Welcome to the Game of Priests of Ra!

I’m here to guide you through the exhilarating world of the Priests of Ra. Brace yourself for an extraordinary adventure!

Components

I’ll begin by introducing you to the various components of this game:

Player Tokens: These represent you and the other players. Choose a token that speaks to your adventurous spirit!
Tiles: The game board is made up of tiles that you’ll lay out during play. Each tile depicts a unique location.
Ra Pieces: These are the powerful Egyptian deities that hold the fate of the game in their hands. Collect them wisely!
Pharaoh Piece: The Pharaoh is the central piece on the board, representing the ruler of ancient Egypt.
Scoring Tokens: Keep track of your achievements and claim victory with these tokens.
Event Cards: These cards introduce exciting events that will keep you on your toes!

Objective

Now that we know the game’s components, let’s dive into the heart of the game – the objective. Your ultimate goal as a player is to gather the most points, which you’ll earn by controlling multiple pieces and strategically positioning them on the board. With cunning moves and smart decisions, you’ll strive to become the most powerful priest in ancient Egypt!

Gameplay

Prepare to be enthralled by the thrilling gameplay of Priests of Ra. Here’s a breakdown of how the game progresses:

Setup: Begin by laying out the game board and distributing the player tokens, tiles, and Ra pieces.
Player Turns: Take turns strategically placing your Ra pieces onto the tiles, gaining control over territories and outsmarting your opponents.
Event Cards: Be on the lookout for unexpected twists and turns as you draw and resolve event cards.
Scoring: At the end of each game round, points are awarded based on the number of territories controlled and Ra pieces owned.
Final Scoring: After all game rounds are completed, tally up the points to determine the winner!

Strategies

Now that you’re familiar with the gameplay, it’s time to discuss some expert strategies to give you an edge:

Claim Territories: Secure as many territories as possible to gain an advantage over your rivals.
Strategic Placement: Carefully choose where to place your Ra pieces to maximize your control.
Flexibility: Adapt your strategy as the game progresses and the board evolves.
Timing: Be patient and strike when the opportunity arises, capturing important positions on the board.
Resource Management: Utilize your resources wisely and make sound decisions throughout the game.

Are You Ready for the Adventure?

The Priests of Ra game is a journey into the ancient world of Egypt, where power and strategy reign supreme. With every move, you’ll feel the weight of history on your shoulders as you compete to become the greatest priest of all time. Prepare yourself for an experience unlike any other. Are you ready to embark on this thrilling adventure?

Hey there, let me tell you about this cool game called “Priests of Ra.” It’s a follow-up to the original game “Ra” and it takes us back to ancient Egypt, specifically three different periods:

The Old Kingdom (2665 – 2155 BC)
The Middle Kingdom (2130 – 1650 BC)
The New Kingdom (1555 – 1080 BC)

During these periods, we get to collect different tiles that represent various aspects of Egyptian life. How do we get these tiles, you ask? Well, through auctions! We use suns, which we get from Ra, to bid on the tiles we want.

Now, here’s the tricky part: the selection of tiles up for auction keeps changing, but our suns are limited. So, we need to be smart and strategic, only bidding when we really want a tile.

But that’s not all. We also have these awesome priests who can help us out. We can use them strategically to switch out our tiles and influence how the game unfolds. And when each period comes to an end, we earn fame tablets based on how well we’ve done.

Now let’s talk about what you’ll find in the box:

1 Game Board
174 Tiles
48 Tablets
20 Ankhs 16 Suns 1 Ra figure
1 Bag
Rulebook

What is the Goal?

The winner is the player who has the highest amount of fame at the end of three epochs.

How to Get Started

Hey there! Let’s get started with the game. I’ll guide you through the setup.

First, place the game board in the center of the table. It’s divided into two tile tracks: the upper track, called the Ra track, has 10 spaces, and the lower track, known as the auction track, has 8 spaces. These tracks will be important during the game.

