# The Red Cathedral: Contractors ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2022 - **BGG Rating**: 7.9 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 3) - **Duration**: 60-90 min - **Weight**: 2.95 / 5 - **Designers**: Isra C., Shei S. - **Artists**: Chema Román, Pedro Soto - **Publishers**: Devir, GaGa Games, Hobby Game Mall, IELLO, Portal Games - **Categories**: Dice, Economic, Expansion for Base-game - **Mechanics**: Area Majority / Influence, Dice Rolling, End Game Bonuses, Rondel, Solo / Solitaire Game, Victory Points as a Resource, Worker Placement ## Verdict Essential for those who love the base game and want more variety and strategic depth.Huge variety with 30 guild combinationsWell-integrated worker placement mechanicHigh-quality components and beautiful artWildcard diamonds ease resource managementIncreases initial setup complexityRequires the base game to playHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description If you already enjoy the vibe of building St. Basil's Cathedral in the base game, get ready, because the Contractors expansion arrives to take the experience to another level. The construction doesn't stop, and the goal now is to recruit the elite of Russian specialists to impress the Tsar with details that no one else could achieve. This expansion isn't just a small add-on; it brings an impressive amount of content, almost comparable to the original game, injecting new layers of strategy and depth. The biggest novelty is the Contractors module, which introduces a map of Russia. Now, you don't just stay at the construction site; you send your Cossack meeples to the far reaches of the country to recruit artisans and specialists. This addition brings a worker placement mechanic, giving the game a fresh rhythm. Additionally, there are 10 new guilds that can be mixed with those from the base game. Since each guild has three different card variations, the combination possibilities are huge, offering about 30 different ways to set up your matches. On the component side, the expansion adds a black die to diversify resource gathering and diamonds, which act as valuable wildcards for when you're in a pinch. There are also new blueprint cards and improvements for solo players. Visually, the game remains stunning, with art by Pedro Soto and Chema Román inspired by Ivan Bilbin's folklore style, maintaining the majestic atmosphere of ancient Russia. It is the ideal expansion for those who felt the base game was great but wanted more customization options and an extra layer of strategic interaction through talent recruitment. ## How to Play Game Objective In The Red Cathedral: Contractors, players take on the role of contractors hiring specialists to assist in the construction of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. The goal is to increase your reputation as an architect by completing cathedral sections, hiring specialists, and fulfilling contracts. The game ends when a player completes their sixth cathedral card, and the winner is the one with the most prestige points at the end. Setup Prepare the base game as usual, but with these changes: Add the specialist die (black die) to the other 5 dice. Replace some workshop pieces with those that grant 1 license or activate the specialist die. Place the 24 specialist pieces in the bag and draw 5, placing them face-up on the Grand Duchy of Moscow board. Each player receives 1 license, a contractor board extension, and 6 contractor pawns. Place a city piece on top of each cathedral tower and the remaining ones face-down in their corresponding cities. Refer to the manual for details on this section. Game Flow The game follows the structure of the base game, with the addition of the Hire action as a fourth option. Players take turns performing one of the four available actions: Claim a Cathedral Section Build Cathedral Sections Acquire Resources Hire Specialists (new expansion action) When a tower is completed, players earn recognition points based on the contractors placed in the corresponding city. Actions and How to Play Hire Specialists To hire a specialist: Move the leftmost contractor from your board to an available city. Pay licenses equal to the number of contractors in the city (including yours). Pay 2 rubles to choose one of the two available specialists or discard one without paying. Place the specialist piece on your board (replacing a previous one if necessary). Specialists in Moscow allow you to choose any of the 5 available ones. Specialist Pieces Each specialist piece has a unique ability, which can be used once by activating the black die during the Acquire Resources action. At the end of the game, groups of different tools grant prestige points. New Guilds The expansion includes 10 new guilds, such as Goldsmiths, Artisans, Foremen, and Archivists, each with specific abilities. Refer to the manual for details on each. End of Game and Scoring The game ends when a player completes their sixth cathedral card. Points are calculated as follows: City points: Earned by completing towers, multiplying banners on the tower by the number of contractors in the city. Specialist pieces: 1/2/4/7/11/16 points for groups of different tools. Licenses, rubles, and materials: Counted as points at the end. Contract cards: Additional points based on the card objectives. The player with the most prestige points wins. Tips to Win Prioritize hiring specialists in cities with fewer contractors to save licenses. Use diamonds (from the Goldsmiths guild) to replace missing materials during construction. Monitor contract cards (from the Archivists guild) to plan your scoring strategy. ## FAQ ### Do I need the base game to play? Yes, Contractors is an expansion and cannot be played standalone. You need The Red Cathedral. ### Does the game become much more complex? It adds new layers (like worker placement), but if you've already mastered the base game, the learning curve is quite smooth. ### How long does a game take with the expansion? Estimated playtime is between 60 and 90 minutes, maintaining the original's pace. ### What's new in the box? A map of Russia, Cossack meeples, 10 new guilds, a black die, diamonds, and new blueprint cards. ### Does it improve the solo experience? Yes, the expansion includes a new card specifically designed to enhance the solo mode. ## Price Comparison ### Best Offers in Brazil - **Amazon**: R$ 219,00 (https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B0BGSSTK5P?tag=bgbot26b-20&linkCode=as2) - **Modo Avião Board Games**: R$ 144,53 (https://modoaviaobg.com.br/produtos/the-red-cathedral-contractors/?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Livtoys**: R$ 157,17 (https://www.livtoys.com.br/boardgames/expansao-the-red-cathedral-contractors?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Facil Shopping**: R$ 170,10 (https://www.facilshopping.com.br/produtos/the-red-cathedral-contractors-expansao-devir/?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Overrun Geek Store**: R$ 188,91 (https://overrungeek.com.br/produtos/the-red-cathedral-contractors-expansao/?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Paladins Games**: R$ 199,86 (http://paladinsgames.com.br/produto/1313411/red-cathedral-contractors---expansao-jogo-de-tabuleiro?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on Compara Jogos: https://www.comparajogos.com.br/item/the-red-cathedral-contractors ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 28.46 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4716754&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/42328/the-red-cathedral-contractors?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com