Medina Game Rules

Welcome to the world of Medina, where imagination and strategy collide! In this game, players are transported to a vibrant city in which they must compete to build magnificent structures and gain victory points. As you delve into the intricacies of Medina, keep in mind these key rules:

1. Placing Buildings

In Medina, you have the power to place buildings strategically to create an awe-inspiring cityscape. When it’s your turn, choose a building from the supply and add it to an area of your choice on the game board. Remember, buildings of the same color must be placed in adjacent areas, so plan your moves carefully!

2. Securing Buildings

While constructing your city, it’s important to secure your buildings from the grasp of your opponents. Once you place a building, you can protect it by surrounding it with walls. Walls keep your buildings safe and give you control over the enclosed area.

3. Gaining Victory Points

Victory points are your ticket to triumph in Medina. As you build your city, keep a close eye on the scoring conditions. Different buildings and areas on the game board offer unique scoring opportunities, so meandering through the city with purpose is the key to success. The player with the most victory points at the end of the game wins!

4. Balancing Risk and Reward

In Medina, every decision is a balancing act between risk and reward. Do you place a building now to secure a prime location, or wait for a better opportunity? Will you invest in walls to protect your buildings or focus on constructing more magnificent structures? The choices you make will shape the destiny of your city and determine your fate in the game.

Now that you’re familiar with the basic rules of Medina, embark on your journey and revel in the excitement of building a remarkable city! Make strategic decisions, outwit your opponents, and may your imagination soar as you create a city that will stand the test of time!

Let’s go back in time to the year 1822. The medina, situated at the base of the majestic Atlas mountains, has fallen into disrepair. It’s time to rebuild this historic city, and that’s where I come in. With your help, we can bring the medina back to life, one step at a time.

Together, we will work tirelessly to construct magnificent palaces and restore the crumbling city wall. As we put in our efforts, something amazing begins to happen – the once deserted alleys bustle with life once again. The medina is transforming before our very eyes!

What’s Included

• I will need 1 game board which has 2 sides – one for 2 players and the other for 3-4 players.
• There are 4 tower tiles included.
• I will find 4 palace tiles.
• There are 6 tea tiles.
• The game also includes 80 buildings, with 20 in each of the 4 colors.
• There are 16 rooftops, 4 in each player’s color.
• I will find 12 stables along with the other components.
• The game includes 31 merchants.
• I will also find 36 walls.
• There are 4 towers included in the game.
• Lastly, there is a well included.
• Each player will have their own screen in their respective color.
• To keep track of scores, a score block is included.

Setup

Here’s how you set up the game:

1. Place the game board in the middle of the table. If you’re playing with 3-4 players, use the side with the large game area, which has 11×16 squares. If you’re playing with 2 players, use the side with the smaller game area, which has 10×14 squares.

2. The four white towers go on the four corners of the city wall. Make sure to place the corresponding tower tiles next to each tower.

I’m going to explain how to set up the board game Carcassonne step by step. It’s a game where players take turns placing tiles to create a city. Here are the instructions:

3. Find a spot inside the city where you want to start. Make sure it’s not too close to the edge.

4. On the tile with the number 1, place three merchants on the towers. On the tile with the number 2, put two merchants on the towers. Finally, place one merchant on the tower with the number 3.

5. Put one merchant in a random spot inside the city. Just make sure it’s not too close to the edge.

Here’s what you need to do to set up the game:

1. Start by placing the four palace tiles in a row at the top of the game board.

2. Then, take the six tea tiles and stack them face up next to the top left space on the game board.

3. Each player will need a player screen and the following wooden pieces:

• If there are 2 players:
• Each player will get 8 buildings of each color (32 in total).
• They will also receive 4 rooftops in their playing color, 4 stables, 12 merchants, and 15 walls.
• Both players will get 2 rooftops in a third color, so each player will have 6 rooftops in total.
• For example, Player A (red) will have four red and two yellow rooftops, while Player B (blue) will have four blue and two yellow rooftops.
• If there are 3 players:
• Each player will receive 6 buildings of each color (24 in total).
• They will also get 4 rooftops in their playing color, 4 stables, 8 merchants, and 12 walls.
• Additionally, each player will receive 1 rooftop in the remaining color.

In the game, you and three other players will each have 20 buildings – 5 of each color. You’ll also have 4 rooftops, 3 stables, 6 merchants, and 9 walls. These will be kept hidden behind your player screen, except for the rooftops, which will be placed in front of the screen. Any unused game pieces should be put back in the box.

To start the game, choose a player to go first. The goal of the game is to collect four palaces, one of each color. Each palace is made up of one or more buildings. The bigger the palace, the more points it will be worth at the end of the game. You can earn extra points by bordering the city wall, having stables, and being next to a market street or well. The player with the most points wins.

