SPLENDOR

Welcome to Splendor, a game that takes you back in time to the Renaissance. In this game, you’ll step into the shoes of a merchant and use your resources wisely to earn the respect of nobles throughout the land. Your ultimate goal is to transform raw materials into exquisite jewels.

The mechanics of the game are simple. You’ll collect gold and gem tokens to purchase special cards that will not only give you prestige but also provide you with valuable bonuses as the game progresses. Acquiring nobles will also earn you extra prestige points. The player with the highest number of prestige points at the end of the game is the winner.

SETUP

Alright, here’s what we need to do to set up the game. First, we’ll take the development cards and separate them into their own stacks. We’ll shuffle these stacks separately and place them vertically on the table, one under the next, near the center.

After that, we’ll take four cards from each stack and lay them out horizontally next to their respective piles. This will give us three piles of cards and a 3×4 grid of development cards.

Now it’s time to shuffle the noble tiles. We’ll reveal a number of tiles equal to the number of players plus one and place them above the grid on the board. Any tiles that aren’t revealed are removed from the game and put back in the box.

Finally, let’s sort the gem tokens by color and make sure they’re within reach of all players. Now we’re all set up and ready to start the game!

GAMEPLAY

When starting the game, I will take the first turn, and then we will continue in a clockwise manner. During my turn, I have four options to choose from, but I can only pick one. I can either acquire three gems of different types, take two gems of the same type (as long as there are at least four of that type available), reserve a development card and get a gold token, or purchase a development card from the table or my hand. When I reserve or purchase a development card from the table, a new card of the same level, if there is one available, will replace it.

Getting Tokens

When it’s my turn, I can take tokens based on the rules I mentioned earlier. However, there are a few other things to consider when taking tokens. I can’t have more than 10 tokens at the end of my turn. If I draw too many tokens and end up with more than 10, I have to give some or all of them back. And it’s important to always keep my tokens visible to everyone playing.

Getting Hold of Cards

When you use the reserve action, you have the option to choose a development card that is faceup on the board and add it to your hand. Alternatively, you can draw the top card of a development deck and keep it hidden. You are not allowed to discard reserved cards, and you can only have a maximum of 3 reserved cards in your hand. Reserving a card is the only way to obtain gold, but you can only take this action if you have space in your hand. However, even if there is no gold available, you can still reserve a card.

Buying Cards

To get cards, whether they’re on the board or in your hand, you’ll have to spend the resources shown on the card. The resources you spend will go back to the center of the table. Gold can be used as any resource and you spend it the same way, and it goes back after you use it.

Once you buy a development card, you put it in front of you, sorted by what kind of card it is. You also display any prestige or bonuses you get from it.

Noble Tiles

After each of your turns, you check if you’ll get a noble tile. You’ll get one if you meet the requirements for bonuses or types of cards on the tile. If you can get more than one tile, you can choose which one you want. Once you get a tile, you put it in front of you so everyone can see it.

Bonuses

Hey there! Let’s talk about bonuses in the game. When you purchase development cards, you can earn these special rewards. They’re like gems that appear in the top corner of your game board. What can you do with them, you ask? Well, once you receive a bonus, you can use it as a free resource during your turn. It’s like having an extra helping hand! Here’s the cool part: these bonuses can stack up. So, if you collect enough of them, you might even be able to buy cards using only your bonuses. Imagine that! When you use bonuses to purchase cards, simply subtract the bonus from the card’s price. If there are still resources left, you’ll need to pay for them. Easy peasy!

END OF GAME

Let’s fast forward to the end of the game. This is when things get exciting! As soon as a player reaches 15 prestige points or more, the game starts to wrap up. Once that happens, we finish up the round and then it’s time to total up the scores. Are you ready? The player with the most prestige points wins the game! So, keep those strategies in mind and aim for victory!

VARIATIONS

There are some variations to the game setup, depending on the number of players involved. Make sure to follow the instructions that match the number of players you have. It’s always good to mix things up and keep the game fresh!

Hey there! Let’s talk about playing Splendor with different player counts. It’s a really fun game where you collect gems and try to become the best merchant. But did you know that the game changes depending on how many people are playing? Let me explain!

If you’re playing with two players, you’ll need to remove three gems of each type from the game. That means there’s less available for you to use. And guess what? You won’t even get any gold in this game. It’s a bit more challenging, but still a lot of fun. Plus, there will only be three nobles that you can impress with your gem collection.

Now, if you have three players, things get a bit different. Two gems of each type are taken out of the game, just like with two players. And just like before, there’s no gold to be found. But this time, four noble characters will be revealed. So there are more opportunities for you to impress them and earn their favor.

Lastly, let’s talk about playing with four players. It’s the same as playing with three players, so the same number of gems are removed and there’s no gold. But this time, there will be five noble characters waiting to be impressed. That’s even more nobles to collect for your grand merchant plan!

So, as you can see, the game of Splendor changes depending on how many people are playing. Each player count presents its own unique challenges and opportunities. Whether you’re playing with two, three, or four players, there’s always a great game waiting for you. Happy gaming!