Hey there, future architects and nobles of Teotihuacan! Prepare your dice and resources, because BoardGameBot is here to guide you through the mysteries and glories of the City of Gods. If you've always dreamed of building pyramids, pleasing gods, and collecting rare masks, this is your game! Let's dive into the rules of Teotihuacan: City of Gods in a way that even the humblest worker can understand.

Game Objective

In Teotihuacan: City of Gods, you take on the role of heirs to powerful noble families, competing for eternal glory in the construction of the magnificent city of Teotihuacan. The objective is simple, but the journey is complex and rewarding: earn the most victory points! How? By seeking the favor of the gods, being the greatest architect of the central pyramid, and conquering the most prestigious spots on the Avenue of the Dead. May the gods aid you in your victory!

Preparation (Setup)

Let's set up the table for our journey in Teotihuacan! Follow these step-by-step instructions to get everything ready:

1. Place the main board in the center of the table.
2. If it's your first time playing, use the printed action boards on the main board. If you're experienced, shuffle the numbered action boards from 2 to 7 and place them face up on the corresponding spaces (2 to 7), covering the printed ones. Boards 1 and 8 are never covered.
3. There are 3 categories of royal tiles (A, B, C). Randomly select 3 (one from each category) and place them face up on the indicated spots of the Palace action board (1).
4. Randomly draw 6 technology tiles and sort them by number. Place them face up on the Alchemy action board (5) in ascending order, from left to right, starting on the top row.
5. Randomly select 3 temple bonus tiles and place each on the second-to-last step of each temple.
6. Place the light calendar disc on space 0 of the calendar track. The dark calendar disc goes on space 12 for 4 players, 11 for 3 players, and 10 for 2 players.
7. Place one wooden building on each space of the building row on the main board, except for the last space on the left.
8. Shuffle all decoration tiles and place them in a face-down pile on the Decorations action board (7). Draw 4 and place them face up on the indicated spaces.
9. Shuffle all pyramid tiles and place them in several face-down piles next to the Construction action board (8). Draw 3 and place them face up on the indicated spaces.
10. Randomly draw more pyramid tiles and place them on the pyramid grid to form the specific patterns for the number of players.
11. Shuffle all discovery tokens and place them in several face-down piles next to the main board.
12. Draw 5 discovery tokens and place them face up on the spaces next to the worship actions on the action boards: Palace (1), Forest (2), Quarry (3), Gold Deposit (4), and Decorations (7).
13. Draw 6 discovery tokens and place them face up on the spaces next to the Avenue of the Dead: 3 on the first space, 2 on the second, and 1 on the third.
14. Draw more discovery tokens and place them face up on the main steps of the temples, as indicated by the numbers (first number for 2 players, second for 3, third for 4).

Player Setup

Now, let's get to your components and starting resources:

1. Each player chooses a color and takes their player marker and the 4 dice (their workers).
2. Randomly determine the first player, who receives 1 cacao and the player order marker "1".
3. The player to the right of the first player (counter-clockwise) receives 3 cacaos and the last player marker (with a value equal to the number of players).
4. The other players receive 2 cacaos and the corresponding player order markers.
5. Each player takes their 12 discs of their color. Keep 6 for technology markers. Place the other 6 in the following locations:
   • On point 0 of the pyramid track.
   • At the bottom of the Avenue of the Dead track.
   • On the first step of the 3 temples.
   • On space 0 of the scoring track.
6. If it's your First Game:
   • Each player places a worker showing power 3 on the ascension wheel.
   • In addition to the starting cacao, players receive specific starting resources and workers, according to player order (details in the manual).
7. If it's NOT the first game:
   • Each player places 1 worker with power 3 on the ascension wheel and the other 3 workers with initial power 1 next to their marker.
   • Randomly distribute 4 starting tiles to each player. If any have a discovery icon, the player draws a random discovery token for each icon.
   • Each player chooses 2 starting tiles and returns the other two.
   • Receive the benefits of the chosen tiles (improve power, discovery tokens, temple advancements, technology tokens).
   • Finally, each player places their starting workers in the general area of the action boards, matching the 3 unique action board numbers from their starting tiles (no two dice from the same player can be on the same board).
8. In 2 and 3 player games, "neutral" workers are added to simulate more players (details in the manual).
9. Return all starting tiles to the box. Shuffle unused discovery tokens back into the piles.

Ready! The city of Teotihuacan awaits you!

The Game Turn

In Teotihuacan, the game flows continuously clockwise, without complex phases. Each player simply resolves their choices one after another until an Eclipse (scoring) occurs. Let's see how your turn works:

On your turn, you must choose one of two options:

1. Perform a normal turn OR
2. Unlock all your locked workers for free.

After your choice, if you have the last player marker, advance the light disc 1 space on the calendar track. This may trigger an Eclipse. Then, the next player clockwise plays.