Now, let’s talk about fame points. At the end of each epoch, you can earn fame points for various achievements. There are tables that summarize the fame points, so you can keep track of your progress.

Before we start playing, let’s prepare the tiles. Carefully remove them from their frame and put them in the bag. Give them a good shuffle to mix them up nicely.

Each player has a display area in front of them. This is where you’ll place your suns, tiles, and ankhs that you acquire during the game. It’s like your own little corner of the table.

Oh, and don’t forget about the tablets! They also need to be removed from their frames before we begin. Each player gets two value 5 tablets. Place them face down in your display area. The remaining tablets should be placed face up beside the game board.

Alright, now we’re all set up and ready to play! Have fun!

Let’s talk about how to set up the game board. First, you’ll need to place the ankhs next to the game board. And don’t forget to separate the suns into different groups, just like it’s shown in the table.

Alright, let’s get started! We start by randomly assigning each player to a group. After that, we place the suns face up in our own display areas. The first sun, numbered 1, goes on the sun space in the center of the game board.

Any suns that are left go back into the box. And don’t forget to position the Ra figure next to the game board.

Your Personal Display Area

When I play the pyramid building game, I use my pyramid tiles and pyramid chamber tiles to create a step pyramid. Each layer of the pyramid has one less tile than the layer below it. I’m allowed to rearrange my tiles whenever I want, but I can only build one pyramid during the game.

How to Play

The player with the highest numbered sun starts the game. Then, we take turns clockwise around the table. When it’s my turn, if I have at least one face-up sun, I can choose one of the following actions:

Draw one tile from the bag
Invoke Ra

If I don’t have any face-up suns, I don’t do anything on my turn. But when the auction track is full, I have to invoke Ra.

Draw One Tile From The Bag

When I’m playing the game, I start by reaching into the bag and drawing one tile. If I happen to draw a Ra tile, I place it on the next empty space on the Ra track and put the Ra figure in my display area. This is when the auction begins – it’s time to see who wants what!

If I draw any other tile, I simply place it on the next empty space on the auction track.

Most tiles in the game have two different sides, except for pyramids, priests, and plagues. It’s up to me to decide which side faces up when I place the tile on the auction track. And just like that, my turn is over.

Now, depending on how many players are in the game, we may not use the first few spaces on the Ra track. For example, if there are only 2 players, the first four spaces on the Ra track are left empty. If there are 3 players, the first two spaces are skipped. And if there are 4 players, the first space is not used.

Invoke Ra

When I say “Ra” and put the Ra figure in my display area, an auction begins. Exciting, right?

Here’s How the Auction Works

I’m the Ra player for this auction because I’m the one who drew a Ra tile or invoked Ra. To show this, I place the Ra figure in my display area.

The auction starts with the player sitting to my left and goes clockwise around the table until it reaches me again.

During the auction, everyone is bidding for the tiles on the auction track. The winner not only gets the tiles but also gets the sun on the sun space on the board. But if there are no tiles on the auction track, the winner only gets the sun.

Each player gets a turn to bid by placing one of their face-up suns on the edge of the board.

But here’s the catch: each bid after the first must be higher than the previous bid.

If you don’t feel like bidding, you can pass as a player. But if someone calls Ra and you’re the Ra player, you have to bid if everyone else passes. When the auction track is full and you involuntarily call Ra, you can still choose to pass if everyone else passes too. But remember, in this case, all the tiles on the auction track go back to the box, not the bag.

If a Ra tile is drawn and an auction is triggered, all players, including the Ra player, can choose to pass. The tiles on the auction track will stay in place.

The player who makes the highest bid gets all the tiles on the auction track, if there are any, and puts them in their display area. The tiles should be placed with the same sides facing up as they were on the auction track.

But wait, there’s more to the game! Each time I receive a priest tile from the auction track, I can immediately flip over any tile in my display area. It can be a tile from the current auction or one from a previous auction. It’s a bit of a power move, don’t you think?

