the next round. So don’t rush, take your time and plan ahead.

And don’t worry too much about adding a tile to the penalty row, especially in the early stages. You might be able to clear it off before the game ends, and it won’t cost you too many points. So keep your focus on the bigger picture and play smart.

So here’s the thing: I gotta tell you, I don’t have all the answers when it comes to tiles. There’s this little quirk, you see – they kinda shuffle things up on us. Can you believe it? They go back into the bag before we can even wrap our heads around ’em. And don’t get me started on those penalty line tiles; they throw the whole balance off. It messes with the number of tiles we have to work with in each bag.

But here’s a little tip for you, something you might find interesting. The first action line, now that’s where you can make a tiny dent in the tile availability. You see, when you put a tile back into the bag there, it’s like saying, “Hey, let’s mix things up a bit.” It might not change everything, but it’s an opportunity, a chance to make a little tweak.

So, with all that in mind, here’s my challenge to you: can you crack the code and figure out a way to make that 8th round happen? The answer is out there, waiting for you to find it. Get ready to put your thinking cap on, my friend.