# Orléans: Trade & Intrigue ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2016 - **BGG Rating**: 8.4 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 2-5 (Best with: 4) - **Duration**: 90 min - **Weight**: 3.21 / 5 - **Designers**: Reiner Stockhausen - **Artists**: Klemens Franz - **Publishers**: dlp games, Arrakis Games, Baldar, BGA Plus, Capstone Games, Cranio Creations, Engames, GaGa Games, Korea Boardgames, Matagot, MeepleBR, Surfin' Meeple China, Tasty Minstrel Games, White Goblin Games - **Categories**: Expansion for Base-game, Medieval, Religious, Travel - **Mechanics**: Deck, Bag, and Pool Building, Pick-up and Deliver, Point to Point Movement, Worker Placement ## Verdict If you already enjoy Orléans, you’ll love the extra layer of trade and intrigue this expansion adds.More tile varietyNew order cardsSemi‑random eventsPlayer intrigueIncreased complexityLonger play timeRequires base gameRECOMMENDED ## Description Orléans: Trade & Intrigue arrives as the second major expansion for the award‑winning Orléans, adding even more depth to the already rich medieval setting. The heart of the expansion is a set of new place tiles that slot into empty spaces on the board, providing fresh routes and opportunities for merchants. Four complementary modules further shake up the game: the Orders card deck introduces specific goods and cities; collecting those goods and delivering them to the right city awards victory points. The Events module adds 34 new hour‑glass tiles, of which 18 are semi‑randomly chosen each game, ensuring each playthrough feels different. The Beneficial Deeds board is completely reworked, offering new rewards for sending your Followers on missions. Finally, the Intrigue module replaces that board, letting you attack, hinder, or even steal resources from opponents, adding a direct competitive edge. All of this builds on the core mechanics of deck, bag and pool building, pick‑up and deliver, point‑to‑point movement, and worker placement, but expands strategic choices and player interaction. Play time hovers around 90 minutes, perfect for 2‑5 players already familiar with the base rules. If you love planning trade routes, negotiating contracts, and enjoying a dash of political intrigue, this expansion will take your Orléans experience to the next level. ## How to Play Objective of the Game In this expansion of Orléans, the competition intensifies as players engage in mercantile expeditions, navigate complex social dynamics, and manage new challenges. Your goal is to accumulate the most victory points through various means, including fulfilling Orders, completing Beneficial Deeds, and successfully navigating New Events and Intrigue. Setup Depending on the modules you choose to play, follow these specific setup instructions: Orders Module Shuffle the Order cards and place them face down in a pile next to the game board. Draw 5 cards from the top of the pile and place them face up next to each other. New Events Module Do not use the Hour Glass tiles from the base game. Instead, use the 34 new Hour Glass tiles. Set the 2 "Silentium" tiles aside. Sort the remaining tiles by the letter on their back side (A, B, C, and D). Shuffle each set separately and place them face down in individual piles. Assemble a stack of 18 Hour Glass tiles: Place a "Silentium" tile face down at the bottom of the stack. Place 4 tiles from the top of the D pile on top, then 4 from the C pile, 4 from the B pile, and 4 from the A pile. Finally, place the second "Silentium" tile on top of the stack. Variant: Use a "Peasant Uprising" tile instead of the bottom "Silentium" tile. New Beneficial Deeds Module Do not use the "Beneficial Deeds" board from the base game. Use the new one provided in this expansion. In 2-player and 3-player games, use the cover tiles to cover the rightmost space of each Beneficial Deed. In 2-player games, "Research" and "Court of Lay Assessors" are not available. Place the depicted goods on the spaces below "Thanksgiving" and "Sheep Farming". Place 1 Technology tile per free space from the supply next to "Navigation". Intrigue Module Do not use the "Beneficial Deeds" board from the base game. Use the "Intrigue" board. In 2-player and 3-player games, use the cover tiles to cover the rightmost space of each nefarious character. In 2-player games, "Arsonist" and "Spy" are not available. New Place Tiles Simply add the new Place tiles to the existing ones. Course of Play The game follows the standard structure of the base game, but with new elements integrated into the phases: Orders Whenever your Merchant is in a town required by an Order after one of your actions, you may immediately fulfill it. Pay the depicted goods and take the Order card. Immediately turn over a new Order card to replace it. IMPORTANT: Fulfilling an Order is your last action of the round. New Events In Phase 1, turn over an Hour Glass tile. Most events are resolved in Phase 6, but some tiles (marked with a specific symbol) may occur at different points or affect the entire round. If an event requires payment and you cannot pay, you must undergo torture. Beneficial Deeds Players may send Followers to various Beneficial Deeds to gain rewards. You cannot place Followers of your own color on these spaces. If you complete a Beneficial Deed but cannot use its bonus, you still receive the Citizen tile. Intrigue Players send Followers to nefarious characters to gain advantages or disrupt opponents. You may not place Followers of your color on the "Intrigue" board. If you are targeted by an active player's action, you may attempt Bribing by offering coins or goods to avoid the effect. Actions and How to Play New Actions & Mechanics Orders Requires your Merchant to be in a specific town and the payment of specific goods. Beneficial Deeds (Examples) Alchemy: Place a Follower to immediately draw a new one and place it on an action space (potentially activating it immediately). Court of Lay Assessors: Place Followers to gain 1 coin each. The last Follower allows you to perform any action immediately. Research: Advance 2 spaces on the Development track per Follower. The last Follower grants +3 spaces. Architecture: Place Followers to gain Citizen tiles. The last Follower allows you to build a Trading Station (with specific rules regarding the Tavern). Intrigue (Nefarious Characters) Fraud: Exchange 1 of an opponent's goods for 1 of yours. Kidnapper: Take 1 coin and return an opponent's Merchant to Orléans. Spy: Steal a Technology tile from an opponent. Tax Collector: Each other player must pay you 2 coins. Traitor: Advance your track and set back an opponent's track (if they were ahead of you). New Place Tiles Brasserie: Provides 2 cheese and 2 wine. In Phase 6, you can discard a good from here to prevent an Event. Merchant House: Provides 4 victory points for each type of good you have the most of. Sheep Farm: Spend 1 cheese to gain 1 wool, 4 coins, or advance 3 steps on the Development track. End of Game and Scoring The game ends according to the standard triggers (consult the base game manual for specific end-game triggers). At the end of the game, calculate your score using these criteria: Add the victory points from all your fulfilled Order cards. Add points from the Merchant House (4 points for each type of good you have the most of). Consult the base game for all other standard scoring methods. Tips for Victory Adapt to Events: Use the "New Events" to your advantage, but be prepared to pay penalties or undergo torture if you cannot meet the requirements. Strategic Intrigue: Use the "Intrigue" board to disrupt opponents or gain Citizen tiles, but be mindful of the cost and the risk of being targeted yourself. Maximize Beneficial Deeds: Aim for the completion bonuses of Beneficial Deeds, such as Citizen tiles, even if the primary bonus is not immediately useful. ## FAQ ### How many players can join? 2 to 5 players, provided you have the base Orléans game. ### What is the typical play time? Around 90 minutes, varying with player count and familiarity with the rules. ### Do I need the base game to use this expansion? Yes, Trade & Intrigue is a supplement and requires the base Orléans game. ### What are the main new features? New place tiles, Order cards, 34 Event hour‑glass tiles, a revamped Beneficial Deeds board, and the Intrigue module for player interaction. ### Does the expansion make the game more complex? Slightly, as it adds new mechanics and strategic choices, but it builds on the base game's learning curve. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 29.09 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3922427&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/19100/orleans-handel-intrige?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com