Taj Mahal Game Rules

Let’s dive into the exciting world of the Taj Mahal game! This ancient board game will transport you back in time to the grandeur of the Mughal Empire. Get ready to strategize, make alliances, and build your way to victory!

First things first, you’ll need to gather a group of friends to play with. The game is designed for 2 to 5 players, so make sure you have enough people to form a worthy competition. Once you have your group, it’s time to set up the game board.

The game board is a beautiful depiction of the Taj Mahal itself, complete with elegant artwork and intricate details. It’s truly a sight to behold! Each player will have their own color-coded tokens, which they will use to claim territories on the board.

Now that everything is set up, it’s time to get down to business. The objective of the game is to earn the most points by building palaces and collecting resources. Each turn, players will have the opportunity to take actions such as moving their tokens, collecting cards, or building structures.

One of the key mechanics of the game is the auction system. At the start of each turn, a number of cards will be revealed, each with a different action or resource. Players will take turns bidding on these cards, using their own resources as currency. The highest bidder will get to choose first, but be careful not to deplete your resources too quickly!

Throughout the game, players will also have the chance to form alliances with their opponents. This can be a great way to protect your interests and gain an advantage over your rivals. However, alliances can also be broken, so choose your partners wisely!

The game continues until a certain number of rounds have been played, at which point the player with the most points is declared the winner. Points are earned through various means, such as completing palaces, collecting sets of cards, or achieving certain objectives. The strategy is key in this game, so make sure to plan your moves carefully!

So there you have it – the rules of the Taj Mahal game. Are you ready to embark on this epic journey through history? Gather your friends, set up the board, and let the battle for the Taj Mahal begin! May the best player prevail!

In this game, I get to use my smarts and cleverness to gain control over northwestern India, bit by bit. I have to think carefully and plan my moves strategically to outsmart the other players. The player who builds the most stunning palaces and holds the most power in the end is the ultimate champion!

What’s Inside

Hey there! Let’s talk about the wonders of a board game called “Palaces of Carrara.” I can tell you all about it, so stick around and listen up.

In “Palaces of Carrara,” you’ll find a fantastic game board, complete with 100 palaces. To keep track of your score, there are five markers you can use. And let’s not forget about the two black figures, 100 cards, and a fancy gold ring (also known as a crown).

But wait, there’s more! You’ll also get 12 octagonal province tiles, 24 oval influence tiles, and 16 bonus tiles. These pieces will come in handy as you explore the game and discover its many secrets.

Just a quick note before we get started: make sure to remove the individual tiles from their frames before playing the game. And don’t forget to separate the four special cards, they have a different back from the other 96.

Now that you know what’s included in the game, it’s time to dive in and start exploring the Palaces of Carrara. Get ready for an exciting adventure filled with strategy and surprises. You won’t want to miss out on this one!

See you on the game board!

Overview

Imagine a game board with 12 provinces in India. You get to explore each province once, and in each visit, you’ll compete with other players to gain influence using your cards.

Each visit is made up of multiple rounds. During your turn, you have the choice to play 1 or 2 cards, or you can decide to withdraw from the visit entirely. When you withdraw, you compare the cards you played with those of your opponents.

The goal is to win influence by having more symbols on your cards than anyone else. There are two important things to focus on:

Hey there! Would you like to know how to become the ruler of a province and gain economic power? Well, let me tell you all about it!

So, in this game, there are different ways to gain control. One way is by winning the right to rule the province, symbolized by the mighty elephant. When you do that, you gain the economic power of that province. Pretty cool, right?

But that’s not all. You can also gain control over other important forces, like the wise Vizier or the powerful Monk. If you manage to do that, you’ll become the ruler of individual cities and their spheres of influence. And trust me, these spheres of influence can expand beyond the province borders.

Now, here’s the interesting part. In both of these ways, you can score influence points in each province you control. The more influence points you have, the better chances you have of winning. There are twelve provinces in total, so make sure you visit all of them!

