Objective
The Castles of Burgundy: The Card Game is a compact version of the popular board game "The Castles of Burgundy." The objective of the game is to build a strategically optimized principality by playing cards while earning the most victory points. Players collect points by constructing buildings, acquiring trade fleets, breeding livestock, and accumulating knowledge.
Components
The game includes: - 240 Project Cards, serving different functions (buildings, ships, mines, etc.). - 30 Goods Cards. - 42 Silverlings (game tokens). - 1 Overview Card. - Rulebook.
Setup
- Each player receives three starting cards and two Silverlings.
- Place the overview card in the middle of the table.
- Set up draw piles and place the Silverlings and goods cards nearby.
- Each player draws five cards into their hand.
Gameplay
The game is played over several rounds, with each round consisting of multiple phases. In each round, players can integrate cards into their principalities through the actions Acquire Constructions and Complete Projects, or exchange them for Silverlings.
Round 1: Draw Cards
Each player draws five new cards from the draw pile.
Round 2: Perform Actions
Players can perform two of the following three actions: 1. Discard a card for a Silverling: The card is discarded from the hand and the player receives Silverlings in return. 2. Build a card: A card can, while considering cost requirements, be played from the hand into the player’s principality. 3. Complete a project: Players can invest further in cards already in their principality to finalize victory points for those cards.
Special Rules
- Silverlings: These can be used to purchase additional actions.
- Knowledge: Some cards provide strategic advantages, affecting the number of possible actions or other restrictions.
- Timing: It is crucial to time the placement of buildings correctly to benefit from combo actions.
End of the Game
The game ends after a certain number of rounds (depending on the number of players). Players then count their victory points from constructed cards, completed projects, and traded goods. Remaining Silverlings also count as minor additional points. The player with the most victory points wins the game.
Strategy Tips
- Aim to create chain reactions, allowing you to activate a series of projects or buildings in quick succession.
- Keep track of which cards are in the discard pile to better plan your strategies.
- Early on, secure knowledge cards to gain strategic advantages that ensure sustained success throughout the game.
This game requires a good balance of planning, speed, and strategy to outmaneuver your opponents.
