Overview

The Gilded Realms is a kingdom-building game. Each player leads a faction settling in the Pristine Mountains, threatened by the Sarrukar invasion. Year after year, you build Endeavours (buildings and units), upgrade your five Provinces, trade and defend yourself.

Each round is one year, played in 7 steps over 3 phases: Build, Action and Event. Everyone plays at the same time, except during resolutions, which follow Rank order.

A Standard game lasts 9 years, an Epic game 12. Whoever has the most victory points at the end wins.

1 to 4 90 to 120 min (Standard), 120 to 180 min (Epic)
Goal

Have the most victory points at the end of the last year.

Victory

  • ✓ The player with the most victory points at the end of round 9 (Standard) or 12 (Epic) wins. Ties go to the higher Rank.
  • ✓ Points: Provinces (top right of the cards), 1 VP per 2 units in the Standing Army, 1 VP per Capstone in the Hinterland (2 VP max), 1 VP per 2 Gems (5 Gold = 1 Gem), -1 VP per Hardship.
  • ✓ Solo: survive to the end and reach the score set by the difficulty.

Defeat

  • ✕ In multiplayer, nobody is eliminated: you simply lose on score.
  • ✕ Solo: lose a Last Stand, triggered each time the Front track goes past 12.

Turn sequence

  1. 1
    1. Draw and Build
    Draw 3 Endeavours (special draft in round 1), then build up to 2 Endeavours for free, plus paid Additional Builds.
  2. 2
    2. Progress
    Each Endeavour in the Build Queue moves down one position; leaving position 1, it joins the Territory (building) or the Standing Army (unit).
  3. 3
    3. Actions
    As many actions as you like: buy a Knowledge, Fortify, Expedite, trade, Feed Population. Then store your hand in the Hinterland.
  4. 4
    4. Choose Stance
    In secret: Worker (income), Defence (protection) or Attack (Campaigns, requires 2 units).
  5. 5
    5. Resolutions
    Reveal Stances, resolve Campaigns (Rank order), then Caravans.
  6. 6
    6. Year Event
    Resolve the cards placed on the year (Kingdom Advancement, End of Age, Ceremony), then reveal the Year Event: Productive Year, Decree, Looming Threat or Invasion.
  7. 7
    7. End Harvest
    Each Province yields its income, plus the Worker Stance bonus.