# Viscounts of the West Kingdom: Gates of Gold

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2022
- **BGG Rating**: 8.0
- **BGG Rank**: —
- **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 3)
- **Duration**: 60-90 min
- **Weight**: 3.71 / 5
- **Designers**: S J Macdonald, Shem Phillips
- **Artists**: Mihajlo Dimitrievski
- **Publishers**: Garphill Games, Banana Games, Fever Games, Lavka Games, Pixie Games, Portal Games, Primigenio, Reflexshop, Renegade Game Studios, Schwerkraft-Verlag, TLAMA games, Yayoi The Dreamer
- **Categories**: Expansion for Base-game, Medieval
- **Mechanics**: Area Majority / Influence, Deck, Bag, and Pool Building, End Game Bonuses, Hand Management, Modular Board, Rondel, Set Collection, Solo / Solitaire Game, Variable Player Powers

## Verdict
A must-have for those who love the base game and want more layers of strategy and combos. It makes the game denser and more rewarding.Fresh hero and townsfolk combosIncreases strategic depthHigh-quality componentsNew scoring opportunitiesIncreases game complexityRequires base game to playHIGHLY RECOMMENDED

## Description
Ever had that feeling that the city is growing, but not everyone knocking at the gate is welcome? That's exactly what happens in 'Viscounts of the West Kingdom: Gates of Gold'. This expansion expands the base game's experience, putting the city at the center of the action. The influx of people is intense: there are laborers and traders eager to prosper, but also suspicious figures with far less noble intentions. The big question is: can we really trust those who once tried to tear down our walls?

As a player, you take on the role of the one deciding who gets in and who is turned away. The King has sent his orders, but the final word on who stays in the city is yours. To handle this urban chaos, the expansion introduces components that add significant strategic depth. You'll encounter new King's Order cards and the intriguing Outsider cards, which bring new dynamics of risk and reward. Additionally, there are new Building Bonus cards and Manuscript Boards that open up scoring paths that didn't exist before.

But that's not all! The game gets a fresh boost with a flood of new Townsfolk, Heroes, and Manuscript tiles. This means the customization of your deck and bag becomes even richer, allowing for bolder combos and more varied strategies. If you already enjoy the resource management and area control feel of the trilogy, 'Gates of Gold' is the upgrade that transforms the match into something more complex and rewarding. It's the perfect chance to refine your influence and ensure your lineage dominates the city, all while dealing with royal bureaucracy and external threats. Get ready to manage your hand with precision and decide who deserves the hospitality of the West Kingdom!

## How to Play
Objective of the Game
In Viscounts of the West Kingdom: Gates of Gold, people from near and far arrive at the great city. While many are traders and laborers looking to build a home, others arrive with devious intentions. As players, you must decide who may stay and who must go. The goal is to manage your city and decide whether to welcome or refuse these newcomers to maximize your influence and prosperity.

Setup
To prepare your game, follow these steps:

    Set up Viscounts of the West Kingdom as described in the original rulebook, incorporating the following changes:
    Shuffle the new Hero Townsfolk Cards and Townsfolk Cards into their respective piles.
    Mix the 5 new Manuscripts into the original pile (each pile will now have an extra Manuscript).
    Leave the original Castle Leader Card in the box. Shuffle the 6 new Castle Leader Cards, reveal 1 faceup near the Main Board, and return the rest to the box.
    Shuffle the Diversified Builder Cards and Specialized Builder Cards separately. Reveal 1 of each faceup near the Main Board and return the rest to the box.
    Shuffle all Outsider Cards into a facedown Draw Pile near the Main Board. Draw the top 3 Outsider Cards and place them in a faceup line by the Draw Pile.
    Place all King’s Order Cards in a faceup Draw Pile near the Main Board.
    Deal 1 Manuscript Board randomly to each player before selecting starting cards. This is placed faceup alongside the Player Board. Each player also gains 1 King’s Order Card into their starting deck. Note: Players cannot destroy their starting King’s Order Card through any effects on Player Cards during setup.


