How to play.

Build your gem engine

2–4 players compete for prestige. Each development you buy gives a permanent gem discount. Nobles reward collections of those bonuses.

Choose one action each turn

Take gems: take 3 different colors, or 2 of one color if at least 4 are in that stack. You must take 3 different colors when available; take fewer only when fewer colors remain.

Reserve: take a market card or the top card of a deck into your private reserve, plus 1 gold if available. You may hold at most 3 reserved cards. You cannot discard reservations.

Buy: buy a market or reserved card. Subtract your permanent bonuses from its cost, then pay with gems. Gold is wild; you may choose to spend gold even when you have matching gems. The purchased card adds its bonus and prestige immediately.

Finish your turn

If you hold more than 10 tokens, choose which to return, including newly taken ones. If your permanent bonuses meet a noble’s requirements, that noble must visit for 3 prestige. Choose exactly one if several qualify. Tokens are not spent on nobles.

Winning

When a player reaches at least 15 prestige, finish the current round so everyone has the same number of turns. Highest prestige wins. Tied? Fewest purchased development cards wins. Still tied? Share the victory.

Optional expansions · 2025 rules

Trading Posts: Unlock permanent powers: extra gems, stronger gold, prestige, and a choice when reserving from a deck.

Strongholds: Protect market cards with your strongholds. Stack all three for an extra purchase.

Earn at most one Trading Post at the end of each turn, after the noble visit. Keep its power for the rest of the game. Conquest permits one extra purchase before returning excess tokens and welcoming a noble. Each purchase earns one stronghold placement, move, or removal.

All switches are optional and fixed for a match. Rematches keep the same settings.

At this table

The host takes the first turn. Solo waits for you. Friends have 75 seconds for each action or required choice; a missed choice is handled by a bot. Refresh the same room link in the same browser to reconnect.