The rules for the game Paladins of the West Kingdom are essential for understanding how to play and succeed in this exciting and strategic board game.

Firstly, I want to tell you about the objective of the game. The goal is to become the most influential and powerful Paladin, gaining glory for yourself and your kingdom. You achieve this by completing various tasks and defending the kingdom against threats.

There are different paths you can choose to achieve success in the game. You can focus on building fortifications to protect the kingdom, or you can concentrate on strengthening your own virtues and skills. The choice is yours, and it’s important to consider your strategy carefully.

One important element of the game is managing your resources effectively. You’ll need to gather resources like gold, workers, and provisions to accomplish your goals. It’s essential to plan ahead and make wise decisions about how and when to use these resources.

Another key aspect of the game is the use of buildings and actions. Each building offers unique abilities and advantages that can help you in different ways. You’ll need to strategically choose which buildings to construct and which actions to take in order to maximize your progress.

Throughout the game, you’ll face challenges and encounters that require you to make decisions. For example, you might have to deal with barbarian invasions, or you might be tasked with resolving moral dilemmas. These choices can have significant consequences, so it’s important to think carefully and consider the potential outcomes.

As you progress and accomplish tasks, you’ll earn victory points. The player with the most victory points at the end of the game is declared the winner. Victory points can be earned through various means, such as completing quests, constructing buildings, and defending the kingdom.

In conclusion, the game Paladins of the West Kingdom offers an engaging and strategic experience. By carefully managing your resources, making wise decisions, and pursuing your chosen path, you can become the most revered Paladin and secure glory for yourself and your kingdom.

In the game Paladins of the West Kingdom, we find ourselves in the midst of a tumultuous period in the history of West Francia, around 900 AD. The city has been making progress, but the surrounding towns are still at risk from external threats.

Scouts from the Saracens constantly keep an eye on the borders, while Vikings continue to raid and plunder our people’s wealth and livestock. Even the Byzantines, who we once trusted, have revealed their darker side. It is up to us, as noble individuals, to rally workers from the city, defend against our enemies, construct fortifications, and spread our faith across the land.

Luckily, we are not alone in this endeavor. The King, in his great wisdom, has dispatched his most skilled knights to assist us. So let us prepare our horses and sharpen our swords, for the Paladins are on their way.

The Game’s Components

• We have 22 laborers
• We have 18 fighters
• We have 32 workshops
• We have 28 outposts
• We have 18 scouts
• We have 18 clerics
• We have 28 monks
• We have 28 jars
• We have 18 merchants
• We have 18 criminals
• We have 12 attribute markers
• We have 48 paladin cards
• We have 32 townsfolk cards
• We have 36 outsider cards
• We have 16 king’s cards
• We have 24 debt cards
• We have 24 suspicion cards
• We have 24 tavern cards
• We have 24 wall cards
• We have 17 scheme cards
• We have 50 silver
• We have 40 provisions
• We have 1 start player marker
• We have 1 resource marker

Your Goal in the Game

In Paladins of the West Kingdom, the goal is simple: have the most victory points (VP) by the end of the game. You can earn these points by building Outposts and Fortifications, recruiting Monks, and facing Outsiders.

Every Round, I’ll have the help of a specific Paladin and gather Workers for different tasks. As the game goes on, my Faith, Strength, and Influence will increase, which will not only affect my final score but also determine the impact of my actions. The game ends after the seventh Round.

4 Player Boards: The back of each Player Board has an AI Player Board

There are 2 parts to the Main Board

Getting Ready

Let me show you how to set up Paladins of the West Kingdom:

Here’s how you set up the game:

1. First, put the two parts of the Main Board together to create the big play area in the middle.

2. Next, take the Townsfolk Cards and mix them up. Place them face down in a pile on the left side of the Main Board. Draw five of these cards from the top and flip them over, putting them face up above the top left part of the Main Board.

3. Now, take the Wall Cards and shuffle them. Put them in a pile above the central area of the Main Board, face down.

4. Depending on how many players there are, put 5 to 8 Silver coins above the Main Board. You can see where to put them by looking at the icons there. This is called the “Tax supply”.

