Orléans: Trade & Intrigue — 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.