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For tips on how to play Kingdom Builder, see Tips_KingdomBuilder

Game Layout

Kingdom Builder comes with eight different playing boards (called Sectors).

The game starts with four random sector boards and three random scoring cards.

Each of the four sector boards is comprised of 100 hexes in a unique combination of Terrain hexes, Castle hexes and Location hexes.

Each player starts with forty settlements (houses) in their supply and is dealt one one Terrain Card from the Terrain Deck.

Terrain spaces

There are five terrain types on which you are allowed to build a settlement: Grass, Canyon, Desert, Flower and Forest.

There are two terrain types on which you are not allowed to build a settlement: Water and Mountains.

Location spaces

Each sector board contains one or two Castles. Placing a settlement next to a Castle hex will reward you with 3 victory points at the end of the game.

Each sector board contains one or two Locations. Placing a settlement next to a Location hex will earn you a Location Tile which provides an extra action during the remainder of your future turns.

Like Water and Mountains, you are not allowed to build a settlement on Castle or Location hexes.

Scoring cards

The three random scoring cards define how players will earn gold (victory points) in the game, such as earning gold for your settlements built next to water hexes or having the majority of settlements in a sector of the board, etc.

A fourth scoring card (Castle) is present in every game and allows players to earn gold by building next to Castles.

Placing Settlements

Each turn you must place three of your settlements on the terrain type shown on your terrain card, with the following considerations:

1) If possible you must build adjacent to your existing settlements. Never forget this, managing adjacency is the key to the game.

2) Placing a settlement next to a Location hex will grant you its corresponding tile that you will be able to activate in every future turn.

Note: Location Tiles are limited in quantity. Two Location Tiles are placed on each Location hex and are claimed on a "first come, first take" basis. You can only earn one location tile per specific location hex.

Location Tiles

Location Tiles allow you to activate extra actions. Each tile's action can be used once per turn starting on the turn after you obtain the tile.

These extra actions can be used either before or after your mandatory "build three settlements" action, but not in the midst of your "build three" action.

The player keeps a location tile as long as at least one of their settlements is adjacent to the corresponding location. If ever they move their last settlement away from such a location (e.g., by using the action of Barn, Harbor or Paddock), they forfeit that tile and it is removed from the game. After losing a tile from a location, a player cannot re-obtain the tile from that same location hex. Losing a location tile happens immediately when you no longer are adjacent to the location hex.

Extra action: Build one additional settlement from your personal supply

Location Name/ Sector Board	Tile Front	Action Summary	Qty. of Location Hexes on Board	Qty. of Castle Hexes on Board	Action Description
Oracle			1 Location hex (2 Location Tiles)	2 Castles	Build one settlement on a hex of the same type as your played Terrain Card. Build adjacent if possible.
Farm			2 Location hexes (4 Location Tiles)	1 Castle	Build one settlement on Grass. Build adjacent if possible.
Oasis			2 Location hexes (4 Location Tiles)	1 Castle	Build one settlement on a Desert hex. Build adjacent if possible.
Tower			2 Location hexes (4 Location Tiles)	1 Castle	Build one settlement at the edge on the board. Choose any of the 5 suitable terrain type hexes. Build adjacent if possible.
Tavern			2 Location hexes (4 Location Tiles)	1 Castle	Build one settlement at the end of a string of at least 3 of your own settlements. The orientation of the string does not matter (horizontally or diagonally). The chosen hex must be suitable for building.

Extra action: Move one of your existing settlements

Location Name/ Sector Board	Tile Front	Action Summary	Qty. of Location Hexes on Board	Qty. of Castle Hexes on Board	Action Description
Harbor			1 Location hex (2 Location Tiles)	2 Castles	Move any one of your existing settlements to a water hex. (This is the only way to build settlements on water hexes.) Build adjacent if possible.
Barn			2 Location hexes (4 Location Tiles)	1 Castle	Move any one of your existing settlements to a hex of the same type as your played Terrain Card. Build adjacent if possible.
Paddock			2 Location hexes (4 Location Tiles)	1 Castle	Move any one of your existing settlements two hexes in a straight line in any direction to an eligible hex. You may jump across any terrain type hex, even mountain, water, castle, location and/or your own and other players' settlement. The target hex does not have be adjacent to one of your existing settlements.