The Master Builders Behind The Pillars of the Earth

Have you ever wondered about the creative minds responsible for constructing magnificent structures like The Pillars of the Earth? Let’s take a closer look at these craftsmen and the incredible work they do.

I want you to imagine a group of skilled individuals, each with their own unique talents, coming together to create a masterpiece. These master builders are the backbone of The Pillars of the Earth, using their expertise to bring this architectural wonder to life.

When I think about the enormity of their task, my mind is filled with questions. How do they even begin to plan such a colossal project? How do they ensure that every pillar, every arch is perfectly placed? It’s a mystery that I find both perplexing and fascinating.

Their work goes far beyond the physical labor of lifting heavy stones and fitting them together. They need a deep understanding of mathematics, geometry, and engineering principles. They take these concepts and turn them into reality, constructing breathtaking buildings that withstand the test of time.

Each craftsman brings their own expertise to the project. Some may specialize in stone carving, meticulously shaping each piece to fit seamlessly with the others. Others may focus on carpentry, crafting intricate wooden details that add a touch of elegance to the grand design.

But it’s not just their technical skills that make them extraordinary – it’s their passion and dedication to their craft. They pour their heart and soul into every detail, striving for perfection in every aspect of the construction.

These craftsmen face challenges along the way. Adverse weather conditions, limited resources, and tight deadlines all test their resilience. Yet, they find innovative solutions and never give up. They see each obstacle as an opportunity to push themselves further and create something truly remarkable.

Their work is not just about building structures; it’s about leaving a legacy for future generations to admire and appreciate. The Pillars of the Earth stands as a testament to their skill, creativity, and unwavering commitment.

So next time you find yourself in awe of a grand architectural wonder, remember the master builders who made it possible. They are the true heroes, crafting dreams into reality, one stone at a time.

The craftsmen come into play at the end of every round to help construct cathedrals.

At the bottom of the card, there’s a formula that shows how a craftsman can turn resources into victory points. The number on the resource symbol (located on the left) shows how many resources are needed.

The number on the arch (on the right) reveals how many victory points are granted. And the number on the arrow shows the craftsman’s capacity. It indicates how many times a craftsman can be used in a round.

Example: In this game, there is a woodworker that we each start with. The woodworker can turn 2 pieces of wood into 1 victory point. You can call this process “transforming.” The woodworker can only transform up to 8 pieces of wood into 4 victory points in a round because he has a limit of 4. This limit is called his “capacity.”

As we play the game, new craftsmen become available, and they are even better than the woodworker. They have a better way of turning resources into victory points, and some of them have a bigger capacity.

Example: At the beginning of the game, you also have a stonecutter. The stonecutter can transform 2 pieces of stone into 1 victory point. But as you move forward in the game, you can get a mason who only needs 1 piece of stone to make 1 victory point. There is also a sculptor who can turn a single piece of stone into 2 victory points. It’s really cool to see how the different craftsmen can do so much with different resources!

Hey there! Did you know that in addition to the regular craftsmen who turn resources into victory points, there are also some craftsmen who have special powers that only kick in at the end of each round? Pretty cool, right?

The Goldsmith is a special character in the game who you can interact with to convert gold into victory points. Let me explain how it works with an example. When you go to the Goldsmith, you can give him 3 units of gold. In return, he will reward you with 1 victory point. That’s not too bad, right? Now, let’s say you have 12 units of gold. You decide to visit the Goldsmith and exchange all 12 units for victory points. Since each exchange requires 3 units of gold, you can make a total of 4 exchanges. So, you hand over 12 units of gold to the Goldsmith, and he gives you 4 victory points in return. It’s a pretty sweet deal if you ask me!

When you have the Architect in your town, he helps you earn 1 victory point. Isn’t that great? You don’t even need any resources to activate his ability. The only thing is, he does take up one of your craftsman cottages. But hey, another craftsman could use it, so it’s all good.

    

Now let’s talk about the Tool Maker. This guy is quite generous. If you have at least 1 metal at the end of the round, he awards you with 2 gold. And guess what? The metal isn’t even consumed, so you get to keep it. No need to return it to the metal supply. How cool is that?

The Master Woodworker is a skilled artisan who possesses the extraordinary ability to convert a single piece of wood into a magnificent sum of 4 gold. Each round, this exceptional craftsman can perform this incredible feat twice, potentially converting up to 2 pieces of wood into a grand total of 8 gold. It’s truly a remarkable process to witness. Once the wood has been transformed into gold, it is dutifully returned to the supply, ready to be used for future endeavors.

Hey there! Let’s talk about some cool stuff in the game of The Bellmaker, Glassblower, and Organ Builder. In this game, we use metal to earn victory points. But it’s not just metal that we need! The Glassblower also requires sand, and the Organ Builder goes through wood as well as metal. So, it’s important to think about the resources we use wisely!

Oh, and don’t forget this important rule: each player can only have 5 craftsmen working for them. Gotta make sure we don’t overload ourselves!

Requirements for Craftsmen

When you start the game, the three types of craftsmen you have may not be as efficient at turning resources into victory points compared to the craftsmen you can acquire later on.

Because you can only have five craftsmen at a time, you often need to trade out your old craftsmen for new ones. However, it’s important to keep in mind that these starting craftsmen (marked with an exclamation point on their cards) have some other important functions:

• If you don’t have a stonecutter, you won’t be able to sell stones at the resource market!
• If you don’t have a woodworker, you won’t be able to buy wood at the resource market!
• If you don’t have a mortar mixer, you won’t be able to earn victory points with a mason!

Hey there! Just a heads up, there are some talented craftsmen in round one who share the same name and also have the T symbol. If you want, you can switch to these versions without losing the advantages mentioned above.

Remember: You have to weigh whether it’s worth swapping out a basic craftsman for the enhanced benefits that advanced craftsmen offer.