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Carolus Magnus Game Rules
Imagine this: Charlemagne, a powerful ruler, wants to ensure his safety and comfort during his travels. How does he achieve this? Well, he relies on his heirs (that’s you) to construct sturdy castles in the territories he frequents.
But here’s the twist – you won’t be the only one vying for Charlemagne’s favor. You’ll have to compete with other players to win over the services of five different clans of paladins. These paladins represent the Emperor’s control over his vast lands, and capturing their loyalty gives you an advantage.
The Essential Elements
- The game board is divided into 15 different territories. You can fit the segments together to create larger territories, which is an important aspect of the game.
- Each player has a set of discs numbered 1 to 5. There are 2 black discs, 2 white discs, and 1 gray disc per player.
- There are 4 courts in the game, which are small rectangular boards. These boards have a picture of a castle and a row of dots in 5 different colors along one edge.
- There are 2 cotton bags included in the game.
- The game includes 200 small wooden cubes, which represent the 5 paladin clans in the 5 different colors.
- There is a large yellow figure that represents the Emperor Carolus Magnus.
- The game includes 4 dice with 5 colored faces and 1 face with a crown.
- There are 5 clan markers in the 5 different colors.
- The game also includes 30 castles, which come in 3 different colors: black, white, and gray.
If you are playing the game with just 2 players, here’s what you need to know:
Getting Started
Let’s set up the game by following these steps:
- Arrange the 15 territories in a circle, leaving small spaces between them.
- Place the Emperor on one of the territories.
- Empty the bag with the paladin cubes in the middle of the circle of territories.
- Put the 5 colored clan markers in the center of the circle of territories.
- Take 3 cubes of each color from the middle of the circle of territories and randomly place them on the territories (1 cube per territory).
- Each player chooses a color and takes a set of 10 ‘O- castles and a set of 5 numbered discs in that color.
- Each player gets a court board.
- Any unused equipment for the 2-player game should be returned to the box, including 10 castles, 3 sets of numbered discs, 2 court boards, and 1 die.
I throw the 3 dice twice and 1 die once, which gives me a total of 7 dice. These dice will help me choose my initial paladin to reserve. If I roll a crown, I can pick any of the 5 colors. Now, I have 7 paladin cubes that I place near my court.
I need to keep my equipment in front of me where everyone can see it. This includes 7 cubes in my reserve, 10 castles, 5 face-up discs, and 1 court board. I also need to leave some space to the right of my court for placing paladins during the game.
Now, let’s talk about the gameplay. Each round consists of an Opening Phase and an Action Phase. In the Opening Phase, we decide the turn order for the round, as well as how far we can move the Emperor. Then, in the Action Phase, we take turns performing 3 actions in a specific order:
1. Play 3 paladins from your reserve.
In this game, called “Paladins of the West Kingdom,” there are two main phases that determine how the Emperor moves and how players replenish their paladins. Let’s dive in!
First, let’s talk about the Opening Phase. Each player takes turns choosing one of their numbered discs and placing it face up inside the circle of territories. It’s important to note that the numbers on the discs must be different. To decide who goes first in the first round, we’ll draw lots.
For the following rounds, the starting player will be the one who placed the lower number in the previous round. Each player will place their discs in a way that slightly covers the ones they played in previous rounds. This way, all the discs can be seen, with the most recent one on top. Have a look at figure 1 for a visual representation.
If we both have the same numbered disc and we’re down to our last one, my number is considered lower. Every fifth round, we get our 5 discs back to use in the next opening phases.
The numbers on our discs serve two purposes: they determine the play order (with the lower number going first), and they indicate how far we can move the Emperor.
Here’s an example: I play my number 3 disc and you play your number 2 disc. You go first in the action phase and move the Emperor 1 or 2 spaces. Then, it’s my turn and I can move the Emperor 1, 2, or 3 spaces.
Action Phase
When the game enters the action phase, it’s time for the players to take their turns. The order of the turns is determined during the Opening Phase – first, the player who played the disc with the lower number takes their turn, and then the other player gets their chance.
1. Play 3 paladin cubes
When you play the game, you get to choose which of the 7 paladins you want to use in your court or territories. You have to pick 3 paladins to play.
You have the freedom to split those 3 paladins however you want between your court and territories. You can put them all in your court, all in one or more territories, or any combination that works best for you. The paladins that you don’t choose to play stay in your reserve and don’t come into play. Only the paladins that you actually play are part of the game, and once you play them, you can’t move them around.
