Gardienii Dragonilor (RO)

The game setup involves sorting the 123 dragon cards into two main decks: one with numbers on the back and one with dragons on the back. From the number-backed deck, 11 dark dragon cards (those with a '6' on the back) are set aside face-up to form a separate pile. From the dragon-backed deck, 8 initial cards (those with a red ribbon on the back) are set aside. The first player starts with zero initial cards, the second player receives one, the third two, and the fourth three, with any remaining initial cards returned to the box. The remaining 104 cards are shuffled and divided into two face-down decks, forming the magic card. Two cards are then drawn from the top of each magic card deck and placed face-up in front of their respective decks, creating the 'offer'. The 45 amulet pieces are shuffled face-down, and a certain number are removed based on player count (16 for 2 players, 12 for 3, 8 for 4), with the rest turned face-up and sorted by value. The three crests, 10 crystals, 15 pearls, and 9 golden eggs are placed in a general supply.

The objective of Gardienii Dragonilor is to accumulate the most points by the end of the game. Players achieve this by strategically taking dragon cards from the offer, modifying the magic card to their advantage, playing dragon cards from their hand to their play area, and collecting various rewards such as amulets, pearls, crystals, and golden eggs. The player with the highest total score from these collected items and played cards will be declared the winner.

A turn in Gardienii Dragonilor is divided into five distinct steps. First, players take dragon cards from the offer, choosing one, two, or three cards. Each time a card is taken, a new one is immediately drawn from the corresponding magic card deck to replenish the offer. Second, before playing dragon cards, players have the option to modify the magic card by placing a card from their hand face-down onto either the left or right page of the magic card. This changes the requirements for playing dragon cards. Third, players play dragon cards from their hand to their play area, matching the number and color requirements shown on the magic card. If playing a new color, a new stack is started; otherwise, cards are added to an existing stack. Fourth, players receive rewards based on the magic card's left page, typically an amulet piece and sometimes a crystal or golden egg. Completing an amulet ring with three pieces earns a pearl. Fifth, the turn concludes, and other players (in clockwise order) have the option to play dragon cards from their hand to their play area, following the current magic card rules, but without being able to modify it.

Points are primarily scored through played dragon cards, collected amulets, pearls, crystals, and golden eggs. Each played dragon card contributes points based on its value. Amulet pieces, once forming a complete ring of three, grant a pearl, with red pearls being more valuable (8 or 9 points) than blue pearls (3 or 4 points). Crystals are used to take additional cards from the offer. Golden eggs are worth 4 points each, but the player with the most golden eggs at the end of the game flips one of their eggs to reveal a bonus of 16 points instead of 4. Crests are awarded for being the first to play at least one dragon of each of the four colors, providing significant bonus points (16, 10, or 6 points depending on availability). All points from these collected items and played cards are totaled at the end of the game.

The game concludes after the round in which a specific number of amulets have been completed in total by all players. This threshold varies based on the number of players: 7 completed amulets for a 2-player game, 8 for a 3-player game, and 9 for a 4-player game. Once this condition is met, the current round is finished, and then all players reveal their face-down pearls and amulet pieces, tallying their points. Players holding crests and golden eggs add their respective values to their final score. The player with the highest total score wins the game. In case of a tie, the player with the most played dragon cards in their play area wins. If the tie persists, all tied players are declared winners.