Performing a Normal Turn

If you choose a normal turn, follow these steps:

1. Choose one of your unlocked workers and advance it 1, 2, or 3 action boards clockwise.
2. On the action board where you placed the worker, you must perform one of three possible actions:
   • Collect cacao
   • Worship the Gods
   • Perform a main action

Important: If you don't have an unlocked worker or cannot/do not want to pay to unlock it, you MUST choose the free unlock option.

Locked and Unlocked Workers

Your workers (dice) can be locked or unlocked. A worker is locked if it is in a space with a thick border and a key inside (called worship spaces). Workers in the general area of the action board are all unlocked.

• You CANNOT move your locked workers.
• You can pay 3 cacaos to the supply at any time during your normal turn to unlock all of them.
• Alternatively, you can use your entire turn for the "Unlock all locked workers for free" option.
• When unlocking a worker, place it in the general area of the same action board.

The Actions

Collect Cacao

You can collect cacao on any action board. Before moving the worker to the general area, count the number of workers of different colors already present on the board (ignoring locked ones). You receive in cacao the number of different colors plus 1. Place the moved worker in the general area.

Example: You move a worker to a board where there is already a red and a yellow worker. You receive 3 cacaos (2 different colors + 1).

Worship the Gods

This action can only be performed on the action boards: Palace (1), Forest (2), Quarry (3), Gold Deposit (4), and Decorations (7).

1. Select a worship space. If there is another player's worker, pay 1 cacao to the supply and unlock it (moving it to the general area). Then, place your worker in the worship space. You cannot unlock your own workers this way!
2. Choose one of the options:
   • Activate the ability of the worship space OR
   • Receive the discovery token next to the space, paying the displayed resources OR
   • Pay 1 additional cacao to perform BOTH actions (in any order).
3. If you took a discovery token, draw another and place it face up in its place.

Worship abilities vary: in the Palace (1), you activate the ability of a royal tile. On the other boards, you advance one step on the corresponding temple (or on any temple in the case of Decorations).

Advancing on Temple Steps

When advancing on a temple, move your marker one step up:

• Minor step: Immediately claim the displayed reward.
• Major step: You can receive one of the discovery tokens present (if any) OR the displayed reward.
• Second-to-last step: Nothing happens, but you unlock the end-game scoring condition of the temple bonus tile.
• Last step: Receive the displayed reward and still qualify for the end-game scoring condition.

Attention: You can only advance to the highest step if there is no other player marker there.

Perform the Main Action

To perform a main action, count the number of unlocked workers of different colors already present on the board (including the one you are moving). You must pay this value in cacao (maximum of 3 cacaos). If you cannot pay, you cannot perform the action. Place the moved worker in the general area of the board.

Each action board has a different main action, except for the Palace (1).

Description of Main Actions:

• Palace (1): Has no main action. Only collect cacao or worship.
• Forest (2), Quarry (3), Gold Deposit (4):
  • Count the unlocked workers to choose a row.
  • Use the power of your lowest value worker to choose a column.
  • Gain the rewards (resources, cacao, VPs, temple advancements).
  • Increase the power of one of your workers on the same board. If you have 3+ workers, you can improve twice.
• Alchemy (5):
  • Select a technology tile. Restrictions depend on the number and power of your workers on the board.
  • Pay the cost in gold and place one of your technology markers on it.
  • Other players with discs on the researched tile gain 3 VPs.
  • Advance one step on the temple corresponding to the technology column.
  • Improve the power of your workers on the board (with exceptions).
• Nobles (6):
  • Pay 2 wood to take the first available building and place it in an empty space in the building rows (the row depends on the number of workers you have on the board).
  • Score the VPs printed on the covered space and advance on the Avenue of the Dead track (up to a maximum of 9).
  • Improve the power of one of your workers on the board. If you have 3 workers, you can improve twice.
• Decorations (7):
  • Pay 3 gold (with a discount of 1 gold per additional worker on the board, minimum of 1 gold) to choose one of the 4 available decoration tiles.
  • Place the tile on the pyramid, following the level restrictions (must have layers of pyramid tiles and previous decorations). The arrow must point to the center.
  • For each covered icon matching the icon on the tile, score 1 VP. If the icon is red, green, or blue, advance one step on the corresponding temple.
  • Score an additional 3 VPs and advance one space on the pyramid track.
  • Improve the power of one of your workers on the board and draw a new decoration tile.
• Construction (8):
  • Choose up to the number of workers you have on the board from available pyramid tiles and place them on the pyramid. You must choose at least one.
  • Costs and VPs vary by level (1st level: 2 stone, 1 VP; 2nd level: 2 stone, 1 wood, 3 VPs; 3rd level: 2 stone, 2 wood, 5 VPs; 4th level: 2 stone, 3 wood, 7 VPs).
  • If you place the 4th level tile, the pyramid is completed, the light disc advances to the position of the dark disc, triggering a final Eclipse and ending the game.
  • When placing a tile, you can rotate it. For each covered icon matching the icon on the tile, score 1 VP. If the icon is red, green, or blue, advance one step on the corresponding temple.
  • Advance your marker one space on the pyramid track for each tile placed.
  • Improve the