When you decide to play a paladin to your court, you place it next to the matching colored dots. If you have more paladins of a certain color in your court than your opponent does, then you have control of that paladin color.
If both me and you have the same number, you get to keep control. If you gain control of a color, you take the matching colored clan marker and put it on your court. This shows that you control all paladins of that color in the territories.
When you play paladins in territories, you can play one or more in a single territory or play just one in each of one or more territories. You play paladins in a territory to make it stronger or to change control.
By adding paladins of a color you control, you can gain control in a territory and then move the Emperor there to put a castle of your color. But be careful! It’s hard to keep control of a color.
Have you ever noticed how the same paladins that help you conquer a territory can also be used against you by your opponents? It’s like a double-edged sword! Not only that, but every paladin you play in a territory means one less paladin in your court for controlling the color. So, it’s a tough decision to make – when should I play my paladins? Well, let me tell you, timing is everything!
2. The Emperor’s Move
When I play the game, I get to move the Emperor in a clockwise direction around the territories. Each territory counts as a step as I move the Emperor. I have to move the Emperor at least one step, but I can’t move more steps than the number on the disc I played in the Opening Phase.
After I move the Emperor, I have to see who controls the territory where the Emperor stops. If I control the region, I might be able to place a castle there. I can find more details about placing castles in the “Castles and Territories” section.
Example: When I’m getting ready to play the game, I make sure to place one paladin in each of the 15 territories. On my first turn, I try to gain control of the red territory by playing a red paladin at my court. I like to use the red clan marker to show that I have control. Then, I move the Emperor to a territory where I have a red paladin and I build one of my castles there. It’s easy to place castles in the early game, so I try to build one every turn. But as the game goes on, it becomes much harder to build castles.
3. Get more paladins
Now it’s time to replenish our paladins. I roll the 3 dice and I take 3 paladins from the center. The colors of the paladins I take have to match the colors I rolled on the dice. But if I roll a crown, I can choose any color paladin I want.
If there aren’t any paladins of a certain color left in the center, everyone has to give back an equal number of that color paladin from their court.
I just wrapped up my three actions for this round. Now it’s your turn to take three actions, and then we’ll move on to the next round and the Opening Phase. The Opening Phase is started by the player who played the lower number in the previous turn.
Let’s Talk About Castles and Territories
Castles
If you want to build a castle in a territory, you need to have control over most of the paladins in that territory. Not only that, but the Emperor must also be present there.
At the beginning of the game, it’s easy to see who has the majority since there is only one paladin in each territory. But as the game progresses and players try to invade and take over each other’s territories, figuring out who has control becomes more challenging.
In order to figure this out, I count up how many paladins of each color I have. Whichever player has the most paladins in a region without a castle gets to build a castle. If there’s a tie, no castle is built. But if the Emperor stops in a territory where no one has control of the paladins, then no castle is built.
Taking Over My Opponent’s Territories
Holding onto a territory isn’t permanent. The control of a paladin color can switch from one player to another, or new paladins can be placed in a territory, which can change who controls it.
If the Emperor stops in a territory where there’s already a castle, we see who has the most paladins, including the castles as if they were paladins of the player who owns them.
So here’s the deal: if most people haven’t changed their minds about something or if it’s a draw, nothing changes and no castle gets built. You can’t add a castle to a place that already has one. But, if the majority in a place has switched, we take out all the old castles and put in new ones that belong to the new majority.
Let me show you a common situation in a game takeover. Take a look at figure 2. The black castle means that the black player controlled the territory last time the Emperor stopped there. The black player had control over the 2 green paladins, while the white player had control over the red one.
Now, let’s say the white player gains control of the green paladins in his court. That means he would have the majority in the territory, with 3 paladins compared to the black player’s castle. If the Emperor then stops there, the white player would claim the territory and replace the black castle with a white one.
Merging Territories
One of the most important things in this game is when a player builds castles in adjacent territories. When a player builds a castle in a territory, whether it’s a new castle or a takeover, and they already have castles in one or both of the adjacent territories, those adjacent territories with castles of the same color are merged into one big territory.
In this vast expanse lie the noble paladins and their mighty fortresses, once scattered across separate domains. When territories merge, they undergo no scrutiny for shifts in power — a perilous proposition for would-be conquerors.
Merged domains present a formidable challenge, boasting a collective strength that surpasses that of individual territories. This is due to the amalgamation of all castles within, each capable of wielding the power of a paladin. Naturally, such domains become highly coveted conquests. Once a merged territory falls into new hands, all the castles within are promptly transformed to bear the mark of the triumphant lord.