Now let’s talk about how the game is played.

When we start playing the game, it’s my turn first. Once I take my turn, the next player goes, following the order of play going clockwise.

During my turn, I get to place two of my wooden pieces, like buildings, rooftops, stables, merchants, or walls, on any empty space on the board. Then, it’s the next player’s turn.

The two pieces I place can be any type, whether they’re the same or different. They can also be any color, regardless of whether they’re the same or different.

• 2 Player Game: In a game with only two players, I only place one wooden piece during my first turn.
• 3 or 4 Player Game: In a game with three or four players, the first two players only place one wooden piece during their first turn.

Buildings

Buildings are like the building blocks for palaces. A palace is made up of several buildings that are all the same color, and there are also stables. We all work together to build the palaces. When a palace doesn’t have a rooftop, it doesn’t belong to any specific player.

The first building of a palace can go anywhere on the board that is empty. But you can only start a new palace if there isn’t already a palace of that color starting to form on the board. Also, if all the palaces of that color already have a rooftop or can’t expand anymore, then you can start a new palace.

If there’s already a palace of the same color without a rooftop, and you have a building of that color, you have to build next to that palace. This means your building needs to be placed on a space that is next to it. The palace can get really big if there are lots of buildings of the same color right next to each other.

When it comes to two palaces, they must always be separated, with at least one empty space between them in any direction – horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. This rule ensures that there’s always room for a pathway between the palaces.

Sometimes, due to space limitations, it might not be possible to build a new building adjacent to an existing palace. In such cases, you have the option to start a new palace by using that building. Simply place it on any empty space within the walls of the board, and a new palace of the same color will be formed.

If you happen to take control of a palace by placing a rooftop on it (see ‘Rooftops’), you won’t be able to add any new buildings to that palace anymore. However, if you play another building of the same color, a brand new palace will be established.

The Rooftop Dilemma: Where Can I Build?

So, you’ve decided to join the world of construction! But wait, where are you allowed to build your masterpiece? Let me guide you through the rooftop maze!

Imagine you have an orange building in your hands. You have three green spots you can choose from to place your building. These spots are specially marked just for you. Unfortunately, the red spots are a no-go. Those areas are too close to another building, just like yours, and that’s against the rules. Steer clear of those!

Oh, and don’t forget about the spaces on the wall. They’re off-limits for construction purposes. You won’t be able to add anything there. Lastly, if you spot another orange building already claimed by Yellow, don’t bother trying to add your own there. It’s someone else’s territory.

Building rooftops can be tricky, yet exciting. You have to think strategically and follow the rules. It’s like a puzzle waiting to be solved. So go ahead, put on your construction hat, and let the rooftop adventure begin!

Did you know that rooftops play a crucial role in building palaces? By placing a rooftop on top of a palace, the palace reaches its maximum size and cannot accommodate any more buildings.

In the game, each player has four rooftops in their color and can claim four palaces, one in each of the four colors.

The size of a palace is determined by the number of palace pieces and stables attached to it. Each building or stable is worth one point. So, if a palace consists of four buildings and one stable, it is worth a total of 5 points.

What’s interesting is that the value of a palace increases depending on its surroundings. If a palace is directly adjacent to the city wall, borders a market street, or is close to the well, its value goes up.

For example: Let’s say I, Blue, want to claim a palace. I’ve already placed one of my rooftops on an orange palace, so now I need to choose a brown palace. Once I claim the brown palace, a new brown palace can be started if another player decides to place a brown building.

But here’s the catch: if all players have claimed a palace in the same color, no more buildings can be built in that color. All players must return any buildings of that color from behind their player screen back to the box. So, let’s say all players have claimed a brown palace, then all brown buildings go back to the box.

Now, let’s talk about a 2 or 3 player game. In addition to their own colored rooftops, each player also has one or two rooftops in a neutral color. If a neutral rooftop is placed on a palace, the palace doesn’t belong to any player, and neither player scores points for it.

Remember, these rules are important to keep the game fair and balanced. So, be strategic in choosing your palaces and think about the consequences of color choices. Good luck!

Did you know that you can put rooftops in any color on any palace? Yep, that’s right! Even if there’s already a rooftop of the same color on another palace, you can still add another. Talk about flexibility!

But here’s the thing: once all the players have claimed a palace with a rooftop in their own color, all the buildings of that color behind their screens are taken out of the game. This happens regardless of whether a palace has been claimed with a neutral rooftop or not.

Check out the Stables!

Stables are like expansions for palaces; they can be added to any palace.

You can only build a stable right next to a building. It can be attached to a palace, whether it has a rooftop or not. When you build a stable, you have to leave at least one empty space between the stable and any neighboring palaces.

Stables can be added to any palace, even if it belongs to someone else.

