/pic1638795.jpg)
Caylus
Ystari Games · 2005
2–560–150 min12+ yrs3.8/5 complexity7.7 BGG#140 BGG29,8 KStrategy
⚡ short answer
How do you play Caylus?
The primary objective of Caylus is to accumulate the most prestige points (victory points) by the end of the game. Prestige points are earned through various actions, most notably by contributing to the construction of the king's castle, building and owning advantageous buildings, and converting leftover gold at the end of the game.
To find the best price for Caylus, howtoplay.ro compares deals from Romanian shops every day.
/pic1638795.jpg)
the rules in 60 seconds▶ auto · 1/6
🧩
01
Setup
The game is set up with the main board, resource cubes, coins, worker pawns, and building tiles.
The rules, step by step
Setup
The game setup involves placing the main game board, which features a road with various action spaces, a castle track, and a scoring track. Resource cubes (wood, stone, cloth, food) and coins are placed in designated areas. Each player receives a set of worker pawns, a starting amount of resources, and coins. Building tiles are shuffled and placed face down, with a certain number revealed to form the initial building market.
Objective
The primary objective of Caylus is to accumulate the most prestige points (victory points) by the end of the game. Prestige points are earned through various actions, most notably by contributing to the construction of the king's castle, building and owning advantageous buildings, and converting leftover gold at the end of the game.
On your turn
A turn in Caylus consists of several phases. Players first decide whether to place a worker on an action space or pass. Placing a worker costs money, with the cost increasing for spaces further down the road. Once all players have passed, the provost and bailiff are moved, determining which sections of the road are active. Actions are then resolved in order along the road, from the castle to the village. Finally, resources are collected from income buildings, and new building tiles are revealed.
Scoring
Prestige points are scored in multiple ways. Building castle pieces is a major source of points, with each piece contributing to a player's score. Owning buildings that other players use can also generate income or prestige points. Certain special buildings provide immediate or end-game prestige. At the end of the game, any remaining gold is converted into prestige points, typically at a rate of 3 coins per point.
Game end
The game concludes when either the castle is fully constructed (all 14 castle spaces are filled) or when the bailiff reaches the end of the road for the third time, signaling the end of the final era. After the final round, players calculate their total prestige points from castle contributions, buildings, and remaining gold. The player with the highest prestige point total wins the game.
Tips
Understanding resource valuation is key; a cube is roughly equivalent to three coins. Prioritize building the more powerful stone buildings, as they offer better benefits. In games with fewer players (2-3), being the second player to contribute to the castle can be a strong strategic move, allowing you to react to your opponent's contributions and potentially outbid them for the 'best builder' favor. However, if there are many empty castle spaces and you have a large number of cubes, being the first to build a significant number of pieces can secure a strong lead.
🔬 game anatomy
Complexity3.8 / 5
BGG rating7.7 / 10
Vibe
Strategy
Language dependence
No in-game text needed
Play time
60–150 min
Players
2–5
Recommended age
12+ yrs
BGG rank
#140
✨ from Trișache · verified
Frequently asked questions
Q1What is the goal of the game?
The primary objective of Caylus is to accumulate the most prestige points (victory points) by the end of the game. Prestige points are earned through various actions, most notably by contributing to the construction of the king's castle, building and owning advantageous buildings, and converting leftover gold at the end of the game.
Q2How do you set up the game?
The game setup involves placing the main game board, which features a road with various action spaces, a castle track, and a scoring track. Resource cubes (wood, stone, cloth, food) and coins are placed in designated areas. Each player receives a set of worker pawns, a starting amount of resources, and coins. Building tiles are shuffled and placed face down, with a certain number revealed to form the initial building market.
Q3How does a turn work?
A turn in Caylus consists of several phases. Players first decide whether to place a worker on an action space or pass. Placing a worker costs money, with the cost increasing for spaces further down the road. Once all players have passed, the provost and bailiff are moved, determining which sections of the road are active. Actions are then resolved in order along the road, from the castle to the village. Finally, resources are collected from income buildings, and new building tiles are revealed.
Q4How is scoring calculated?
Prestige points are scored in multiple ways. Building castle pieces is a major source of points, with each piece contributing to a player's score. Owning buildings that other players use can also generate income or prestige points. Certain special buildings provide immediate or end-game prestige. At the end of the game, any remaining gold is converted into prestige points, typically at a rate of 3 coins per point.
Q5When and how does the game end?
The game concludes when either the castle is fully constructed (all 14 castle spaces are filled) or when the bailiff reaches the end of the road for the third time, signaling the end of the final era. After the final round, players calculate their total prestige points from castle contributions, buildings, and remaining gold. The player with the highest prestige point total wins the game.
Q6What tips are there for beginners?
Understanding resource valuation is key; a cube is roughly equivalent to three coins. Prioritize building the more powerful stone buildings, as they offer better benefits. In games with fewer players (2-3), being the second player to contribute to the castle can be a strong strategic move, allowing you to react to your opponent's contributions and potentially outbid them for the 'best builder' favor. However, if there are many empty castle spaces and you have a large number of cubes, being the first to build a significant number of pieces can secure a strong lead.
Q7How much does Caylus cost?
No store is currently tracking Caylus. Check the Prices tab — you can set a price alert to be notified when it appears.
Q8Where can I buy Caylus cheapest?
Check the Prices tab — howtoplay.ro aggregates offers from 7+ Romanian board-game stores and tracks price history.
Q9How do you play Caylus?
Caylus is a city building game, for 2–5 players, taking ~60–150 minutes, featuring action queue. Check the Rules tab for setup, gameplay, and scoring, or ask Trișache anything about Caylus — our AI assistant built by howtoplay.ro and trained specifically on board game rulebooks.
Q10How many players does Caylus support?
Caylus is played by 2–5 players.
Mechanics & categories