Contents
- 1 Welcome to the Kingdoms Game Rules!
Welcome to the Kingdoms Game Rules!
Hey there! I’m here to guide you through the exciting world of Kingdoms. Get ready to embark on a thrilling adventure where you’ll build your own kingdom and rule with greatness!
Objective
Your objective in the game is to create a prosperous and powerful kingdom. You’ll start with a small plot of land and a handful of resources. It’s up to you to develop your kingdom, expand your territory, and conquer new lands.
Resources
In Kingdoms, there are several resources you’ll need to manage wisely:
- Gold: Gold is the primary currency in the game. It’s essential for constructing buildings, hiring troops, and much more. Be sure to accumulate as much gold as possible to strengthen your kingdom!
- Food: Food is necessary to sustain your population. You’ll need to cultivate farms and manage your food supply to ensure your people are well-fed and happy.
- Wood: Wood is a valuable resource for constructing buildings, fortifications, and other structures. Make sure you have enough wood to support your kingdom’s growth.
- Stone: Stone is a durable material used in building strong walls and defensive structures. You’ll need to gather stone to fortify your kingdom and protect it from enemy attacks.
Building Your Kingdom
As you progress in the game, you’ll have the opportunity to construct various buildings to enhance your kingdom’s capabilities. Some buildings provide resources, such as farms for food production, while others offer strategic advantages, like barracks for training troops.
Remember, a well-balanced kingdom is key to success. It’s crucial to allocate your resources wisely and prioritize the construction of buildings that align with your strategic goals.
Expanding Your Territory
To expand your kingdom, you’ll need to explore and conquer new lands. This can be done by sending your troops on expeditions to neighboring territories. Defeat enemy forces and claim new territories as your own.
However, be cautious! Other players may also be vying for these lands, so be prepared for fierce competition. Strategic planning and strong military power will be vital in securing your conquests.
Alliances and Diplomacy
In Kingdoms, alliances and diplomacy play a significant role. You have the option to form alliances with other players, creating powerful coalitions to bolster your strength. Working together and supporting each other will pave the way for success and survival.
On the other hand, diplomacy can also be a double-edged sword. Treat your neighbors with respect and negotiate wisely to avoid unnecessary conflicts. Remember, maintaining peaceful relations can be just as important as military prowess.
Conclusion
Now that you’re familiar with the basic rules of the Kingdoms game, it’s time to embark on your journey and forge a magnificent kingdom. Build, expand, conquer, and lead your people to greatness! May your reign be long and prosperous!

In Kingdoms, I try to collect as much gold as possible by building castles in the richest regions of the realm. It’s an exciting adventure, but there are dangers lurking, like dragons, swamps, and trolls.
What’s in the Box?
Let me tell you about everything you’ll find in a copy of Kingdoms:
- 40 Plastic Castles – These are my tools for building my kingdom!
- 1 Game Board – It’s the playing field where all the action takes place.
- 64 Cardboard Tokens – These help track my progress and keep things organized.
- 12 Resource Tiles – I need to strategically place my castles near these to collect gold.
- 6 Hazard Tiles – Be careful! These can hinder my progress and slow me down.
- 2 Mountain Tiles – They might look majestic, but they can block my path.
- 1 Dragon Tile – Oh no! This tile means trouble.
- 1 Gold Mine Tile – I definitely want to build a castle near this to get more gold.
- 1 Wizard Tile – This tile can give me a special ability if I’m lucky enough to land on it.
- Rulebook – This is my guide to understanding how to play the game.
Goal of the Game
In Kingdoms, my ultimate goal is to collect as much gold as I can across three rounds. To do this, I need to strategically place my castles on the board next to valuable resource tiles.
At the end of three rounds, the player with the most gold becomes the victorious ruler of the realm!
Important Game Elements
Let me break down the different components of Kingdoms for you:

Plastic Castles
Come and check out our collection of plastic castles! They are so cool and each one is ranked from 1 to 4 based on the number of towers it has. The higher the rank, the more important the castle is in the kingdom. It’s amazing to see the different designs and imagine yourself defending the castle from invaders!
Game Board

When you play castles and tiles, you’ll notice that the central part of the game board is split into five rows and six columns. So, whenever you want to place a castle or a tile, you will need to choose a space in one of these rows and columns. The game board also has an epoch track to keep track of time, as well as areas for the tile supply and the gold bank.