Here’s why it’s important: If you don’t build your stable in time, you might have to build it next to another player’s palace because there won’t be enough space.

Each stable adds one point to the value of the palace it’s attached to. A stable is a part of a palace. So if the stable is next to the city wall, a market street, or the well, the palace’s value goes up.

Imagine this: You’re playing a game where you get to decide where to place a stable. You have four spaces to choose from, but there are some rules. You can’t place a stable next to another stable, and you can’t place it on a wall space.

Do you know why? Well, normally players build a stable next to their own palace to make it worth more. But sometimes, it’s actually a good idea to build a stable next to someone else’s palace. This can help you limit the number of free spaces for other players.

Let’s talk about merchants.

Hey there! Let’s talk about merchants and markets in the city. When we start the game, we put one merchant on any space on the board. As we play, we create a busy market street in between the palaces.

Now, when we place new merchants, they have to be next to a merchant already on the board. Each new merchant can only be placed next to one merchant, either at the beginning or the end of the market street. They can never be placed next to two merchants.

When the market street reaches a dead end on one side, we can only add merchants on the other side. But if we can’t add merchants on both sides, the active player gets to place a new merchant on any free space on the board. And with that, a new market street is born!

Here’s something interesting: each merchant next to a palace actually makes that palace more valuable! Each palace gets one extra point for every merchant adjacent to it. How cool is that?

Example: When I’m playing the game, I sometimes need to add a merchant to the market street. I have a few options for where I can place them, but there are some rules I have to follow. One of those rules is that a merchant can’t be next to two other merchants.

Walls

Why do we build walls? To protect our city, of course. It’s like a line of defense, surrounding us on all sides. It’s important to have a way to enter the city, so there will always be a space for a gate in the wall.

The walls are built on the sections surrounding the city. And here’s the thing – they have to start next to a tower. If you want to add a wall, you have to connect it to one of the four towers or connect it to an existing wall.

Now, here’s a rule – if you have walls coming from two different towers, they always need to have a space between them. This space is called a gate, and it needs to be empty. That way, we can move between the walls and access the city.

But here’s a cool thing – you can also build a wall right next to a palace. As long as it connects to a tower, it’s good to go. It doesn’t matter if the palace has a rooftop or not.

Oh, and one more thing – when you build a wall next to a palace, it increases the value of that palace by one point. So, it’s like protecting and elevating at the same time.

Tea Tiles

When you have a purple palace, you get tea tiles. You can use these tiles to skip putting something down during your turn (tea break).

If you are the first one to have a purple palace, you get three tea tiles. If you are the second one, you get two tea tiles, and if you are the third one, you get one tea tile. But if you are the fourth one, you don’t get any tea tiles.

For a game with two or three players: If a neutral rooftop is put on a purple palace, it’s the same as someone getting a palace, but the tea tiles are taken out of the game and you don’t get any.

Example: Let me paint you a picture. Imagine a game where three players are vying for dominance over a colorful world filled with purple palaces and exquisite tea tiles. It’s a strategic battle, and I’m Player A, eager to claim my first purple palace. As I triumphantly take possession, three tea tiles are bestowed upon me. To ensure fairness, a neutral rooftop is placed on the second purple palace, keeping it out of my grasp. Unfortunately, two tea tiles are banished from the game, never to be seen again. Undeterred, Player B seizes the opportunity and secures the third purple palace, gaining one precious tea tile of their own.

Now, picture this: there may come a time when a cunning player like myself decides not to place two wooden components, even if it would grant me an advantage. Why, you ask? Well, that’s when we call for a tea break! Of course, I would need some tea tiles in my possession for this trick. Instead of playing both wooden components, I savor the privilege of only placing one while gracefully returning a tea tile back to the box. Please note that I cannot play two tea tiles in a single turn. A minimum of one wooden component must always be placed.

Now, here’s the twist: those enchanting tea tiles, beloved by tea enthusiasts and seasoned gamers alike, do not grant any points at the end of the game. Alas! Their purpose lies elsewhere, and it seems their true value is simply their momentary presence in our immersive adventure.

The Well

Did you know that the well is like the lifeline of the city? Yeah, it’s pretty important! At the beginning of the game, you can put the well on any spot on the board.

But here’s the thing: just like with buildings, there’s a rule about how close you can build to the well. See, you can’t construct any buildings or stables on the eight spaces around the well. Those spaces are exclusively for merchants.

Example: I can’t build any buildings or stables on the red spaces around the well, but merchants are allowed on those spaces. If I place buildings or stables on the yellow spaces, I’ll earn extra points at the end of the game.

If I build a palace right next to the well, only one space away, I’ll earn 4 more victory points when the game is over.

Example:

Hint: If you want to make the brown palace bigger, you can only build more structures or stables on the green spaces. Be careful not to place anything on the red spaces next to the well!

