Welcome to the El Grande Game Rules!

Objective:

In El Grande, the players take on the roles of powerful Spanish grandees, seeking to expand their influence and control over the regions of Spain. The objective is to score the most victory points by the end of the game.

Components:

You will need the following components to play El Grande:

• 1 Game Board
• 30 Power Cards
• 20 Region Cards
• 150 Cubes (in 5 different colors)
• 5 Control Markers
• 13 Action Cards
• 1 King Token
• 1 Scoring Track

Gameplay:

El Grande is played over 9 rounds, with each round consisting of 4 Phases:

1. Card Selection Phase
2. Card Play Phase
3. Power Card Resolution Phase
4. Scoring Phase

Card Selection Phase:

In this phase, players secretly select the Power Cards they want to use for the round. Each player has a set of Power Cards numbered from 1 to 13. The higher the number, the stronger the card’s effect.

Card Play Phase:

In this phase, players take turns playing their Power Cards. Each card allows the player to perform specific actions, such as placing cubes on the board, moving their Control Marker, or using special abilities. Players can only play one card per round.

Power Card Resolution Phase:

In this phase, the effects of the Power Cards are resolved in ascending order. Players must carefully consider the timing of their actions to maximize their impact.

Scoring Phase:

In this phase, players score points based on the number of cubes they have in each region. The player with the most cubes in a region is considered the “Grand Inquisitor” and earns bonus points. The player with the highest score after 9 rounds wins the game!

Conclusion:

Now that you know the basic rules of El Grande, you are ready to embark on your journey of conquest and intrigue in medieval Spain. Gather your fellow grandees and prepare for an epic battle for dominance!

• A game board
• 5 big cubes in 5 different colors called “Grandes”
• 155 small cubes in 5 different colors called “Caballeros” (31 per color)
• A large black pawn called the King
• A small black cube called the Round marker
• 65 cards in 5 different colors called Power cards (numbered 1-13 in each color)
• 45 Action cards
• 9 cards called Region cards (with a summary of the rules on the back)
• 5 Secret disks with pointers
• A Castle called “Castillo”
• 2 scoreboards that can be moved with values “8/4/0” and “4/0/0”
• A sample game sheet

Game Board

The game board displays the 9 regions of Spain, 1 space to keep the Castillo, a track of success that runs along the edge of the board, and a round track with 9 game rounds and 3 horizontal scoring tracks.

In every area, you’ll find a scoreboard with three symbols that represent the region’s values when it’s scored. Whoever has the greatest number of Caballeros (measured in meeples) in a region earns the highest score, while the player with the second-highest number of Caballeros gets the second score, and so on.

The Goal of the Game

Your objective is to strategically place your Caballeros in regions to earn points for having the most influence. At the end of the game, the player with the most points emerges as the victor.

How to Play

In the game, we’ll go through 9 rounds. During each round, we’ll put our Caballeros onto different regions of the board. After every 3 rounds (specifically, the 3rd, 6th, and 9th rounds), it’s time for scoring. The players who have the most Caballeros in a region will earn points and move their scoring marker on the scoring track.

Note: We also have the option to play a shorter 6-round game. In this version, scoring happens every 2 rounds, and we skip rounds 1, 4, and 7 on the round track.

Here’s the order of the phases in each round:

1. Reveal Action cards

2. Play Power cards

3. Take turns

4. End of round

5. Scoring phase (only after rounds 3, 6, and 9)

First, we reveal the top Action card from each of the 5 Action card stacks.

Greetings!

Let’s get down to business! I’ll break down the steps for you:

Step 1: Familiarize Yourself with Action Cards

I’ll reveal the top card of each Action card stack. Pay attention because you’ll choose one of these actions for the current round. Take a moment to get acquainted with the available Action cards.

Step 2: Play Power Cards

First, the player with the start player marker takes the lead. After that, each player takes turns clockwise. To begin, play a Power card from your hand and place it face-up in front of you. But be careful – you cannot play a Power card that matches one that has already been played this round.

The Power cards you play do two things, and both will come into effect in the next step.

Example: Imagine this: it’s game night, and I’m sitting around a table with my friends. We’re ready to begin a round of our favorite card game. I have the honor of going first because I have the start player marker. With a mischievous smile, I confidently play a 7. Now it’s Benita’s turn. She’s sitting next to me, and she’s not allowed to play a 7. She ponders her options for a moment and then slyly places a 3 on the table. The turn passes to Gabriel, who sits across from me. He can’t play a 7 or a 3, but he finds his opening and strategically lays down a 2. Lastly, it’s Ricarda’s turn. She’s the last in our group, but she’s not discouraged. She thoughtfully selects an 8 and adds it to the growing pile. And so begins our exciting game night!