And here’s the deal. When you’ve visited all twelve provinces and scored influence points along the way, the player with the highest number of influence points is the big winner! Congrats to them!

Now, let’s talk about the setup, shall we?

So here’s what you do: unfold the board and plop it down on the table. You’ll see a map of the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, all divided up into 12 provinces.

Now, most of these provinces have 4 cities each, except for the one with Agra, you know, the place where the Taj Mahal stands proud. That province has 5 cities.

Now, here’s the cool part. All these cities are connected by a web of roads. And get this, some of the cities are colored purple. Why? Well, it means they’re fortresses! Pretty fancy, huh? There are 16 of them out of a total of 49 cities.

Oh, and by the way, there’s this handy scoring track going all the way around the board. It helps you keep track of your influence points. You’ll definitely want to keep an eye on that!

Okay, let’s get started! So, first things first. Grab the number 12 province tile and put it on the province that’s called Agra. Then, take the other 11 octagonal province tiles and give them a good shuffle. After that, place one of the tiles facedown in each of the remaining 11 provinces.

Now, the trick is to make sure that the tiles don’t cover any of the roads or cities. We want to keep everything clear and visible. Also, keep in mind that we’ll be visiting the provinces in a specific order – the order that’s shown on the tiles. We’ll start with number 1 and go all the way up to 12, ending with the province where we placed the Agra tile.

Let’s start by setting up the game board for Taj Mahal. First, we need to place the Taj Mahal bonus tile face up on the fortress city of Agra. This will give us an extra bonus later in the game.

Now, let’s shuffle the 15 square bonus tiles and place them face down. Each tile represents a different bonus that we can earn throughout the game. Next, we’ll randomly choose one tile at a time and place it face up on each fortress city. This adds an element of surprise and strategic thinking to the game.

By setting up the board this way, we ensure that each game of Taj Mahal is unique and offers exciting opportunities for players to explore different strategies and make tactical decisions. It’s important to pay attention to these bonus tiles as they can greatly impact your gameplay and lead you on the path to victory.

So, here’s what you gotta do: start by sorting the 24 oval influence tiles based on their pictures, and put them face up in four stacks next to the upper right corner of the board, also known as the court of the Grand Moguls. Don’t forget to place one of each type on the matching space in the court as well.

Now, take the gold ring, also known as the crown, and place it in the court of the Grand Moguls. Then, grab the 4 special cards and place them face up beside the board.

Time to shuffle the remaining 96 cards. These cards are what you and your fellow players will use to compete for those valuable influence points in the game. Just so you know, there are 21 red, yellow, green, and violet cards each (we call them the colored cards), and 12 plain white cards.

Alright, deal 6 cards to each player face down. These will be your starting hands, and make sure to keep them a secret from the other players. Gotta keep an edge, right?

Oh, and don’t forget to lay out the card supply for the first round. The number of players determines how many cards you need to draw and place face up to the left of the board. That way, everyone can see what’s up for grabs.

• In a game with 3 players, each player receives 5 cards.
• In a game with 4 players, each player receives 7 cards.
• In a game with 5 players, each player receives 9 cards.

Take the remaining cards and place them face down in a stack on the left side of the board. These cards will be used in later rounds. Any cards that are used will be discarded to a face up discard pile next to the drawing deck.

Sort the palace and scoring markers by color. Pick a color and place all your palaces of that color in front of you on the table, which is your play area. Put your scoring marker on the zero space of the scoring track.

Note: You can have as many palaces as you need. If you run out of palaces of your chosen color, you can continue the game with additional palaces of a different color that no one else is using.

To get started, place the 2 black figures on the game board. One of them is the figure representing the current province, so put it on the tile with the number 1. Move the number 1 tile to the space designated as the court of the Grand Moguls. Now, we need to choose a starting player. You can use any method you like to decide. The chosen player will place the other black figure in their play area.

Now, Let’s Begin Playing!