Oh, and here’s the catch – this flipping power must be used right away, no saving it for later turns. It’s a use it or lose it kind of deal.

Now, here’s where things get interesting. The player who places the highest bid gets to take the sun from the center of the board and put it face down in their display area. But here’s the thing – once it’s face down, it can’t be used for the rest of this epoch. However, at the start of the next epoch, it’ll be turned face up again.

And where does the bid-winning player put their sun? Right on the sun space in the middle of the board, for everyone to see. Talk about a power move!

After an auction, the game just keeps on going. It’s the player to the left of the Ra player’s turn, regardless of who won the auction. The fun never stops!

Now, Let’s Talk About the Epochs

Hey there! So here’s something really interesting. Imagine you’re playing a game and you run out of suns in your display area. That means you can’t take any more turns for that round. But wait! There’s more. The cool thing is, as more players run out of suns, there are fewer people competing for the tiles. Makes sense, right?

Now, let’s talk about what happens when the very last player with face-up suns uses up his last sun and finishes his turn. That’s when the epoch, or round, ends. All the tiles on the Ra track go back in the box, not the bag. Oh, and don’t forget about the sun in the middle of the board – it stays there for the next round. But here’s a twist: if the Ra track gets completely filled up, then the epoch ends right away!

Now, picture this scenario – there’s no auction (!) and all the tiles from both the Ra track and the auction track get removed and placed in the box. Crazy, right? So basically, only the face-up sun is left on the game board. It’s like a clean slate for the next epoch!

If I have any unused face up suns in my display area, they will stay face up for the next epoch. At the end of each epoch, we will score the tiles in our display areas, which means we’ll calculate how many points we get.

Once we finish scoring, all the face down suns will be turned face up again. This means that at the start of each epoch, we’ll have the same number of suns as we did before. However, our suns might have different numbers on them compared to the start of the game. The player with the highest numbered sun will go first in the next epoch.

Scoring

When each of the three epochs comes to an end, I get recognized for my hard work with tablets that represent my fame. These tablets are my reward for all the efforts I put into the game.

I keep my tablets face down in my display area. It’s important to note that I can never lose more tablets than I have. In other words, my overall score can never go into the negative.

They’re All Important: Farmers, Warriors, Merchants And Scribes

Every time a round ends, we calculate scores for each group of people. If you have at least two farmers and no one has more farmers than you, you get 5 fame points.

Sometimes, no one gets the 5 points because no one has two farmers. Other times, multiple players tie for the highest number of farmers and each get the 5 points. The same scoring method applies to warriors, merchants, and scribes.

In addition, if you have at least one tile of all four types of people, you receive 2 ankhs. If you have at least one tile of three types of people, you get 1 ankh. After scoring, return all people tiles to the box.

Buildings: Granaries, Fortresses, Markets And Libraries

Every time a round ends, I earn 2 fame points for every complete building in my display area. A complete building consists of two tiles of the same color building type. Seems simple enough, right?

But wait, there’s more! If I manage to have at least one complete building of all four different types, I get an extra 10 bonus points. It’s like hitting the jackpot! And even if I only have three different types of complete buildings, I still get 5 points. Not too shabby.

Now, let’s talk about priests. They’re not buildings, but they’re important too. They can help me earn more points. How, you ask? Well, every priest in my display area gives me 3 points. So the more priests I have, the more points I can rack up.

So remember, after each round, I score points for my complete buildings. And if I manage to have complete buildings of all four types, or at least three types, I get even more points. Plus, priests can also help boost my score. It’s all about building up my fame and dominating the game!

Every time a round ends, I earn 2 fame points for each priest I have in my display area. It’s a simple way to gain recognition and move up in the game.

But there’s more to it. If I have three or more priests, I can actually get rid of one of my plague tiles before scoring my plagues. It’s like a fresh start, a chance to eliminate some of the negative effects. And believe me, every player wants to get rid of those plagues!

Once the scoring is done, all of the priest tiles go back into the box. They’ve done their job, and it’s time for them to rest.

