Description

?????? (Shinanokoku Dogoushu, "Lords of Shinano") is a card-laying game about exploring mountainous terrain and choosing the right spot to build a castle.

Each turn you may move and add a card to the map. You can move one step across normal terrain, pay two points to move through mountains, or you can move as far as you want along a river for free. When you add a card it has to be on a space next to your pawn and any rivers must line up. You get points equal to the number on the card (1, 2, or 3, with higher point cards being more complicated) for every edge that perfectly matches what you put it against. If no edges match you can still play the card but it's worth negative points equal to its face value. If you can't play a card at all, you have to discard one face down, which is worth triple negative points at the end of the game.

Once during the game you must play a castle. This costs ten points, but at the end of the game you get points for the card under your castle and the four neighboring cards. Castles must be built at least two cards apart, so building in the right place can also deny other players points. When moving, castles and pawns both allow you charge tolls for anyone passing through, which is the best way to get a point advantage over other players.

Explore the countryside, build your castle in the right place, and see if you can become the richest Lord of Shinano.

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