Thurn and Taxis Game Rules

Introduction

Welcome to the world of Thurn and Taxis! In this game, I will guide you through the rules and help you become a master of mail delivery. So, sit back, relax, and let’s dive in!

Objective

The goal of Thurn and Taxis is to establish mail routes and expand your postal network across the map. By doing so, you will earn prestige points and rise to the top as the most successful postal operator in 16th century Germany.

Setting Up

To start, place the game board in the center of the table. Shuffle the city cards and deal four to each player face-up. Then, shuffle the remaining city cards and place them face-down as a draw pile. Each player also receives a Postmaster General card and a carriage token of their color.

Playing the Game

On your turn, you can perform one of the following actions: 1) Draw a city card; 2) Play a city card and establish a route; or 3) Exchange city cards.

When drawing a city card, simply take the top card from the draw pile. If you choose to play a city card, you must place it in front of you and connect it to an existing route or start a new one. Each route must begin with a city card of a different color.

To establish a route, place a carriage token on each city card of your route. Then, draw a new city card to replace the one you played. The longer your route, the more prestige points you will earn!

If you have two or more city cards of the same color, you can exchange them for one special card from the display area. Special cards provide unique benefits that can help you in your postal endeavors.

Game End

The game ends when a player has placed all of their carriage tokens on the game board or when the draw pile is empty. At that point, each player takes one final turn, and then the scoring begins.

Players earn points for routes, completed postal districts, and special cards. The player with the most prestige points wins the game and becomes the rightful heir to the throne of the postal world!

Now that you know the rules, it’s time to grab a friend, set up the game, and embark on a thrilling journey of mail delivery and empire-building. Enjoy your quest as a postmaster extraordinaire in Thurn and Taxis!

You will receive 1 game board, which serves as the playing surface.
There are 80 wooden houses included, which will be used to represent your buildings.
4 principal firm cards are included in the package.
You’ll also receive 20 carriage cards, which will come in handy during gameplay.
The package includes 66 city cards for building routes.
30 bonus tiles are included to add an extra layer of excitement.
There are 4 summary cards to help you keep track of your progress.
And of course, there is a game rules booklet to guide you through the gameplay.

So, in summary, the package contains everything you need to dive into the world of this exciting game. From the game board to the wooden houses, from the firm cards to the carriage cards – it’s all here, waiting for you to embark on a thrilling adventure. With these components at your disposal, you’ll be able to create routes, build cities, and strategize your way to victory. So, are you ready to explore this extraordinary game? If you are, then you’ll be pleased to know that the game comes complete with everything you need to get started. Let the fun begin!

Getting Set Up

First, I’ll place the game board right in the middle of the table.
Next, I’ll take the bonus tiles and put them face up on the designated spaces on the game board. I’ll make sure to stack them in ascending order, with the lowest tile on the bottom and the highest on top.
I’ll shuffle the city cards and then lay out 6 of them face up on the city card spaces on the board. The rest of the cards will be placed face down next to the board as a supply.
Next up, I’ll sort the carriage cards by their numbers and put them in their designated spaces on the board.
Each of us will choose a color and grab the 20 houses, a summary card, and a principal firm card, which we’ll keep in our play area.
Lastly, we’ll decide who goes first. We can use any method we want to determine the starting player.

Goal of the Game

So here’s the deal: we’re all in this game together. We each get to build our very own postal system! The goal? Well, it’s no secret—I wanna be the best postal player there ever was! And to do that, I gotta build a top-notch network of post offices in all the cities on the board. But that’s not all! I’ve also gotta snag some valuable carriages and collect those sweet bonus tiles. And, hey, a little help from the postal officials wouldn’t hurt either!

Now, when things start getting real, like when I get my hands on one of those fancy value 7 carriages or when I’ve placed all my houses, that’s when we know we’re in the final round. And let me tell ya, when that round ends, that’s it—it’s game over, my friends!

So, who’s gonna take home the trophy? Well, it’s simple: the player with the most victory points wins, baby! It’s all about racking up those points and showing the world who’s the master of the postal universe!

Ready to Play?

When the game starts, I go first, and then everyone else takes their turns in order. Here’s what I do on my turn:

1. First, I need to add a city card to my hand. City cards show the cities on the game board. I can choose one of the six face-up city cards or take the top card from the supply.

