Objective of the Game

Java is a strategic board game where players recreate the development and expansion of the island of Java. The main objective is to gain points by building villages and palaces and irrigating the land. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.

Game Components

• A game board depicting the island of Java, divided into many hexagonal spaces.
• Landscape tiles of various types (rice fields, jungle, settlements).
• Palace tiles of different sizes.
• Village tiles.
• Irrigation tiles.
• Player markers in various colors.
• Action points to manage turns.

Gameplay

Game Setup

• Place the game board in the center of the table.
• Each player chooses a color and takes the corresponding player markers.
• All landscape tiles are shuffled and placed face down ready.

Game Phases

Java is played over an indefinite number of rounds until all landscape tiles have been placed.

Player's Turn

1. Drawing Landscape Tiles: The active player draws three landscape tiles in hand.
2. Managing Action Points: Each player has 6 action points per round that they can distribute over various actions:
3. Place Tile: Place a landscape tile on the board (cost: 1 action point per tile).
4. Move: Move a player marker on the board (cost: 1 action point per space).
5. Build a Village: Place a village tile on a single landscape field (cost: 1 action point).
6. Build Palaces: Construct or upgrade a palace (costs vary depending on the palace size).
7. Irrigate: Place an irrigation tile (cost: 1 action point).
8. Score Points: Players score points for certain actions, like building palaces or irrigating.
9. End of Turn: Replenish landscape tiles in hand and end the turn.

Scoring

• Palaces: Players score based on the size of the cities in which they build palaces.
• Villages: Players get additional points for the largest village at game end.

End of the Game

The game ends when all landscape tiles have been used. The player with the most victory points wins.

Special Rules and Tips

• Strategically, it is vital to plan the placement of your markers and selection of palaces wisely to outmaneuver other players.
• When placing landscapes, it is essential to consider future movements and village development.
• Irrigation can bring in decisive extra points, especially when creating contiguous areas.

Much planning and strategic foresight pay off as each action can significantly impact the game landscape.