Tips & Strategy
Manage money, market access and open tableau positions.
Teach the game
Show the two displays and the Messenger before explaining shields. Rehearse a turn with one optional Key action, purchase, placement, ability, movement and refill.
First game
Leave flexible room around the first card. Explain the 3 by 3 limit when the second card is placed, rather than asking players to preassign a corner.
Money and access
Keep enough Gold for your next purchase and a Key for an awkward display. A face-down character trades one scoring space for immediate funding; compare that sacrifice with the cards it lets you buy later.
Host game
Point to a discount card and ask whether it reduces its own cost: it does not. Then point to an immediate gain that counts shields and include the new card itself.