The game El Grande follows a specific set of rules to determine the turn order. These rules are important to understand in order to play the game successfully. Let me explain how the turn order works.

Firstly, we need to determine the initial order of play. This is done by drawing a randomly chosen power card for each player. The player with the highest-valued card goes first, and the order continues clockwise from there.

Once the initial order is established, the game progresses in rounds, with each round consisting of several phases. During the first phase of each round, players take turns playing their action cards. These action cards determine the actions the player can take during that round. The order in which players take their turns during this phase is determined by the turn order established at the beginning of the game.

After the action card phase, the game moves on to the second phase, in which players execute their chosen actions. The turn order is still followed during this phase, with each player taking their turn one after the other. This continues until all players have completed their actions.

Throughout the game, the turn order can change. This can occur when certain action cards are played or when specific game events take place. It’s important to pay attention to these changes in order to adapt your strategy accordingly.

In conclusion, understanding the turn order in El Grande is crucial for success in the game. By following the established rules and paying attention to changes in the turn order, you can strategically plan your actions and make the most out of each round. So, are you ready to dive into the world of El Grande and experience the thrill of strategic gameplay? Let the turn order guide your path to victory!

When we reach step 3, I’m the player who played the highest Power card, and I get to take the first turn. After me, it’s the player with the second highest Power card’s turn, and so on. Remember: Going earlier in the turn order gives you a better choice of Action cards. For example: This round, the turn order is Ricarda (8), Ramon (7), Benita (3), and Gabriel (2).

Supply

Alright, here’s what happens in step 3. The number of Caballero symbols on your Power card in the center tells you how many Caballeros you can bring from the Province to your Court. Remember, the higher the number on your Power card, the fewer Caballeros are available. Now, you need to have the Caballeros in your Court before you can send them to different regions of Spain. Let me give you an example. Ricarda can take 2 Caballeros from the Province and place them in her Court. Ramon can take 3, while Benita and Gabriel can take 5 each.

3. It’s Your Turn!

So, the player with the highest Power card starts. After their turn is done, the next player in line with the highest Power card plays, and so on. Just remember, each player gets only one turn in each round. Got it? Perfect!

Now, let’s see what you do during your turn:

A. Bring Caballeros to Your Court

To start, grab some Caballeros from the Province and bring them into your Court. The number of Caballero symbols on your Power card tells you how many to take.

Remember: If there aren’t enough Caballeros in the Province, you can also take them from regions on the board (just not from the Castillo). And if you want, you can take fewer Caballeros than your Power card shows.

Here’s an example to help you understand better:

Hey there! So, let’s talk about Benita and her Caballeros. Benita can have up to 5 Caballeros in her Court, but here’s the thing – she only has 3 Caballeros left in the Province. So what does she do? Well, she takes those 3 Caballeros and 2 more from other regions on the board. This way, she can make sure she has enough Caballeros by bringing them all into her Court.

Now, here’s another option for Benita. If she didn’t want to remove any of her Caballeros from the board, she could have just chosen to take the 3 Caballeros from the Province. It’s all about making choices, right?

Okay, now let’s talk about Action cards!

Here’s where the fun begins. You get to choose one of the Action cards that are revealed. Once you’ve picked your card, you get to do two actions. Exciting, isn’t it?

Check out the image below to see what the Action cards look like:

But wait, there’s more!

When you have a card with a special action, you can choose to use it. It’s important to note that when you use the special action, you have to do the whole thing, if you can. Let’s use the card on the right as an example. You have to score all the 5-point regions, even if that means your opponent gets more points than you. But some cards allow you to only do part of the action, like the Intrigue card that says “You may place 4 Caballeros”. And you can also decide to not use the special action at all.

Add Caballeros

When you play an Action card, you’ll see a number of Caballeros on it. That number tells you how many of your Caballeros you can place on the board.

• Remember, you can only use Caballeros from your Court. If you don’t have enough Caballeros in your Court to place the allowed number, you’ll have to forfeit those placements.
• You can only place your Caballeros in regions that neighbor the King’s region. The King’s region itself is off-limits.
• You also have the option to place Caballeros in the Castillo.