The player who was chosen to start takes the first turn. After that, the game continues in a clockwise direction around the table. During each player’s turn, they have two options:

1. Option 1: Play 1 or 2 cards to influence forces in the current province.
2. Option 2: Withdraw from the competition and claim the rewards of their influence in the current province.

When I decide to end my turn and withdraw from the visit, it means I’m done playing in the current province. I can’t take any more turns. And once everyone has withdrawn, the visit comes to an end and the next one begins.

A. Play 1 or 2 Cards

When I choose to play 1 or 2 cards, I have to start by playing exactly one colored card from my hand. I place it face up on the table. On the first turn of a visit, I can play a card of any color I want, whether it’s red, yellow, green, or violet.

From then on, in all my subsequent turns during the visit, the colored cards I play have to be the same color as the first card I played. There’s one exception though: I can use a special change color card to switch colors.

Remember: in the next visit, I can choose any color again on my first turn. But once I make that choice, I have to stick with it for the rest of the visit.

Hey there! Let me break it down for you. When playing the game, you have some options besides just using a colored card. You can also play a white card or a special card. But here’s the thing: you can’t play a white card or a special card by themselves. They always have to be played with a colored card. If you’re curious about the special cards, I’ve got some rules for you to check out below. Have fun!

When I play cards, there are three options I can choose from:

1. 1 colored card
2. 1 colored card + 1 white card
3. 1 colored card + 1 special card

When you play your cards, make sure they overlap each other, but make sure everyone can see the symbols on every card. This way, we can all see how much influence each player has over each force.

Once you play a card, you can’t take it back. You can try to influence other players with your card play, but you have to keep your cards secret from them.

B. Withdraw

When you withdraw, you can’t play any more cards during your turn. Instead, you immediately compare the cards you played with your opponents:

Vizier, General, Monk Or Princess

When I choose to withdraw from the game, if I have more symbols of any of these four types than any other player, I can take the corresponding influence tile from the Grand Moguls’ court and keep it in front of me where everyone can see it.

After taking the influence tile, I get to place one of my palaces on an empty city space in the province of my choice.

If I decide to put my palace on a fortress, I not only get to take the bonus tile that comes with it, but I also score points immediately based on the points of influence (which I’ll explain in a bit).

If I have the most symbols in multiple types, I’m considered to have the majority. In this case, I get to take all the corresponding influence tiles from the court, place one of my palaces for each of them, and score any bonus tiles I earn.

Now let me introduce you to the Grand Mogul.

When I’m in the lead and have more Grand Mogul symbols than anyone else, I get to wear the crown. I take it from the court and place it on one of my palaces. Then, I can choose any city in the province to put my “crown palace” on.

Unlike the other symbols, I can even put the crown palace on a city that already has a palace. If I do, I put it right next to the other palace. But don’t worry, if there’s an empty city, another player can still place a normal palace there later.

Important Information: When you put a crown palace on a fortress, you can’t take a bonus tile that’s still there. Instead, you leave the tile for the next player to place a regular palace on it.

The Elephant

Imagine this: You’re playing a game, and you decide it’s time to leave. But, before you go, you realize something incredible – you have more Elephant symbols than anyone else! It’s like you have the power to rule over a whole province and control its economic yield. Pretty cool, right?

So, what happens next? Well, you proudly take the province tile from the court of the Grand Moguls and place it face up on the table in front of you. It’s a symbol of your victory and the power you now hold.

But your journey isn’t over yet. After you’ve claimed your prize, you need to do some housekeeping. You discard the cards you’ve played during your visit to the court, making way for new adventures and challenges.

Note: Just so you know, if someone already wins a tile or a crown, no one else can win that same tile or crown during this turn.

Note: By the way, a player can win any combination of symbols in one turn.

Let me give you an example. A player could win the monk, crown, and elephant. In theory, a player could even win all six symbols. But of course, a player who withdraws from the game might not win anything at all. They might decide to keep their cards for a future province.