2. Next, I play a city card from my hand. This is an important part of the game because it helps me build my routes and connect different cities.

3. I can also choose to close and score my current route. This means I complete a route that I’ve been working on and earn points for it.

After I’ve taken these actions, it’s the next player’s turn.

During my turn, I also have the option to use the special abilities of one of the officials – the Postal Carrier, the Postmaster, the Administrator, or the Cartwright. They can help me in different ways and give me an advantage.

Remember, the city cards are crucial for building your routes, and using the officials’ abilities strategically can really boost your game. Have fun and good luck!

So, here’s how it works: when you snag a card that’s face-up, you swap it out with the one on top of the stack. And when all the cards in the stack are gone, shuffle up the ones you’ve already used and make them the new stack. Pretty straightforward, right?

Help from an Official during this Step:

Hey there! When you accept my support as the Postmaster, you can grab an extra city card either from the display or the supply.

If you find yourself empty-handed at the start of your turn, don’t worry! Just ask for my help as the Postmaster for that turn. But remember, once you’ve chosen me, you can’t ask for assistance from any other official during that same turn.

Just a heads up: In the first round of the game, each player must use my services as the Postmaster.

Me: If I’m not happy with the city cards I see, I can ask the administrator for help. They’ll exchange all the cards in the display before I choose one. The administrator will remove all the cards from the display and replace them with new ones from the supply.

2. Choose a City Card from my Hand

When I play this game, the most important thing is building postal routes. I start by choosing a card from my hand and placing it in my play area. This card will either begin a new route or add to an existing one. I line up my city cards in a row next to each other, creating my current route.

I can only have one route at a time. If I want to extend my route, I can place a city card on either the right or left side of my current route. However, my route can’t have any side paths or branches.

When I add a card to my route, it has to be a suitable one. This means that the new card I place must represent a city on the board that is directly next to the city represented by the card it’s placed next to. If I don’t have a current route in my play area, I can start a new one. But I have to close my current route first.

When it comes to placing city cards, there are two possibilities:

If I don’t have any city cards in my play area, I can play a card to start a new route.
If I already have city card(s) in my play area, forming a current route, I can play a new city card on the right or left side of my current route row. However, if I don’t have a suitable city card to play or choose not to add a card to my current route, I must discard the cards in my current route, earning no points. I can then place a card in my play area to begin a new route.

Which city cards can I place next to each other in the row?

When playing the game, there are two types of city cards that I can use to expand my route. The first type is the city cards that have cities directly next to each other on the game board. The second type is the city cards that are not already in my current route. I can only add city cards to my route if they meet both of these conditions.

However, there are some restrictions. I am not allowed to add a card if the city on the game board is not directly next to the city represented by the card on the right or left side of my current route. I also can’t insert a card between cards in my current route or rearrange the route in any way. Lastly, I can’t use a city card that is already included in my current route.

So, when I’m playing, I need to carefully choose which city cards to add to my route. I have to make sure they meet the conditions and don’t violate any of the restrictions. By following these rules, I can strategically expand my route and maximize my chances of winning the game.

Example: Imagine you’re playing a game and you have a route that goes through different cities like Carlsruhe, Stuttgart, Nurnberg, and Regensburg. Let’s say you want to add Innsbruck to your route. Well, here’s the catch: you can only add a city to the ends of your route if it’s directly next to those ends. Unfortunately, Innsbruck is not right next to either Carlsruhe or Regensburg, so you can’t add it to your route.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you can’t rearrange the cities in your current route. So, if you have a route that includes Stuttgart and Nurnberg, you can’t insert Wurzburg between them. You’re only allowed to add cities to the ends.

Now, let’s say you want to add Stuttgart to your route. Even though it’s right next to Carlsruhe, you can’t add it. Why? Because you already have Stuttgart in your route. You can’t include the same city twice.

Have you ever needed assistance during a challenging time? I sure have, and let me tell you, it can make all the difference. Here’s why:

First and foremost, having support from an official in times of need is incredibly valuable. It provides a safety net that allows you to navigate difficult situations with confidence. When I find myself in a tough spot, knowing that someone is there to guide me provides a sense of relief and reassurance.

But support goes beyond just having someone to rely on. It’s about receiving guidance from someone who has the knowledge and expertise to help you find the best solution. The process of seeking support often involves sharing your thoughts, concerns, and challenges with someone who can offer a fresh perspective and valuable advice. It’s like having a compass that points you in the right direction when you’re feeling lost.

