How to play Citadels if you hate rulebooks

I hate rulebooks! This condensed How to Play Citadels rules help players get the essential instructions without having to trawl rulebooks.

Objective

Players aim to become the kingdom’s next Master Builder by constructing the most impressive medieval city.

• Players choose a character each round, gaining that character’s special ability.
• Players build their city by playing district cards, worth points equal to their cost.
• The game ends when a player has seven districts, and the player with the most points wins.

Game Components

• Cards:
  • 27 Character cards
  • 87 District cards (11 Religious, 12 Noble, 20 Trade, 11 Military, 30 Unique)
• Tokens & Markers:
  • 27 Character tokens
  • 30 Plastic gold coins
  • 3 Warrant markers
  • 2 Threat markers
  • 1 Plastic crown
• Reference:
  • 6 Reference cards

Setting Up Your First Game

The setup steps for your first game of “Citadels” are designed to introduce new players to the core mechanics of the game in a streamlined way. Follow these steps:

Character Selection:

Select the 8 Character Cards: Use the following 8 characters for your first game:

• Assassin
• Thief
• Magician
• King
• Bishop
• Merchant
• Architect
• Warlord

Place the matching character tokens in the center of the table in order of their rank as a reminder of which characters are in play.

District Card Preparation

Unique Districts: Take the 14 unique district cards listed for the first game:

• Dragon Gate
• Factory
• Haunted Quarter
• Imperial Treasury
• Keep
• Laboratory
• Library
• Map Room
• Quarry
• School of Magic
• Smithy
• Statue
• Thieves’ Den
• Wishing Well

Combine and Shuffle: Shuffle these 14 unique district cards with the 54 basic district cards (Noble, Military, Religious, Trade) to form a complete district deck.

Distribute Starting Hands

Deal Cards: Deal 4 district cards face-down to each player. These form each player’s starting hand.

Create the Bank

Place all the gold coins in the center of the table to form the bank, where players will draw gold during the game.

Distribute Starting Gold

Each player takes 2 gold from the bank as their starting wealth. Players keep their gold in their personal stash, which they will use to pay for building districts and other game effects.

Determine the Crowned Player:

The oldest player receives the plastic crown token and becomes the crowned player. This player is responsible for managing the Selection Phase and calling the characters during the Turn Phase.

2 Player Setup Changes

The character deck includes characters rank 1–8 (the Emperor cannot be used in 2-player games).

3 Player Setup Changes

The character deck includes characters rank 1–9.

If you are familiar with “Citadels,” you can skip the basic setup and adopt the Customisation Rules.

Customization Rules

The “Customization Rules” section allows players to tailor their game experience by choosing different characters and unique districts based on their preferences. This adds variety and replayability to the game.

Character Selection

• Choosing Characters:
  • Before the game begins, players collectively choose a cast of 8 characters, one for each rank from 1 to 8. These characters will be used throughout the game.
  • Players can select characters based on their playstyle preferences, such as favoring more aggressive characters or those that focus on resource generation.
  • The characters that are not selected are returned to the game box and will not be used in that session.
• Using 9 Characters:
  • In games with 3 or 8 players, a 9th character is required. This character adds an extra layer of strategy and decision-making.
  • The Queen cannot be used in games with fewer than 5 players. If the Queen is part of a preset that includes fewer players, she should be replaced with another character, such as the Artist or the Tax Collector.

Unique District Selection

• Choosing Unique Districts:
  • Players also choose 14 unique district cards of varying building costs before the game starts. These are mixed with the 54 basic district cards to create the district deck for the game.
  • Unique districts provide special abilities or additional points, offering strategic depth and variability to the game.
• District Deck Preparation:
  • Once the unique districts are selected, they are shuffled together with the basic districts to form the complete district deck. The unused unique districts are returned to the game box.

Preset Options

• The rulebook provides several preset character and unique district combinations, each catering to different play styles. These are ideal for players who want to try different strategies without manually selecting characters and districts. Some examples include:
  • Ambitious Aristocrats: Focuses on building districts quickly and efficiently.
  • Cunning Agents: Highlights trickery and zany interactions.
  • Illustrative Emissaries: Less aggressive, offering more defense and alternative resource generation methods.
  • Vicious Nobles: Emphasizes harsh intrigue and aggressive tactics.
• Rank 9 Character Preset:
  • Each preset lists the 9th character (rank 9) as an option, which is required in games with 3 or 8 players but optional with 4-7 players.

Gameplay Variations

• Adjusting for Different Player Counts:
  • The customization rules also include guidelines for different player counts, ensuring balanced gameplay whether you have 2 players or a full group of 8.
• Flexibility:
  • The customization options allow for endless combinations, enabling players to experiment with different strategies and interactions, keeping the game fresh and engaging.