Earning Points

Once a player withdraws and compares their cards with the other players’, they calculate how many influence points they’ve earned and move their scoring marker accordingly. Scoring happens in the following order:

1. Bonus Tiles

When a player takes a bonus tile, they get:

When playing a popular tabletop game known as “Influence Points,” you will often come across a situation where you need to make strategic decisions. These decisions can have a significant impact on the outcome of the game. Let me explain how it works.

Imagine a scenario where you have just earned four influence points. These points represent your power and control in the game. Now, you have a crucial choice to make. You can either use these influence points to strengthen your position or spend them to hinder your opponents.

Once you have made your decision, it’s time to use these influence points. You might choose to spend them by placing a tile on the game board. Each tile represents a unique power or ability that can alter the game’s dynamics in your favor. You carefully consider your options and select the tile that best aligns with your strategy.

After using the influence points, you set the tile aside, signaling that it is no longer available in the game. This decision is final and cannot be undone. You must consider the long-term consequences before committing to a move.

Throughout the game, you will continue to earn and spend influence points strategically. You must remain adaptable and make choices based on the current state of the game. Every decision matters, as it can shape the game’s outcome and ultimately determine the winner.

So, whether you choose to use your influence points to enhance your own position or hinder your opponents, remember that each decision is crucial. Use your points wisely, and may the best strategist prevail!

Every time I draw a tile from the bag, it’s like I’m getting a little boost, a little extra power. It’s exciting to see what the tile has in store for me, what it can do to help me advance. And when I draw one of those special Influence tiles? Well, that’s a game changer.

When I draw an Influence tile, I know I’m in for something good. I get to do two things at once – I get two influence points and I can move my scoring marker two spaces. It’s like a double dose of progress, a double shot of success. And the tile? Well, that’s a one-time deal. Once I’ve used it, it’s out of the game.

So every time I reach into that bag, I’m not just drawing a tile, I’m drawing a possibility. I’m drawing a chance to boost my score, to get one step closer to victory. It’s a small moment, but it’s a powerful one. And it’s one of the many things that makes this game so exciting and unpredictable.

So, here’s what happens: I take the very first card from the drawing deck and add it to my hand. But wait, there’s more! I also set aside that tile, removing it from play. Simple, right?

When I play a game, I like to collect bonus tiles. These tiles can give me extra points and help me win. So, I need to understand how to score these bonus tiles so that I can strategize and maximize my points.

First, I need to know that each bonus tile is worth one influence point for the commodity shown on the tile. For example, if the tile shows a gold commodity, I get one influence point for it.

But that’s not all! I can also earn additional influence points for each occurrence of the same commodity on other bonus tiles and province tiles. So, if I have multiple gold commodities, each one will give me an extra influence point.

Once I win a bonus tile, I place it face up in my play area. This is important because the tile can earn me even more points later in the game. It’s like a little treasure waiting to be discovered.

If I’m lucky and win several bonus tiles during one visit, I score each tile individually and sequentially. This means I get points for each tile I win, one after the other.

Let’s look at an example:

Imagine I win a gold bonus tile and a silver bonus tile during my turn. Each of these tiles is worth one influence point for their respective commodities. Since I have two gold commodities, I earn two extra influence points. However, for the silver commodity, I only have one occurrence, so I get one additional influence point.

This means that in total, I score the following:

• Gold bonus tile: 1 influence point (base) + 2 influence points (extra) = 3 influence points
• Silver bonus tile: 1 influence point (base) + 1 influence point (extra) = 2 influence points

So, by winning these two bonus tiles, I earn a total of 5 influence points. That’s pretty good, right?

Now that I understand how to score bonus tiles, I can use this knowledge to my advantage and aim for the tiles that will give me the most points. I just need to keep an eye out for those extra occurrences of commodities and plan my moves accordingly.

I recently had a fantastic experience while playing the game. I was lucky enough to win not one, but two tea bonus tiles in a single visit. The best part was that I got to score both of them!

