Gamehelpluthier

Luthier is played over 6 rounds with players building and/or repairing instruments, performing, satisfying patron wishes, and claiming public goals.

START OF GAME SETUP for each Player:

• Choose a family which provides things like starting resources, lira (money), apprentices, Inspiration (!), and potentially an extra worker and other starting benefits.
  • The number on the family also determines the starting player order.
• Choose a Patron from the 2 cards dealt to you
• Choose an Instrument from the 2 cards dealt to you
• Choose 2 Private Goals from the 4 cards dealt to you

Suggestion: Choose Private Goals that align with Public goals (above the game board), if possible. See if any public or private goals are for Patrons or Instruments and choose accordingly. Choose a starting instrument that your Patron requires.

HOW TO PLAY:

Start of Each Round:

• Patron Patience Cubes are advanced and bonuses are collected. If a Patience Cube advances to its last position, the Patron is removed and the player is docked 3 Prestige Points (victory points).

• Up to 2 instruments may be placed on the player's Roughing Bench, as space is available.

Planning Phase:

• Each player starts with a minimum of three workers (round tokens marked 1, 3, 5, unless a family benefit grants more), which are used to "bid" on which actions the player would like to do in that round.
• Workers (and any accompanying apprentices) are placed one at a time, in turn order, in action locations the player would like to do that round.

Resolution Phase:

• Once all players have placed their workers, in turn order, players choose an action location, in which they have a worker, to resolve. Worker tokens are placed in order first by value and any ties are resolved by first placement to last placement order. The player with the highest worker (+apprentice) value takes their actions first at that location, then the next, down to the lowest number.
• When all players with workers on that action location have finished, the next player in game turn order (shown in the Balcony) selects the next action location to resolve. This process is repeated in game turn order until all action locations and marketplace actions have been resolved.

End of Each Round:

• Turn order is updated based on worker order in the balcony and workers returned to players

• Level I cards are discarded, any remaining level II and III cards shift into open slots and remaining open slots are filled from the deck.
  • After round 3, Patron cards in the Salon marked A on the back are removed, and B Patrons are placed on the board.

• Players who acquired a Specialty Worker this round allocate a worker to activate the card.

• Round marker advances

• Any new worker chips are given to players (worker 2 after round 2, and worker 4 after round 4)

ACTION LOCATIONS:

Action locations include: Salon, Guild, Perform, Repair, Balcony, Marketplace, Roughing Bench (personal), and Finishing Bench (personal). In all 4 action locations with cards (Salon, Guild, Perform, Repair), there are level I, II, III and Search card options. Level I cards are free, and are flushed at the end of each round and replaced first by sliding any remaining level II and III card into level I slots, and the remaining spots are filled by flipping over new cards from the decks. Level II cards cost any combination of 4 lira and/or Inspiration (denoted by an exclamation point !). Level III cards cost 8 lira/inspiration. To Search the deck, pay 10 lira/inspiration AND an apprentice used when the worker was placed must be removed from the game - the player will receive the first card that matches the type chosen.

Note: the 3rd and 6th Reputation Track Bonuses (purple banners running horizontally across the Balcony) grant the player free access to level II and level III cards respectively. See Finishing a Patron and Balcony Action descriptions for details on how to move the player token across the Reputation Track.

Salon

In the Salon, players may choose new Patrons to add to their personal player board OR take 2 Inspiration (represented by an exclamation mark !) and an Apprentice (represented by a hat). Additionally, if a player placed a combined total (worker + apprentices) of 4+, they may reset a Patron's cube and choose any gift that Patron offers. When a new patron is added to the player's board, the player receives the bonus shown on the slot it was placed (4 lira, a resource cube of any type, or an Apprentice).

Anatomy of a Patron card:

• Genre (upper left of card): Romantic (red heart), Baroque (brown fleur de lis), or Classical (blue pillar) - some cards have no symbol, but have all 3 colors in the ring, denoting they are any genre (wildcard).

• Type of patron (upper right of card): Composer (quill), noble (standing lion), Performer (music stand).