Resource Tiles
Hey there! Let me tell you about these cool things called resource tiles. They are like little squares that represent different parts of a player’s kingdom, such as farms, villages, and cities. When you play the game, you’ll see 12 of these tiles on the board.
Each resource tile has a number on it, like “+1” or “+6”. This number tells you how much gold that tile is worth. So, if you have a tile with “+3” on it, you’ll get 3 gold when you use that tile.
Isn’t that neat? These resource tiles are pretty important because they can help you build and grow your kingdom. So make sure to use them wisely!

Hazard Tiles
These special tiles are known for their ability to bring chaos and danger to any kingdom. There are six different hazard tiles, each one representing a fierce monster or treacherous location that can steal a kingdom’s precious gold. Just by looking at them, you can tell how valuable they are.
Each hazard tile has a number on it, ranging from -1 to -6. This number shows you just how much gold that tile is worth. The higher the negative number, the more gold the tile can take away from your kingdom.
So, when you come across one of these hazard tiles, you should be very careful. Think about how much gold you have and whether you can afford to lose some of it. Remember, these hazard tiles can be a double-edged sword. While they can bring you valuable rewards, they can also take away what you’ve worked so hard to earn.
It’s important to choose your moves wisely and consider the potential risks and rewards of each hazard tile you encounter. By understanding these hazard tiles and their values, you can make smarter decisions and protect your kingdom’s wealth.
If you’re a fan of adventure and excitement, then you’ll love the challenge that hazard tiles bring. They add an extra layer of strategy and suspense to the game. With hazard tiles, every move you make becomes more thrilling, as you never know what surprises await you.
So, keep these factors in mind as you embark on your kingdom’s journey. Remember, the hazard tiles are waiting for you, ready to test your courage and wit. Will you be able to conquer them and secure your kingdom’s wealth?

Mountain Tiles
I have something really cool to show you – these awesome mountain tiles! They are like secret barriers in a game that you cannot pass through. When you come across these tiles, you have to find another way around because they create an obstacle that you can’t overcome. It’s like a mysterious force blocking your path, making you think and strategize how to get around it.

Dragon Tile
Hey there! This awesome tile is all about a super fierce dragon that causes chaos in the kingdom. It’s like this dragon totally messes up all the business and lets the bad guys run wild.

The Gold Mine Tile: A Treasure Worth Pursuing
Ah, the gold mine tile. A glittering gem of immeasurable worth, coveted by every kingdom in the realm. It’s hard not to be captivated by its radiant allure, its promise of untold riches. As I stand here, my eyes fixed upon its shimmering surface, I can’t help but feel a primal urge to claim it for myself.
But what makes this golden oasis so special? Why is it the object of such covetous desire? Well, my friend, let me enlighten you.
Firstly, the gold mine tile is a double-edged sword. It has the power to both elevate and devastate. With its abundant reserves of gold, it can bring wealth and prosperity to any kingdom lucky enough to possess it. The gold flows like a river, filling the coffers and opening doors to infinite possibilities.
However, this bountiful treasure comes at a price. The gold mine tile is a magnet for conflict. Its gleaming presence attracts the attention of neighboring kingdoms, eager to seize its riches for themselves. It becomes a battlefield, a battleground for power and control.
That being said, the allure of the gold mine tile is not easily resisted. Its enchantment has the potential to regenerate a kingdom, to elicit a response like no other. With the right strategy and vision, one can transform this golden asset into an unstoppable force.
So, my friend, if you gaze upon the gold mine tile and feel your heart stir with yearning, remember this: it holds immense power, but it comes at a cost. It is a prize worth pursuing, but not without careful consideration and a well-devised plan.
Will you be the one to lay claim to this treasure? Only time will tell. But know this: the gold mine tile, with all its allure and uncertainty, is a quest that carries the potential for glory and prosperity.