2. Province Tiles

Now let’s talk about winning province tiles. When you win a province tile, you proudly place it face up in your play area. What’s even better is that you earn points for each commodity on the tile. For example, the number 1 province tile has 1 commodity, so it’s worth 1 point. But all the other province tiles are worth 2 points because they have 2 commodities.

But here’s the exciting part – not only do you get points for the commodities on the province tiles you win, but you also earn points for any occurrences of the same commodities on bonus tiles and other province tiles that you have in your play area. These bonus tiles are earned earlier in the game, adding extra points to your score.

Let me give you an example:

In my recent visit, I had a great game and managed to snatch up two tea bonus tiles and the province tile. These tiles rewarded me with a total of 15 points – 7 points for the tea bonus tiles and 8 points for the province tile.

Now, let’s talk about palaces. When I placed at least one palace in the province, I received 1 influence point. The interesting thing is that even if I placed multiple palaces, I still only received 1 influence point for the province.

But there’s more! I also earned 1 influence point for each additional province, as long as I had a palace connected to my other palaces in the current province through an unbroken line of roads. It’s important to note that cities without a palace or with another player’s palace interrupt the connection. However, if there are two palaces in a city, it counts as a connection for both players.

These scoring mechanics really add depth and strategy to the game. It’s always exciting to see how each move can impact my overall score.

Finishing a Withdrawal

Once I’ve scored all my influence points, it’s time to finish my withdrawal. I’ll start by discarding the cards I used this turn, but I’ll keep any special cards. I’ll place them face up on the discard pile. These discarded cards have no more influence on the province. Sometimes, deadlocks happen, and in those cases, the remaining players get an advantage!

Now, for my last action during the visit, I get to choose two cards from the face-up supply next to the board. These cards will join my hand and give me more options for future turns. But I have to be careful – if I’m the last player to withdraw, I’ll only get one card. That’s the drawback of finishing last.

The visit keeps going in clockwise order around the table. Each player takes their turns, either playing cards or withdrawing. When there’s only one player left, they can keep playing as many turns as they want, following the regular rules. Finally, they withdraw and tally up their influence points.

If I decide not to play any cards in the first round of a visit, that’s perfectly fine. I won’t be able to place any palaces in the province or earn any points for this visit, but that’s the choice I make.

But here’s the interesting part – even though I’m not playing any cards, I still get to draw the topmost card from the deck. And not just that, I also get to take two cards from the supply. So, sometimes it might actually be a good strategy to withdraw without playing any cards.

Ending a visit and starting the next visit

Now, once the last player in the visit has withdrawn, scored their influence points, discarded the cards they played, and taken the final card from the supply, that’s when the visit comes to an end.

At this point, any player who has two identical oval influence tiles must return them to the supply near the upper right of the board. And as a reward, they get to take the special card that they’ve earned (you can find more about these special cards below!)

And now it’s time to start the next visit, which begins with the following:

I’m going to tell you what to do during your turn in this game. Here are the steps:

1. First, I pass the starting player figure to the player on my left. This person will be the starting player for the next round.

2. Next, I move the current province figure to the next province in the numbered sequence. The provinces are numbered from 1 to 12.

3. Then, I take the province tile from the new province and place it in the court of the Grand Moguls.

4. If there were any influence tiles taken from the court of the Grand Moguls in the previous round, I replace them. I get new ones from the supply next to the game board.

5. If the crown is not already in the court of the Grand Moguls, I put it back there.

6. Now, I draw cards from the drawing deck to create a new card supply. I draw the same number of cards as we did in the preparation phase. When the drawing deck runs out, I shuffle the discard pile and use it as the new drawing deck.

That’s it for the steps of a turn. Now, let’s talk about the special cards in the game.

Alright, let’s get started! When the game begins, we place four special cards face up next to the board. To win control of a special card, you need to win two of the Vizier, the General, the Monk, or the Princess influence tiles.

