Objective of the Game

Rajas of the Ganges is a strategic board game where players assume the roles of Indian maharajas competing to expand their own principality in terms of both wealth and fame. The goal of the game is to be the first player to cross the richness track (a wealth scale) with the fame track (a prestige scale). Once this occurs, the game ends at the end of the round, and the player with the greatest difference between the two markers wins.

Components

• A game board
• Various player boards (maps)
• 16 workers (4 per player)
• 20 dice in four colors (5 per color)
• Markers for cash points and fame points
• Province tiles
• Ganges River tiles
• Various other tokens like boat, bonus, and dice tokens
• Starting player and elephant token

Setup

1. Place the game board in the center of the table.
2. Each player receives a player board, starting resources, 4 workers, and two markers.
3. Dice are made available.
4. Each player places one marker on the cash track and one on the fame track.
5. Distribute province tiles on the construction site board according to the player count.
6. Position player boats at the start of the Ganges path.

Gameplay

The game is played over rounds, each concluding after all players have placed their workers.

Dice and Resource Management

Each player has a certain number of dice in different colors available. These dice are crucial for performing actions.

Actions

In each round, players take turns placing their workers in various areas of the board: - Market actions: Trade goods to gain wealth. - Fame actions: Actions to gain prestige, e.g., building structures. - Ganges river actions: Use your boat to gain bonuses. Each time a boat travels a certain distance, players receive special bonuses.

Certain actions require dice of a specific color or value. Therefore, effective resource management is critical.

Building Province Tiles

To enhance their prosperity, players place tiles in their province areas, generating points. These tiles need to fit together, requiring strategic planning.

Nuances and Strategy

• Dice Diversity and Utilization: Different colors and numbers offer various strategic options.
• Resource Optimization: Effectively merging of wealth and fame points is crucial for crossing points on the tracks.
• "Timing": Determine the optimal moment for special actions, e.g., placing the last tile for maximum points.

End of the Game

The game ends when a player crosses the wealth and fame track in a way that both markers meet. The player with the largest differential between the two point tracks wins.

Enjoy playing Rajas of the Ganges and may the wisest maharaja prevail!