The Mighty Wizard Tile
Behold, a majestic tile that embodies the essence of a powerful wizard. Brace yourself, for castles are about to experience a wondrous transformation in the enchanting presence of this magical being.

Welcome to the Epoch Counter!
Hey there! I’m here to tell you all about the cool game feature called the Epoch Counter. It’s like a magical tool that helps you keep track of time in the game. So, let’s dive in and explore!

Gold Coins: A Valuable Measure of Wealth
Imagine a world where gold coins reign supreme, acting as a tangible representation of a player’s wealth. These gleaming tokens serve as a medium of exchange, ensuring a fair and precise measure of one’s gold holdings. The concept is simple yet captivating: the more gold coins one possesses, the richer they are.
Gold coins provide a window into an individual’s prosperity. They offer a quick and accurate way to assess the worth of a player’s gold reserves and gauge their financial strength. With a mere glance at the number of gold coins in an account, one can immediately grasp the wealth accumulated by a fellow player.
While just a virtual construct, gold coins possess immense power. They possess the unique ability to stimulate feelings of awe, admiration, and aspiration. Whenever I stumble upon an account with a staggering number of gold coins, I can’t help but marvel at the tremendous achievement of the player. It sparks a desire within me to amass my own fortune and rise to similar heights.
But gold coins are not only an indicator of wealth; they are also a catalyst for competition. They drive players to outperform each other, vying for the prestige that comes with a high number of gold tokens. This healthy competition propels individuals towards greater effort and strategy, as they strive to surpass their rivals and flaunt their prosperity.
Furthermore, gold coins act as a form of currency within the game, enabling players to trade and barter for valuable goods and services. They provide a universally recognized unit of exchange, facilitating transactions and promoting economic activity. Whether it’s acquiring rare treasures or securing rare weapons, gold coins are the fuel that powers the virtual economy.
In essence, gold coins embody the essence of wealth within the gaming world. They serve as a symbol of prosperity and success, fueling both ambition and competition. Their significance extends beyond mere numbers on a screen; they are a testament to a player’s skill, dedication, and prowess. As I envision a glittering pile of gold coins, I am reminded of the boundless potential within the virtual realm, where fortunes are made and legends are born.
Let’s Get Started!
First, we need to set up the game. Each player will choose a color and gather their rank 2, 3, and 4 castles of that color. In addition, the number of rank 1 castles will depend on the number of players. Take a look at the table below to determine how many rank 1 castles each player gets:
| 2 | 4 | All |
| 3 | 3 | All |
| 4 | 2 | All |
Time To Play!
Now that everything is ready, it’s time to start the game. Let’s determine who will take the first turn randomly.
After the first player finishes their turn, it will be the player to their left’s turn. The game will continue in a clockwise direction like this.
During your turn, you have three options:
- Place One Castle: You can place one of your castles onto an empty space on the board.
I’ll show you how to play the game using simple steps. First, it’s time to draw and place a tile. You can either randomly draw one tile from the tile supply area and place it face-up on any empty space on the board, or you can take the starting tile and place it face-up on any empty space on the board.
If you can’t take any of these actions, don’t worry! You can choose to pass instead.
Once a castle or tile is placed on the board, it can’t be moved or replaced for the rest of the game.
Now, let’s talk about scoring. The epoch will end when there are no more empty spaces on the board. At this point, each player will score each row of the board, starting from the top row. After scoring the rows, they will move on to scoring each column, starting from the left.
Remember, the goal is to score as many points as possible! Have fun playing!
When you’re calculating your score in the game, there are a few steps to follow. First, you’ll need to add up the values of all the resource tiles in the row, and then subtract the values of any hazard tiles. Next, you’ll multiply this total by the number of castles you have in that row. Don’t forget to consider any special tiles, as they can affect your score!
Once you’ve completed the scoring for the row, you’ll need to do the same thing for the columns. Remember, each tile and castle will score twice: once for its row and once for its column.
Now, let’s talk about special tiles. These tiles have unique functions during scoring. They can change the game and have a big impact on your final score. Make sure to pay attention to them and plan your strategy accordingly!