Now, at the end of a visit, once all players have left, those who have two matching oval influence tiles can exchange them for a special card. You can take the card from the table if it’s still there, or from another player who has it. Once you have the card, you add it to your hand.

Special cards work just like white cards. You need to play them with a colored card, and remember, you can only play one special card per turn. The great thing about special cards is that they go back to your hand when you withdraw, instead of being discarded.

Did you know that if another player has the two influence tiles that match a special card, they get to keep the card at the end of the game? Pretty cool, right?

When you play a special card, it gives you some pretty great advantages. But here’s the catch – if you don’t play it and it stays in your hand, it won’t do anything for you. So make sure you use those special cards to your advantage!

+1 Elephant

Have you ever heard of White Elephant cards? They’re pretty cool. Let me tell you about them.

Incredible White Grand Mogul Card: A Step Up

Hey there! Have you heard about the amazing White Grand Mogul Card? It’s a total game-changer. This card is all about pure luxury.

Let me tell you why this card is so incredible! When you get your hands on the White Grand Mogul Card, you’ll feel like a superstar. It’s a one-of-a-kind card that will make you stand out from the crowd. With this card, you’ll enjoy all kinds of exclusive benefits and perks that are simply out of this world!

You may be wondering, “What’s so special about the White Grand Mogul Card?” Well, let me break it down for you.

• Ultimate Luxury: This card is all about indulgence and opulence. It’s designed for those who want to experience the highest level of luxury in everything they do.
• Exclusive Access: With the White Grand Mogul Card, you’ll gain access to exclusive events, top-notch restaurants, VIP lounges, and so much more. It’s like having the golden key to a world of luxury!
• Personal Concierge: This card comes with a dedicated personal concierge who is ready to assist you with anything you need. Whether you want to book a table at a prestigious restaurant or plan a dream vacation, your personal concierge will make it happen.
• Rewards & Perks: The White Grand Mogul Card offers incredible rewards and perks that you won’t find anywhere else. From luxury hotel stays to exclusive shopping experiences, the possibilities are endless.

So, if you’re looking to elevate your lifestyle and experience the epitome of luxury, the White Grand Mogul Card is perfect for you. Trust me, once you have this card in your wallet, you’ll never look back.

If you’re ready to step up your game and join an elite group of individuals who know how to live life to the fullest, then the White Grand Mogul Card is waiting for you. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in a world of luxury and extravagance!

+2 Influence Points

When you play this special card, you’ll get an instant boost of 2 influence points. It’s like a little power-up that can give you an edge in the game.

Get Your Colors for Free!

When you play a special card, the color of the card you play doesn’t have to match the required color for that turn.

Remember: This special card only counts for the turn you play it. In your next turns during this visit, you have to use cards of the color you started with.

If you play this special card on your first turn of a visit, the color of your second colored card (not the one you played with the special card) is used for the rest of the visit.

The Game Ends

The game ends after the twelfth visit is finished. You get extra points for the cards left in your hand, including the ones you took from the card supply when you left on the last visit. You earn 1 point for each:

• special card
• white card

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• I score points by collecting cards of different colors.
• If I collect the most cards of a particular color, I get points for that color.

The person with the highest total score at the end wins the game.

Tips And Tactics

• My strength comes from the cards I have, and finding cards can be a challenge. It’s not about winning a ton of influence points in one place, but rather winning some influence points in as many places as possible. Don’t forget that you can also score by connecting to palaces in provinces you’ve already visited and by matching the commodities you’ve gathered.
• Think carefully about when to play more cards and when to back off. Long conflicts can drain your card supply. Plus, if you’re holding a lot of cards, other players might get nervous and withdraw quickly to prevent you from winning with a small card expenditure. And remember, you can’t show your cards to other players!
• To be successful in the game, I need to plan ahead. That means deciding which provinces I want to collect and score, and figuring out how to use the cards in my hand to achieve my goals.
• When selecting cards from the card supply, I should be strategic. I need to pick cards that will give me the resources and abilities I need to execute my plans.