Playing the Game

Overview:

• “Citadels” is played over multiple rounds. Each round consists of two main phases: the Selection Phase and the Turn Phase.

1. Selection Phase

• Character Card Distribution:
  • The crowned player (player with the crown token) shuffles the character deck and discards a certain number of cards face-up and one card face-down, depending on the number of players:
    • 4 players: 2 face-up, 1 face-down
    • 5 players: 1 face-up, 1 face-down
    • 6–7 players: 0 face-up, 1 face-down
  • The King, Emperor, or Patrician (rank 4 character) cannot be among the face-up discarded cards. If it is, it is replaced with another character card.
• Choosing Characters:
  • The crowned player looks at the remaining character cards, selects one to keep, and passes the remaining cards to the player on their left.
  • This process continues clockwise until each player has chosen one character card. The last unchosen card is discarded face-down.

2. Turn Phase

• Character Turn Order:
  • During the turn phase, players do not take turns in clockwise order. Instead, turns are taken based on the rank of the chosen character cards.
  • The crowned player calls out each character number in ascending order, starting from 1 (Assassin, Witch, or Magistrate).
  • If a player has the called character, they reveal their card and take their turn. If no player has the called character, the crowned player continues calling the next number.
• Player Actions During Their Turn:
  • Gather Resources: The player must gather resources by choosing one of the following actions:
    • Take 2 gold from the bank.
    • Draw 2 district cards from the deck, keep 1, and place the other at the bottom of the deck.
  • Build a District: The player may build one district in their city by:
    • Playing a district card from their hand.
    • Paying gold to the bank equal to the district’s building cost.
    • A player can build only one district per turn and cannot build a district identical to one already in their city.

• Use Character Ability: The player can use their character’s special ability once per turn. The timing of this ability depends on the character and may occur before, during, or after gathering resources and building.
• Calling Character Turns:
  • After the player with the called character takes their turn, or if no player has that character, the crowned player calls the next character in ascending order until all characters have had their turns.

Character Abilities

• General Rules:
  • Each character has a unique ability that can be used once per turn. The specific timing is usually mentioned in the character description.
  • Some abilities affect other players directly, such as stealing gold, destroying districts, or swapping hands.
• Common Abilities:
  • Assassin (Rank 1): Calls a character to kill; that character skips their turn.
  • Thief (Rank 2): Calls a character to rob; takes all the gold from that character when revealed.
  • Warlord (Rank 8): Destroys one district by paying one gold less than its cost; earns gold for military districts.

End of Round

• After all character turns are completed, the round ends, and a new round begins with the Selection Phase.
• The crown passes to the King (or equivalent character) if they were played. If no King was played, the crown stays with the current crowned player.

End of Game

• The game continues through successive rounds until a player builds a city with 7 districts (8 districts in a 2-3 player game). Once a city is completed, the current round is finished, and the game ends. Players then score points based on their districts and any additional bonuses from character abilities or unique districts.

When the game ends, players score points as follows:

• Score points equal to the building cost of each of your districts.
• If your city has at least one district of each type, score 3 points.
• The player who first completed his city scores 4 points.
• Any other player who completed his city scores 2 points.
• Score any extra points from your unique districts.
  Players compare point totals, and the player with the most
  points wins. If there is a tie, the tied player who revealed the
  character with the highest-numbered rank during the last
  round wins

Character Abilities in Detail

Each character in “Citadels” has a unique ability that can significantly influence the course of the game. Understanding these abilities and when to use them is key to mastering the game. Below is a breakdown of each character’s abilities and how they function.

Rank 1 Characters

1. Assassin
   • Ability: Call out a character by name (e.g., “Thief,” “King,” etc.) to assassinate them.
   • Effect: The assassinated character skips their entire turn. The player with the Assassin reveals their card, names a character to assassinate, and when that character’s rank is called, they do not take their turn.
2. Witch
   • Ability: After gathering resources, call a character to bewitch, putting your turn on hold.
   • Effect: When the bewitched character’s rank is called, that player gathers resources but cannot use their ability or build. You then resume your turn, using the bewitched character’s ability and resources as if they were your own.
3. Magistrate
   • Ability: Assign three warrant markers (facedown) to different character tokens.
   • Effect: If the player marked with the signed warrant builds a district, you may confiscate that district and build it in your city for free. The player receives back the gold paid for the district.

