Solo: Dahlgaard’s Heir
Dahlgaard’s Heir is an automated opponent for a one-player game.
Overview
Solo play pits one human Magician against Dahlgaard’s Heir, an automated opponent. The official solo mode uses the Dark Alley and is designed around Dahlgaard’s Academy. The Heir takes the second player role, uses its own board, plan deck and solo performance cards, and follows location priorities instead of making strategic choices.
Solo play is not compatible with Dahlgaard’s Gifts: do not use Magician Powers or Duel of Magicians Turn Setup cards. Dawn of Technology is compatible with extra rules; Arcane Arts includes Heir-specific interactions. Check each module’s solo compatibility section before combining it.
Setup
Set up the main game for two players, with the Heir replacing the second player. Use the Heir board’s six-character side and solo Performance cards. Choose your own Magician, then randomly select a different Favorite category for the Heir. The Heir has no Magician board extensions and starts without Coins or Shards. Choose a difficulty, follow its character and Trick setup, then build its Plan deck as directed in the solo booklet.
The Heir’s turn
Reveal the Heir’s Plan card and determine whether its stance is Ready or Busy. A ready Heir prefers the earliest available Theater weekday; a busy Heir prefers the latest. For each Character, check whether locations are contested, then use the printed priority list on the Heir board. Resolve its location actions and special rules from the solo booklet. The Heir does not use Special Assignment cards the way a human player does and does not spend Shards.
The Plan card determines assignments and can change as the Heir’s level and Trick repertoire change. Follow its instructions for each character placement; do not substitute a human player’s planning choices.
Solo scoring
At game end, apply the solo booklet’s scoring procedure. The Heir receives yields from Tricks left on Performance cards, adjusted by its printed penalty, then scores Shards, Special Assignment cards, difficulty-based Level 3 Trick points and a character-count bonus. It does not score leftover Coins. Difficulty determines the values for its Level 3 Tricks and character bonus; use the table in the official solo rulebook.