Objective of the Game
In Lost Cities, the aim is to embark on expeditions through the strategic placement of cards, scoring the highest points possible. The player with the most points at the game's end wins.
Components
The game consists of a deck of 60 cards: - Five colors, each with twelve cards numbered from 2 to 10 - Three Wager Cards per color
There is also a board with five expedition routes.
Setup
- Each player is dealt eight cards.
- The remaining deck is placed face down as the draw pile.
- The game board is placed in the middle.
Gameplay
- Player's Turn:
- Play a Card: The player must play a card from their hand, either onto their own expedition route or on the discard pile of the respective color.
- Draw a Card: The player draws either the top card from the draw pile or the top card from one of the discard piles.
Laying Down Cards
- Cards must be placed in ascending order on the expedition paths.
- Wager Cards must be played before any number cards of that color, as they are used to multiply the score.
Scoring
Each expedition starts with a penalty of -20 points: - The values of placed cards are added as positive points. - Each Wager Card doubles this amount; if two or all three Wager cards are played, the multiplier increases accordingly (x2, x3, x4). - Players receive a bonus of 20 points if they play at least eight cards in an expedition.
End of the Game
The game ends when the draw pile is exhausted and a player can no longer draw a card. A final tally is conducted for all five expedition routes for both players.
Strategic Tips
- Try to play Wager Cards only when you have enough numbered cards of a color to realistically achieve positive points.
- Hold back cards of other colors to influence your opponent's strategy.
- Be aware of picking the right cards from the discard pile to gain strategic advantages.
Lost Cities is perfect for players interested in strategic card games without overwhelming options and decisions.
