NekonyancerWelcome to...
[img]https://x.boardgamearena.net/data/tutorials/https___snipboard.io_hS6vce.jpg[/img]
You and your opponents are in charge of construction crews in the ancient world! *Will you be the most successful architect?*
[green][tip] This tutorial is best viewed on a computer![/green]1archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment000
NekonyancerIn [red]*The Builders: Antiquity*[/red], players will start construction projects, hire workers, invest in their workforce, and assign workers to construction projects.
Each completed project grants money and victory points. *The first player to hit 17 victory points will trigger the end of the game!*2archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment000
Nekonyancer[red]*The Builders: Antiquity*[/red] is kind of like an expansion set for *[blue]The Builders: Middle Ages[/blue]*, albeit one that doesn't require a base set to work. Middle Ages is also on Board Game Arena, so check that out if you want a simpler version of this game!3archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment000
Nekonyancer*Let's get into it, shall we?*
There are four rows in front of you.
[red]Top row: investments, which can power up your workforce.[/red]
[blue]Second row: the supply of available construction projects.[/blue]
[green]Third row: supply of workers you can hire.[/green]
Fourth row: your personal board. Anything you take from the first three rows will go here!4archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment000prisoners_item_63 1 tools_item_67 1 loans_item_58 1 universities_item_55 1 buildingdeck_16 2 avbuildings_item_10 2 avbuildings_item_14 2 avbuildings_item_25 2 avbuildings_item_26 2 avbuildings_item_27 2 builderdeck_16 3 avbuilders_item_39 3 avbuilders_item_41 3 avbuilders_item_42 3 avbuilders_item_47 3 avbuilders_item_50 3
NekonyancerYou get three actions on your turn. You can use an action to:
*1. Start a construction project.*
*2. Hire a worker.*
*3. Assign a worker to a project.*
*4. Take an investment.*
*5. Take coins.*
[green]Sounds like a lot of options, but trust me, it's not that bad![/green]5archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment000
NekonyancerLet's learn about the first action now: *starting construction projects.*
It's easy! Just click on any building from the second row, and it will go into your personal row. It will cost you 1 action.
*Try it! Click on The Market.*6avbuildings_item_27010avbuildings_item_27 16
NekonyancerGreat!
As you can see, the supply was immediately refreshed with another project.
You can spend multiple actions per turn the same way if you want, and there is no limit to the number of projects you can have.
Let's go nuts, shall we? *Start construction on A Crane!*1avbuildings_item_256243b763b18c810avbuildings_item_25 16
Nekonyancer*And let's take this fortress too!*1avbuildings_item_266243b7861690110avbuildings_item_26 16
NekonyancerGreat! Now we have [red]*three construction projects*[/red], which took all three of our actions for the turn. Let's learn a little about how these projects work.
In the top left corner, there are two numbers.
[img]https://x.boardgamearena.net/data/tutorials/https___snipboard.io_9PhLu1.jpg[/img]
These are the rewards you get for completing the project! The first number is *coins* and the second is *victory points.* You'll receive both!1building_266243b7947c42200building_27 6 building_25 6 building_26 6
NekonyancerThe work required to complete each project is shown along the *right side* of the project card. As you can see, there are four different kinds of work: *stone, wood, architecture, and decoration.*
This fortress, for example, requires 3 bars of stonework, 2 bars of woodwork, 2 of architecture, and 1 of decoration to be completed.2building_266243b7947c42200building_26 6
NekonyancerThis building over here is a special kind. *It's a machine!*
When it's completed, instead of giving you coins, it will become a free worker for you!3building_256243b7947c42200building_25 6
NekonyancerThat's enough about buildings for now. Go ahead and *end your turn at the top.*4pagemaintitletext6243b7947c42210
NekonyancerNext turn! Let's learn about *assigning workers.*
Everyone started with an apprentice. If we want him to work, we have to pay him. His salary is shown in the top right corner of his card: *2 coins per assignment!*
1worker_16243b7bddd28800worker_1 6
Nekonyancer*Your available funds are shown here.* Everyone starts with ten coins, so we have more than enough to pay him for now.2playercoin_119413546243b7bddd28800playercoinicon_11941354 12
NekonyancerThe work this guy can do is shown along the left side of his card. Looks like he can only work with *stone* and *architecture,* both at a low level.3worker_16243b7bddd28800
NekonyancerIf we assigned him to work on [blue]the market[/blue], he would take care of the market's stone requirement with no problem!
However, his skill in architecture would go to waste, and he wouldn't know what to do about the market's decoration requirement! :(4worker_16243b7bddd28800building_27 7
NekonyancerMaybe we can help out our apprentice with some tools, which are a type of *investment*.
*Click up here to see the available tools! Then click on the paintbrush to buy it for 2 coins!*5tools_item_676243b7bddd28810tools_item_67 16
Nekonyancer*Great!* Unlike other actions, you can only take *one* investment per turn, so we can't stock up on tools like we did on construction projects.
