The Castles of Tuscany

To set up the game, first assemble the circular score board and place it in the center of the table. Shuffle the 122 region cards and place them face down next to the score board. Do the same with the production cards. Separate the 25 square bonus tiles by type and place them near the score board. Place the 8 bonus tiles with Roman numerals face up above the score board. Create a general reserve with the 12 marble cubes, 12 worker meeples, and 10 blue hexagonal pieces. Shuffle the 32 neutral hexagonal tiles (with beige backs) face down and form stacks. Each player receives a player board, 21 hexagonal tiles of their chosen color (shuffled and placed in three stacks of seven on their player board), and a double-sided green hexagonal tile. Place the small score marker on space 0 of the outer green track and the large score marker on space 0 of the inner red track. The 50/100 marker is placed in the center of the board with the 50 side up. Each player draws five region cards, keeping them secret. The 12 region boards are separated into three stacks (A, B, C) based on their backs, shuffled, and each player draws one from each stack. The remaining region boards are returned to the box. Players arrange their three region boards adjacent to each other, ensuring long edges are parallel and any vertical offset is no more than one hexagon. Finally, each player places their double-sided green tile on any dark green space on their region boards. The youngest player receives the first player token.

The main objective of The Castles of Tuscany is to accumulate the most victory points by the end of the game. Players achieve this by strategically collecting and placing hexagonal tiles on their personal region boards, forming and completing areas of matching colors. These actions not only grant immediate bonuses and resources but also contribute to end-game scoring. The player who has successfully developed the most prosperous and beautiful region, reflected in their total victory points on the red track, will be declared the winner.

A turn consists of choosing one of three possible actions. The first action is to draw two region cards from the central deck. There is no hand limit for region cards. If the deck runs out, the discard pile is shuffled to form a new deck. The second action is to take a hexagonal tile. You choose one of the eight face-up neutral tiles from the main display and place it on your player board's storage space. If this space is already occupied, the old tile is returned to the box. If taking a tile empties one of your three stacks of colored tiles, you announce it, and the round continues until all players have had an equal number of turns. The third action is to place a hexagonal tile. You must discard two region cards of the same color as the tile you wish to place from your storage. If you lack the required cards, you can discard any two identical cards to act as a wild card for one of the needed cards. After paying, you place the tile from your storage onto your region board, adjacent to at least one previously placed tile. You cannot place a tile such that a short edge is parallel to a long edge, and the vertical offset between adjacent tiles must not exceed one hexagon. After placing a tile, you check if you have closed any areas of matching colored tiles.

Scoring occurs at the end of each round. First, players look at their score marker on the green track, add its value to their red track score, and then move their red marker to the new total. The green marker is not reset. If a player's red marker passes 50, they flip their 50/100 token to the 100 side. Points are also awarded for completing areas of matching colored tiles on your region board. The size of the completed area (1, 2, or 3 hexagons) determines the victory points awarded, as indicated on your player board. Additionally, each of the eight types of hexagonal tiles provides a unique bonus when placed, such as drawing extra cards, gaining marble or workers, or placing additional tiles. These bonuses are detailed on your player board. Bonus tiles with Roman numerals are claimed by the first and second players to complete specific colored areas, granting additional victory points.

The game concludes after three rounds. A round ends immediately when a player empties either their first or second stack of colored tiles on their player board. All other players then get one more turn to ensure everyone has played an equal number of turns. After the third round's scoring, additional victory points are awarded: one point for each unplaced tile in your storage, each blue joker tile, each marble token, and each worker token you possess. Furthermore, you receive one victory point on the red track for every three region cards remaining in your hand. The player with the highest total victory points on the red track wins the game. In case of a tie, the tied player with the most empty spaces on their region boards wins. If still tied, the player with the fewest points on the green track wins. If a tie persists, the player with the fewest cards in hand wins.