Coal Baron Game Rules

Welcome to the Coal Baron game! I’m here to guide you through the rules so that you can start playing and having fun.

Let’s begin by understanding the objective of the game. In Coal Baron, the goal is to become the most successful coal mining magnate by managing your coal mines and fulfilling orders.

Now, let’s dive into the gameplay. The game is played over several rounds, and each round consists of three phases: planning, operation, and cleanup.

During the planning phase, you’ll select action tiles and place them onto your personal player board. These action tiles represent the actions you can take during the round.

Next comes the operation phase, where you’ll execute your chosen actions. You’ll send your workers to the mine, extract coal, fulfill orders, and earn victory points.

Finally, we have the cleanup phase. Here, you’ll remove any remaining action tiles from your player board and prepare for the next round.

Throughout the game, you must manage your resources wisely. You’ll need to balance the number of workers, amount of coal, and fulfill the orders efficiently to maximize your profits.

Keep an eye out for special action tiles and unique abilities that can give you an edge over your opponents. They can help you gain extra resources, block your opponents, or score additional victory points.

At the end of the game, the player with the most victory points wins and becomes the Coal Baron.

Remember, the key to success is careful planning, strategic decision-making, and efficient resource management. Good luck, and may your coal mines flourish!

Hey there! Step right into Essen, right at the brink of the 20th century. This is a fascinating time when the earth is rich with an abundance of coal, just waiting to be extracted! And guess what? You’re in charge of a coal mine, fulfilling contracts for different types of coal. Exciting, isn’t it?

Now, let me explain how this game works. You’ll need money to invest in coal carts and expand your tunnels as you dig for that precious coal. The contracts you receive will specify the exact type of coal they require. But here’s the catch: each type of coal is located in a different level of the mine. So, to access them all, you’ll have to keep expanding your tunnels, which, of course, costs even more money. Finances can be tight, my friend!

Here’s another thing to keep in mind: each coal mining company has a limited number of workers. And the later you assign a job, the more workers it will require to get the job done. So, you’ll have to be strategic about managing your team. When all the workers are exhausted, the shift is over. There are three shifts in total, and whoever racks up the most victory points by the end of it all is the winner.

The Game Components

Here’s everything you’ll find in the game box:

• 1 Game board
• 4 Pits
• 4 Shaft inlays
• 4 Pit cages
• 48 Tunnel tiles
• 44 Order cards
• 64 Coal cubes (16 of each of the 4 colors)
• 72 Workers (18 of each player color)
• 4 Victory Point markers (1 of each player color)
• 40 Bank notes (in the values of 1, 2, 5 Marks)
• 7 Lock tiles 1 Scoring marker
• 1 Starting Player marker 1 Shift hand

Now let’s take a look at the game board.

Pits

When I think about pits, the first thing that comes to mind is their association with negative experiences. Pits are often seen as deep, dark holes that we want to avoid. But have you ever stopped to consider that pits can also have positive aspects?

Pits, in a metaphorical sense, can represent challenges and obstacles in our lives. These challenges might seem daunting at first, like an endless pit, but they can also be opportunities for growth and learning. Pits force us to dig deep within ourselves, confront our fears, and find the strength to overcome them.

Furthermore, pits can be seen as a symbol of resilience and perseverance. When faced with a pit in our lives, we have a choice. We can either let it consume us, or we can rise above it. Pits can push us to our limits, testing our resolve and determination. And in the process, we discover just how strong we truly are.

Pits can also be a reminder of the importance of support and connection. When we find ourselves in a pit, we often turn to others for help and guidance. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or a mentor, having someone by our side can make all the difference. Together, we can navigate the depths of the pit and emerge stronger on the other side.

So, when you find yourself in a pit, don’t despair. Instead, embrace the challenge and view it as an opportunity for growth. Reach out for support, and remember that you are capable of overcoming anything that comes your way. Pits may seem daunting, but they can also be the catalyst for great change in our lives.

Setting Up the Game

First, I’ll need to carefully remove all the cardboard pieces from the punch boards before we start playing.

Now, let’s get the game board and place it in the middle of the table.

Next, we need to adjust the number of available Worker spaces based on the number of players we have. To do this, we’ll use Lock tiles to cover certain spaces on the Game board:

• If it’s a 2-player game, cover the four spaces marked “2” and the three spaces marked “2+3”.
• If it’s a 3-player game, cover the three spaces marked “2+3”.
• If it’s a 4-player game, no spaces need to be covered.

Lastly, we need to create a general supply of Coal cubes and Bank notes. Make sure to separate the Bank notes by their values.

