The Mongol Invasions

Resolve the year-two and year-three attacks and protect the city.

When invasion happens

There is no invasion in year one. After the fourth action round in years two and three, Mongols attack before annual scoring.

Determine attacked sites

From the top and bottom of every row and column, the Mongols attack the first two building sites unless a wall segment or gate blocks the path. Most sites need two walls to be protected because they can be attacked from two directions. A site in the middle row or column needs one gate. Each site is attacked at most once.

Any building with a soldier on it is protected, regardless of the soldier’s colour. Walls protect sites behind them. A site protected by either cannot be attacked.

Resolve each attack

Resolve attacks in turn order. For each attacked occupied site, its owner must either return the building to their supply or pay one ransom resource matching the site’s normal resource colour. A bonus-upgraded building may pay with a cube matching the upgrade instead; a white-upgraded site may pay any colour. Put the ransom cube on the site as a reminder that it has been paid.

If the building is removed, leave any upgrade on its site. After all attacks resolve, remove every resource cube and soldier from the city, including soldiers that were not needed to protect a building. Upgrades and walls stay.

Planning for the attack

Build a wall where it can cover two valuable sites, or use soldiers when a site needs only temporary protection. Consider a site’s future production and its annual building point before investing in ransom. Protection is shared: a wall can save another player’s buildings too, while earning the builder influence when placed.

Solo exception

The Corrupt Magistrate’s buildings are never destroyed. The High Courtier’s buildings are destroyed if they are not protected. Neither bot pays ransom; for the High Courtier, simply remove an attacked unprotected building.