Game Flow
The game follows the standard structure of the original game. Players take turns performing actions to build their cities and manage the influx of people. During the game, players must interact with the 3 faceup Outsider Cards by either Welcoming or Refusing them. When an Outsider Card is removed, it is immediately replaced by the top card from the Outsider Draw Pile.

Actions and How to Play
Players can interact with various components and cards to build their influence. Key mechanics include:

Manuscript Abilities
Each player has a Manuscript Board which provides 1 starting Manuscript and unlocks new abilities as more are transcribed into matching ribbon columns. These abilities can be used at any point on a turn, any number of times:

    Column 1: Instead of hiring a Townsfolk Card, you may gain a King’s Order Card (costs 3 Silver unless you have a Free Hire).
    Column 2: Spend 1 resource in place of 1 Silver.
    Column 3: Spend 2 Silver to draw the top card from your Draw Pile to your hand.
    Column 4: Spend any 3 resources to Rearrange the cards on your Player Board.


King's Orders and Outsiders
King’s Order Cards are added to your deck and are placed in the Discard Pile when played. They offer two ways to interact with Outsider Cards:

    Welcoming an Outsider: Play a King’s Order Card onto your Player Board. Take 1 of the 3 faceup Outsider Cards and add it to your Discard Pile at no cost. This Outsider becomes part of your deck.
    Refusing an Outsider: Destroy a King’s Order Card from your hand (requires an ability to destroy cards). Gain 3 Silver and select 1 of the 3 faceup Outsider Cards to remove from the game. You must immediately resolve all effects shown in the top-right of that card (such as Corruption or Debts).


Building Bonus Cards
Players compete for two new bonus cards:

    Diversified Builder Card: Awarded to the first player to construct 3 Buildings of different types (1 Trading Post, 1 Guildhall, and 1 Workshop).
    Specialized Builder Card: Awarded to the first player to construct 3 Buildings of the same type.


End of Game and Scoring
The game ends following the same triggers as the original game. Scoring includes the original steps plus Victory Points (VP) for Welcomed Outsiders and Building Bonus Cards. Purple Cards in player decks are public information at the end of the game.

Scoring Criteria

    Assassin: Discard 2 Debts or gain 1 flipped Deed.
    Carpenter: 1 VP per Building Link where you have Buildings on both sides.
    Champion: 1 VP for each wedge of the Castle (first 2 tiers) where you have more Workers than any other player.
    Envoy: Act as if you have 1 extra ribbon of any 1 color when scoring Manuscripts and relevant Outsiders.
    Guardian: Indicated VPs if you have 3 Buildings of the indicated type.
    Hunter: 1 VP per 3 resources left in your supply.
    Mercenary: 1 VP for every 1-2 workers (as indicated) in the indicated tier of the Castle.
    Outrider: 1 VP per segment of the Main Board where you have at least 1 Building.
    Protector: Lose 1 fewer VP for each unpaid Debt.
    Rogue: Flip 1 Debt or 1 Deed.
    Scholar: 1 VP, plus 1 VP for each ribbon of the indicated color.
    Translator: 3 VP per set of 4 unique ribbons.
    Tyrant: 3 VP.
    Warrior: 1 VP, plus 1 VP for each Outsider in your deck.


Tips for Winning
Consulte el manual para detalles sobre esta sección.

## FAQ
### Do I need the base game to play?
Yes, this is an expansion. You need Viscounts of the West Kingdom to play.

### Does it make the game much harder?
It adds more options and strategic layers, which increases complexity, but it doesn't change the core essence of the game.

### How long does a game take with the expansion?
The average is between 60 and 90 minutes, depending on the number of players and the group's experience.

### Does it work well in solo mode?
Yes, the expansion maintains compatibility with solo mode, adding new challenges.

### Is there a lot of text on the cards?
No, there is very little text and most icons are easily memorizable, keeping the game flowing.

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