Objective of the Game
7 Wonders: Architects is a strategic game where players take on the role of ancient architects. The objective is to complete the most magnificent wonder of the ancient world. Each player works on their own wonder, collecting resources, amassing military strength, and advancing in science to achieve the greatest fame.
Game Materials
- 7 wonderful component tiles for each wonder
- 28 progress tokens
- 7 double-sided wonder cards
- Various decks with development cards
- Military tokens
- Cat figurine
Setup
Each player receives: - A randomly assigned wonder consisting of 5 section tiles. - A card deck that only contains the cards for their specific wonder, in their player color. - A continuous card detailing the wonder description and how it is built one section at a time. - Each player also starts with 2 face-up resource cards: one from their own stack and one neutral.
The progress tokens, along with the cat figurine, are placed in the center of the table, and the neutral card decks are placed far enough from the players so everyone can access them.
Gameplay
The game proceeds in clockwise turns. In a player's turn, they choose one of the following actions:
- Draw a card from their own deck
- Draw a card from the neutral deck
- Draw a card from the neighboring player’s deck
The drawn card is immediately placed face up in front of the player. Cards may have the following properties: - Resources (stone, wood, clay, papyrus, glass): Needed to build sections of the wonder. - Military: Provide shields and horns essential for an upcoming conflict. - Science: Cards grant special symbols triggering progress tokens.
Building a Wonder Section
To build a section of the wonder, the required resource cards must be collected. Once a section’s conditions are met, the player indicates they are building the section, removes the resources from their display (back to the discard pile), and reveals the next wonder section tile. Some sections grant immediate effects.
War & Conflicts
Certain cards display "shield" symbols with horns. When a war marker with these symbols is triggered, a conflict round occurs, adding the red markers from each player's adjacent cards. Players with more shields win military tokens.
Progress Tokens
By collecting science cards, players can gain progress tokens which provide special abilities and bonuses during play.
Ending the Game and Scoring
The game ends when the first player completes their wonder or when the development cards in a stack are depleted. Afterward, each player totals their points. Points come from: - Built wonder sections - Military conflict victories - Collected progress tokens
The player with the most points wins.
Strategic Tips
- Balance is Key: Don't focus solely on one category (e.g., military), neglecting others such as resources and science.
- Use Your Neighbors: Pull cards from neighbors' decks, especially if it's beneficial to you.
- Prioritize Progress: Science can provide long-term advantages and significantly improve your gameplay.