5. Take the Debt Cards and make a pile of them above the top right part of the Main Board. Put them “Unpaid” side up.

6. Finally, shuffle the Suspicion Cards and put them face down to the right of the Debt Card pile.

Let’s get started! Here’s what you need to do to set up the game:

1. Take the Outsider Cards and shuffle them into a facedown Draw Pile on the right side of the Main Board. Then, draw 6 cards from the top of this pile and place them face up below the bottom right area of the Main Board.
2. Now, it’s time to set up the King’s Order Cards. Shuffle them and randomly choose 3 cards to place facedown on the left end of the Main Board. Next, take the King’s Favour Cards, shuffle them as well, and randomly place 5 of them facedown in the spaces to the right of the King’s Order Cards. Any unused King’s Order Cards and King’s Favour Cards should be put back in the box without anyone seeing them.
3. Don’t forget the Tavern Cards! Shuffle them and create a facedown Draw Pile below the bottom left of the Main Board.
4. Finally, take all the remaining Silver, Provisions, and Workers (Labourers, Scouts, Merchants, Fighters, Clerics, and Criminals) and place them in a supply near the Main Board, within everyone’s reach.

Now that everything is set up, you’re ready to begin your adventure!

In this game, I’ll tell you exactly what you need to get started!

First, each of you will need your own Player Board and some important items:

• Take 1 Player Board and make sure it’s in front of you. This is where you’ll keep track of your progress and make important decisions.
• Next, each player should grab their Paladin Cards and shuffle them together. Place this facedown pile next to your Player Board. These cards will be an important resource for you throughout the game.
• Now it’s time to decide who goes first. Randomly determine this by giving someone the Start Player Marker. This person will have the honor of taking the first turn.

Remember, everyone starts on equal footing, ready to embark on an exciting adventure. With your Player Boards, Paladin Cards, and a starting player set, you’re all set to begin your journey!

Here’s how you play Paladins of the West Kingdom. First, we’ll go over how to recruit Townsfolk.

In reverse turn order (starting with the player to your right and going counter-clockwise), each player selects one Townsfolk to add to their crew. Look at the Townsfolk Cards above the main board and choose one that you like. Keep the recruited Townsfolk faceup next to your player board. Don’t worry, this doesn’t cost you anything.

Once everyone has recruited a Townsfolk, slide the remaining Townsfolk Cards to the right to fill the empty spaces. Then, reveal new Townsfolk Cards from the top of the draw pile to fill any remaining empty spaces.

It’s important to note that some Townsfolk have immediate rewards. You can see these rewards on the left side of their cards.

Now that you know how to recruit Townsfolk, let’s move on to the rest of the game!

Game On!

When it comes to playing Paladins of the West Kingdom, you’re in for a real treat!

Picture this: you and your friends gather around the table, ready to embark on an exciting adventure. The game is divided into 7 rounds, each filled with endless possibilities.

Before each round begins, you get to choose a Paladin to join your cause. This Paladin will be your trusty companion throughout the game, helping you along the way. Not only that, but you also receive 6 new Workers to assist you in your endeavors. How cool is that?

Now, let the games begin! The turn order moves clockwise around the table, and it’s your time to shine. You start by taking a single action. It could be anything you want, from recruiting new Townsfolk to battling fearsome Outsiders. The choice is yours.

Once you’ve taken your action, it’s time for the next player to make their move. This goes on, with each player taking turns and making their mark on the game, until everyone decides to pass. It’s like a dance where everyone gets a chance to show off their skills.

When all players have passed, there’s a quick reset of the Main Board. This is your chance to bring out new Townsfolk and Outsiders, refreshing the game and keeping things interesting. Before you know it, you’re diving into the next round, hungry for victory.

A Round to Remember

Each of the 7 rounds in Paladins of the West Kingdom follows the same structure. It’s like a well-orchestrated symphony, with each part working together to create a masterpiece.

When it’s time to start a new round, here’s what you need to do:

1. Pass the Start Player Marker to the next player in clockwise order. This step doesn’t apply to the first round.
2. Take a look at the King’s Order Cards and King’s Favour Cards for the current round. You can find the round number printed in the green shield above each card space. The first two rounds will have one King’s Order Card revealed. In the third round, you’ll see both a King’s Order Card and a King’s Favour Card. From rounds 4 to 7, only a single King’s Favour Card will be revealed. For example, in the first round, the first King’s Order Card has been revealed. It shows 5 Walls.

King’s Orders

Guess what? I’ve got some exciting news for you! There are these awesome things called bonus scoring opportunities in this game. How cool is that? It’s like an extra chance to earn points and show off your skills. And get this, there are special places on the board where you can score these bonus points. Look below the 3 King’s Order Card spaces, and you’ll see the scoring flags.