You’re in control of the order in which you execute the special action and place your caballeros. The key is that you have to complete each step one at a time. So you can’t, for example, place some of your Caballeros, then do the special action, and then place the rest of your Caballeros (or vice versa).

Example 1

I’m Ricarda, and I get to choose the King’s Card. But before anything else, I decide to use the special action. I move the King to “Castilla la Nueva”, making it the new King’s region. Then, I take 5 Caballeros from my Court and place them on the board.

I have some options for where to place these Caballeros. They can go in any region that is next to the King’s region. Right now, those regions are “Aragon”, “Castilla la Vieja”, “Granada”, “Sevilla”, and “Valencia”. I could also choose to put some Caballeros in the Castillo.

When I’m playing the game, I like to choose cards that give me special actions. This time, I picked the “Special Scoring” card.

With this card, I can place my Caballeros on the board. The King’s region is “Galicia,” and that means I can put my Caballeros in “Castilla la Vieja,” “Pais Vasco,” or the Castillo. I decide to put 2 Caballeros in “Pais Vasco” and 1 in the Castillo.

After that, I get to do the special action, which is scoring all the 5-point regions. There are a few regions that have 5 points, like “Aragon,” “Pais Vasco,” and “Valencia.” I have to score all of them, even if my opponents have more points than me. But the Castillo doesn’t get scored with this card.

Once I finish using the Action card, I put it facedown under the stack it belongs to. This way, no one else can use it.

When it’s your turn, you can play a Power card. After you play your Power card, the next player takes their turn. That’s how it goes in the game. Easy, right?

But there’s more to it than just taking turns. Let me explain a few important things you should know.

First, let’s talk about the Castillo. It’s a special feature in the game that can give you a big advantage. When you play a Power card with a Castillo symbol, you can choose to activate the Castillo. This means you get to perform an extra action or get a special ability. Cool, right?

Next, there are some special concepts you need to understand. Some Power cards have a Reaction ability. This means you can play them in response to certain in-game events. It’s like a bonus move that can give you an edge.

Another concept to grasp is the Day and Night cycle. Some cards have effects that change depending on the time of day. It’s important to consider this when deciding which cards to play.

Lastly, let’s not forget about the special effects. Certain cards can manipulate other cards or have unique effects. These can really shake things up and keep the game interesting.

So, now you know! When it’s your turn, play a Power card and keep an eye out for the Castillo, special concepts, and unique effects. Have fun playing the game!

• The Castillo is not a region. So, when we talk about “regions” in the rules or cards, we’re not including the Castillo.
• Whenever you put Caballeros on the board, you have the choice to put some or all of them in the Castillo. It doesn’t matter which region belongs to the King.
• When you move your Caballeros, you can’t move them from the Castillo. But you can choose to move Caballeros from a region into the Castillo, if you want.
• When you add Caballeros to the Castillo, you need to let your opponents know how many you’re adding. Players can’t peek inside or take Caballeros out of the Castillo. That’s why it’s helpful to remember how many Caballeros each player has in the Castillo.

When it comes to scoring in the game, there are a few things to keep in mind. After every third round, including a special round called Castillo, the scoring process begins. The Castillo, which is like a special area, is taken into account only during specific scoring moments. During regular scoring, the Caballeros, which are the game pieces, are moved to different regions.

Let’s Talk About the King, the King’s Region, and the Neighboring Regions

Remember: You Can’t Touch the King’s Region!

Putting Your Caballeros on the Game Board

Don’t Forget the King’s Bonus

When it’s time to tally up the scores, there’s a special rule that comes into play for the King’s region. If you have the most Caballeros in the King’s region, you’ll earn an extra 2 points. But here’s the catch – if there’s a tie for the most Caballeros in that region, no one gets the bonus!

By the way, the King’s region is called “Castilla la Nueva,” and its neighboring regions are the ones right next to it.

4. End Of Round

Once every player has taken their turn, it’s time to wrap up and get ready for the next round:

First, I want to explain the importance of placing any remaining Action cards facedown underneath the corresponding stack. When it comes to playing a game and making strategic moves, it’s crucial to understand this rule. You see, there’s a reason behind it.

Let me break it down for you. When you have a stack of Action cards and some of them are no longer needed, you want to clear up space for new possibilities. That’s where placing the unused cards facedown under the stack comes into play. It’s a simple yet effective way to keep the game moving smoothly and ensure fairness for all players involved.

