- Player setup: each player takes the following in their player
color.
- 1 player board
- 6 action wedges
- 1 player randomly arranges their action wedges (starting side up) on their player board, and then all other players match that arrangement on their own player boards.
- 3 knight tokens
- Place 2 of them in their slots on your player board.
- The 3rd knight will be placed on the main board later.
- 16 building tokens
- Place them on their corresponding spots on your player board.
- 12 action tokens
- Place 2 action tokens on each wedge of your action wheel.
- Note that your knight (below) may alter this.
- 5 troop tokens
- Place these in the slots at the top of your board in ascending order (left to right).
- 2 random knight order tiles
- Choose 1 place it in its slot at the top of your board.
- Return the unchosen knight order to the box.
- Note: The chosen knight may affect your player setup.
- General setup
- Place the game board on the table on the correct side for the player count (3-4 or 2 players).
- Place 1 Prussian and 1 Slav token on the top spaces of their
matching strength tracks.
- Shuffle the remaining tokens together and then randomly place them on all the spaces with flag icons.
- Saracen tokens should be placed so that the building or troop icon on the token is face up.
- Note that not all the enemy tokens will be used. Return any leftovers to the box.
- Shuffle the building bonus tiles face down and then randomly place them face up on the empty spaces on the board matching their shape.
- Randomly choose a start player.
- In reverse turn order, each player places their 3rd knight
onto 1 of the starting regions (knight icon) on the board.
- Only 1 player can be in each starting region.
- Stack the enemy award tiles into 3 piles so that the 1st place award for each enemy is on top of the stack.
- Place 20 influence worth of tokens plus 60 more per player in
a supply near the board.
- Set the remaining influence tokens aside as they may be used at the end of the game.
- 2 players: 140 influence
- 3 players: 200 influence
- 4 players: 260 influence
- Player setup: each player takes the following in their player
color.
The game takes place over a series of rounds and ends when the last influence token is taken, finishing the round such that everyone has had an equal number of turns.
On your turn, you have a choice of 1 of 2 actions:
After your turn, play proceeds to the left.
- Resolve an Action
- Choose an action(s) on a wedge to resolve. The number of
tokens on the wedge determines the strength of the action.
- Note that other things on your player board can boost the strength of your actions.
- If you have upgraded the action wedge and it now displays 2
actions, you split your tokens (strength) between the 2
different actions.
- You may assign all tokens to 1 action.
- You must assign at least 1 token to an action to resolve it.
- The 2 actions may be resolved in any order, but 1 must be fully complete before resolving the 2nd action.
- After resolving the action(s), collect all the tokens from that wedge and distribute them, 1 at a time, clockwise around your wheel starting with the wedge directly after the 1 you are resolving.
- Choose an action(s) on a wedge to resolve. The number of
tokens on the wedge determines the strength of the action.
- Travel Action
This allows you to move your knights on the main board.
- Distribute your action points (from tokens and player bonuses) between your knights.
- Move your knights according to the following rules:
- Leaving a region costs 1 movement point.
- Leaving a region with an enemy token (Saracen/Prussian/Slav) costs 2 movement points.
- Muster Action
This allows you to flip the troop tokens on the top right of your board. This will make your crusade actions more powerful and gain you influence.
- Check the cost of the lowest level face down troop token. This is how many action tokens (plus bonuses) are necessary to muster this troop.
- Collect influence tokens equal to the troop's level.
- Flip the troop token to its mustered side.
- Crusade
- Choose 1 region containing 1 of your knights and an enemy token and determine the enemy's strength (see the enemy's strength track).
- You must spend action tokens + crusade bonuses >= the enemy's strength.
- When you defeat the Prussians or Slavs, collect influence tokens equal to their strength and advance the marker on the enemy's track 1 space. Take the token from the board and keep it for end game scoring.
- If you defeat a Saracen (always strength 6), note the building pictured on the token. You may then build a building of that type in the defeated Saracen's region or flip your next troop tile (as appropriate). If you do, collect influence based on the level of the building or troop (otherwise, collect 3 influence). Keep the enemy token in your play area for end game scoring.
- Influence
Collect influence equal to the strength of the action + any influence bonuses.
- Build
Important:
- You cannot build in a region with an enemy token.