King’s Order Cards

Hey there! Let me tell you about something cool. Check it out – there are these special things called “King’s Favors.” They’re like secret powers that players can use during the game. But here’s the catch – you can only use each King’s Favor once per round. Pretty neat, huh?

Now, let’s talk about Tavern Cards. These are cards that you can get from a big pile. The number of cards you get depends on how many players are in the game, plus one extra card. Let me give you an example: if there are 4 players, then 5 Tavern Cards would be revealed. Got it?

When you play the game called Paladin, one of the first things I do is draw 3 cards from my Paladin Draw Pile. This is done to get new Paladins for the current Round. It’s an important decision to make because these Paladins will give me extra workers, attribute boosts, and special abilities.

So, let me break it down for you. First, I choose 1 Paladin that I want to use in this Round. I put it facedown on the card space on the left side of my Player Board. Then, I take another Paladin and place it facedown on top of my Paladin Draw Pile. This means I will see this card in the next Round. Finally, I take the last Paladin and put it facedown at the bottom of my Paladin Draw Pile.

Choosing which Paladin to use and where to place them in my Draw Pile is a big decision. It can impact the workers I have, the attributes I boost, and the special abilities I can use. So, I have to think strategically and make the best choice for each Round.

In summary, when playing Paladin, I draw 3 new Paladins, choose 1 to use in the current Round, place 1 on top of my Draw Pile for the next Round, and put the last one at the bottom of my Draw Pile. This decision is important because it affects my workers, attribute boosts, and special abilities.

Let me give you an example. Engelier is a character in the game. He has a Fighter (red) and a Scout (green). His Strength is boosted by 3 and his Faith by 1. Whenever Engelier attacks an Outsider during this round, he earns 2 Silver.

Here’s a tip: When you choose a Tavern Card, turn it 90 degrees or flip it over so that other players know it’s taken. Remember, there will always be one Tavern Card left unclaimed in each round.

• If there is a Townsfolk Card in the right-most space, discard it. Then, move all the remaining Townsfolk Cards (if there are any) to the right, filling in the empty spaces. After that, reveal new Townsfolk Cards from the top of the Townsfolk Draw Pile to fill the remaining empty spaces. If the Townsfolk Draw Pile is empty, don’t shuffle the discarded cards. They’re meant to be limited.

If there’s still an Outsider Card in the left-most space, I’ll get rid of it. Then, I’ll move any remaining Outsider Cards to the left and fill in the empty spaces with new Outsider Cards from the top of the Outsider Draw Pile. If we run out of cards in the Draw Pile, we won’t shuffle the discards; they’re meant to be limited.

I’ll also remove all Tavern Cards for this round. I’ll put them in a discard pile to the left of the Tavern Card Draw Pile. If we run out of cards in the Draw Pile, I’ll just shuffle the discards to create a new one.

And from Round 3 onwards, I’ll return all the Workers I placed on the King’s Favour Cards back to the supply.

Now let’s talk about taking Actions.

So, here’s the deal: when we’re ready to get this game going, everyone has to show off their Paladin and grab their Workers. That’s when the real action starts.

We’ll take turns, going around the table in a clockwise fashion. Each turn is simple – you take one action. Then it’s the next player’s turn. And we keep going like this until everyone decides to pass.

Now, taking actions is all about using your Workers. You can take one or more Workers from your supply and place them on your own Player Board or on one of the revealed King’s Favour Cards on the Main Board.

There are two types of actions on your Player Board. The ones on the left side help you build up your skills and gather resources. The ones on the right side are all about scoring points and boosting your attributes.

When you play the game, you’ll notice that every action on the right side of the Player Boards needs a specific Attribute and gives you a different Attribute in return. It’s crucial to understand how this works, especially when teaching new players.

The required Attribute is shown on the left side of each action’s banner, while the rewarded Attribute is shown on the right side.

For instance, the Fortify action needs Influence (blue) and gives you Strength (red).

We’ll explain how each action works in more detail later on. But for now, it’s good to remember this for future reference.

Each action also requires a certain number of Workers, often of specific colors.

There are a few rules when it comes to placing Workers on colored and transparent spaces:

• You can place any Worker on a transparent space, regardless of its color.

The Importance of Player Board Actions

When playing the game Paladins of the West Kingdom, understanding the different player board actions is crucial. These actions are essential for progressing in the game and achieving victory. In this article, I will explain the significance of these actions and provide examples to help you grasp their importance.