First, we’ll prepare the game board. We start by shuffling all the Tunnel tiles and placing them face-down next to the Game board as a stack. Then, we take one tile from the stack at random and place it face up on each available Tunnel tile space in the Minecart factory.

Next, we set up the Shift Clock. We place the Shift hand on the leftmost hand outline, pointing to the circle space marked “I”. Then, we place the Scoring marker on the leftmost circle space of the Shift Clock.

Now, it’s time for each player to choose their color and receive their items. Each player gets their own Pit, which is indicated by the color of the icons. They also receive a Shaft inlay, which goes in the middle of their Pit, and a Pit cage, which goes on the Shaft at the Surface level. Finally, each player takes four Coal cubes from the general supply – one brown, one gray, one yellow, and one black. These Coal cubes are placed on the Minecart of their corresponding color in their Pit.

When playing the game, the number of workers each player receives will vary based on the number of players. Here’s how it works:

In a game with two players, each player starts with 18 Workers. In a game with three players, each player starts with 15 Workers. And in a game with four players, each player starts with 13 Workers. Any leftover Workers should be returned to the box. Each player will then place their Workers to the left of their Pit at the Surface level. This will be their personal Worker supply.

Next, place each player’s Victory Point marker on the “0/100” space of the score track.

Now, depending on the number of players, each player will receive a specific amount of Marks as starting capital from the general Bank note supply. In a game with two players, each player will receive 10 Marks. In a game with three players, each player will receive 9 Marks. And in a game with four players, each player will receive 8 Marks.

Finally, it’s time to determine the Starting Player. Give the Starting Player marker to the player who will go first.

To set up the game, I start by shuffling all the Order cards and placing them face-down next to the Game board. The Order cards determine the tasks we need to complete in the game. Depending on how many people are playing, I draw a specific number of Order cards and display them face up below the Game board. In a 2-player game, I reveal 7 Order cards. In a 3-player game, I reveal 10 Order cards. And in a 4-player game, I reveal 13 Order cards.

Now it’s time for each player to choose their initial Order cards. Starting with the player to the right of the Starting Player, we each take turns picking 1 Order card from the cards displayed. We continue this process until each player has 3 Order cards. We place these cards face up to the right of our Pits in our Outstanding Orders area.

Finally, I place any remaining cards that were not chosen by any player onto one of the four Order spaces on the Game board. These cards represent additional tasks that may become available later in the game.

Finally, I’m going to tell you what to do with the other 3 Order spaces on the Game board – fill them up with Order cards from the stack. Remember, for a 2-player game, you’ll leave the leftmost Order space empty because it’s blocked with a Lock tile.

Playing the Game

We’ll play Coal Baron in 3 rounds called Shifts. Each Shift starts with the current Starting Player and then goes around clockwise. When it’s your turn, you get to do 1 action. Just place your Workers on a Worker space of your choice.

The Shift ends once everyone has placed their Workers on the Game board. Then we’ll do a scoring for that Shift.

After the first and second Shifts, all Workers go back to their owners. Then we start a new Shift. The game ends after the third Shift.

The player who has the most Victory Points (VPs) wins the game.

What You Do on Your Turn

When it’s my turn, I get to choose a Worker space on the Game board. But here’s the catch – I can only choose a space if I can actually do what that space allows. If the space is empty, I have to take one of my workers and put it there, and then I get to do the action associated with that space.

But what if there’s already some workers on that space? Well, I have to remove them all and put them in the Canteen. Then, I can take as many workers from my supply as I removed, plus one more, and put them all on the Worker space. And of course, after that, I get to do the action of that space.

If you can’t do what a Worker space requires or don’t have enough Workers to replace the existing ones, you have to pick a different Worker space. The Canteen is like a waiting area for used Workers. It can hold any number of Workers, no matter what color they are. If you don’t want to or can’t choose a Worker space, you have to place one of your Workers from your supply onto the Bank. The Bank is the building below the green “Money” Worker spaces. In return, you get one Mark from the general Bank note supply. Just like the Canteen, the Bank can hold any number of Workers, no matter the color. After you perform the action of the Worker space you chose, it’s the next player’s turn. If you run out of Workers in your supply, your turn is skipped for the rest of the Shift.

Hey there! Let’s talk about the different types of Worker spaces you’ll encounter on the Game board. There are 5 in total, each with its own unique action:

1. Build a Factory for Minecarts

(get 1 Tunnel Tile and add it to the Pit)

When you put your worker(s) in a space at the Minecarts factory, you have to pay money to get the Tunnel tile connected to that space. The amount of money you need to return to the Bank depends on the color and number (1 or 2) of Minecarts on the tile:

• If you want to buy a yellow Minecart, it will cost you 1 Mark.
• If you want to buy a brown Minecart, it will cost you 2 Marks.
• If you want to buy a gray Minecart, it will cost you 3 Marks.
• If you want to buy a black Minecart, it will cost you 4 Marks.

