Welcome to the Ex Libris Game Rules!

Hey there! I’m excited to introduce you to the fascinating world of Ex Libris. Are you ready to dive in and explore this captivating game with me? Great! Let’s begin!

Setting Up the Game

Before we start our literary adventure, we need to set up the game first. Don’t worry, it’s super easy!

First, you and your fellow players must choose a library card. Each card represents a unique character, so pick the one that resonates with you the most. Once everyone has chosen their card, it’s time to lay out the library tiles and arrange the books on them. Make sure to follow the setup guide included in the rulebook.

How to Play

Now that we’re all set up, it’s time to unleash our librarian skills and create the most impressive library the world has ever seen!

On your turn, you have two options. You can either:

1. Add a book to your library
2. Arrange the books in your library

When you add a book to your library, you must choose one of the 3 book cards available and place it on an empty spot in your library. But be careful! Each book card has specific requirements, so make sure you meet those demands, or you might face penalties.

If you decide to arrange your books, you can strategically reposition them in your library to create spine-tingling alphabetical order! Organizing your books effectively is crucial to scoring points and winning the game, so choose your placements wisely.

Mastering the Game

As you play the game, you’ll come across arcane characters known as town cards. These cards can provide you with special abilities that can turn the tide in your favor! Don’t underestimate the power of the town cards; they can be the key to your victory.

Throughout the game, you’ll also encounter quirky assistants who can lend you a helping hand. These assistants bring their unique skills to the table, so make use of them wisely, my friend.

The Scoring

The game consists of three rounds, and at the end of each round, you’ll score points based on the books in your library and any special scoring conditions mentioned on the round cards. Be attentive to the round cards, as they might hide some surprises!

Conclusion

And that’s all you need to know to embark on your Ex Libris adventure! Remember, as a librarian, you have the power to create the most magnificent library. So, gather your books, unleash your imagination, and show the world the wonders hidden within the shelves of your library! Have fun!

Welcome to Ex Libris! I’m delighted to have you here. In this fantastical town, I play the role of a book collector. It’s an exciting role that involves hunting for rare and valuable books. Recently, the Mayor made a big announcement. They declared that a new seat in the Village Council will be awarded to the citizen with the most extraordinary library. It’s a highly prestigious and lucrative position, and I have my eyes set on it!

Of course, I’m not the only one competing for this prestigious title. There are quite a few book collectors who are also vying for the same recognition. Some of them are my colleagues, though I hesitate to call them friends.

If I want to stand out and outshine my competition, I need to expand my personal bookshelf. My trusty assistants are ready to help me in this endeavor. They will venture out into the village, searching high and low for the most impressive books. However, these exceptional books are not easy to come by. They are rare gems, and I must be quick to acquire them before my opponents snatch them up.

It’s not just a race against time; it’s a race against my rivals. To gain an edge, I must be vigilant and know the secret focus of my library. When a book that aligns with my library’s focus appears, I must act swiftly to claim it.

You’ve got limited time before the Mayor’s Inspector arrives to evaluate your bookshelf, so make sure your helpers organize your books quickly! The Inspector is no pushover – she’ll use her official checklist to judge your library on different criteria like alphabetical order, stability, famous books, and diversity. And don’t even think about hiding banned books from her! To outshine your opponents and become the Grand Librarian, you’ll need clever strategies, tactical moves, and maybe even a little bit of magic!

Here’s how to set up the game:

1. Put the town board in the middle of the table and have the Official Library Inspection Form ready nearby (not shown).

2. Find the tile called Diviner’s Hut and place it face up below the town board. Then, take the other 17 tiles, shuffle them, and put them face down in a stack next to the town board.

First things first – give the player who last got a book the first player token. It’s their moment to shine!

Next, grab those library tiles and shuffle them up – you’re going to need them. Every player gets two, but make sure you go in reverse order from the first player. Choose a tile, then say goodbye to one by discarding it from the game.

Here’s a little tip for beginners: just give each player one library tile. They’ll find the basic ones on the flip side. More info on that is on page 19, so make sure to check it out.

Now it’s time to pick your team! Grab an assistant that matches your library from the set of 12 special assistants. Don’t forget to grab two standard assistants shaped like gnomes, in whatever color tickles your fancy. Just a heads up – there might be some leftover standard assistants, but those are only used in beginner and solo games.