• Below the Genre icons, note a stack of 1 or more instrument types (string, woodwind, percussion). When an instrument type is listed by itself, the patron requires you to build that instrument. When there is a musical note (perform) or hammer (repair) on either side of an instrument type, the player must either build an instrument of that type, do a performance of the patron's preferred musical genre, or repair an instrument of that type to fulfill that requirement.

• Below the picture of the patron, the first rectangular gold box shows the number of Prestige Points (aka victory points) the patron provides once the card is completed. The star next to the Prestige Points indicates the player's token will move up 1 space on the Reputation Track (purple banners moving horizontally across the Balcony), and collect the reward shown.

• The white box below that displays the ongoing or endgame bonuses the player will receive once the Patron has been completed.

• The lowest rectangular box shows the various gifts the Patron will award as their patience block moves across the bottom of the card at the start of each round, or when reset. Note that there are only 2 gifts
  • if the last icon in the box is reached, the Patron goes away and the player loses 3 Prestige Points (victory points).
    

Guild

Take an instrument to your hand or 1 metal resource cube. If a total 4 value or higher worker (+ apprentices) is used, the instrument may immediately be placed on the roughing bench and take any 1 resource cube to your personal board supply.

Anatomy of an Instrument card:

• Instrument type icon String (frets), Woodwind (horn), or Percussion (piano keys) is in the top left.

• Instrument name is across the top. Note that there are duplicate instruments in the deck.

• If a diamond gem is present at the right of its name, this instrument is rare and will be placed in the top of the orchestra with its type. These 3 rare instrument orchestra locations allow for unlimited rare instrument first chairs. All rare instruments are first chair and receive the first chair bonus.

• Below the instrument image, the saw icon indicates roughing bench requirements. clear box = animal parts (white blocks), striped blocks = wood, solid brown blocks = metal. \

• The paint brush icon indicates finishing bench requirements.

• Prestige Points upon instrument completion are listed at the bottom, along with the instrument icon as a reminder to put an instrument token in the orchestra and receive any first or second chair bonuses.
  

Perform

Perform or take 3 animal parts cubes (white). If performing, select a card and roll 2 dice - everyone starts with 2 white d6 dice. Each white die has one blank side, two 1 note sides, two 2 note sides, and one 3 note side. If the player has reached the black die location(s) on the Performance Skill Track (purple ribbon track), 1 or more white dice are replaced with black dies with higher pips (up to 4 notes, no blank). If the player has received the purple die (by placing claiming a public goal using the * urn on player board), this die is also rolled. If the player has reached a level to allow for 1 or more rerolls, they may reroll only 1 die per reroll.

Performance value is determined by adding the total worker value (worker + apprentices) + roll total. Inspiration tokens may optionally be used 1:1 to increase this total.

Anatomy of a Performance Card:

• Top right corner icon shows which genre the performance is from. Romantic (red heart), Baroque (brown fleur de lis), or Classical (blue pillar).

• Bottom of card: 3 performance rating level ranges are shown, along with the bonuses for achieving that level. Only the highest level achieved is awarded. Music notes in a circle represent a performance token will be placed in the orchestra for that genre, and any first or second+ chair bonuses will be collected. If the genre matches a Patron requirement that has not been fulfilled, the card is flipped over and placed behind the selected Patron, and the Patron's patience cube is reset. If the performance does not fulfill a Patron requirement, it is discarded.

NOTE: After placing the new performance or repair token, if first chair has been taken by another player's performance/repair token (doesn't apply if an instrument is already in first chair), and the total of the player's token exceeds that of the current first chair, the current player takes the first chair spot/bonuses. The first Instrument placed always take first chair/bonuses, regardless of number of performance/repair tokens. Additional instruments take second+ chair.

Repair

Players select a repair and pay repair costs. Note that two Inspiration (!) can be used in lieu of any 1 resource when making a repair as many times as is needed - this is also noted on the board under the Repair sign. Once a repair is completed, a repair token is placed in the orchestra and any first/second chair bonuses are collected. If the card completes a Patron requirement, the card is flipped over, placed behind the patron, and the patron's patience cube is reset. If the repaired instrument does not fulfill a Patron requirement, it is discarded.

