FAQ
51 answered questions36 official
Rules questions from the BoardGameGeek forum. Answers marked Official were confirmed by Board&Dice or the designers.
Common mistakes
- Scoring a Fair as board number + (tile number × condition) — add the two numbers first, then multiply. Ruling · Rule
- Taking a tile with a full Storehouse to use it at once — every tile goes through the Storehouse first. Ruling · Rule
- Pooling a Character bonus’s Action Points with the die’s — each bonus is its own small Action. Ruling · Rule
- Adding a Joker or Action Helper to the die’s Action — only the +1/+2/+3 Helpers add points, and only to the die. Ruling · Rule
- Putting a Bonus tile on the King track for round 4 — the leader scores 4 points instead. Ruling · Rule
- Placing fulfilled Contracts anywhere — always the leftmost open space, and no more Contracts once all six are filled. Ruling · Rule
- Leaving Storehouse Crests out of the “Crests on your player board” Fair tile — they count. Ruling · Rule
Showing 51 of 51
Do I have to spend all the Action Points my die gives?
No. You may spend up to that many and simply lose the rest; they cannot be saved for later.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
When I pay Gold to change a die, which Action and Bonus tile do I get?
The new ones. Change the die's value before taking it, move it to its new segment, then take that segment's Bonus tile, the new number of Resources and the new Action.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
When does the first player reveal a Corruption token? Official
At the start of each of their turns — once per lap of the table, so the three tokens are all revealed during a round. Three tokens of 2 can push a marker that never moved up all the way to the bottom of the King track.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
With the Joker Action, which Bonus tile do I take, and do my Bonus Action Points count?
You take the Joker segment's Bonus tile, and the Bonus Action Points of the Action you choose apply.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
Does taking the Bonus tile beside my die cost an Action Point? Official
No, never. Only Bonus tiles taken from the map with the Merchant or Architect cost an Action Point.
Source: BGG thread
Can I pick up a Bonus tile and use it straight away if my Storehouse is full? Official
No. Every tile goes into your Storehouse first, so you need a free space even for a tile you mean to use at once.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
Can I take a Bonus tile just to discard it? Official
No. Tiles can never be discarded. The only tile you may refuse is the King track's, which you may discard when you win it.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
May I take a Crest I already have, to block another player?
No. You may never take a Crest you already own.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
Can I fulfil a Contract with the Resources of the die I just took, to free a space for that die's Bonus tile? Official
No. You take the Bonus tile together with the die, before the Resources arrive.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
Can I take more than one Bonus tile from the same Town?
Yes, paying 1 Action Point for each.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
When does a Helper leave my Storehouse? Official
The moment you use it, so its space is free for the rest of the Helper's effect.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread · BGG thread
Can I use a Helper before taking my die? Official
Yes, on your turn, for Helpers that do not depend on the die — those that change the die's colour or give Resources.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
Can I pause a Helper to use another Helper, then come back to it? Official
No. Finish one Helper (or Character bonus) completely before starting the next. You may, however, use Helpers between the Action Points of your die.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread · BGG thread
Can I use the 1-Action Joker Helper to add 1 AP to my die Action? Official
No. Action Helpers are separate Actions, not modifiers. Only the +1/+2/+3 Helpers add points, and only to the die's Action — never to another Helper.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
Can I use a +1/+2/+3 Helper I picked up this turn on the die I just took? Official
Yes, if it fits in your Storehouse first: put it there, then use it on the current die Action.
Source: BGG thread
Must I use every Action Point of a Helper? Official
No, but you must do at least one thing with it — using a Helper for nothing would be a discard, which is not allowed. You may also skip part of a Contract or Character reward, such as the Merchant move.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
Does a Contract Helper give the bonus Resource for an exchange? Official
Only for the first exchange of your turn: one bonus Resource per turn, however many Contract Actions you take.
Source: BGG thread
The first exchange gives a bonus Resource — may it be the same type I gave away? Official
Yes: 1 Food can become 1 Iron plus 1 Food.
Source: BGG thread
How many Tasks can I do on my turn?
As many as you can pay for, the same Task several times too — but each Cathedral only once.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
If a Character bonus gives me Action Points, can I add them to my die Action? Official
No. Each Character or Helper activation is its own instance: its points are spent on its own Action and never pooled with the die's.
Source: BGG thread
May I place a Character on floor 2 before floor 1 is filled? Official
Yes. Rooms can be filled in any order.
Source: BGG thread
If I complete a Building during my Action, do its Bonus Action Points count right away?