Once merged, a territory assumes an indissoluble unity, its boundaries forever merged. Within, the paladins and castles of old coexist, forming a new haven of strength.
When I merge territories, it’s like taking one big step. Instead of the usual two steps, moving the Emperor to a merged territory only takes one. It’s as if that merged territory is just a single territory. And you know what’s even more interesting? If I build a castle in a territory next to my merged territories, those territories merge even further! The result is an even bigger territory. It’s like a chain reaction of merging and expanding. Pretty cool, huh?
In figure 3, I’ve stopped in territory B. It used to belong to the black player, but now it’s mine (it’s actually the territory from figure 2 after I took it over).
Since I have castles on A and C, I decide to merge the three territories into one. I can fit them together in any way I want. The new territory now includes the 3 old territories, 6 paladins, and 3 castles, just like in figure 4.
Keep an Eye on Your Opponent’s Reserve Paladins
While playing the game, it’s important to pay attention to your opponent’s 7 reserve paladins. They represent their “potential” for their next turn. By keeping an eye on these paladins, you can improve your chances of success.
In this example, I want to show you the courts and reserve paladins of the two players. Look at Figure 5. Right now, the white player has control over the red paladins (7 to 6) and the pink paladins (8 to 5). On the other hand, the black player has control over the blue paladins (8 to 6), the yellow paladins (6 to 5), and the green paladins (5 to 3).
Now, it’s the white player’s turn. I can see that my control over the pink paladins is safe, for now. But there’s a problem with my control over the red paladins. The black player has 3 red paladins in his reserve, and he could use them to take over my 7 red paladins on his next turn.
Thankfully, I have a solution. I also have 2 red paladins in my reserve. I can add them to my court and increase my red paladin count to 9. This way, I can protect my control over the red paladins, at least for the time being.
But there’s more. I can also try to take control over the yellow paladins from the black player by adding 2 yellow paladins to my court. Now, the question is, which is better? Normally, it’s better to prioritize defense.
We’ve made things easier by leaving a small gap after every fifth cube. This makes counting much simpler for both players.
Taking the Offensive
Sometimes, it’s not enough to just defend yourself. When a game is nearing its conclusion, you might decide to take bold action and go on the offensive. This can be a risky move, but it also has the potential for a game-changing turnaround.
Check out Figure 6 to see a part of the game’s territories, which correspond to the courts seen in Figure 5. Let me tell you, the white player is not doing so well right now. The Emperor is hanging out at A. Meanwhile, the black player has scored two large territories at A and C, while the white player only has two small territories at B and D. Not a great situation for the white player, that’s for sure. If it were the black player’s turn, it would pretty much be game over.
Here’s why: the black player could move the Emperor to B (where they already have the majority, even with the white player’s castle) and combine A, B, and C into one massive territory with six black castles on top. Yikes! Luckily for the white player, it’s not the black player’s turn. The white player just played their third disc, so they have the chance to move the Emperor one, two, or three steps.
Moving just one step would be a death sentence, so the white player considers a temporary safe move by moving the Emperor three steps to D. But hold on a moment! The white player spots a better option. Check this out: the black player has a majority of nine to three at C, but here’s the catch – three of those are yellow paladins, which is actually a weakness. And guess what? The white player has three yellow paladins in reserve.
So, the white player brings two of their yellow paladins to the court, taking control of the yellow color. Then, they play their third yellow paladin at C and move the Emperor there. This ingenious move allows the white player to conquer the territory with a majority of seven to six (four yellow, two red, and one pink versus two green, one blue, and three castles)!
They remove those pesky three black castles and replace them with three fresh white castles. Now, they’ve connected B and D to C, turning a near-defeat into a big victory. The white player now commands a large territory of five castles. Talk about a comeback!
Game Over
The game comes to an end when a player has built 10 castles in the territories. That’s the winning condition! Alternatively, the game ends when there are less than 4 territories remaining on the table, which usually happens when territories have merged.
The winner is the player who has the most castles built in the territories at that moment.
Strategic Tips:
- Working Together: If your partner already has control of a particular color at their court, it’s best not to build any more castles of that color at your own court. Instead, consider building them in the territories.
- Playing Order: The order of play is even more crucial in a 4-player game compared to games with 2 or 3 players. In certain situations, having the right turn order can make all the difference. Sometimes, you might even have the chance to play four times in a row, going last in one turn and then first in the next.
- Stay on guard to protect your territories. When playing a game with four players, it’s easier for territories to be taken over. This is because more paladins are played in the territories and there is a higher chance of players in a partnership playing one after another.