Worker Placement

One of the key mechanics in Paladins of the West Kingdom is worker placement. Workers of the correct color must be placed onto colored spaces on the player board. This means that you need to carefully consider which workers to assign to each action, as the color of the worker determines where it can be placed.

Criminals, represented by the color purple, act as wilds and may be placed onto both transparent and colored action spaces. This opens up additional strategic options, allowing you to be more flexible in your decision-making.

For example, the Fortify action requires 1 Merchant (blue), 1 Worker of any type, and 1 Scout (green). By strategically allocating your workers to the correct actions, you can maximize your efficiency and progress in the game.

Important Rule: It’s important to note that there are limits to certain actions. Players can only ever take 7 each of the Commission, Fortify, Garrison, Absolve, and Convert actions. However, there is no restriction on the number of times they may Attack.

Develop Action

The Develop action is one of the actions available on the player board. This action requires exactly 2 Workers of any type and costs 4 Silver. To take this action, you need to place 2 Workers on the left-most Workshop on your Player Board and pay 4 Silver to the supply. The Workshop is then moved to one of the action spaces on the right side of your Player Board.

By taking the Develop action, you can unlock new abilities, gain resources, and strengthen your position in the game. It is an important action that should be considered when planning your strategy.

Overall, the player board actions are essential for success in Paladins of the West Kingdom. By understanding these actions and utilizing them effectively, you can gain an edge over your opponents and achieve victory. So, dive into the game, explore the different actions, and uncover the path to triumph!

Hey, have you noticed those neat white dotted boxes around the two left spaces in every action area? They’re there for a reason! That’s where you can put your Workshops when you take the Develop action. Placing Workshops on these spaces means you’ll need fewer Workers later on when you take that same action.

Now, over on the right side of your Player Board, you’ll see six action spaces. Guess what? You can have up to two Workshops on each of them!

Here’s a cool bonus: when you take a Workshop from one of those spaces, you’ll also get an extra Worker right away. Talk about a sweet deal!

Just one thing to keep in mind: if there’s already a Worker resting in the space where you want to put your Workshop, no worries! Just return the Worker back to the supply before you place your Workshop. Easy peasy!

Recruit

If you want to recruit a new member, you’ll need 1 or 2 workers and maybe some silver. Look for the costs below each Townsfolk Card on the top left of the main board.

But here’s an alternative: if you don’t have enough silver, you can still recruit the two left-most Townsfolk Cards by taking on some debt. Just grab a debt card from the Debt Draw Pile and put it next to your player board, with the “Unpaid” side facing up.

Here’s an important rule: if you use one worker in a turn, you can’t use the second worker in a future turn. You have to decide whether you want to use one worker or both as a single action.

When you have only 1 Worker, you can choose any type of Worker and place it on the left Worker space. By doing this, you can discard a Townsfolk Card that is above the left side of the Main Board.

Imagine that you are sending your Worker on a quest. When you take this action, you only need to pay attention to the top right icons on each Townsfolk Card. These icons represent the immediate rewards you will receive for taking this action.

When you place 2 workers (1 of them must be a Fighter), you can recruit a Townsfolk Card for your crew. It’s the icons at the bottom of each card that matter when you take this action.

These icons represent ongoing abilities that you will have for the entire game, as well as possible immediate rewards. Make sure to keep all the Townsfolk Cards face-up next to your Player Board.

Take the Gatekeeper, for example. You can recruit her by paying 3 Silver or 1 Debt, and in return, you immediately get 1 Silver. Once she’s on your crew, she will earn you an extra Silver every time you Fortify for the rest of the game.

Hunt and Trade

Let’s dive into the exciting world of hunting and trading. It’s a thrilling adventure where I get to explore new territories, encounter unique creatures, and find valuable treasures. But what makes hunting and trading so intriguing? Let me explain.

When I embark on a hunting expedition, I become a seeker, an explorer, and a warrior, all in one. Armed with my skills and tools, I venture out into the wilderness, ready to face any challenges that come my way. The thrill of the hunt fills me with excitement and anticipation. I search for rare and elusive creatures, each one holding the promise of a reward.

But hunting isn’t just about capturing animals for sport. It’s about connecting with the natural world and understanding its delicate balance. I observe the behavior of these magnificent creatures, learning from them and gaining a deeper appreciation for the wonders of nature. By immersing myself in their habitat, I become part of their world, if only for a moment.