Anatomy of a Repair Card:

• Instrument type is listed in the top left: String (frets), Woodwind (Horn), and Percussion (Piano keys).

• Below the instrument is a list of any resources required to complete a repair and to the right is any Prestige Points (victory points) awarded upon completion.

NOTE: After placing the new performance or repair token, if first chair has been taken by another player's performance/repair token (doesn't apply if an instrument is already in first chair), and the total of the player's token exceeds that of the current first chair, the current player takes the first chair spot/bonuses. The first Instrument placed always take first chair/bonuses, regardless of number of performance/repair tokens. Additional instruments take second+ chair.

Balcony

Options for any worker (+apprentices) value: Place an award token (trophy cup/urn) to claim a Public goal (found above the game board), OR take 6 lira, OR take up to 2 Apprentices from the Marketplace (if currently available). If a total worker (+apprentices) value of 4 or higher was used, also move the player's token across the Reputation Track (purple banners displayed horizontally above the orchestra) and gain any bonuses.

The 4 highest players' workers take position under the current turn order track until the setup for the next round, to show the new turn order for next round, then the workers are returned to players for placement in the new round.

Roughing Bench (personal player board)

Pay the roughing cost on the instrument (shown by the saw icon) to move it from the roughing bench to the finishing bench (right side of player board) If a total value worker (+apprentices) of 3+ was used, collect 2 Inspiration (!).

If a total value worker (+apprentices) of 5+ was used, pay 1 less resource of your choice when roughing

Finishing Bench (personal player board)

Pay the finishing costs (by the paintbrush) to finish the instrument. Collect the Prestige Points (victory points) and place an instrument token in the instrument's position in the orchestra. Collect any first or second+ chair bonuses shown. If an repair/performance tokens are already present, regardless of how many, take the first chair and the other tokens are demoted to second chair. If an instrument is already present, take second chair - instruments never bump other instruments from first chair. Note that rare instruments with a diamond gem (top right by title), are always first chair, regardless of whether other rare instruments of that type are already present. Rare instruments are placed in the very top section of the orchestra by type.

If a total value worker (+apprentices) of 4+ was used, pay 1 less resource of your choice when roughing

If a total value of worker (+apprentices) of 6 was used, double the bonus earned when placing the instrument.

If the completed instrument fulfills a Patron requirement, the card is flipped over and placed behind the Patron, and the Patron's Patience cube is reset.

Marketplace (no workers required)

The Marketplace action can be taken once per round by each player on their turn - no workers are required. It cannot be combined with other actions mentioned above. At the beginning of each round, a new card is flipped to reveal the new values for animal parts (WHITE cubes), wood (STRIPED cubes), and metal (SOLID BROWN cubes). The value ranges to expect are written on the marketplace board: 1-3 for animal parts, 2-4 for wood cubes, and 4-6 for metal cubes. Players may buy/sell as many cube resources as they can pay for. Players can also hire additional APPRENTICES for 4 lira each, which can be placed, along with a worker (never alone- they are not extra workers!), to increase the total value of that worker by +1 per apprentice. Additionally, players may spend 15 lira/! to go up 1 spot on a purple Skill Track in Performance or Repair. Note that Inspiration (!) may be used 1:1 as lira in the marketplace. Inspiration cannot be purchased.

How To's:

HOW TO FINISH A PATRON:

• When all requirements have been completed, the Patron's Prestige Points are awarded.
• The player's marker is advanced on the Reputation Track (purple banner track in the Balcony), and any bonuses are collected
• The completed cards (instruments, performances, and repairs) behind the Patron are discarded
• The Patron's card is flipped over and tucked behind the top of the player board

• Any ongoing benefits on the back of the Patron card is active going forward (ie start of round bonuses, marketplace discounts, skill level/action bumps, etc)
• Any endgame bonuses are active, and calculated at the end of the game

HOW TO RESET A PATRON'S PATIENCE CUBE (cube under a Patron):

• Complete one of the requirements listed on the Patron's card (bulid an instrument, repair an instrument, or perform)
• Place a 4 value or higher worker (worker + apprentices) in the Salon to reset 1 Patience cube for 1 Patron and choose any gift that Patron offers.

