Stockpile

To set up Stockpile, place the main game board in the center, which includes the round tracker, the value tracks for the six different companies, and spaces for market cards. Shuffle the company cards and market fluctuation cards separately, placing them face down in their designated areas. Arrange the bonus cards for majority shareholders and the money piles (1K to 100K denominations) within reach. Each player selects a color, takes a player folder, 20,000 in starting money (e.g., three 5K bills and five 1K bills), and one share of each of the six companies, placing them in their folder. The starting player token is given to a randomly chosen player.

The primary objective in Stockpile is to accumulate the most wealth by the end of the game. Wealth is calculated by summing a player's cash on hand, the current market value of all their owned stock shares, and any end-game majority shareholder bonuses. Players achieve this by strategically buying and selling stocks, using secret information to anticipate market changes, and influencing stock prices through various actions.

Each round consists of several phases. First, in the Information Phase, each player secretly receives one company card and one market fluctuation card, gaining private knowledge about future market movements. Then, a public market fluctuation card is revealed, and remaining cards are placed face down. Second, in the Offer Phase, company shares and commission cards are dealt face-up and face-down into 'stockpiles' on the board, with each pile having a visible cost. Third, the Demand Phase involves players taking turns placing their meeples on a stockpile's cost slot, bidding to acquire it. Players can overbid, forcing previous bidders to move their meeple. Once all players have placed their meeples, they pay the bid amount to the bank and collect the cards from their chosen stockpile, adding shares to their portfolio and commission cards to their hand. Fourth, in the Operations Phase, players can play operation cards from their hand to increase or decrease the value of specific companies on the market. Finally, the Movement Phase executes all market fluctuation cards (both public and secretly held by players) and any remaining points from operation cards, adjusting company values. If a company's value reaches the 'double' space, its shares held by players are doubled in value for future sales; if it reaches the 'bankruptcy' space, all shares of that company are discarded, and its value resets.

Throughout the game, players score money by selling their stock shares at their current market value during the Sell Phase. Dividends are not explicitly mentioned in the provided video, but in the full game, they are typically paid out based on stock ownership. At the end of the game, after the final round, all players sell their remaining stocks at their current market value. Additionally, for each company, the player who holds the most shares receives a bonus payment (e.g., 10,000). The player with the highest total wealth (cash + value of remaining stocks + majority bonuses) is declared the winner.

The game concludes after a predetermined number of rounds, which varies based on the number of players (e.g., six rounds for four players). Once the final Movement Phase of the last round is completed, players proceed to the final scoring. All remaining stock shares are sold at their current market value. Players then reveal their total shares for each company to determine majority shareholders, who receive bonus payments. The player with the highest total wealth, combining their cash and the value of all their assets, wins the game.