Viscounts of the West Kingdom: Keeper of Keys — How to Play

Objective of the Game

In Viscounts of the West Kingdom: Keeper of Keys, tensions rise in the King’s court as players forge alliances, uncover secrets, or remain loyal. Your goal is to outmaneuver opponents by constructing Public Buildings, collecting Hero Townsfolk Cards, and leveraging Chest Tiles for bonuses. The game ends when a set condition is met (consult the manual for details), and the player with the most Victory Points (VP) wins.

Preparation (Setup)

Follow these steps to set up the game with the Keeper of Keys expansion:

1. Shuffle the new Hero Townsfolk Cards, Townsfolk Cards, and Player Cards into their respective decks.
2. Mix the 5 new Manuscripts with the originals (each pile will have an extra Manuscript).
3. Place the 3 Public Buildings with their matching cards face-up near the Main Board.
4. Replace original Player Boards with the new ones.
5. Each player swaps their original Journeyman, Lender, and Trader cards for the new versions.
6. Shuffle the 18 Chest Tiles into a facedown pile. Draw 4 and place them face-up near the pile.
7. After players choose their starting Hero and Player Card, shuffle the remaining Hero Townsfolk Cards into a facedown pile. Draw 3 and place them face-up.

Game Flow

Consult the manual for details about turn structure, rounds, or phases. The expansion introduces new interactions with Hero Townsfolk Cards, Chest Tiles, and Public Buildings, but core gameplay follows the original rules.

Actions and How to Play

Hero Townsfolk Cards

Some Hero Townsfolk Cards let players gain 1 of the 3 face-up cards for free (no Silver cost). This is not a "hire" action, so it doesn’t trigger hire-related abilities. Replace collected cards immediately from the draw pile. Some cards are removed from the game after use (e.g., Girard grants a new Hero Townsfolk Card and 2 Silver). Scarlette lets players Transcribe a Manuscript immediately before Viscount movement.

Player Cards

New Player Cards offer varied starting positions on the Main Board’s inner path. Some grant Hero Townsfolk Cards or Chest Tiles from face-up options during setup.

Public Buildings

To construct a Public Building:

1. Have your Viscount on a space with a matching building type.
2. Pay the cost on the Public Building Card.
3. Replace your building with the Public Building, returning yours to your Player Board.
4. Resolve the card’s immediate effect. Public Buildings grant ongoing abilities (e.g., Public Trading Post lets you flip Debt or Deed when gaining/destroying Hero Townsfolk Cards).

Chest Tiles

Gain face-up Chest Tiles by slotting them below your Player Board’s card spaces (discard old tiles to make room). Tiles activate when cards enter their spaces, granting rewards like Ink Wells, Stone, or icon conversions (e.g., treating 1 Cleric Icon as 2). Benefits only trigger during Card Management, not Rearrange effects.

End of Game and Scoring

Consult the manual for the end-game trigger. Players score VP from:

• Public Buildings and Chest Tiles (2/5/9 VP for 1/2/3 tiles).
• Original scoring steps.

Tips to Win

• Prioritize Public Buildings: Their ongoing abilities (like the Public Guildhall’s permanent Criminal Icon) can dominate late-game strategies.
• Manage Chest Tiles: Discard weaker tiles to make room for ones that synergize with your card icons (e.g., focus on Merchant Icons if you have tiles that reward them).
• Use Hero Townsfolk Cards early: Free actions like Scarlette’s Manuscript transcription can accelerate your progress.