Rank 2 Characters

1. Thief
   • Ability: Call a character by name to rob them.
   • Effect: When the robbed character reveals their card, you immediately take all of their gold. You cannot rob the Assassin, Witch, or Magistrate.
2. Spy
   • Ability: Name a district type (Noble, Religious, Trade, Military, or Unique) and look at another player’s hand.
   • Effect: For each card of the named type, take 1 gold from that player’s stash and draw 1 card from the deck.
3. Blackmailer
   • Ability: Assign two threat markers (facedown) to different character tokens.
   • Effect: When the threatened player’s rank is called, they must gather resources and resolve the threat. They can bribe you with half their gold to remove the marker without revealing it, or you can reveal the marker to take all their gold if it is the correct marker.

Rank 3 Characters

1. Magician
   • Ability: Choose to either exchange your entire hand with another player’s hand or discard cards to draw new ones.
   • Effect: You can either swap hands with another player or discard any number of cards from your hand to gain an equal number from the district deck.
2. Wizard
   • Ability: Look at another player’s hand and choose one card to either build immediately or add to your hand.
   • Effect: You can build the chosen card without it counting toward your building limit or simply add it to your hand.
3. Seer
   • Ability: Draw one card at random from each other player’s hand, then give one card to each player from your hand.
   • Effect: You can choose to keep or return cards taken, allowing strategic control over what cards each player has.

Rank 4 Characters

1. King
   • Ability: Take the crown and gain 1 gold for each Noble district in your city.
   • Effect: You become the crowned player, ensuring you select first in the next round. The King’s ability grants extra gold for Noble districts.
2. Emperor
   • Ability: Must give the crown to another player, taking 1 gold or 1 card from that player in return.
   • Effect: While you don’t keep the crown, you influence who does, and you benefit from taking a resource from them.
3. Patrician
   • Ability: Similar to the King, but with a focus on gaining cards rather than gold for Noble districts.
   • Effect: You gain 1 card per Noble district and take the crown, controlling the next round’s character selection.

Rank 5 Characters

1. Bishop
   • Ability: Gain 1 gold for each Religious district in your city and prevent rank 8 characters from targeting your districts.
   • Effect: Your city is protected from destructive abilities, and you generate extra gold for Religious districts.
2. Cardinal
   • Ability: If short of gold, you may exchange cards for another player’s gold.
   • Effect: You can take gold from another player if needed to build a district, exchanging cards for gold.
3. Abbot
   • Ability: The richest player gives you 1 gold, and you gain either 1 gold or 1 card for each Religious district.
   • Effect: You benefit from other players’ wealth and your Religious districts.

Rank 6 Characters

1. Merchant
   • Ability: Gain 1 extra gold and 1 gold for each Trade district.
   • Effect: The Merchant is efficient at generating income, especially with Trade districts.
2. Alchemist
   • Ability: At the end of your turn, regain all gold spent to build districts.
   • Effect: Allows you to build districts effectively for free, provided you have the necessary gold initially.
3. Trader
   • Ability: You can build any number of Trade districts, and you gain 1 gold for each Trade district.
   • Effect: Expands your building options significantly, focusing on Trade districts.

Rank 7 Characters

Rank 8 Characters

1. Warlord
   • Ability: Destroy 1 district by paying 1 fewer gold than its cost and gain 1 gold for each Military district.
   • Effect: The Warlord excels at disrupting opponents by destroying districts and generating income from Military districts.
2. Diplomat
   • Ability: Exchange 1 district from your city with another player’s district, compensating for any cost difference.
   • Effect: Allows you to improve your city while weakening another player’s city, provided you can pay the difference.
3. Marshal
   • Ability: Seize a district with a cost of 3 or less from another player’s city by paying its cost, adding it to your own city.
   • Effect: The Marshal can take over weaker districts from opponents, strengthening their own position.

Rank 9 Characters

1. Queen
   • Ability: If you are sitting next to the player who revealed the rank 4 character, gain 3 gold.
   • Effect: The Queen benefits from proximity to the crowned player, gaining additional gold.
2. Artist
   • Ability: Beautify up to 2 districts, increasing their cost and points by 1 gold each.
   • Effect: Enhances the value of your districts, making them more resistant to destruction and worth more points.
3. Tax Collector
   • Ability: Players must pay 1 gold as tax after building a district, which you collect. At any time, you can take all collected gold from the Tax Collector’s token.
   • Effect: The Tax Collector gains income passively as other players build, benefiting from the activity of the table.

Summary of Key Points

• Timing is crucial: Knowing when and how to use your character’s ability can turn the tide of the game.
• Versatility: Some characters have flexible abilities that can be used in various ways, while others are more focused on specific outcomes.
• Interaction and Strategy: The game revolves around predicting opponents’ choices and counteracting them through careful use of abilities.