How to Play Tekhenu: Time of Seth

1. Objective of the Game

In Tekhenu: Time of Seth, players expand the influence of Egypt beyond its borders. The god Seth demands that you subdue Canaan and wage war on the Hittite Empire. Players must muster Soldiers, gather Priests, claim powerful Artifacts, and secure the favor of a Cult to pave the way to victory. The game involves strategic dice drafting and balancing your deeds, as conquest comes with a price: the more battles you fight, the more complex balancing your Taint becomes.

2. Preparation (Setup)

Follow these steps to prepare the game:

• Board Setup: Place the Seth board with the side corresponding to the player count (1-2 or 3-4 players). Place your Soldier and Priest markers on 0.
• Dice: Add 2 red, 2 blue, and 1 green die to the bag. Depending on player count, remove specific dice from the game box and place the required number of gray dice on the Seth board after rolling them. Add dice to each section of the Obelisk wheel following base game rules.
• Tokens and Tiles: Place all Blood tokens near the Seth board. Shuffle the Conquest tiles and place them in a stack, turning the top one face up.
• Cards: Shuffle the new cards into the base game decks. Deal 3 random Decree cards to each player.
• Cultist Powers and Starting Cards: Display the required number of Cultist Power cards based on player count. Players draft these along with Starting cards until each has exactly 2 Starting cards and 1 Cultist Power.
• Artifacts: Randomly select the required number of Artifacts based on player count and display them next to the Destiny cards, matching their Ankh values. Add them to the bottom of the Decree deck.

3. Flux of the Game

The game follows the structure of Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun with specific modifications:

• Rotation: During Step 3 of the Rotation, if there are fewer than the required number of dice on the Seth board, roll one gray die (if drawn) and place it on the Seth board before adding the remaining dice to the Shaded section.
• Maat Phase: Blood tokens count as permanent Taint (1 Taint each) and are not returned to the supply during Step 7 of the Maat phase.
• Triggered Effects: Any effect, bonus, or benefit related to a player performing a particular action can only be triggered at most once during that player’s turn.

4. Actions and How to Play

• Seth God Action: Select a gray die from the Seth board. Pay the cost to place a Building in the region corresponding to the die value. The first Building in a region costs 4 Soldiers; the second costs 3 (3-4 players) or 5 (1-2 players). You cannot place a second Building in a region where you already have one. Gain the region's reward and place a Blood token on the Tainted side of your scales.
• Red and Blue Dice: These are always Tainted. Selecting a red die grants Soldiers equal to the die value; a blue die grants Priests. They cannot be used to Produce Resources.
• Green Die: Always Pure. It cannot be used to Produce Resources or be taken with an Anubis Action.
• Anubis Action: Choose to treat the die as red (Soldiers) or blue (Priests). If used for a Seth God Action, you must still take a Blood token.
• Horus God Action: You may build a Statue on the Seth board. Building a Statue for the people allows you to perform a Thoth God Action of value 1 for each region in that column containing a Building. Building a Statue to Seth grants you a bonus resource whenever another player performs a Seth God Action.
• Artifacts: You may select an Artifact by paying its cost in Priests when selecting a Destiny card. Each Artifact provides a one-time effect and is then removed from the game.
• Cultist Powers: These provide rewards when specific conditions are met. Your reward is listed in the center; other players receive the reward at the bottom.

5. End of Game and Scoring

Consult the manual for details on this section.

6. Tips for Winning

• Balance your Taint: Since Blood tokens are permanent Taint, ensure you have Technology cards (like TX03 or TX04) that mitigate the negative effects of Taint or reward you for having Blood tokens.
• Strategic Statue Placement: Building a Statue on the Seth board can provide consistent passive income (resources) whenever opponents perform Seth God Actions, helping you maintain your economy without spending your own actions.
• Artifact Timing: Use your Artifacts wisely, as they are removed from the game after one use. Save them for turns where you can maximize their specific benefits, such as gaining extra actions or scoring the Temple Complex.