Yes — including for the Action you are doing, if it matches.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
When do I get a Character's bonus, and when the Action bonus? Official
The bonus printed on the tile when you place it. The Bonus Action Points marker only when the Building is full and has its Crest.
Source: BGG thread
If my last Character's bonus places a House, can I use the House that Building just freed?
Yes: placing the Character, freeing the roof House and using the bonus happen together.
Source: BGG thread
With the Bonus tile that triggers a whole Building, can I combine the Characters' Action Points? Official
No. Resolve each Character's bonus separately, in the order you like.
Source: BGG thread
May I place a Crest under a Building with no Characters?
Yes. You get the Crest space's bonus at once; the Bonus Action Points come later, when the Building is also full.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
Can I skip a Crest space's bonus?
Yes — for example when you have no House or Pillar to place.
Source: BGG thread
Is the Contract offer refilled after each Contract taken? Official
No, only at the end of your turn — even if you take Contract Actions twice.
Source: BGG thread
Must fulfilled Contracts fill the spaces from the left?
Yes, always the leftmost open space. With all six filled you cannot fulfil or take more Contracts.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
A Contract's "move your Merchant to an adjacent Town" — Town or space? Official
Space. The wording differs from the Character tiles but the effect is the same.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
Can I put a Pillar in the Town with the unavailable Cathedral? Official
No. Its Cathedral is not built this game, so it takes no Pillars.
Source: BGG thread
Can I pay Gold for an "any Resource" bag on a Contract?
Yes: Gold is a Resource. Bags drawn together must be identical Resources.
Source: BGG thread
Is a Bonus tile put on the King track for round 4? Official
No. Do not refill it in the Cleanup of round 3; in round 4 the leader scores 4 points instead. Discarding the tile in rounds 1–3 gives nothing.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
Can I use the Bonus tile from the King track straight away?
No. Nobody has a turn in the King phase; the tile waits in your Storehouse until your next turn.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
How is a Fair scored: board number plus tile number, times the condition? Official
Yes. Add the board's number to the tile's, then multiply by how many times you meet the condition: (3 + 3) × 3 Contracts = 18.
Source: BGG thread
Does the "Crests on your player board" Fair tile count the Crests in my Storehouse? Official
Yes, every Crest on your board, Storehouse included.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
Does the pre-printed Building count for the "Buildings filled with Characters" Fair tile? Official
Yes, it is filled with a printed Character.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
At the end, must the four Resources for 1 point be identical?
No, any four Resources.
Source: BGG thread
Solo: the difference of the two Cardinalbot dice is 0 — what happens? Official
It uses the leftmost Decree card; 1 is the next card, and so on.
Source: BGG thread
Solo: what if the difference takes the Cardinalbot past the last Decree card? Official
It stops on the last card and resolves it; it does not wrap round.
Source: BGG thread
Solo: does the Cardinalbot score Completed Buildings at the end? Official
Yes, like a player (the solo booklet leaves it out).
Source: BGG thread
Solo: with Worldly Riches, which Action does the Cardinalbot do? Official
The Action of the segment its die came from. From the Joker it follows the solo booklet's rule: King Action if it is below you on the King track, else Merchant or Architect.
Source: BGG thread
Solo: does the Cardinalbot keep Bonus tiles that show Contracts? Official
No, it discards them — unless Very Special Friends is in play.
Source: BGG thread
Solo: what if the Cardinalbot has no Gold to extend its reach? Official
It pays all the Gold it has and still moves to its target.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
Solo: "the Town where the next upcoming Fair will be held" — only this round's? Official
The most imminent Fair Town first.
Source: BGG thread
Solo: after taking ready Contracts, does the Cardinalbot also take one it cannot fulfil yet? Official
No. It takes every ready Contract; it takes an unready one only if it took no ready one. Leftover AP buy Resources.
Source: BGG thread
Solo: how many Action Points does the Cardinalbot pay to place a Character? Official
One per Character, top row first. The 2 on its board only marks the second row.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
Solo: which Characters count for the Cardinalbot on the "floors 2 and 3" Fair tile? Official
All of its top-row Characters.
Source: BGG thread
Solo: Ready for Action gives the Cardinalbot a Crest — from where? Official
From the unused Bonus tiles at random; if none are left, from the unused Contract tiles.
Source: BGG thread
With the Starting cards, do fewer players choose from fewer cards?
The rules do not say so: all four cards are offered whatever the player count.
Source: BGG thread
[Silver] Solo: Houses of Destiny asks for the Action with more Action Points, but both give the same — which one? Official
The Prospector Action: the Cardinalbot prefers it on any tie.
Source: BGG thread