Once I’ve successfully captured my prey, the next step is trading. Trading allows me to share my discoveries with others and benefit from their unique offerings. It’s a network of connections, where I exchange my hard-earned resources for something of equal or greater value. Through trade, I expand my horizons and discover new cultures, goods, and ideas. It’s a constant flow of give and take, a dance of negotiation and compromise.

Trading isn’t just about acquiring wealth. It’s about fostering relationships and building trust. It’s about understanding the needs and desires of others and finding ways to fulfill them. It’s a community where I can contribute my skills and knowledge and receive guidance and support in return. In the trading game, everyone has something to offer, and everyone has something to gain.

Hunting and trading are ancient practices, deeply ingrained in our history. They have shaped civilizations and defined our progress as a species. They tap into our primal instincts, connecting us to our ancestors and reminding us of our place in the natural order.

So, if you’re ready for an adventure, consider hunting and trading. It’s a journey that will challenge you, excite you, and open your eyes to the wonders of the world. Step into this world of exploration and commerce, and discover the thrill of the hunt and the joy of trade. Happy hunting and trading!

When I want to take certain actions in the game, I need either 1 or 2 Workers. If I choose to use 1 Worker, it has to go in the left worker space, and it can be any type of worker. This lets me get 1 resource of the type shown in the picture from the supply. For example, if I’m hunting, I can get Provisions, and if I’m trading, I can get Silver.

If I decide to use 2 Workers, the right Worker has to be the specific type required for that action. For hunting, I need a Scout, and for trading, I need a Merchant. When I do this, I can get a total of 3 resources of the type shown in the picture from the supply.

Here’s an important rule: If I choose to use only 1 Worker on a turn, I can’t use the second Worker on a later turn. I have to decide whether I want to use 1 Worker or both Workers as a single action.

Now let’s talk about praying.

If you want to clear out a space on your Player Board so you can use it again right away, you can take this action. But here’s the catch: you’ll need 1 Cleric (Black) and 2 Silver to make it happen.

When you have a Cleric and the necessary Silver, you simply place the Cleric and pay the Silver to the supply. Then, you can remove all the Workers from 1 action space on your Player Board and put them back in the supply.

This action is really helpful because it lets you free up a space that’s already been used in the same Round. That means you can use it again and make the most of your resources.

For example, let’s say I have a Criminal, which can act as a wildcard, and I have 2 Silver. I decide to use this action to Pray. I spend my Silver and place the Criminal as a Cleric. Then, I use the action to remove all the Workers from my Absolve action space and put them back in the supply.

Conspire

Now, let me tell you about a very interesting action called “Conspire.” It’s pretty simple: all you need is one worker, and bam! You immediately get yourself a criminal, represented by the color purple. But here’s the catch: whenever you gain a criminal, you also gain a suspicion. Suspicion follows criminals like a shadow.

Commission

Now, let’s talk about the “Commission” action. When you take this action, you get to use your faith attribute to place your monks on the main board. The interesting thing here is that each player’s faith determines where they can commission their monks. This is indicated by the little faith flags you see along the bottom right of the main board.

So, pay attention here: starting from left to right, each region requires more and more faith. The first region doesn’t require any faith at all, but the second region requires a minimum of 2 faith. The third region demands 4 or more faith, and it just keeps increasing from there. You get the idea.

If you want to Commission a Monk to a particular region, you need to have an empty space available where you can place it. This space should not already have a Monk or Outpost in it. These spaces can be found on the Main Board, and each one offers different immediate rewards. Keep in mind that certain spaces are only available when playing with more players.

Let’s take a look at an example. I wanted to hire a Monk, so I decided to Commission one. Since I had already planned out my Commission action, I only needed 2 Workers. I placed the Workers and paid 1 Provision to the supply.

With a total of 3 Faith (2 from my Attribute Track and 1 from my Paladin), I chose to Commission the Monk to the second region of the Main Board. This decision earned me 1 Scout (Green) from the supply.

When I revealed a flag of Influence under my Commissioned Monk, I received an extra 1 Influence. This moved my Influence Marker further up the Attribute Track right away.

Fortify

When you take action, you focus on using your Influence Attribute. You can see this restriction at the top of your Player Board. The first Wall requires no Influence, the second requires 1 or more Influence, and the third requires 3 or more Influence. It goes on like that.

