Board Game Splendor - Duel

This is the latest edition of the hit abstract «Splendor». The dueling game retains the main thematic and gameplay features of the original, and yet brings new dynamics and spatial solutions to the confrontation, thanks to which it deserves a place in the collection of fans of games for two.

Spatial Splendor for Two

One of the main features of the game is the use of a special field from which players will collect precious stones. Now you can`t just take any stones you like, because there are special rules for selection that add a spatial puzzle to the game and deepen tactical thinking several moves ahead of the original with combinations of stones on the field, which will resemble chess patterns of possible opponent`s moves.

Rules for selecting gems

Each of the gems, except for pink pearls (a new type), of which there are two in the game, is represented by three tokens. At the beginning of the game, all stones are placed on the field. When you take a token out of the bag, you should place it on the next cell on the field in the direction of the arrow. Here are the basic rules for selection:

• You can still take only one joker gold token. With it, you immediately reserve either one of the open cards on the table, or select a stack of one of the levels and take the top card from there.
• You can take up to three stones that are located on the field in a row horizontally, vertically or diagonally. You cannot pick up gold this way, but you can take the stone that is located next to the joker token.
• When you take the third token of the same color, your opponent receives an advantage token. This token can be spent to take one additional stone of any kind on your turn.
• If there are not enough stones left on the field, you can refresh the field by placing tokens on it according to the rules, as at the beginning of the game. Immediately after that, you can pick up stones as usual, but your opponent will get an advantage token because you had the privilege of first choosing stones.

Possible actions on a player`s turn

On your turn, you can perform one of the following actions:

1. Take up to three stones from the field.
2. Take a gold token and reserve a card.
3. Buy a card for jewel tokens (returned to the purse) and place it in front of you. You can buy a card from the market or from among the cards you have reserved. In place of the purchased card, you should immediately reveal a new one from the corresponding deck.

In addition to the effects that are activated immediately after purchase and the number of prestige points you need to win, purchased cards may also have a bonus of their color. Each stone symbol of the corresponding color depicted on your purchased cards reduces the cost of purchasing cards by the same number of stones of that color.

Crown symbols may also be depicted on stone cards. They attract the attention of the nobility to you. As soon as you collect three crowns, take one of the revealed aristocrat cards and play its effect. This does not require using an action. Aristocrat cards will also bring you prestige points. The second aristocrat card can be taken once you have collected six crowns.

Victory conditions

The player who scores 20 prestige points on all cards in total, 10 points on stone cards of the same color, or 10 crown symbols, ends the game and wins.