Managing Plagues

Every time an epoch ends, you and every other player in the game will lose some fame points. The number of fame points you lose will depend on how many plague tiles you have in your display area.

Pyramid

I have always been fascinated by pyramids. When you think of pyramids, the first image that comes to mind is probably the Great Pyramids of Egypt. It is incredible to think about the time and effort that went into building such monumental structures. In fact, the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was built over 4,500 years ago and is still standing today.

But pyramids are not just limited to Egypt. They can be found in various parts of the world, each with its own unique design and purpose. For example, the Mayans built pyramids as temples for their gods, while the Aztecs used pyramids as a platform for human sacrifices. The diversity of these structures is truly fascinating.

One of the most interesting aspects of pyramids is the mathematical precision with which they were built. The Egyptians, for example, were able to align the sides of the Great Pyramid of Giza almost perfectly with the cardinal points of the compass. This level of accuracy is a testament to their advanced knowledge of mathematics and engineering.

Another intriguing aspect of pyramids is their symbolism. They are often associated with power, authority, and divinity. The height and grandeur of these structures are meant to elevate the spirits and inspire awe in those who behold them. They serve as a reminder of the greatness and ingenuity of the civilizations that built them.

The pyramids also have a practical purpose. They were designed to serve as tombs for the pharaohs and other important figures. These structures were believed to facilitate the transition of the soul into the afterlife. The complex burial rituals and elaborate decorations found within the pyramids demonstrate the importance of the afterlife in ancient Egyptian culture.

In conclusion, pyramids are not only architectural marvels but also cultural symbols. They represent the achievements of ancient civilizations and provide us with a glimpse into their beliefs and practices. Whether you are marveling at the Great Pyramids of Egypt or exploring the pyramids of Central America, you can’t help but be captivated by these incredible structures.

After three epochs, that’s when the pyramid gets its score. For me, I’ll get 20 points of fame if I build a step pyramid that’s at least 4 blocks high and has at least 10 tiles. If I build a step pyramid that’s 3 blocks high (with at least 6 tiles), I’ll score 10 points. And if my step pyramid is 2 blocks high (with at least 3 tiles), I’ll get 5 points.

But here’s the thing: I can only score one pyramid. Just one.

Now, let’s talk about bonuses. If I collect four or more chambers of the same color, I’ll score 10 bonus points. And if I have three chambers of the same color, I’ll get 5 bonus points.

Ankhs

I’m going to tell you about a fascinating game called The Ankhs. This game has the most interesting way of scoring points! Let me explain.

First of all, you might be wondering what an ankh is. Well, an ankh is a special item in the game. You only score points for the ankhs after the third round of the game. That means you have to wait a bit before you can start earning those precious points.

Okay, let’s talk about how the scoring works. If you have four or more ankhs in your display area, you earn a whopping 20 points! That’s a lot of fame right there. If you have three ankhs, you still get a good amount of points – 10 points to be exact. And even if you only have two ankhs, you’ll still score 5 points. So, it’s definitely worth it to collect those ankhs.

But here’s the cool part – you don’t have to worry about running out of ankhs. There are plenty of ankhs available for all the players. So, you can focus on strategizing and playing the game, without stressing about getting enough ankhs.

Now, let’s talk about suns.

Just like pyramids and ankhs, the suns are only counted after the third epoch. You add up the numbers on all of your suns, whether they are face-up or face-down. Whoever has the highest total gets 5 points and a boost in fame, while the person with the lowest total loses 5 points.

If two or more players tie for the highest or lowest total, each of them gains or loses 5 points. But if all players have the same total, nobody gets any extra points, good or bad.

The Game Ends

After the scoring is done at the end of the third epoch, the game comes to a close.

You need to tally up all the fame points you’ve earned on your tablets. The player with the highest total wins. If there are multiple players tied for the highest score, the winner will be the one with the highest numbered sun among those who are tied.

How to play Priests of Ra Official Rules