Beginners, this one’s for you – take three standard assistants in the color of your choice.

Let’s get started by shuffling the six category cards. Take one and place it face up on the Prominent Works space of the town board. Then, take another one and place it face up on the Banned Books space of the town board.

Now, let’s deal one of the remaining category cards to each player. This card will determine the focus of their library. Keep your own category card a secret by sliding it underneath the right-hand side of your library tile. Remember, you can check your category card at any time. Put the rest of the category cards back in the box.

Next, we need to shuffle the 152 book cards. Mix them up really well, and then deal six cards to each player. These will be your starting hand. Place the remaining book cards in two equal stacks near the board, where everyone can reach them. These stacks will be the deck.

The Elements of the Game

Let’s talk about the different parts that make up Ex Libris. Understanding these elements is crucial for playing the game successfully!

How a Turn Works

Playing Ex Libris involves going through four phases, always in the same order. Let’s take a look at each of these phases:

1. The Preparation Phase
2. The Placement Phase
3. The Resolution Phase
4. The Cleanup Phase

I. The Preparation Phase

Before starting a round, the first player will reveal location tiles from the stack and place them face up below the town board. There should be one tile per player. In the first round, there will be one less tile than the number of players, as the Diviner’s Hut location is already present.

Now, let’s see if any of the face-up locations have preparation instructions in their upper right corner. These instructions will tell you how many cards to deal onto the card area on the right side of the tile. Follow the instructions carefully. If more than one card is dealt onto the tile, arrange them vertically so that you can see the important information on each card.

II. The Placement Phase

It’s time to start placing our assistants. We will take turns, starting with the first player and going clockwise. On your turn, you can place one of your available assistants on an unoccupied space. There are two options:

1. You can place your assistant on a location tile, either on or below the town board.
2. You can place your assistant on your own library tile.

Hey there! Let’s talk about the importance of choosing the right assistant for your needs. It’s crucial to consider various factors when looking for the perfect assistant to help you out. But don’t worry, I’m here to guide you through it!

A. Placing On A Location Tile

When you place your assistant on a location tile, something interesting happens. Depending on the tile, you might activate its Instant Effect right away. Just follow the effect summary text on the tile, and boom! Instant action!

But wait, what if the location has a Delayed Effect? Well, in that case, you’ll need to wait until the second half of the round, during the Resolution Phase, to activate it. Patience is key!

Location Tile Anatomy

Let’s take a closer look at the location tile itself. It has different parts that make it unique. You’ve got the title, the effect summary, and the artwork. All of these elements work together to create a captivating experience.

So, remember, when you’re choosing an assistant, take into account the location tiles they’ll be placed on. Understanding how the tiles function will help you make the best decisions. Happy assistant hunting!

Hey there! Let me break down what you can find on different location tiles. Now, not all location tiles have the Preparation Instructions, Card Area, and Solo Compatibility sections, but here’s what you’ll typically see:

1 Number – This is a number used in the second half of the round. It helps with gameplay.

2 Name & Effect Type – The tile will either have an Instant Effect (green banner) or a Delayed Effect (red banner). It’s important to know which type you’re dealing with.

3 Preparation Instructions – This section gives you instructions on how to set up the tile at the start of a round. Make sure to follow these steps!

4 Card Area – During the Preparation Phase, this is where you’ll deal cards. Keep an eye on this area.

5 Assistant Spaces – There are 1 to 4 spaces where assistants can visit. This is where they do their thing!

6 Effect Summary Text – This is a brief description of what the effect does. It’s good to know what to expect.

7 Solo Compatibility – If you see this icon, it means the location can be used in a solo game. Turn to page 19 for more details.

Remember: Some of the locations on the board have spaces that you can’t use if there are fewer than four players. You can’t place an assistant on a space with a number higher than the number of players.

B. Putting Your Assistant on Your Library Tile

Your library tile has three special spots that only your assistants can visit. When you put an assistant on one of these spots, you can choose to either:

1. Take a card from the deck -or-
2. Put one of your cards on the shelf

Your Library Tile Explained

When you’re browsing through library tiles, you’ll come across a wealth of information. Each tile provides valuable details that can help you make informed decisions:

1. Reference Bookmark: This tells you the quantity of each letter across the entire book card deck.
2. Name: This is what the library is called.
3. Library Focus: Your category card is tucked under this reminder image.
4. Assistant Spaces: You have 3 spaces where your assistants can visit.
5. Solo Compatibility: If this icon is present, the library may be used in a solo game (see page 19).
6. Home Action Summary: Take a look at the options available for home actions.
7. Special Assistant Summary: Get a quick summary of your special assistant’s unique ability.