Building a Palace

Hey there! Let me tell you about a cool game I discovered called Palace of Mad King Ludwig. It’s all about building palaces and collecting palace tiles.

So here’s how it works: The first person to claim a palace in a particular color gets the corresponding palace tile and puts it in front of their player screen. This tile stays with them until someone else claims a bigger palace or expands a palace with a stable to create a larger one in the same color. Then, that person gets the palace tile. The size of a palace depends on the number of palace pieces and attached stables.

At the end of the game, players with palace tiles score the points shown on their tiles. It’s like a little reward for their building skills.

In a game with 2 or 3 players: you can also win a palace tile by finishing a neutral palace. If that happens, the tile stays at the edge of the board or goes back to the edge if it was held by a player.

Imagine this: Blue has already claimed an orange palace and has ownership of the orange palace tile. His palace consists of three buildings and two stables, making it a total size of five. Now, Green comes along and adds a rooftop to a new orange palace.

The size of this new palace is four, which means it’s not bigger than Blue’s palace. Because of this, Green doesn’t get the palace tile from Blue. However, if Green were to expand his palace by adding two stables, he would then be entitled to claim the orange palace tile from Blue.

The Power of Tower Tiles

When I take control of a palace that’s right next to a wall connected to a tower, I become the watcher of that tower. And as a watcher, I get to keep the tower tile that matches the tower’s number.

If there are merchants on the tower tile, I place them behind my player screen. And the tower tile itself goes face up in front of my player screen.

But here’s the thing. If another player comes along later and takes control of a palace, regardless of how big it is, and it’s also right next to a wall connected to that same tower, they become the new watcher. They get the corresponding tower tile, but they don’t get any of the merchants on it.

Now, let’s say I have a palace that’s right next to a city wall space with a wall component. If, at some point, another player decides to rebuild that wall so that it also borders my palace, guess what? I get the matching tower tile for my palace. It’s a little bonus for me.

If you have a palace that’s right next to the wall, you’ll get a tower tile when you extend your palace with a stable that’s also right next to the wall.

So, the person who extends or claims a palace next to the wall will get the tower tile. During a game, different players can own the tower tile at different times.

When playing with 2 or 3 players: A neutral palace can also win a tower tile. If this happens, the tile stays on the edge of the board or goes back to the edge if another player had it. If a neutral palace wins a tower tile with merchants on top, the merchants are taken out of the game.

At the end of the game, players with a tower tile score the points shown on the tile.

Here’s how it all goes down: Blue is the first person to build a palace beside the wall connecting to tower 1. That means Blue gets the tower tile for that wall and owns the corresponding tower. But, if someone else builds the orange palace, they’ll snatch the tower tile from Blue. Also, if Yellow puts a stable between their grey palace and the wall, they’ll claim the tower tile for tower 1.

Remember: If a player builds a palace that’s adjacent to a specific wall section—being the first player to do so—they not only get the tower tile, but also the palace tile! Keep in mind, though, these tiles can be taken away by other players during the game.

The Game’s End

If you run out of components, you’ll have to put away your player screen and stop taking turns. The other players can keep going until they run out too.

If you have only one component left, you can only build one component instead of two.

The game ends when all players have used up all their components.

Tip: If you’re the last player left in the game, it’s a smart move to build some more merchants or wall sections. To stay in the game as long as possible, try to place as many buildings as you can, collect tea tiles, and capture additional merchants from the tower tiles.

Scoring

At the end of the game, each player writes down the points they earned in the scoring block:

1. Your score for each palace you took possession of during the game:

In this palace, there are various ways to earn points. Let me break it down for you:

– You get 1 point for each building in the palace.

– You also get 1 point for each stable connected to the palace.

– If a wall directly borders a building or stable in the palace, you get 1 point for that too.

– Every merchant directly adjacent to a building or stable also earns you 1 point.

But that’s not all! There are some other ways to score points as well:

– For each tower and palace tile you have, you can earn 1 to 4 points, depending on the tile.

– If a building or stable is separated by just one space from the well, you get a whopping 4 points.

At the end of the game, the player with the highest total points is declared the winner. It’s that simple! So, get in there and start accumulating those points to claim victory!

Example:

Palace: The orange palace is worth 9 points (4 buildings + 2 stables + 2 wall sections + 1 merchant). The grey palace is worth 9 points (3 buildings + 4 wall sections + 2 merchants). The purple palace is worth 6 points (5 buildings + 1 merchant). The brown palace is worth 12 points (5 buildings + 1 stable + 3 merchants + 3 wall sections).

Well: In addition, the person who owns the orange palace receives 4 points because there is one space between the stable and the well. The owner of the purple palace earns 8 points because there are 2 buildings that are one space apart from the well.