Moreover, receiving support from the right person can lead to personal growth and development. By seeking assistance, you have the opportunity to learn from someone who has been there before, gaining insights that can help you navigate similar situations in the future. It’s like acquiring a new set of tools that you can carry with you throughout your journey.

Furthermore, getting support from an official can also boost your confidence and self-esteem. When someone in a position of authority believes in you and supports your goals, it can provide a tremendous boost of motivation. It’s like having your own personal cheerleader, encouraging you to reach new heights and achieve your full potential.

And let’s not forget about the emotional component. Going through tough times can be emotionally draining, but having someone by your side can provide the comfort and emotional support you need. Just knowing that someone is there to listen and offer a shoulder to lean on can make a world of difference.

In conclusion, having support from an official during challenging times is not just helpful, it’s essential. It provides a sense of security, guidance, personal growth, confidence, and emotional support. So, if you ever find yourself in need, don’t hesitate to reach out. Remember, you don’t have to face challenges alone – there’s always someone out there who is ready to offer support and help you through.

Postal carrier: When you accept the support of the Postal carrier on your turn, you can add another city card to your route, following the regular rules for placing city cards.

3. Close and Score Your Current Route

You can close and score your route if it has at least 3 city cards.

To close and score your route, follow these steps:

Place houses.
Collect any bonus tiles you earned.
Collect any new carriages you earned.
Place the city cards for the route and any extra city cards from your hand face-up on the discard stack.

A. Place Houses

You have 2 options for placing houses on cities along the route you are closing:

You can, in each province of the route, place 1 house in 1 of the cities along the route, or

Note: Let’s imagine I’m planning a fun road trip game. I have a game board with provinces and cities, and I need to strategically place my houses along the route. The goal is to close as many routes as possible. Here’s how it works:

First, I can only place one house in one province of the route. Each city along the route needs to be connected and visited. So, I have to make sure I don’t miss any cities!

For example, let’s say I want to close a route that includes the cities Sigmaringen, Stuttgart, Nurnberg, Regensburg, Ingolstadt, and Augsburg. I’ll need to place a house in each of these cities. Oh, and don’t forget, the provinces and cities are color-coded on the game board and cards.

The game can be a bit perplexing at times, but that’s part of the fun! Finding the right strategy and making sure to visit all the cities is key. So, as you embark on this road trip adventure, remember to plan your route carefully and don’t miss any houses along the way.

Good luck and happy road tripping!

So, here’s what I would do if I were in this situation. I would either put one house in one city in each province of my route, like the example on the right. Let’s say my route goes through Hohenzollern, Wurttemberg, and Baiern. In that case, I would put one house in Sigmaringen as I pass through Hohenzollern, one house in Stuttgart as I pass through Wurttemberg, and then one house in one of the four Baiern cities. For this example, let’s say I choose Ingolstadt. However, I wouldn’t be able to put a house in Nurnberg, Regensburg, or Augsburg if I go with this option.

Alternatively, I could choose to put one house in each city of the route, but only in one province. If I go with this option, I’ll put one house in each of the Baiern cities: Nurnberg, Regensburg, Ingolstadt, and Augsburg. However, I won’t be able to put a house in Sigmaringen or Stuttgart if I make this choice.

Remember: in later rounds, you can still play cards for cities where you have houses. However, you can only have one house in each city, no matter how many times that city is part of one of your closed routes. You can also place a house in a city where other players already have houses.

B. Get Bonus Tiles

After placing your houses, let’s check if you fulfill any of the following conditions. If you do, you get the corresponding bonus tile and put it face-down in your play area.

Get Bonus Tiles for Long Routes (with 5, 6, or 7 Cities)

Hey there! Let’s talk about bonus tiles in the game. So, when I have a route with 5, 6, 7, or even more cities, I get a bonus tile that matches the length of my route. Pretty cool, right?

Now, if my route is longer than 7 cities, here’s the interesting part. I’ll get the number 7 bonus tile. But, wait! What happens if the bonus tile I earned isn’t available anymore? Well, no worries, because I’ll just grab the next available tile with a lower number. It’s like a little consolation prize.