Important: This Worker space is a bit different. When you place your Worker(s) here, you need to take the top 5 Tunnel tiles from the face-down stack.

You get to choose 1 Tunnel tile from those 5 and pay the regular costs for the Minecarts on that tile.

After that, you have to return the remaining 4 tiles face down. You can put them back in any order you want, either at the top or at the bottom of the stack. You can even return all 5 tiles to the top or bottom, and not get a Tunnel tile at all. But remember, this still counts as a full action.

Once you have the Tunnel tile, you want to put a Coal cube of the same color on each of its Minecarts right away. Take the Coal cubes from the general supply and place them on the Minecarts. Then, put the Tunnel tile in your Pit. Remember, when you add the Tunnel tile:

• Choose a color for your tunnel tile (yellow, brown, gray, black).
• Decide if you want to be on the “Light” side or the “Dark” side of the tunnel. The “Light” side has lanterns, while the “Dark” side does not have any lanterns.

After you take your turn, if you got the Tunnel tile from the Minecarts factory, put another Tunnel tile in the empty space from the face-down stack of tiles.

Remember: Minecarts don’t get filled again. You can only get new Coal by getting new Tunnel tiles.

2. Mining

Hey there! Let’s talk about mining. It’s all about getting coal from your pit to fulfill your orders. When you put your workers on a “Mining” space, you can start extracting coal from your pit and prepare it for delivery. The number shown on the worker space tells you how many work steps you can take. You don’t have to use all of them if you don’t need to.

Now, let’s go over the different work steps:

1. Move your pit cage down and stop at any tunnel level.
2. Move your pit cage up and stop at any tunnel level or back on the surface.

It’s as simple as that! Keep in mind that each of these moves counts as one work step. So choose your moves wisely and make the most out of your mining journey!

When I’m in the Tunnel level with my Pit cage, I can take 1 Coal cube from any Minecart at that level and place it on one of the 5 free spots in my Pit cage.

When my Pit cage is at the Surface level, I can move 1 Coal cube from my Pit cage to an Order card in my Outstanding Orders area. I place it on a free Order spot that matches the color of the Coal cube. Remember: Instead of the requested color, I can also use 2 Coal cubes (of the same or different colors) on the Order spot. However, this still requires 2 work steps to move the 2 Coal cubes from my Pit cage to the Order spot.

Note: It’s important to remember that once you place Coal cubes on an Order card, you can’t move them to other Order spots later!

So, let’s look at how you can move your Coal cubes around in the game:

1. First, if you want to vacate a spot in your Pit cage but don’t have a suitable Order card in your Outstanding Orders area, you can still make a move. Just transfer 1 Coal cube from your Pit cage to your Private Coal storage. You can do this as many times as you like, and there’s no limit to the number of Coal cubes you can store in your Private Coal storage.
2. If you have a suitable Order card in your Outstanding Orders area, you can move 1 Coal cube from your Private Coal storage to that card. The same rules apply as when moving a cube from your Pit cage to an Order card.

3. Delivery

Now that all the orders have been completed, it’s time to deliver them. This is the exciting part, where the fruits of our labor are finally enjoyed by the customers.

Delivery is a crucial step in the process. It’s not just about physically getting the products to the customers; it’s also about providing a positive experience that leaves a lasting impression.

When it comes to delivery, there are a few key factors to consider. First, it’s important to ensure that the products are packaged securely and arrive in good condition. This means using appropriate packaging materials and taking extra care to protect fragile items.

Secondly, timing is essential. Customers expect their orders to be delivered in a timely manner. It’s crucial to set realistic delivery deadlines and communicate them clearly to the customers. This helps manage expectations and avoid disappointment.

Another important aspect of delivery is communication. Keeping customers informed about the progress of their orders can go a long way in building trust and credibility. This can be done through order tracking systems or regular updates via email or SMS.

Lastly, customer service plays a vital role in delivery. A friendly and helpful delivery person can enhance the overall experience for the customers. They should be trained to handle any queries or concerns professionally and efficiently.

By focusing on these factors, we can ensure that the delivery process is smooth and enjoyable for both the customers and the business. Providing a positive and memorable delivery experience can help foster customer loyalty and drive repeat business.