In the game of Topiary, there are several types of tiles that have unique effects on the scoring process.
Here are the different types of tiles and what they do:
- Mountain Tile: The mountain tile splits its row and column into two sections, and each section is scored independently.
- Gold Mine Tile: The gold mine tile doubles the value of all other tiles in its row and column. It doesn’t matter if the tiles have a positive value (resources) or a negative value (hazards).
- Wizard Tile: The wizard tile raises the rank of each castle adjacent to it by one.
- Dragon Tile: The dragon tile nullifies all resource tiles in its row and column when scoring occurs. Only the hazard tiles in that row or column have any value.
The Second & Third Epochs
After scoring an epoch, follow these steps to get ready for the next epoch:
- First, I’ll remove all the castles from the board. I’ll give back the rank 1 castles to their respective players for the next epoch, and put the rest back in the game box.
- Next, I’ll take all the tiles off the board, mix them up, and put them in the tile supply area on the game board.
- Each of us will draw one tile, look at it secretly, and then put it face-down in front of ourselves.
- I’ll put the epoch counter on the next space of the epoch track.
The player who has the most gold at the end of the first epoch gets to go first in the second epoch. The same goes for the player with the most gold at the end of the second epoch for the third epoch.
End of the Game
The game ends after the third epoch. The player with the most gold wins!
Example Of Scoring
Hey there! Let’s dive into the exciting world of game boards, shall we? I’m about to show you a sample game board, all set to go at the end of an epoch. You’ll notice that each column and row has a base value, which is super important. But don’t worry, I’ll explain how the trickier rows and columns are calculated. It’s like a puzzle waiting to be solved!

Row 1
The Town has a positive value of 3, while the Troll has a negative value of 6. So, the row’s base value is negative 3.
This base value is multiplied by the total number of castles that the players have placed in the row. The red and blue players have each placed one rank 1 castle, so they both need to pay 3 gold to the bank.
The yellow player has placed a rank 4 castle and a rank 1 castle in this row. The rank 1 castle is next to the Wizard, so its rank increases to 2. The yellow player now has a total of 6 ranks in the row, so they must pay 18 gold to the bank.
Row 4
There is a mountain separating this row into two sections. On the left side, the Dragon nullifies the Village, so the yellow player’s rank 2 castle doesn’t score any points.
Let’s take a look at the right side of the board. Here, the Knight is worth “+5” and it gets multiplied by the blue player’s rank 1 castle. So, the blue player gets a total of 5 gold from the bank.
Now, let’s move on to Column 2.
We have the Windmill with a value of “+4”, but it gets canceled out by the Dragon. The only thing that counts in this column is the Dire Wolves, which give it a base value of “-3”. The Gold Mine then doubles this value. So, the red player has to pay six gold to the bank for their rank 1 castle.
Next, we have Column 4.
There’s a Mountain in this column that separates the yellow player’s castle from the rest. Because of this, the yellow player doesn’t score any gold.
On the other side of the Mountain, we have the Village with a value of “+1”. But the Raider has a value of “-5”. So, the base value of this column is “-4”, and the blue player has to pay four gold to the bank for their rank 1 castle.
Lastly, let’s look at Column 6.
Hey there! Did you know that the Knight and the Farm are worth “+5” and “+2” points, respectively? This means that the base value of this column is “7”.
Now, here comes the Wizard! This special character can increase the rank of the two castles next to it by one. So, in this row, the yellow and blue players now have rank 2 castles, and they both get to collect 14 gold from the bank. Pretty cool, huh?
The scoring for the rest of the rows and columns works the same way. Let me show you the results after the first epoch:
Check Out the Scores After the First Epoch!
| Yellow | -6 | 50 | 44 |
| Red | -5 | 8 | 3 |
| Blue | 25 | 29 | 54 |