Oh, and here’s another thing to keep in mind. Throughout the game, I can collect multiple bonus tiles with the same number. So, the more routes I build, the more bonus tiles I can rack up. That’s pretty awesome, right?

Bonus Tiles For Provinces

When you have houses on every city in a province or on every city in a group of provinces, you get the bonus tile for that province or group. It’s not necessary to put houses in all the cities at once, you can spread them out over multiple routes.

If you want to earn the bonus tile “all provinces,” you just need to have a house in at least one city in every province.

Remember: If you meet the requirements for a province bonus tile but there are none left for that province, you won’t get a tile.

Keep in mind: You can only collect one bonus tile per province, province pair, etc.

Here’s the catch: To receive the bonus tiles, you actually have to place houses on the cities. So if you run out of houses and can’t place the ones you should have, you won’t get the tile.

Here’s the deal: I’m playing a game where I’m trying to connect different cities on the map. I just closed a route by putting my houses on Sigmaringen and Ulm. Now, guess what happened? I now have houses in all three cities in Wurttemberg and Hohenzollern! Can you believe it? And you know what that means? I get to collect the bonus tile on top of the stack for Wurttemberg/Hohenzollern.

A Special Tile at the End of the Game

Hey there! Did you know that in this game, if you’re the first one to get a carriage worth 7 or if you play your last house, you win the game? Cool, right? And guess what? You even get a special bonus tile called “Game end” as a reward! How awesome is that?

C. Get a New Carriage

If my route is at least as long as the number on the next highest carriage, I get to take that card. I can’t skip over any carriage cards, even if my route is long enough.

For example, let’s say I close a route with 3 city cards and I get a carriage card with a value of 3. I put it on top of my main firm card. Later on, I close a route with 5 city cards and I get the next highest carriage card, which is a value 4. I put it on top of my value 3 carriage card. Then, I close a route with 4 city cards and I don’t get any new carriage card. If I want to get a value 5 carriage card, I need to close a route with at least 5 city cards.

Just remember, when I’m collecting carriage cards, the number of city cards in my route matters, not the number of houses I can place as a result of the route.

Support from an Official in this Phase:

I’m here to provide guidance and assistance during this important phase. It can be quite overwhelming to navigate through all the options available to you. You might feel unsure about what to do next or even where to begin. But don’t worry, I’ve got your back.

Let’s start by talking about the significance of this phase. It’s a crucial step that requires careful consideration. There are a lot of factors to take into account when making decisions, and it’s important to remember that you don’t have to do this alone. I’m here to offer you support, information, and advice to help you make the best choice for yourself.

It’s natural to have questions and uncertainties. You might be wondering which path is right for you or how certain decisions will impact your future. Well, I’m here to help you find the answers. Together, we can explore your options, weigh the pros and cons, and come up with a plan that aligns with your goals and aspirations.

Remember, this is a journey, and sometimes it can be challenging. But, with the right support and guidance, you can navigate through it successfully. That’s where I come in. I’m here to provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions and to support you every step of the way.

So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure about what to do next, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’m here to listen, offer advice, and guide you through this phase. Together, we can make sure you have all the tools and information you need to make the best decisions for your future.

Don’t let the complexities of this phase discourage you. Instead, let’s work together to navigate through the options and find the path that is right for you. Your future is bright, and I’m here to help you take the next steps towards your goals. Let’s get started!

In the game, there’s a character called the cartwright who can provide support to players. When I accept the cartwright’s support during this phase, I can get a carriage that is one level higher than what I would normally be able to acquire, even if my route is shorter by one or two cities. However, if my route is shorter by three cities, the cartwright can’t help me.

Let me give you an example to make it clearer. Suppose I have a carriage with a value of 6 and I close a route using 5 city cards. Normally, I wouldn’t be able to acquire a higher-value carriage. But with the cartwright’s support, I can get a carriage with a value of 7.

Now let’s move on to the next step.

When I close a route, I need to discard all the city cards from that route. I place them face-up on the discard stack. Additionally, I need to reduce my hand size to 3 cards by discarding any cards I choose, also placing them face-up on the discard stack. This allows me to start a new route in my next turn.

When the End Game is Near

The game comes to an end when one of two things happens: either a player acquires a carriage with a value of 7, or a player places their last house. Once either of these conditions is met, the round is played to its end, and the game is over.

How to play Thurn and Taxis Official Rules