Solo: VJ

Set up and play against VJ, the automated company.

Setup differences

Set up the base game for two players and use the printed time track, not the extended one. Use the normal scoring-tile setup without expansion tiles. Choose a color and set up your company as usual. Give VJ the solo grid board and an unused color’s pieces, place one VJ wind farm in an A2 starting space, and skip VJ’s tower and bulldozer starting pieces. Use 12 batteries in the supply; you and VJ each start with one. Draw three solo cards matching the majority objectives on the second and two end-game scoring tiles. Set the majority markers to the starting counts on VJ’s board and place the Pass VJ tile beside it.

VJ’s turn

VJ does not have action cards or pay money for actions. On its turn, check the top solo card for a majority VJ is losing; if VJ lacks that majority, navigate its three sections from left to right. A true condition directs an action; a false one sends you to the next section. If all sections fail, continue to the next solo card. Once VJ has secured all current objectives, it pursues the lead or closest majority using the card order rules. Ties count in VJ’s favor.

VJ can build without a bulldozer by treating empty build spaces as if they had one. Its actions build a wind farm, build a tower, or fulfill a contract; follow the card’s conditions and tie breaks. It gains money from scoring but does not pay the player. When a scoring occurs, flip the used top solo card face down as directed by the solo rules; after the second scoring VJ checks only the remaining cards.

Keep the decision rules close

VJ’s solo cards prioritize the scoring majorities and can consult another card to break a tie. Follow the numbered search steps on the solo board and pages 5–8 rather than choosing the most convenient space. When a special icon points to another card, continue in the same action section there. The solo card reference’s special bonus rules explain how to resolve tower tiles and other bonuses for VJ.

The official solo rules use the base game only; the Clear Skies and Nature modules are not combined with this mode.

Source: Official Pampero solo rules, pp. 2–8.