When you Fortify the city with Walls, you draw the top Wall Card from the Draw Pile and put it faceup on the top of your Player Board. Each Wall Card gives you immediate rewards. And don’t forget, every Wall Card will boost your Strength Attribute by at least 1.

Let me give you an example. Say, the player I’m talking about decided to build their fourth Wall. As we learned from the previous page, they now have 5 Influence (after gaining 1 more from their Commission action and including 3 from their Paladin).

They placed the 3 required Workers onto their Fortify action space. But thanks to their awesome Paladin (Anseis), this action didn’t cost them any Provisions. Then they drew the top Wall Card from the Draw Pile and put it in the empty space on the left side of their Player Board.

That Wall Card immediately gave them 1 Strength, which moved their Strength Marker up the Attribute Track. It also provided 2 more Workers (1 Labourer and 1 Fighter) from the supply. With this new Wall card, their next Fortify action will require 7 Influence and 2 Provisions.

Now, let’s move on to the Garrison. Enjoy this visual!

When I decide to take action in the game, I use my Strength Attribute to strategically position Outposts onto the Main Board. My Strength determines where I can place these Outposts.

You can see the Strength restrictions displayed as flags in the bottom right corner of the Main Board. Each region (the areas above the Outsider Card placement area) requires a different amount of Strength. The first region requires 1 or more Strength, the second region requires 3 or more Strength, the third region requires 5 or more Strength, and so on.

To place an Outpost in a chosen region, there must be an empty space available (without a Monk or another Outpost already occupying it). These spaces are square-shaped and show immediate rewards inside them.

Keep in mind that certain spaces on the Main Board are only accessible when playing with a higher number of players.

So here’s an example: I decided to Garrison an Outpost. I placed 3 Workers and paid 1 Provision to the supply.

Since I have 5 Strength, I chose to Garrison my Outpost in the third region of the Main Board. This immediately gave me a Pray action, clearing all the Workers from 1 action space on my Player Board.

Oh, and because there was a Faith flag under my Outpost, I also gained 1 Faith, moving my Faith Marker up the Attribute Track right away.

Absolve

When you take this action, you’re focusing on using your Influence Attribute. Look at the printed numbers on the Jars along the bottom of your Player Board.

Oh, the Absolving! It’s quite a fascinating move in the wonderful world of gaming. Picture this, my friend: you’re sitting there, strategizing, when suddenly you decide to make a bold move. You take your left-most Jar and move it to an available space on the bottom right of your Player Board. Simple, right?

But wait, there’s more! This move comes with a reward. Yes, my dear friend, a sweet, sweet reward. Each of those vacant spaces on the bottom right of your Player Board holds a little surprise just for you. It could be anything from points to power-ups or even special abilities. It’s like opening a treasure chest, and you never know what you’ll find!

But that’s not all. There’s an added benefit to this Absolving maneuver. Not only do you get that awesome reward, but your Faith also gets a boost. With each Absolve, your Faith Marker moves up on your Attribute Track, bringing you closer to spiritual enlightenment. And if that wasn’t enough, you also have the power to remove a Suspicion Card from above your Player Board. It’s like wiping the slate clean, my friend. No more suspicion, just pure, unhindered gameplay.

So, my fellow gamer, next time you’re contemplating your next move, consider the wonders of Absolving. It’s a move that brings rewards, elevates your Faith, and wipes away suspicion. It’s a triple threat that can truly change the tide of the game. Embrace the power of Absolving and watch your gaming experience soar to new heights!

So, here’s an interesting story. I decided to Absolve in this game of Paladins of the West Kingdom. I gathered 3 Workers and paid 1 Silver to the supply. No biggie, right?

Here’s the cool part – as a first-timer, I didn’t even need any Influence for my first Absolve. How awesome is that? So, I took my first Jar and placed it on one of those “Pay a Debt” spots. And guess what? Just like that, I got to flip an unpaid Debt Card. Talk about luck!

But that’s not all. I also managed to remove one Suspicion Card from above my Player Board. Nice way to clear my name, right? And here’s the kicker – I revealed a Faith flag under my Jar, which meant I received 1 Faith. Boom! I immediately moved my Faith Marker up the Attribute Track. Talk about elevating my status!

Attack

Now, let’s talk about the Attack action. It’s a little trickier. You’ll need 3 Workers for this – 1 Scout, 1 Worker of any type, and 1 Fighter. Oh, and there might be some Silver involved, but that’s not a mandatory cost. I’ll explain more about that later.

