Splendor: Marvel

To set up Splendor: Marvel, shuffle the three levels of development cards (level 1, 2, and 3) and place them in their designated spots. Draw four cards from each level and place them face-up in a common area. Arrange the five basic token colors (red, blue, purple, yellow, orange) and five grey joker tokens (representing shields) in stacks. The number of basic tokens varies by player count, but all five joker tokens are always used. Place the location tiles (double-sided) according to the number of players; for two players, use two location tiles. Finally, place the game-ending trigger tile, which outlines the victory conditions.

The primary objective in Splendor: Marvel is to be the first player to achieve 16 victory points, collect at least one card of each of the five basic colors (red, blue, purple, yellow, orange), and possess a green token. The green token is obtained by purchasing a third-level card. The game-ending trigger tile clearly displays these conditions, and once met, it initiates the final round of play.

During your turn, you can choose one of four basic actions. First, you can take up to three tokens of different colors. Second, you can take two tokens of the same color, provided the stack has at least four tokens (for a two-player game). Third, you can purchase a development card from the common area or from your reserved cards by paying the required token cost. Fourth, you can reserve a card, taking it into your hand and gaining one joker token; you cannot have more than three reserved cards at a time. If no joker tokens are available, you can still reserve a card but won't gain a token.

Victory points are primarily scored from the development cards you purchase, indicated by the number on each card. Additionally, location tiles provide three victory points each. These tiles are acquired by collecting a specific number of cards of certain colors, as indicated on the tile. For example, a location tile might require three yellow, three blue, and three red cards. Location tiles are acquired exclusively through cards, not tokens. The 'Avengers' tile is a special tile that grants three transferable victory points and can be claimed by any player who has the most 'A' symbols on their cards. This tile can change hands dynamically during the game, adding a strategic element to the endgame.

The game concludes when a player meets all three victory conditions: 16 victory points, at least one card of each of the five basic colors, and a green token. Once these conditions are met, all other players get one final turn to equalize the number of turns played. After everyone has had an equal number of turns, players tally their total victory points. If multiple players have the same highest score, the player with the 'Avengers' tile wins. If still tied, the player with the fewest development cards wins. Reserved cards do not count as negative points at the end of the game.