Merkator Solo Rules

Merkator Solo Rules

Hi there! Welcome to the Merkator Solo Rules. I’m here to guide you through the game and make sure you have a great time playing it on your own. Let’s dive right in!

Merkator Solo Mode

When playing Merkator in solo mode, you’ll be taking on the role of a skilled merchant traveling the countryside, collecting resources, and trading goods. Your goal is to become the most successful merchant by the end of the game.

Set Up

To set up the game, you’ll need the game board, resource tiles, building cards, and a solo token. Place the game board in the center of the table and shuffle the building cards. Then, place the resource tiles face-down and create a supply of face-up building cards.

Gameplay

On your turn, you’ll take the following actions:

1. Draw a building card from the supply.
2. Choose an action to perform.
3. Place your solo token on the chosen action space.
4. Resolve the action and collect any resources or bonuses.
5. Advance the round marker and check for end game conditions.

Throughout the game, you’ll be collecting resources like wood, stone, and iron, which are essential for constructing buildings. Buildings provide various benefits and allow you to score points. You’ll also need to manage your money and reputation to succeed.

End Game

The game will end after a certain number of rounds, determined by the number of players. After the final round, players will tally their points and determine the winner. Points can be earned through buildings, money, reputation, and by meeting certain end game conditions.

Conclusion

So there you have it! The Merkator Solo Rules guide to help you play the game solo and have a blast. Don’t be afraid to explore different strategies as you navigate the world of a merchant. Good luck and may you become the greatest merchant of all time!

Hey there! So, if you’re playing the solo version of the game, you’ll need around 15 Time counters. But don’t worry, you won’t be using the time chart or the letters on the flip side – they’re not necessary in this version. Just like in the regular game, you’re going to put one cube on each Major location. Pretty straightforward, right?

Now, here’s a cool twist for the solo game: instead of using coins, you’ll be using your Contracts as currency. So, you’ll need to remove all the coins from play. No need to sell Contracts for coins and then spend those coins on Bonus Cards or Building cards. Nope, you’ll pay directly with your Contracts. But here’s the catch – you won’t get any change, so be careful not to overpay!

Oh, and one last thing: in the solo version, you’ll remove the five Building cards that have the phrase “the sole player” on them. These cards have a different illustration on the right side, so make sure to take them out of the game.

Contract Cards

Hey there! Let’s get ready to play a game with Contract cards! First, take all the Contract cards and create a face-down stack. Place the Peace of Westphalia card at the bottom of the stack. Then, shuffle the Contracts with a value of 10, 9, and 8, and add them to the stack. We’ll call this stack “the Solo stack.” Remember to set aside the rest of the Contract cards for later use, just like in the standard game. You’ll still get one Contract card each of values 2, 3, 4, and 5, just like usual.

Let the Game Begin!

• Whenever you buy a Building card during the Investment step, you’ll also get to reveal and put all four face-up Bonus cards under the Bonus card stack. Then, reveal four new cards, including a new Building card. How cool is that?
• During the Travel step of your turn, draw the topmost card from the Solo stack. Place it on the appropriate pile for Contract cards. This way, as the game progresses, the stacks for Contracts with values 8, 9, and 10 will keep growing. Exciting, isn’t it?

Consequently, the card at the top of those stacks can change from turn to turn.

The game ends after drawing the very last card from the Solo stack, known as the Peace of Westphalia card. The current round is played without any required investments. So, this final round is your last chance to secure the Peace of Westphalia card.

You can’t join other players’ travels because there are no other players. That would just be silly!

If one of the stacks of Contract cards is empty or doesn’t exist yet, and you need to draw a Contract card of that value, you can draw a Contract card of the same level that you just fulfilled instead. No need to search the discard pile for cards.

I suggest ignoring the Hand Card rule (refer to page 8, Rules for experienced players) until you consider yourself a seasoned Merkator.

In conclusion, it’s crucial to adapt to the changing card stacks and seize the opportunity for the Peace of Westphalia card. Don’t forget, there are no other players to join, so focus on your own journey. And most importantly, enjoy the game!

So here’s the deal: You earn Victory Points, just like in the normal game. If you’re new to this, aim for 55 VP. If you’re more experienced, shoot for 60 VP. And if you’re a true master, aim for a whopping 80 VP!

A little tip for you:

Whenever you move the Merkator token during the Travel step, always draw the top card from the Solo stack. This way, you’ll make sure the game lasts exactly 17 turns. Simple and straightforward!