So here’s the deal: when I want to Attack Outsiders, I need to use my Strength Attribute. The thing is, I can only Attack certain Outsiders, depending on the Strength flags on the Main Board. You’ll find those flags at the bottom right, right above each specific Outsider Card.

But here’s the catch: to Attack an Outsider, I must have at least as much Strength as it requires. If I don’t have enough Strength, I can still Attack, but I need to spend 1 Silver to the supply for every 2 Strength I lack. It’s like hiring local warriors to give me a boost in the fight. Each Silver I spend allows me to skip past one card that my current Strength wouldn’t let me Attack.

Now, when I Attack an Outsider, I shouldn’t worry about anything else on the card except for the icons on the top right. Those icons represent the immediate rewards I’ll get for taking this action. It’s like a little bonus for my bravery!

When you attack an outsider and claim its rewards, always remember that this action will permanently increase your Influence Attribute by at least 1 point. Take note of this important rule and make sure to keep the gained outsider card facedown beside your player board.

So, let’s say I’m playing a game. In this game, I’m a player, and I have a decision to make. I want to Attack the Mercenary, but my current Strength is only 5. To be able to attack, I need a Strength of 7. What do I do? Well, I can pay 1 Silver to the supply to make up for the 2 Strength I’m lacking. That sounds like a fair trade to me.

Now, here’s the interesting part. When I pay that Silver, not only do I get the extra Strength I need, but I also gain 1 Influence. That’s a nice bonus! My Influence Marker moves up the Attribute Track, and I feel pretty good about that. But wait, there’s more! I also get 2 Labourers from the supply. These Labourers will definitely come in handy. And what do I do with the Mercenary Card? I place it facedown next to my Player Board, ready to be used later.

Convert

Now, if I want to take the Convert action, here’s how it works. First, I need 3 Workers: 1 Fighter, 1 Worker of any type, and 1 Cleric. Once I have these workers, I can initiate the Convert action. But wait, there’s more! It’s not just about the workers. I also need to pay Silver. The amount of Silver I need depends on the card spaces on my Player Board. The more card spaces I have, the more Silver I need. It’s a small price to pay for the advantage I’ll gain.

When it comes to converting Outsiders in this game, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, the number of Silver coins required for each Convert varies. The first Convert doesn’t require any Silver, but the second one requires 1 Silver. After that, the next 3 Converts require 2 Silver each, and the final 2 Converts require 3 Silver each. Make sure to keep this in mind when planning your actions!

Now, let’s talk about how to actually perform a Convert. When you take this action, you’ll be using your Faith Attribute. The Outsiders you can Convert are determined by the Faith flags displayed at the bottom right of the Main Board, right above each specific Outsider Card.

To successfully Convert an Outsider, you’ll need to have an equal or greater amount of Faith than the required level. Keep an eye on your Faith levels and make sure you have enough to perform the Conversions you want.

When you Convert an Outsider, you only need to consider the bottom icons on each Outsider Card. These icons represent end-game scoring bonuses, as well as immediate rewards of 1 or more Strength. So, choose wisely and consider the long-term benefits of each Convert.

Once you’ve converted an outsider and received your rewards, you’ll want to make sure you keep the outsider card faceup at the bottom of your player board. Don’t forget to pay the silver cost when you take this action!

So, here’s a cool example: I was playing the game, and I decided to do something really awesome. I converted the Assassin under the “2 Faith” card space. And you know what? It actually worked! How cool is that?

Let me break it down for you. To convert the Assassin, I had to pay 2 Silver to the supply. That’s because of the cost of the next empty card space below my Player Board. It’s like a little fee you have to pay to make things happen. But trust me, it’s totally worth it.

And here’s the best part. When I converted the Assassin, I immediately gained 2 Strength. My Strength Marker moved up the Attribute Track, and I felt like I was on top of the world. It’s amazing how a little change can make such a big difference.

Now, let’s talk about scoring. At the end of the game, the Assassin is going to score me some serious victory points. For each Saracen I’ve attacked, I’ll get 1 VP. It’s like a reward for all that hard work and strategy.

Tax and Suspicion

Tax

Whenever I gain Tax (that red coin symbol), I must take the required amount of Silver from the Tax supply. Taking Tax is something I have to do, so I need to be careful. There may be times when I take an action that causes Tax to be removed at a time that won’t really benefit me.