When you put your Worker(s) on a “Delivery” Worker space, you have to deliver all Orders that:

1. have the same type of vehicle as shown on that Worker space

When all the Order spots are filled with Coal cubes, you can choose a “Delivery” worker space. But you have to be able to deliver at least 1 completed Order for that vehicle. It’s important to keep this in mind.

For every Order you deliver, you will earn Victory Points (VPs), as shown on the top of the card. You can track your VPs by moving your marker on the Score track.

Once you have delivered an Order, remove it from your Outstanding Orders and return the Coal cubes to the supply. Don’t forget to keep the delivered Order cards in front of you, face down. You will need them later for Shift scoring.

4. Getting Money

(Getting Some Bank Notes)

When I put my Worker(s) on a “Getting Money” Worker space, I get the amount of Marks shown on that space. (I need money to buy Tunnel tiles at the Minecart factory).

5. New Order

When I put my worker(s) on an “Order” space, I get to take 1 Order Card. This card goes into my Outstanding Orders pile. I can have as many Order cards in my Outstanding Orders as I want.

After I take the Order card, I need to fill the empty Worker space on the Game board with a new face-up Order card. I do this by drawing a card from the face-down stack.

Hey there! Let me tell you how this Worker space works in a way that’s easy to understand.

When you place your Worker(s) here, you get the top 5 Order cards from the face-down stack. Out of those 5 cards, pick 1 Order card that you like and place it face up in your Outstanding Order area.

After that, you have a choice. You can return the remaining 4 cards to the stack in any order you want – either at the top or at the bottom. You can even decide to return all 5 cards if you don’t like any of them. Don’t worry, it still counts as a complete action.

End of a Shift

When all players have used up their Workers, the Shift ends and it’s time for a Shift scoring. We use something called the Shift Clock to help us with that. The Shift Clock has 12 elements in total. Every Shift, we score more elements than before:

When I started playing the game, I noticed something interesting. After the first Shift, I realized that only the first 4 elements of the Shift Clock get scored. It got me thinking about how this rule affects my strategy and approach to the game.

So, after the second Shift, here’s the deal: we’re gonna score the first 8 elements. It’s pretty simple, really.

Once I finish the third shift, I score all 12 elements. To score Shift, I need to reveal all the Order cards I delivered and put them in a row in front of me. Only the delivered Orders count for this scoring; any outstanding Orders to the right of my Pit do not count for Shift.

According to the elements on the Shift clock, I’ll distribute Victory Points (VPs) for majorities. I’ll start with the VPs of the first element, as indicated by the position of the Scoring marker. Then, I’ll move the Scoring marker to the circle space of the next element and distribute its VPs. This process continues until the Scoring marker reaches the position where the Shift hand is pointing, marking the last element scored for that Shift.

For the first 4 elements, Coal majorities will be rewarded with VPs.

So, here’s the thing. I want to talk to you about the four elements and how they can help you get more Coal majorities. You know, those things that are delivered to you through a certain Vehicle. Let me break it down for you.

Hey there! Let me explain something cool about Minecraft. You know those Minecarts you can ride around? Well, did you know that there are some special elements in the game that can give you extra rewards when you collect them?

There are four elements in Minecraft that give you rewards when you have empty Minecarts. This means that there can’t be any Coal cubes on the Minecarts when you collect these elements. Let me tell you about them:

• The third element gives the most rewards. When you have empty Minecarts, it will give you the most points in the game.
• The fourth element rewards you with a good amount of points. It’s a great element to collect if you want to score more in the game.
• The fifth element gives you a decent amount of points. It’s not as much as the third and fourth elements, but it’s still worth collecting.
• The sixth element gives you the least amount of points. It’s still good to collect because every point counts in the game!

So, if you’re playing Minecraft and you see any of these elements, make sure to collect them with your empty Minecarts. They will give you extra rewards and help you score higher in the game. Have fun exploring and collecting!

When there is a tie for any element majority:

If there is a tie for first place: Both players who tied get the VP reward for first place. The VP reward for second place is not given in this case.

If there is a tie for second place: All players who tied get the VP reward for second place.

Special rule for a game with only 2 players:

In a 2-player game, there is no VP reward for second place when scoring any element. Only the VP reward for first place is given. However, players can only score Victory Points for elements of which they have at least 1 delivered Order.

Once all Victory Points from the Shift scoring have been distributed, it’s time to prepare for the next Shift.