HOW TO GET LIRA (money)

• Any placed worker can collect 2 lira in lieu of the listed actions for that location
• Collect 6 lira by placing any value worker in the Balcony
• Place a new patron card on the player board slot marked with a 4 lira bonus
• Sell resource cubes in the Marketplace for the current buy/sell rate
• Performances give some amount of money at any performance level
• Patrons may have gifts that you receive at the start of the round, or when a 4 or higher worker is placed in the Salon.
• Certain First Chair bonuses include lira; Second chair bonus options are ! or 2 lira.
• Inspiration can be used in the Marketplace 1:1 as lira
• Inspiration can be used in place of any 1 resource in the Repair location
• Purple performance die (acquired by claiming a public goal using the award marker (trophy cup/urn) from the * position on your player board), rolled along with performance dice, offers resources, lira, or Prestige Points.

HOW TO GET RESOURCES (resource cubes)

• The Marketplace is a free action for every player once per round. Items can be purchased using lira or Inspiration (1:1) in the Marketplace
• Perform location optionally provides 3 animal cubes (white) in lieu of performing
• Repair location optionally provides 2 wood (striped) cubes in lieu of completing a repair
• Guild location provides a metal cube in lieu of taking an instrument, OR if a 4 value or higher worker (+any apprentices) is used, ANY resource can be chosen
• Place a new Patron on your player board in the free resource slot and take ANY free resource
• Purple performance die (acquired by claiming a public goal using the award marker (urn) from the * position on your player board), rolled along with performance dice, offers resources, lira, or Prestige Points.
• Certain Patrons have ongoing benefits which may include receiving 1 or more resources at the start of each round.
• Placing the award marker from the right of the resource storage area grants a resource of your choice at the start of each round, in addition to increasing storage capacity from 9 to 12.
• There is a cost savings of -1 resource when the player places a 5 total value worker in the roughing bench, or a 4 total value worker on the finishing bench. Note that these discounts are per worker, not per instrument.

HOW TO GET INSPIRATION (! tokens)

• Salon: Select 2 inspiration (!) and an apprentice in lieu of taking a Patron
• Roughing Bench: Use a 3 value worker or higher to collect 2 Inspiration (!)
• Patrons: Certain Patrons may offer Inspiration (!) as a gift or ongoing bonus
• Finishing Bench/Orchestra: Certain First Chair bonuses offer Inspiration (!) and the Second Chair bonus is either one Inspiration or 2 lira

HOW TO GET PRESTIGE POINTS (victory points)

• Complete an instrument, or a Patron
• Patrons may have ongoing or endgame Prestige Points benefits
• Perform - usually the 2nd or 3rd level rewards offer some amount of Prestige Points
• Repair an instrument - most offer some amount of points
• Purple performance die (acquired by claiming a public goal using the award marker (trophy cup/urn) from the * position on your player board), rolled along with performance dice, offers resources, lira, or Prestige Points.
• Claim a Public goal (top of the board to left/right of the balcony dome)
• Claim Private goals at endgame
• Reputation Track (purple banners shown horizontally across the Balcony): the 3rd banner from the right grants 2 additional Prestige Points per instrument completed from now on (not retroactive).

END GAME

At the end of the 6th round, the final score is calculated as follows:

1. Current score on the Prestige Points track

2. First chairs (instruments/repairs/performance tokens in first chair position):

				First	Chairs
Player Count	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9+
1-3	1	2	4	6	9	13	18	24
4	2	4	6	9	13	18	24

3. All endgame powers from completed Patrons are added.

4. Each instrument on the Finishing Bench is scored at 1/2 the Prestige Points (rounded down)

5. The Prestige Points from the highest goal accomplished on each Personal Goal cards are added.

6. Each Specialty Worker Card is worth 1 Prestige Point

7. The sum of all remaining money, resource cubes, Inspiration (!), and apprentices is divided by 10 and awarded 1 Prestige Point for every 10.

Tie breaker: the player with the most remaining money wins. If they're still tied, they share the victory.