How to Play Castles of Mad King Ludwig

Welcome, fellow architects of the absurd! Ready to dive into the whimsical world of Castles of Mad King Ludwig? Get ready to build the most magnificent, eccentric, and downright bonkers castle imaginable, all while trying to outsmart your friends. Let's get building!

Game Objective

In Castles of Mad King Ludwig, you and your friends are competing to construct the most impressive and valuable castle for the eccentric King Ludwig II of Bavaria. You'll be adding unique rooms, completing secret objectives, and strategically placing your chambers to maximize your points. The player with the most Victory Points at the end of the game wins the King's favor and the game!

Setup

Let's get your building site ready! Here’s how to set up your game:

1. Place the main Game Board in the center of your play area.
2. Shuffle the Room Tiles (the various shaped pieces) and place them face down in stacks near the board, grouped by size (e.g., 100-size, 150-size, 200-size, etc.).
3. Place the Entrance Tile (the starting room for each castle) in front of each player.
4. Each player receives a starting amount of Coins (the currency for buying rooms). The exact amount depends on the number of players, as detailed in the rulebook.
5. Shuffle the Bonus Cards and deal a certain number to each player face down, which they keep secret. These are your personal objectives.
6. Place the remaining Coins, Bonus Cards, and any other game components (like the Master Builder token) in their designated spots on or near the board.

The Game Turn

Castles of Mad King Ludwig is played over a series of rounds, with players taking turns as the Master Builder. Here's how a typical turn unfolds:

1. Master Builder's Phase: The current Master Builder (the player with the Master Builder token) takes the following actions:
   • Draw Rooms: The Master Builder draws a number of Room Tiles from the face-down stacks, as indicated on the game board for the current round.
   • Set Prices: The Master Builder then places these drawn Room Tiles onto the designated price spaces on the Game Board. They can set the price for each room, from cheapest to most expensive, strategically deciding which rooms will be more accessible or costly for other players.
   • Collect Income: The Master Builder collects income (Coins) based on the rooms they have placed and any other bonuses.
2. Player Buying Phase: Starting with the player to the left of the Master Builder and proceeding clockwise, each other player gets a chance to buy one of the available Room Tiles from the board.
   • When a player buys a room, they pay the indicated price in Coins to the Master Builder.
   • They then immediately add this room to their castle, connecting it to an existing room. Rooms must connect via doorways, and certain rooms have specific connection rules.
   • Once a room is placed, any immediate bonuses or penalties (like gaining Coins or losing Victory Points) are resolved.
3. Master Builder Buys (Optional): After all other players have had a chance to buy a room, the Master Builder may choose to buy one of the remaining rooms for themselves. If they do, they pay the cost to the general supply.
4. Pass Master Builder Token: The Master Builder token is then passed to the player on the left, and a new round begins.

End of Game and Scoring

The game ends when a certain number of Room Tiles (specifically, the 100-size rooms) have been placed, or when a specific stack of rooms is depleted, as indicated on the Game Board. Once the final room is placed, the game proceeds to final scoring:

1. Room Points: Players score points for each room in their castle, based on the points printed on the tile.
2. Bonus Card Points: Players reveal their secret Bonus Cards and score points for completing the objectives listed on them (e.g., having the most of a certain type of room, or connecting rooms in a specific way).
3. Room Connection Bonuses: Many rooms grant bonus points when connected to specific types of other rooms. Tally these up!
4. Leftover Coins: Players receive 1 Victory Point for every 10 Coins they have remaining.

The player with the highest total Victory Points is declared the winner!

Tips for Winning

Building a magnificent castle isn't just about throwing rooms together. Here are a couple of tips to get you started on your path to victory:

• Master the Master Builder: When you are the Master Builder, pay close attention to what other players need. Price rooms they desperately want higher, and make less desirable rooms cheaper to tempt them. Your income depends on their purchases!
• Strategic Connections: Don't just place rooms randomly. Look at the connection bonuses on your rooms. Planning ahead to connect a bedroom to a living room, for example, can net you valuable extra points.

Now go forth, aspiring architects, and build a castle worthy of a mad king!