Check the rulebook: these rules follow the first-edition rulebook. The second edition (2020, the box shown) plays the same way but changed some cards, Wonder boards and details, so check its rulebook where they differ.

I

Contents

Everything in the box
Everything in the box
  • Wonder Boards7, double-sided
  • Wonder Cards7
  • Age Cards49 · 49 · 50
  • Conflict Tokens42
  • Coins30 of 1, 20 of 3

Also a score booklet and two cards for the 2-player variant.

II

Game Set-up

  1. Cards for your player count. Each card shows the player counts it's used for (3+, 4+ … 7+). For each Age deck, return to the box every card for more players than you have.
  2. Guilds. Take the 10 Guilds (purple) out of the Age III deck. Keep the number for your player count at random and in secret (players + 2), shuffle them into Age III, and return the rest.
  3. Wonders. Shuffle the 7 Wonder cards face down and deal one to each player. It tells you which Wonder board you get and which side (A or B) to use.
  4. Coins. Each player puts 3 coins (value 1) on their board. The rest are the bank; make change between 1s and 3s whenever you like.
  5. Conflict tokens. Put them in a reserve next to the coins.
Players34567
Guilds kept56789
III

Reading a Card

  • Top left: the construction cost. Empty means free; a coin means pay the bank.
  • Next to the cost (Ages II and III): the name of an earlier building. Own it, and this one is free.
  • Bottom right: the later buildings this card makes free.
  • Bottom centre: the player counts it's used with.