By following this rule, you’re able to maintain an organized gameplay experience. It allows you to focus on the cards that are in play, without any unnecessary distractions. You won’t have to worry about shuffling through a pile of unused cards and accidentally revealing them to other players. Plus, it adds an element of surprise and suspense, as nobody knows what remains underneath the stack until it’s time to reveal them.

Another advantage of placing unused Action cards facedown is that it preserves a sense of mystery. It keeps the game interesting and unpredictable, adding a layer of excitement to each turn. You never know what card might be waiting for you underneath the stack, ready to be discovered and deployed in your favor. This uncertainty adds an element of strategy, forcing you to think on your feet and adapt to new situations.

So, if you’re playing a game that involves Action cards, remember the importance of placing any remaining ones facedown underneath the corresponding stack. It’s a small rule, but it serves a big purpose. By doing so, you’ll keep the game fair, maintain an organized gameplay experience, and add an extra element of surprise to your gaming sessions. Now, isn’t that exciting?

Example: So, let’s say we’re playing a game with 4 people. At the end of the round, 1 Action card is left unused. Instead of just leaving it on the table, we put it under its stack so it’s hidden from view.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The player with the lowest Power card is the one who gets to go first in the next round. It’s like a reward for having the least powerful card.

But wait, there’s more. After each round, everyone has to get rid of their Power card. You put it face-down in your own discard pile, and you can’t use it again. It’s like a one-time use thing. This means you have to strategize and think about when to use your most powerful cards, because once you discard them, they’re out of the game.

For example: I played the lowest Power card. So, I get to be the start player. In the next round, I will go first, and the other players will follow after me in clockwise order. Remember: Each round, you will have one less Power card to choose from. It’s important to keep a variety of Power cards for future rounds. Don’t worry though, you will always have a Power card that you can play. Now, let’s move the round marker down by 1 space.

If the round marker lands on the next number, a new round will begin, just like I explained before.

Let me explain how scoring works in the wonderful world of fleur-de-lis.

1. Each player takes turns and rolls a set of dice.
2. If you roll a fleur-de-lis, you get a special bonus.
3. If the round marker is moved to a fleur-de-lis, general scoring occurs (see below). This will happen after the 3rd, 6th, and 9th rounds. Once general scoring is complete, move the round marker 1 space down and begin the following round.

5. Scoring

When the round marker is moved to the fleur-de-lis, something interesting happens – a general scoring takes place. Now, let me break down the steps involved in each general scoring for you:

1. You start by selecting a secret region. It’s like choosing your strategy, but without giving away your intentions to your opponents.

2. Next, the Castillo is scored. The Castillo is a special place, and its score impacts the game in different ways.

3. After scoring the Castillo, you then move the Caballeros from the Castillo to the regions you’ve secretly chosen. This adds an element of surprise and strategy to the game.

4. Finally, you score the individual regions. Each region has its own unique attributes and scoring conditions, so pay attention to those to maximize your points.

To get a quick overview of how the scoring works, you can refer to the key on the right side of the round track. It neatly summarizes the scoring rules for you.

Now that we’ve covered the general scoring process, let’s move on to the next section: choosing a secret region.

When you’re playing the game of Caballeros, you need to decide where your Caballeros will go. This step is called “Move the Caballeros from the Castillo” and it’s an important one.

Now, it’s time to choose where your Caballeros will go after the Castillo has been scored. To do that, you need to move the arrow on the secret disc to the region you want them to be in.

Hey there! I’ve got an important piece of advice for you about the Caballeros and the Castillo scoring. Let’s dive in, shall we?

Important: These Caballeros are not allowed to be moved to multiple regions. You have to choose one region clearly. Just keep in mind that the region ruled by the King is off-limits (Caballeros can’t be moved there).

2. Score The Castillo

So, after everyone has picked their own secret spot, it’s time to tally up the points. The first step is to lift the Castillo and see who has the most Caballeros inside.

If you’re the one with the most Caballeros, you get 5 points. Then, the person with the second most gets 3 points, and the third-place player gets 1 point.

But what happens if there’s a tie? Well, in that case, all the people who tied will score points based on the next lowest position. And if you didn’t manage to sneak any Caballeros into the Castillo, then, sorry, you won’t score any points at all.

Important: Make sure to remember the following information when playing the game. Only the player with the most Caballeros in the Castillo will score points in a 2-player game. In a 3-player game, points are awarded to the players with the most and second most Caballeros in the Castillo. Keep track of your points by moving your scoring marker forward on the score track.

