This is Alpha, the first-born, when he was 2YO.
This is Beta, the second-born, when he was about 2YO.
This is Gamma, the third-born, when he was about 18MO.
The 5 Hows: Splendor
Apr
7
2016
Continuing my series of how to play board and card games, I now present Splendor.
I don’t have this game yet, but was introduced to it by my brother-in-law. And now it is on my birthday present wish list.
1. How do I win?
You win by being the first player to reach 15 points.
2. How do I get points?
You get points by buying cards with point values on them. Not all cards have point values, but you might have to buy some of those in order to afford more cards. There are also a limited number of Nobles available, which you can win by having certain combinations of cards. So the pointless cards can help you get points that way.
3. How do I buy cards?
You buy cards with gems. Each card displays its gem cost. You pay that combination of gems and you get the card.
4. How do I get gems?
You draw them. On your turn you can either draw 3 gems or buy a card. If you don’t have enough gems to buy a card, then your choice is simple.
Another thing to note: the cards you buy not only have a gem cost but they also have a gem value. You may pay 4 gems for a card, but then that card is worth a gem later. Gem chips are drawn and paid – the chips physically move from the bank to your hand and back. But cards count as gems and do not leave your hand. As you accumulate cards, you accumulate their gem values and can thus afford higher-worth cards.
5. How do I play defense?
I simplified the rules earlier. On your turn you can do one of three things: draw gems, buy a card, or reserve a card. If you think someone is going for a particular card and you want the thwart them, or maybe you want the card but can’t afford it yet, you take the card without buying it. This has the added benefit of giving you a piece of gold (a wildcard when it comes to gems). It has the drawback of costing you a turn, since you must use one of your later turns to pay for the card. Or you can hold it in reserve indefinately, in which case it never counts toward your hand. You could consider that a draw-a-wildcard-gem turn.
Not related to the question, but related to the simplification of the rules: on your turn you may draw gems – either 3 gems if they are different colors or 2 gems if they are the same color. But you are not allowed to draw 2 of the same color if that will result in there being less than two of that gem in the bank.
There, now go play Splendor.
Now you must tell my father of all my splendor in Egypt, and all that you have seen; and you must hurry and bring my father down here.
Genesis 45:13
This little article thingy was written by Some Guy sometime around 6:38 am and has been carefully placed in the Fun category.
April 7th, 2016 at 8:20 am
Wow, you got all the rules after only one game. I like to think you had a good teacher.