This paintbrush can be given to a worker when we assign them to a project, *augmenting the worker's stats!*1worker_676243b7cd6a34d00
NekonyancerLet's try it!
*1. Click on the apprentice.*
*2. Click on the paintbrush.*
*3. Click on the market to send the apprentice to work!*2worker_16243b7cd6a34d10building_27 19 worker_1 17 worker_67 18
Nekonyancer*[blue]Great job! A few things happened here:[/blue]*
*1.* We paid 2 coins and 1 action to move the apprentice and paintbrush over to The Market.
*2.* Their work was applied to the market, meeting its requirements.
*3.* The market flipped to its completed side.
*4.* The Apprentice and paintbrush went back to where they were before.
*5.* We got *10 coins* as a reward!1worker_16243b7db344f000
NekonyancerWe have one action left this turn.
*Take The Archery Range.*2avbuildings_item_306243b7db344f010avbuildings_item_30 16
Nekonyancer*And end your turn!*1pagemaintitletext6243b87bef26e10
NekonyancerNext, *let's focus on completing this crane.* Hmm, it doesn't look like [blue]our apprentice[/blue] can handle this, even with his trusty paintbrush.
We're going to need some help.1building_256243b8bd61fd500building_25 6 worker_1 2
NekonyancerLet's take a *prisoner*, another kind of *investment*.
Unlike other workers, we have to pay a lot (7 coins) when we acquire one. But once we have one, we can make him work for free!2prisoners_item_636243b8bd61fd500prisoners_item_63 7
Nekonyancer*Click here to open the menu of prisoners. Take the one on top, with 2 skill in woodwork (green) and 2 skill in architecture (purple).*3prisoners_item_636243b8bd61fd510prisoners_item_63 16
NekonyancerGreat! That cost us 1 action and 7 coins.
*Now force the prisoner to work on the crane! Crack that whip!*1worker_636243b8c6d704b10building_25 18 worker_63 17
Nekonyancer*Great job!*
Unlike the market,[red] the crane[/red] gave us no coins, but it entered our workforce. It's kind of like the prisoner - a worker we don't have to pay.1worker_256243b8cfabb5a00worker_25 6
Nekonyancer*Let's send this crane to work on The Fortress!*2worker_256243b8cfabb5a10building_26 18 worker_25 17
NekonyancerLook at [red]the fortress's[/red] work requirements now. *The stone requirement disappeared* because it took [blue]the crane's[/blue] contribution into account!
!!! [blue]The crane[/blue] is now stuck here until [red]the fortress[/red] is complete. This is true for any assigned worker!1building_266243b8e43d55000building_26 6 worker_25 7
NekonyancerLet's take a breather from the fortress's construction to learn about *taking coins.*
You can spend one action to take one coin. Simple right? Try it!
*Click on Take 1 coin at the top!*1building_266243b901bc45a10
Nekonyancer[blue]*Good!*[/blue]
Unlike most actions, taking coins gets more efficient the more times you do it in a single turn. Look at the top! If we spend a *second* action taking coins, we'll get *2* coins for it!
*Click Take 2 coins!*1archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment6243b91e3025110
Nekonyancer[red]*Eh, let's go all the way this turn!*[/red]
Using a third action in a single turn on coins will yield another 3!
In other words, when using actions to take coins,
*1 action = 1 coin.*
*2 actions = 3 coins total.*
*3 actions = 6 coins total.*
*Click Take 3 coins at the top!*1archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment6243b91fbc3ea10
NekonyancerAlright, let's get back to our construction projects.
Compare the remaining needs of [red]the fortress[/red] to the capabilities of [blue]our prisoner.[/blue]
He's almost ideally suited, isn't he? He just needs some help with *decoration* (blue work).1building_266243b92c7956f00building_26 6 worker_63 7
NekonyancerWe have a paintbrush to cover decoration, but there's a problem: *we can't trust prisoners with our valuable tools!*
We could send the apprentice with the paintbrush, but there's a problem with that too: *assigning multiple workers to the same project on the same turn will require extra actions!*2building_266243b92c7956f00
NekonyancerFor example, assigning the prisoner here would cost *1 action.* Assigning the apprentice here *on the same turn* would then cost another *2 actions!* And if we had a third worker to assign, it would cost another *3!*
[green][tip] This mechanic incentivizes players to work on multiple projects simultaneously.[/green]3building_266243b92c7956f00
NekonyancerOne solution is to *free our prisoner.* We can trust a freed prisoner with our paintbrush!
Freeing a prisoner costs 1 action. No coins.
*Select this prisoner. Then click on Free a prisoner at the top!*4worker_636243b92c7956f10freePrisoner 18 worker_63 17
Nekonyancer*Alright!*
Unfortunately, since he's freed, we'll have to start paying him 4 coins per assignment.
But he can use our paintbrush now, and we would have had to free him eventually anyway.