1. I’ll start by giving the Starting Player marker to the player who has the most Workers on Worker spaces in the Minecarts factory. If there’s a tie, I’ll give the marker to the tied player who is sitting closest to the Starting Player of the previous Shift in a clockwise direction. (If the Starting Player of the previous Shift is part of the tie, they won’t remain the Starting Player).
2. Next, I’ll return the Scoring marker to the leftmost circle space of the Shift Clock. Then, I’ll place the Shift hand on the next hand to the right so that it points at the circle space with the next highest Shift number (II/III).
3. Now, it’s time to put all the Order cards that you delivered and revealed for the Shift scoring face down in front of you. Don’t worry, you’ll need them again for the next Shift scoring.
4. Take all your Workers off the Game board and put them on the left side of your Pit to use later.

The next Shift starts with the player who has the Starting Player marker.

Game End

The game ends after the scoring of the 3rd Shift.

Now, convert the Bank notes and Coal cubes you have left into Victory Points:

• For every 5 Marks you return to the Bank, you get 1 VP. (Keep any extra Marks as a tiebreaker).
• For every 3 Coal cubes, you get 1 VP. (It doesn’t matter what color they are or where they are: in the Pit, Pit cage, Private Coal storage, or Outstanding Orders).

Hello there! Today, I want to talk to you about a topic that I find quite interesting – HTML markup. Have you ever heard of it? It might sound complicated, but don’t worry, I’ll break it down for you in a simple and engaging way.

So, what exactly is HTML markup? In basic terms, it’s a set of instructions that tells a web browser how to display a web page. It’s like a secret code that web developers use to create the websites you see every day.

Now, let’s imagine you have a text document. In this document, you can use different tags to format your content. These tags give specific instructions on how to display the text. For example, the “” tag makes the text bold, while the “” tag makes it italic.

In HTML, it works the same way, but instead of formatting plain text, we’re formatting web pages. We use tags to structure the content and give it meaning. For example, the “

” tag indicates a heading, while the “

” tag is used for paragraphs. It helps browsers understand how the different parts of the page fit together.

But why is HTML markup important? Well, without it, the web would be a pretty chaotic place. Imagine trying to read an article online without any paragraphs or headings. It would be a jumbled mess!

By using HTML markup, we can bring order and structure to web pages. It allows us to create user-friendly websites that are easy to navigate and understand. It’s like a language that computers and web browsers speak, helping us communicate our ideas and information effectively.

Now, if you’re wondering how to check if your HTML markup is working correctly, it’s actually quite simple. Just save your HTML file and open it in a web browser. If everything displays as intended, then congratulations! Your HTML markup is spot on. But if something looks off, you might need to go back and double-check your code.

So, there you have it – a brief introduction to HTML markup. It may seem a bit confusing at first, but with practice and patience, you’ll be able to create amazing websites in no time. Just remember to have fun and let your creativity shine!

When you have Orders left in your Outstanding Orders area, you will lose 1 Victory Point for each Order card. This means that your Victory Point marker on the Score track will move backwards. It’s important to take this into account!

Next, you need to check the balance of your Pit’s Tunnel. Take a look:

I want to emphasize something important about balancing your Pit when playing this game. It’s not just about having an equal number of Tunnel tiles on the “Light” and “Dark” sides; you also need to consider the total number of Tunnel tiles on each side, regardless of the levels. Let me explain further.

First, let’s talk about the consequences of having a Tunnel imbalance. If one side of your Pit has more Tunnel tiles than the other side, you will lose Victory Points. Specifically, for each Tunnel tile that one side has in excess of the other side, you will lose 2 VPs. So, it’s crucial to maintain a balanced number of Tiles on both sides.

Now, when it comes to determining the winner of the game, it’s quite simple. The player with the most Victory Points in total wins. However, if there’s a tie in terms of Victory Points, we have a tiebreaker.

The first tiebreaker is the number of Marks left. If two or more players have the same number of Victory Points, the player with the most Marks left wins. And even if there’s still a tie after considering the Marks, victory is shared among the tied players. So, make sure to keep an eye on those Marks throughout the game.

Additional Notes:

• Remember, you can’t hide your money. Keep it visible to all players.
• Don’t worry about running out of Bank notes. If the supply runs out, you can keep track of the money using a different method, like writing it down on paper.

As the game progresses in “Coal Country,” there are a few important rules to keep in mind. First, if we run out of Tunnel tiles or Order cards, we don’t refill them – they stay empty.

Next, when you acquire a Tunnel tile, you may not have enough Coal cubes of the right color to fill the Minecarts on that tile. If that’s the case, you can place a Coal cube of any color onto each Minecart that you can’t fill properly. This won’t affect the cost of the tile.

With these rules, you’ll be able to navigate the game smoothly and enjoy the strategic challenges it offers.