Suspicion

Every time I add a Criminal to my supply, I immediately get 1 Suspicion Card. I should draw this card from the top of the Suspicion Draw Pile and place it face-up above the top right of my Player Board, so that all players can see it.

When I reveal Suspicion Cards, I should right away take the printed amount of Silver (which can be 0, 1, or 2) from the Tax supply (which is located above the middle of the Main Board).

If the pile of Suspicion Cards to draw from ever runs out, don’t worry! Just mix up the discarded cards and form a new pile. But in the rare event that there are no cards left in either the draw pile or discard pile when we need to draw Suspicion, we’ll have to do something drastic. We’ll have to hold an Inquisition right then and there. Once we’ve finished dealing with that, we’ll have more Suspicion Cards to draw from, so we can continue on our merry way.

Now, here’s a situation you might come across: let’s say you need to take more Silver than there is available in the Tax supply. No problem! Just take the remaining Silver you need from the main Silver supply. But be careful, taking the very last Silver from the Tax Supply means an Inquisition will happen immediately.

Here’s a handy tip for you: when you gain multiple Suspicion Cards at the same time, make sure to deal with each one separately. It’s much easier that way.

Let me give you an example. I just collected 2 Criminals. The first Suspicion Card I drew has 2 Tax printed on it. However, there is only 1 Silver left in the Tax supply. So, I added it to my own Supply and took the second Silver from the main supply.

After emptying the Tax supply, it’s time for an Inquisition. Once we resolve that, I need to draw a second Suspicion Card for my second Criminal.

Debts and the Inquisition

Debts

There are several ways you can gain, pay, and get rid of Debts in the game.

When you gain Debts, you place them face up in front of you with the “Unpaid” side showing. If you don’t pay them back, you’ll lose 3 VP at the end of the game.

If you pay off your Debts, you flip them over to the “Paid” side and keep them in front of you. These Debts will earn you 1 VP at the end of the game.

Destroyed Debts are immediately returned to the Debt Draw Pile.

The Inquisition

Whenever the last Silver coin is taken from the Tax supply, the Inquisition happens. If you have the most Suspicion, you gain 1 Debt. If no players have Suspicion, no Debts are collected.

When you gain a Debt from an Inquisition, you also have to give back half of your Suspicion. Remember, round down! Put it in the Suspicion Discard Pile, which is located above the top right corner of the Main Board. It’s important to return your most recent Suspicion Cards first, starting from the top of your pile.

During an Inquisition, there are several Townsfolk abilities that can come into play. Let’s take the Conspirator, for example. With this ability, you can get rid of 1 Suspicion Card before checking who has the most. You can resolve your Townsfolk abilities in any order, but make sure to do them all before collecting any Debts.

Once I’ve taken care of any outstanding debts and cleared away any suspicions, it’s time to replenish the Tax supply with some Silver from our main stash.

Don’t forget, there are handy icons right below the Tax supply that remind me how much Silver I need to add.

Let me give you an example: let’s say an Inquisition was just triggered. The first player had 1 Suspicion, while the second player had none. The last two players, on the other hand, both had 3 Suspicion each. Here’s what happens next—both of the last two players immediately gain 1 Debt and get rid of 1 Suspicion.

After that, we need to add 8 Silver back into the Tax supply from our main stash of Silver.

Passing

When you decide to pass, it means you can’t make any more moves in the current round. But don’t worry, you can still be affected by Inquisitions, which means you might gain some Debts or get rid of some Suspicion. Keep in mind that certain Townsfolk abilities can still come into play even if you’ve decided to pass—like the Peddlers, Conspirators, or Squires, for example.

After everyone has finished their turns, we need to follow the instructions on Page 10 (step 7) to refresh the game.

If this was the seventh and final round, it’s time to wrap things up and calculate the scores.

End of the Game

The game officially ends as soon as Round 7 concludes. At this point, it’s time to tally up your score in the following areas:

• Completed King’s Orders
• Attribute Tracks
• Develops (if you managed to complete 6 or more)
• Debts (both paid and unpaid)
• Silver / Provisions (earning 1 victory point for every set of 3)
• Commissions (if you managed to complete 5 or more)
• Fortifies (if you managed to complete 5 or more, plus additional victory points for specific Walls)
• Garrisons (if you managed to complete 5 or more)
• Absolves (if you managed to complete 5 or more)
• Converts

The player with the highest total score will be crowned the winner.