Step 3: Move your Caballeros out of the Castillo

Okay, here’s what we need to do: we’re all going to show our secret disc. After that, we’ll move our Caballeros from the Castillo to the region we picked on our secret disc.

Now, pay attention because this part is important: if you chose the King’s region, you have to move your Caballeros from the Castillo back into your Court.

Finally, we can put the Castillo back in its usual spot on the board.

4. Scoring Each Region Individually

Now, let’s move on to the next step in our process: scoring each region individually. This step is crucial for accurately evaluating and comparing different regions.

To score each region, I use a combination of quantitative data and qualitative analysis. I start by gathering relevant data points for each region, such as population, economic indicators, and infrastructure. I also consider factors like education, healthcare, and quality of life.

Once I have collected the necessary data, I assign weights to each factor based on their importance. For example, population and economic indicators might carry more weight than quality of life or education. This weighting helps ensure a fair and balanced assessment.

Next, I score each region on each factor based on the available data. This score is usually on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest. I take into account both positive and negative aspects of each factor when assigning scores.

After scoring each factor for each region, I calculate an overall score for each region by summing up the scores across all factors. This overall score serves as a measure of how well a region performs in comparison to others.

By scoring each region individually, I am able to objectively evaluate and compare different regions. This approach helps me identify the strengths and weaknesses of each region and make informed decisions based on the data.

Remember, scoring each region individually is just one part of the evaluation process. It is important to consider other factors and perspectives as well. However, this step provides a solid foundation for analyzing and understanding the different regions.

I hope this explanation has provided you with valuable insights into the process of scoring each region individually. If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask.

When it comes to scoring, each region is ranked in the specific order you see on the scoring key. Just like the Castillo, players earn points based on the number of Caballeros they have in each region.

The scoreboard in each region shows how many points the players with the most, second most, and third most Caballeros will receive.

Keep in mind: The Grandes only have the purpose of identifying each player’s home region and do not count towards determining the majority.

Note: When playing a 2-player game, only the player who comes in first place will receive points. In a 3-player game, first and second place players will receive points. The player who has the most Caballeros in a region will score points.

Just like with the Castillo, if there is a tie, the players involved will score points based on the next lowest position. If a player does not have any Caballeros in a region, they will not be eligible for scoring in that region.

King’s Bonus

When it’s time to score the King’s region, the player with the most Caballeros gets an extra 2 points. No ties! It’s that simple.

Let me give you an example:

In Cataluma, I am the King’s region. I have two Caballeros. Ramon has just one Caballero.

Since I have more Caballeros than Ramon, I am in first place. So, I receive 4 points from the region’s scoreboard. But that’s not all. Being first in the King’s region grants me an extra 2 points.

Ramon, on the other hand, only has one Caballero, placing him in second. He gets 2 points for that. Since there are no other players, there’s no third place and no one else gets any points.

What about Home Region Bonus?

When it comes to scoring in El Grande, there’s an important concept called the home region bonus. It works a lot like the King’s region bonus, but with a few key differences.

Let’s say I have the most Caballeros in my home region, without any ties, when it’s time to score. Whether it’s during general scoring or special scoring, I get an extra 2 points as a bonus. It’s a nice little boost to my score!

But here’s something you need to remember: when determining who has the majority in the home region, we don’t count The Grande. It doesn’t count towards this particular bonus.

Here’s an example to help explain things:

“Granada” is where Ramon lives (his hometown). He has 4 buddies there. Gabriel and Ricarda each have just 1 buddy.

Ramon gets 4 points for coming in first, and an extra 2 points for being first in his hometown.

Gabriel and Ricarda are tied for second place, so they each get points for coming in third: 1 point.

Note: A player can get both the King’s bonus and the hometown bonus in the same region.

Mobile Scoreboard

You can put the two mobile scoreboards anywhere and move them with certain Action cards. This makes the regions either worth more or less. Each region can only have one mobile scoreboard at a time.

After scoring all the regions, move the round marker down 1 space and start the new round.

Game Over

When the time is up and everyone has had their three turns, the game comes to an end. Now it’s time to find out who emerges as the ultimate victor, earning the esteemed title of “El Grande”. The player with the highest number of points is the one who takes home the glory.

If two or more players happen to have the same amount of points, then they both get to share in the triumph. They can celebrate together, reveling in their remarkable achievement.