Thomas: Summary of the rules, initial version. Feel free to edit and improve it!

2026-07-13T19:53:17Z

Summary of the rules, initial version. Feel free to edit and improve it!

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__NOTOC__
== Overview ==
'''Citadels - Duel''' is a head-to-head tactical tile-placement and role-drafting game. Two players compete to build and control districts within a shared '''4x4 city grid'''.

== Game Flow ==
The game is played over multiple rounds, each divided into three phases:

=== 1. Draft Phase ===
* Each player receives 4 character cards from the deck of 9 characters (1 card is discarded automatically).
* Players choose 2 characters to keep and pass the other 2 to their opponent.
* From the 4 characters now in hand, each player discards 1 face-down, leaving exactly '''3 active characters''' per player.

=== 2. Resolve Phase ===
Characters activate in numerical order (1 to 9). When your character is called, you may resolve their abilities:
* '''1. Assassin:''' Name a character. If your opponent has it, that character is discarded and skipped this round.
* '''2. Thief:''' Name a character. If your opponent has it, steal a total of 3 gold from their supply and/or unprotected districts.
* '''3. King:''' Gain 1 council seat (plus 1 per Noble district you control). Move the King's Guard to protect a district and its neighbors, and optionally place 1 gold on it.
* '''4. Abbot:''' If you have less gold than your opponent, they must give you 1 gold. Build 1 district with a discount of 1 gold per Religious district you control.
* '''5. Merchant:''' Gain 3 gold, then place 1 gold from the supply on up to 2 of your Commercial districts.
* '''6. Architect:''' Build up to 2 districts; one of them receives a 1 gold discount.
* '''7. Diplomat:''' Choose one: Spend council seats equal to a district's value to take control of it (flip to your color), OR gain 2 council seats.
* '''8. Warlord:''' Choose one: Pay a district's value (reduced by 1 per Military district you control) to take control of it, OR move the King's Guard.
* '''9. Queen:''' Gain 1 council seat for each different district color you currently control (Noble, Religious, Commercial, Military, Unique).

=== 3. Expansion Phase ===
* The player with the most council seats gains 3 gold and builds a district.
* The other player then chooses to either gain 2 gold OR build a district.

== Key Actions ==

=== Building Districts ===
* Pay the gold cost to place a district tile from the row or your unique hand into the city.
* Tiles must be placed adjacent (not diagonally) to an existing tile and must fit within the strict '''4x4 grid'''.
* '''Build Bonus:''' Gain 1 gold on top of the built tile for each adjacent district that matches its color (regardless of who controls it).
* '''Control:''' You control districts facing your color side (black or white).

=== The King's Guard & Protection ===
* The King's Guard protects its current district and all adjacent districts.
* Protected districts are safe and cannot be targeted by the Thief, Diplomat, or Warlord.

== Unique Districts ==
Instead of the central row, you can build from your 2 private unique districts:
* '''Armory:''' Move the King's Guard here when built.
* '''Capitol:''' Gain 2 council seats when built.
* '''Imperial Treasury:''' Place 2 gold on this tile when built.
* '''Ivory Tower:''' Cannot be targeted by the Thief, Diplomat, or Warlord.
* '''Library:''' When building a district, gain 2 gold instead of 1 for build bonuses.
* '''Public House:''' Players with fewer than 3 gold gain 2 gold when built.
* '''School of Magic:''' Counts as any color when resolving character abilities.
* '''Statue:''' Costs 0 to build if adjacent to an owned 4-cost district.
* '''Thieves' Den:''' Take any gold from 1 unprotected district to your personal supply when built.
* '''Wishing Well:''' Pay 1 gold to build another district immediately after built.

== Game End & Scoring ==
The game ends instantly when the 4x4 grid is completely filled (16 tiles). The system automatically calculates your final score:
* '''District Costs:''' Points equal to the printed cost of all districts you control.
* '''Gold on Districts:''' 1 point for each gold coin sitting on top of your controlled districts.
* '''Council Seats:''' 1 point for every 2 council seats of your color.

The player with the most points wins. Ties are broken by total gold coins, then by total council seats.

Gamehelpcitadelsduel - Revision history

Thomas: Summary of the rules, initial version. Feel free to edit and improve it!