!!! [red]Un-freed prisoners are worth -1 victory point each at the end of the game![/red]1worker_636243b96e3767a00worker_63 6
Nekonyancer*Let's give him the paintbrush and send him to work on the fortress!*2worker_636243b96e3767a10building_26 19 worker_67 18 worker_63 17
NekonyancerNow let's assign him to the archery range, again with the paintbrush!
This will only cost one action. Remember, assigning multiple workers to the same project on the same turn costs extra actions. But assigning the same worker to multiple projects (completing each one) is fine - 1 action each!
Go ahead! *Send the prisoner to the archery range with the paintbrush.*1worker_636243b9a1cee8910building_30 19 worker_67 18 worker_63 17
NekonyancerLet's try a big project.
*Take the pyramid!*1avbuildings_item_246243b9b66e52110avbuildings_item_24 16
NekonyancerWhew, look at the requirements on this thing! We're going to need some help.1building_246243ba1bdc5f600building_24 6
Nekonyancer*[blue]Let's learn about the university.[/blue]*
Educating a worker costs 7 coins and will *permanently* set one of their stats to 3. It counts as an *investment,* so you can't educate a worker on the same turn that you buy a tool or prisoner.
*Click here and select the far right university course with 3 blue bars!*
*Then click on our freed prisoner to educate him!*2universities_item_556243ba1bdc5f610universities_item_55 17 worker_63 18
NekonyancerOur prisoner now has a permanent decoration skill of 3. He's really moving up in the world, isn't he?
*Now assign him to the pyramid!*1work_univ_2046243ba288e59310building_24 18 work_univ_204 17
NekonyancerWe're still going to need more help for the pyramid.
*Let's hire a new worker!*
Hiring a worker from this row costs one action and no coins. It looks like [red]this master[/red] has the skills we need for the pyramid.
Hmm, we're out of actions though.1avbuilders_item_426243ba2d8a9fb00avbuilders_item_42 6
NekonyancerIf we wait for our next turn, someone else might take him.
Let's buy an extra action so we can take him this turn! Extra actions cost 5 coins each.
*Click Buy action at the top!*2avbuilders_item_426243ba2d8a9fb10buy_action 1
Nekonyancer*And now hire this master!*1avbuilders_item_426243ba417ba3d10avbuilders_item_42 16
Nekonyancer*Let's give this master the paintbrush and put him to work!*
We'll have to pay him 5 coins for this.1worker_426243ba51ca0ae10building_24 19 worker_67 18 worker_42 17
Nekonyancer*Next, assign the crane to the pyramid.*
This will cost *2 actions* because we already assigned the master there this turn.
By the way, we couldn't have given the paintbrush to the crane because... well, it's a crane. Um.1worker_256243ba5bf0ba310building_24 18 worker_25 17
NekonyancerNext turn! The pyramid is almost complete! We just need the apprentice for 1 bar of brickwork.
*Assign the apprentice to the pyramid!*1worker_16243ba953586310worker_1 17 building_24 18
Nekonyancer*Awesome!*
We're at 16 points now, so we need just 1 more point to trigger the end! Hmm... given our workforce, do you see anything we can easily complete?
*Click continue when you have an answer!*1player_board_119413546243ba9ab3fde00player_name_11941354 6
Nekonyancer*Yep, it's the rural house! Take it!*2avbuildings_item_76243ba9ab3fde10avbuildings_item_7 16
Nekonyancer*Send the apprentice with the paintbrush to work on the rural house!*1worker_16243bab6e4f5810building_7 19 worker_1 17 worker_67 18
Nekonyancer[green]*Great job!*[/green]
There's just one thing I wasn't able to squeeze into the gameplay of this tutorial: *loans.*
Taking a loan costs an action and gives you *10* coins. At the end of the game, you'll have to pay *15* coins back to the bank. If you can't afford that, [red]*you'll lose 2 points!*[/red]1loans_item_586243bac20467c00loans_item_58 6
NekonyancerBuilding that last rural house got us to 17 points, triggering the end of the game!
We have to keep playing until all players have had the *same number of turns.* Then we'll count up points.2archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment6243bac20467c00
Nekonyancer*Scoring procedure:*
- Gain points shown on your completed buildings.
- Free prisoners for 5 coins each. If you can't, lose 1 point each.
- Repay loans for 15 coins each. If you can't, lose 2 points each.
- Gain 1 point per 10 coins remaining.
Coins also serve as the tiebreaker.
*Whoever has the most points is the winner!*3archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment6243bac20467c00
NekonyancerIf this game seemed a little complicated, I suggest trying [red]*The Builders: Middle Ages*[/red]. It's exactly the same thing, but without *investments* (prisoners, tools, loans, and universities).4archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment6243bac20467c00
Nekonyancer*Thanks for playing through this tutorial for [blue]The Builders: Antiquity!*[/blue]
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to send me, *Nekonyancer*, a message!
Have fun! :)5archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment6243bac20467c00
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