How to Play 7 Wonders (Second Edition): Cities

Game Objective

In 7 Wonders: Cities, players take on the role of leaders of ancient civilizations, competing to build the most prosperous and influential city. The goal is to accumulate Victory Points by constructing structures, scientific development, military power, and diplomacy. The game ends after Age III, and the player with the most Victory Points wins.

Setup

Setup follows the basic rules of 7 Wonders, with some specific adjustments for the Cities expansion:

• Separate the Black cards into three decks (Age I, Age II, and Age III) and shuffle each one.
• Draw random Black cards equal to the number of players. The remaining cards are not used.
• Shuffle the Purple cards from the base game and draw a number of cards equal to the number of players +2.
• Add the selected Black and Purple cards to the corresponding Age decks of the base game and shuffle each one.
• Place the Debt tokens and Diplomacy tokens in the center of the table.

Refer to the manual for details on this section.

Game Flow

The game follows the same rules as 7 Wonders, with three new rules introduced by the Cities expansion:

• Extra Turn: At the start of each Age, each player receives 8 cards (instead of 7), resulting in an extra turn per Age.
• Losing Coins and Debts: Certain Black cards cause players to lose Coins or acquire Debts.
• Diplomacy: Certain Black cards and the Byzantium Wonder grant Diplomacy tokens, which allow players to avoid Military Conflicts.

Refer to the manual for details on this section.

Actions and How to Play

During the game, players can perform the following actions:

• Build Structures: Play cards to build structures that provide resources, Victory Points, or special abilities.
• Lose Coins and Acquire Debts: If a Black card requires it, players may lose Coins or acquire Debts.
• Use Diplomacy: With Diplomacy tokens, players can avoid Military Conflicts.

Refer to the manual for details on this section.

End of Game and Scoring

The game ends after Age III, following the resolution of Military Conflicts. Victory Points are tallied according to the base game rules, with the following notes:

• Debts acquired during the game subtract Victory Points at the end.
• Victory Points earned from Black cards are recorded on the score sheet.

Refer to the manual for details on this section.

Tips for Winning

Here are some tips to maximize your chances of winning:

• Manage Your Coins: Avoid acquiring Debts whenever possible, as they subtract Victory Points at the end.
• Use Diplomacy Strategically: Avoid Military Conflicts when at a disadvantage to minimize losses.
• Diversify Your Structures: Build a variety of structures to maximize your Victory Points.

Refer to the manual for details on this section.