The Resolution Phase

Once all the assistants have been placed, it’s time for the Resolution Phase to begin. This is when we’ll work through each location, starting with the Diviner’s Hut.

Resolving a location involves a few steps:

1. If the location has a Delayed Effect, it’s time to activate it. Just follow the instructions on the tile to see what happens.
2. Discard any remaining cards that are still on the location.
3. Return all the assistants on the location back to their respective players.

IV. The Cleanup Phase

So, here’s what you gotta do: once all the locations are sorted out, you need to check which tile below the town board comes first in order. Take that tile and move it to the bottom half of the board, in the spot labeled Permanent Locations. That tile will be up for grabs every round until the game ends. Easy peasy, right? (Just to give you an example, at the end of the first round, the Diviner’s Hut will be the first in order, so it’ll always be available).

Just a heads up: The Permanent Locations don’t count towards the number of tiles dealt at the start of each Preparation Phase. This means that every round, you’ll have one more location tile available compared to the previous round. Pretty cool, huh?

Now, take the rest of the location tiles from this round and put them aside. Keep them face up in a pile. If you ever run out of location tiles, just shuffle all the ones that were discarded and make a new pile with them, face down. And you’re good to go!

Finally, let’s remove any assistants still hanging around in their designated spots and see if anyone has enough books on their bookshelves to start the Final Round. The number of books needed depends on how many people are playing:

When we haven’t reached the Final Round yet, we begin a new round during the Preparation Phase.

Once the Final Round is triggered, we start a new round, which happens to be the last one. After the Resolution Phase, the player with the best handwriting becomes the Mayor’s Official Inspector. They will use Official Library Inspection Form B-7c and follow each step on the form to calculate scores.

It’s important to remember that, before the inspection, you have the option to flip any card in your bookshelf if you think it will give you a better outcome.

We also have an Alphabetical Order Check to make sure everything is in order.

First things first, let’s check out the bookshelf of the person sitting to our right. We’ll start with the card on the left side of the top row and move our way to the right. If we find a card that doesn’t come after the one before it in both alphabetical and numerical order, we need to flip it.

Counting Categories

Now it’s time for the Official Inspector to announce each of the six categories, one by one. After each category is called out, we have to count how many books on our bookshelf match that category and share our total with everyone. The Official Inspector will keep track of these totals.

Examining Shelf Stability

To earn some extra points, we need to find the largest group of cards in our bookshelf that includes cards on the bottom row. Each card in this group will give us 1 point. But remember, the group has to be both at least two cards tall and two cards wide.

Achieving Prestigious Awards

When I’m playing the game, the Official Inspector goes through the row in the categorical tally section that matches the category card dealt to the Prominent Works space on the town board. The person who comes in first place in that row gets 15 points, second place gets 9 points, and third place gets 4 points. If there’s a tie between two or more players, we add the award for the tied place to the next lowest place (if there is one) and split the total as evenly as we can, rounding up.

Now Let’s Talk About Banned Books

Here’s how it works: the Official Inspector draws a zig-zag line around the row in the categorical tally section that matches the category card dealt to the Banned Books space on the town board. Each player gets a -1 point penalty for every banned book they have in their bookshelf.

But Wait, There’s More!

Hey there! Let me break down the scoring process for you. First off, the Official Inspector checks which category each player has the fewest books in, excluding Banned Books. They then multiply that number by 3 to calculate the variety bonus. Simple enough, right?

Time to Focus

Now it’s time for everyone to reveal their category card. Here’s where things get interesting. For every book on your shelf that matches your library’s focus, you score a sweet 2 points. So make sure to show off your impressive collection in your chosen category!

Adding it All Up

Okay, we’re almost there. The Official Inspector goes player by player, adding up all the figures in section B. This is where your overall score comes together.

Tiebreakers… just in case

And there you have it! The player with the highest score takes home the victory. But if there’s a tie, we’ve got you covered. We’ve got a few tiebreakers up our sleeve to determine the ultimate winner. Exciting stuff!