- Each region can only contain 1 building.
- Choose a building and then pay action tokens + build bonuses to pay for the build action for that building. Note that some regions and building bonus tiles on the board show a build discount.
- Place the building on the square in a region occupied by 1 of your knights.
- Collect influence equal to the level of the building you built. Note that some bonuses grant additional influence.
Note that uncovered action bonuses on your board are cumulative.
Unlocked knights are placed onto the same region as the castle that unlocked them.
- Upgrade a Wedge
- Set aside any tokens that are on the wedge you want to upgrade.
- Flip the wedge to its upgraded side.
- Return the tokens you set aside to the wedge.
- (optional) You may choose to distribute the action tokens of any wedge like you normally would. Note that it does not have to be from the wedge you upgraded (do not take the action though).
- Skip Your Turn
If all of your wedges are upgraded and you don't have any useful actions, you can just distribute the tokens from a wedge.
When the last influence token is taken from the supply, finish the round (equal turns) and the game ends. Players may still collect influence tokens after the supply is empty. Use the tokens set aside at the beginning of the game.
Scoring
- For each enemy, award 5 influence to the player that has the most
of that enemy's token. Award 2 influence to the player with
the 2nd most. You must have at least 1 enemy token to qualify
for this.
- If there is a tie, split the points between tied players according to the back side of that enemy's majority tile.
- If there is a tie for 1st place, 2nd place is not awarded.
- Count the end game influence for level 4 buildings.
- Castle: 4 influence for each set of different enemy tokens
- Church: 6 influence
- Farm: 1 influence for each of your knights on the game board and each mustered troop at the top of your board.
- Bank: 4 influence for each of your level 4 buildings on the game board including this one.
Whoever has the most influence wins.
- For each enemy, award 5 influence to the player that has the most
of that enemy's token. Award 2 influence to the player with
the 2nd most. You must have at least 1 enemy token to qualify
for this.
- Learning Game
During setup, instead of randomizing the order of the wedges, ensure that all players setup their wedges according to the diagram below. Players also do not sue the "Upgrade a Wedge" action.
- First Standard Game
During setup, instead of randomizing the order of the wedges, ensure that all players setup their wedges according to the diagram:
- Unpredictable
During setup, each player randomizes the order of their own action wheel.
Do note that this can result in slight imbalances between the players. This can be played with or without knight order tiles.
- Knight's Tournament
Prior to setup, each player selects the knight order of their choice, as well as the order of the action wedges. For this variant, multiple players can use the same knight order tile.
- The Order of Alcántara:
- (during setup) Place your 13th action token onto the wedge of your choice.
- Upgrade 1 wedge of your choice.
- The Order of Aviz:
- (during setup) Place your 13th action token onto the wedge of your choice.
- (during gameplay) When distributing action tokens, you may start with the original wedge instead of the next wedge.
- The Knights of Calatrava:
- (during setup) Take only 6 action tokens, placing 1 on each wedge.
- (during gameplay) add a +1 bonus when resolving any type of action.
- The Knights of Holy Sepulchre:
- (during setup) Place 1 additional action token in each of your travel wedges.
- (during gameplay) The value of your travel actions is reduced by 1.
- The Knights Hospitaller:
- (during setup) Use only 11 action tokens.
- (during gameplay) You may skip 1 action wedge when distributing action tokens each turn.
- The Order of Montesa:
- (during setup) In addition to your 1st knight, place the black knight in your starting space.
- (during gameplay) Add a +1 bonus when resolving travel actions.
- The Order of Santiago:
- (during setup) Upgrade 1 action wedge of your choice.
- (during gameplay) When distributing action tokens, you may begin with the original wedge instead of the next wedge.
- The Knights of St. Lazarus:
- (during setup) Use only 11 action tokens, but upgrade 3 wedges of your choice.
- The Knights Templar:
- (during setup) Use only 10 action tokens. Choose 2 wedges to begin with only 1 action token (the rest have 2).
- (during gameplay) Once per turn, you may place 2 action tokens onto the same action wedge when distributing tokens.
- The Knights Teutonic:
- (during gameplay) You may choose to distribute action tokens either clockwise (normal) or counterclockwise each turn. The entire distribution must go in 1 of the 2 directions.
- The Order of Alcántara: