Évora Rulebook

Table of Contents

Components
Setup
Sequence of Play
Moving Your Worker
Draw 1 Card
Use the Construction Site Action
Playing Cards
- Play 1 Card to Use Its Effect
- Play 3 Cards to Use an Instant Bonus Tile
End of Game
Final Scoring
Card Effects
Credits

Components

This rulebook
1 game board
1 start player marker
36 cards: 9 Governor cards, 9 Emperor cards, 9 Architect cards, 9 Centurion cards (all share the same back design)
44 workers (11 of each of 4 colors)
1 Centurion piece (grey)
4 score markers (1 of each color)
8 Emperor bonus tiles (2 of each color) — front side shows "3", back side shows "5" (both are laurel-wreath victory point values)
4 instant bonus tiles

Column parts — you use these to build the columns:

56 colored stone blocks (14 of each of 4 colors)
12 white stone blocks
24 colored capitals (6 of each of 4 colors)

Setup

Each choose a color and take: 14 stones, 6 capitals, 11 workers, and 2 Emperor bonus tiles (with the "3 VP" side face up). Place this material in your own supply, visible to everyone, in front of you.
Place your score marker at the start of the score track.
Place the 12 white stones on the spaces of the Quarry.
Place the Centurion as shown on the Construction Site (on the space at the top left).
The oldest player goes first and takes the start player marker.
Place the 4 instant bonus tiles in the middle of the Temple.
Divide the cards by type (also recognizable by color) into 4 stacks. Shuffle each stack separately and place the 4 stacks face up in the middle of the Temple.
The player with the start marker places 1 of their workers on a space of their choice on the Construction Site. Then, going clockwise, all other players likewise place 1 of their workers on a space of their choice on the Construction Site. IMPORTANT: You may only place your workers on empty spaces!

Playing with two: You alternately place 1 worker each on a space of your choice. Repeat this until you have both placed 2 workers each. IMPORTANT: You may only place your workers on empty spaces!

Now you are ready to start playing!

Playing with three: Cover the 2 column spaces at the bottom left and bottom right in the Temple with 2 capitals of the unused color. You cannot build on these two column spaces — so you only have 12 available column spaces.

Playing with two: Cover 4 column spaces with 4 capitals of an unused color.

Sequence of Play

A game of Évora takes place over several rounds. In each round, the player with the start marker begins, and you take turns clockwise.

Each turn consists of 2 phases:

1 — Move your worker. You must move your worker on the Construction Site.

Playing with two: Choose 1 of your two workers on the Construction Site and move it.

2 — Choose 1 of the following options:

Draw 1 card. You may play cards from your hand before or after drawing.
Use the Construction Site action. Carry out the action of the space where the worker you moved now stands. You may play cards from your hand before or after the action.

Then your turn ends and the player to your left takes their turn.

Moving Your Worker

Starting from your worker, look clockwise for the next group of 3 consecutive empty spaces. Choose 1 of these spaces and move your worker there.

IMPORTANT: You may only place your worker on an empty space.

Example 1: Pink is taking their turn. The next group of 3 empty spaces is directly ahead of their worker. So they choose 1 of these three spaces and move their worker there.

Example 2: Green is taking their turn. The next group of 3 empty spaces is beyond the yellow worker and the Centurion. Green chooses 1 of these spaces and moves their worker there.

Draw 1 Card

You may play cards from your hand before or after drawing (see Cards).

If you choose this option, draw 1 card from one of the four stacks. Place it face down in front of you. You only pick it up into your hand after the end of your turn.

IMPORTANT: You may only use the card you draw starting from your next turn.

If the stack you want to draw a card from is empty, you immediately receive 2 VP instead of drawing a card from it. Move your score marker forward on the score track accordingly.

Use the Construction Site Action

You may play cards from your hand before or after the action (see Cards).

If you choose this option, you must carry out the action of the space where the worker you moved now stands. The Construction Site spaces have different actions: Build columns, place an Emperor bonus tile, draw 2 cards, use the Centurion, or use a card in the Temple.

Build Columns

For this action, you must first choose a column space where you want to build. Then you carry out the action as completely as possible.

When placing column parts (stones and capitals) in the Temple, the following rules apply:

You may place stones on any available column space (with or without stones already there).

(In a four-player game, all 14 column spaces are available.)

The Construction-Site fields that trigger this action show one of the following build patterns:

Place 2 stones of your color on 2 different column spaces (with or without stones).
Place 1 stone of your color on a column space (with or without stones).
Place 1 capital of your color on a column.
Place 1 stone of your color and 1 white stone on 2 different column spaces (with or without stones).
Place 1 capital of your color on a column and 1 white stone on another column space (with or without stones).
Place 1 stone of your color and 1 white stone, in the order shown, on the same column space (with or without stones).

Column-Building Rules

Each column may consist of a maximum of 4 stones, stacked on top of each other.
You may place stones on other stones already there, regardless of their color.
You may only place a capital on a column that already consists of 4 stones.
Only 1 capital may be placed on each column.
Whenever you place a column part, you immediately receive victory points for the height at which you placed it. Move your score marker forward accordingly.

Height → victory points:

Height	VP	Parts allowed
1	3	stones only
2	2	stones only
3	1	stones only
4	3	stones only
5	5	capitals only

Majorities on Individual Columns

To achieve the majority on a column, at least 2 column parts of your color must be in that column. Both stones and the capital count toward this. In case of a tie, the player whose column part is placed higher up has the majority.

As soon as you have the majority on a column, indicate this by immediately placing 1 worker from your supply on top of that column. If another player already has a worker on that column because they previously had the majority there, they take it back into their supply.

White stones are also taken into account when determining majorities. If the white stones have the majority on a column, no worker is placed on that column, because none of you has the majority.

White Stones

The white stones in the Quarry belong to no one and may be placed by anyone.

If you place a white stone (regardless of height), you always receive 2 VP instead of the normal victory points for that height.

Place an Emperor Bonus Tile

Place 1 of your Emperor bonus tiles next to any column space that does not yet have an Emperor bonus tile next to it. This grants you additional victory points at the end of the game for column parts of your color in that column. Do NOT flip the tile over when doing this — Emperor bonus tiles can only be flipped by cards and instant bonus tiles (see Cards and Instant Bonus Tiles).

Example: Yellow places their Emperor bonus tile next to a column with many yellow column parts. This way, Yellow will get more victory points at the end of the game.

Draw 2 Cards

Draw 2 cards. The space with this action shows which two stacks you draw 1 card from each. Place these cards face down in front of you. You only pick them up into your hand after the end of your turn.

If the stack shown is empty, you receive 2 VP instead of drawing a card from it.

IMPORTANT: You may only use the cards you draw starting from your next turn.

Example: Through this space, Blue draws 1 Emperor card and 1 Architect card from the corresponding stacks.

Use a Card in the Temple

Choose 1 of the card types shown on the space with this action. Then use the effect of the top card of that type in the Temple.

IMPORTANT: You do not draw this card — you only use its effect. Afterward, the card does not go back into the box either.

All card effects are described in detail under Cards, below.

Use the Centurion

Move the Centurion on the Construction Site in the same way as your worker, and use the action of the space you move the Centurion to.

IMPORTANT: Through the "Use the Centurion" action, you treat the Centurion like one of your own workers. It belongs to you until the end of your turn and determines what you can do — for example, if you then want to play a card from your hand (see below). After your turn, the Centurion no longer belongs to you. It stays on the space you placed it on, and can be used again by anyone.

Playing Cards

Once during your turn, before or after you draw 1 card or use the Construction Site action, you may either:

play 1 card from your hand to use its effect,

play 3 cards from your hand to use an instant bonus tile.

Play 1 Card to Use Its Effect

Play 1 card and immediately use its effect.

Then put it back in the box. It cannot be used again in this game.

The card you play must have the same color as the space where the worker you moved is standing. However, if you play a card after the "Use the Centurion" action, it must have the same color as the space the Centurion is now standing on.

You may only play 1 card per turn to use its effect.

Always carry out the effect of your card as fully as possible.

Example: Blue may play their purple Emperor card because their worker is standing on a purple space.

All card effects are described in detail under Cards, below, and see Final Scoring for how they affect the end of the game.

Play 3 Cards to Use an Instant Bonus Tile

Instead of playing 1 card to use its effect, you may play 3 cards at once to use 1 instant bonus tile from the Temple. The 3 played cards may be of any colors. Put them back in the box without using their effects.

After you have used an instant bonus tile, it goes back in the box — it cannot be used again in this game.

Always carry out the effect of an instant bonus tile as fully as possible.

The four instant bonus tiles are:

Place 1 capital of your color on a column. Place 2 stones of your color on another column space (with or without stones).
Flip your 2 Emperor bonus tiles over so that the side with 5 VP faces up. It doesn't matter whether they are already placed next to column spaces or not.
Place 2 capitals of your color on 2 different columns.
Place 3 stones of your color on 3 different column spaces (with or without stones).

End of Game

The end of the game is triggered as soon as 1 of the following conditions is met:

A player places the last stone in the Temple, so that all available column spaces have columns with 4 stones. Capitals are not taken into account here.

A player places the last stone of their color in the Temple. It doesn't matter whether there are still columns with fewer than 4 stones in the Temple.

All other players who have not yet taken their turn this round still take their turns, so that everyone has had the same number of turns. Then the game ends.

Scoring your victory points follows (see Final Scoring, below).

Final Scoring

Count your victory points as follows:

Emperor Bonus

For every column next to which one of your Emperor bonus tiles lies, you receive 3 VP or 5 VP for each column part of your color in that column, depending on which side of the tile is face up.

Example: In this column there are 4 yellow column parts (3 stones and 1 capital). Yellow's Emperor bonus tile next to this column shows 5 VP. So Yellow calculates 5 VP × 4 column parts and receives 20 VP.

Majorities on Individual Columns

You receive 5 VP for each worker of your color on top of the columns. (It doesn't matter how many column parts these columns consist of.)

Majorities on the Heights of All Columns

Whoever has the most stones at Height 1 across all columns receives 5 VP. In case of a tie, those involved each receive 3 VP.
Whoever has the most stones at Height 2 across all columns receives 10 VP. In case of a tie, those involved each receive 5 VP.
Whoever has the most stones at Height 3 across all columns receives 15 VP. In case of a tie, those involved each receive 8 VP.
Whoever has the most stones at Height 4 across all columns receives 5 VP. In case of a tie, those involved each receive 3 VP.
Whoever has the most capitals across all columns receives 10 VP. In case of a tie, those involved each receive 5 VP.

IMPORTANT:

White stones are taken into account when determining majorities. Imagine they belong to an imaginary player whose victory points you don't write down.
To achieve the majority at a height, at least 2 column parts of your color must be at that height.

Example (for space reasons, only 5 columns are shown):

Height 5 — No one has at least 2 column parts at this height. Therefore no one has the majority.
Height 4 — Blue has the majority and receives 5 VP for it.
Height 3 — Blue has the majority and receives 15 VP for it.
Height 2 — There is a tie for the majority between Pink and the white stones. Pink therefore only receives 5 VP.
Height 1 — There is a tie for the majority between Yellow and Green, so they each receive 3 VP.

Add up your victory points and move your score marker forward accordingly. If you exceed 100 VP, start again from the beginning of the score track and continue counting at 101.

Whoever has the most victory points wins!

In case of a tie, whoever among those tied has fewer column parts remaining in their own supply (i.e., has placed more column parts in the Temple) wins.

If there is still a tie, whoever among those tied sits further back in turn order wins.

Card Effects

There are 4 card types (9 cards each, 3 distinct effects per type, in 3 copies): Governor, Emperor, Architect, and Centurion. A card's color always matches the Construction Site space color it is tied to (see "Playing Cards," above).

Governor Cards

Choose 1 column and receive victory points for all column parts of your color in it: Height 5 = 5 VP, Height 4 = 3 VP, Height 3 = 1 VP, Height 2 = 2 VP, Height 1 = 3 VP. If one of your Emperor bonus tiles lies next to this column, it does not count here.
You receive 5 VP for each worker of your color on top of the columns (max. 15 VP). (It doesn't matter how many column parts these columns consist of.)
Choose a height at which you have the majority, and receive victory points accordingly: Height 5 = 10 VP (5 VP in case of a tie); Height 4 = 5 VP (3 VP in case of a tie); Height 3 = 15 VP (8 VP in case of a tie); Height 2 = 10 VP (5 VP in case of a tie); Height 1 = 5 VP (3 VP in case of a tie). In case of a tie, the other players involved receive no victory points, and you only receive the victory points that apply for a tie. To achieve the majority at a height, at least 2 column parts of your color must be at that height.

Emperor Cards

Place 1 of your Emperor bonus tiles next to a column space that does not yet have an Emperor bonus tile next to it. IMPORTANT: Do not flip the tile over when doing this. If the tile currently shows 5 VP, you place it with that side face up.
Flip 1 of your Emperor bonus tiles over so that the side with 5 VP faces up. It doesn't matter whether it is already placed next to a column space or not.
Choose 1 of the four card types and use the effect of the top card of that type in the Temple. IMPORTANT: You do not draw this card — you only use its effect. Afterward, it does not go back into the box either.

Architect Cards

Choose 1 column space (with or without stones) and place 1 stone of your color and 1 white stone, in the order shown, on it. Carry out this effect as fully as possible.
Choose 1 column space (with or without stones) and place 1 stone of your color on it.
Choose 1 column space (with or without stones) and place 2 stones of your color on it. Carry out this effect as fully as possible.

Centurion Cards

Have the Centurion swap places with any 1 worker on the Construction Site (it may be your own). Use the action of the space you place the Centurion on.
Place the Centurion on any empty space on the Construction Site and use the action of that space. IMPORTANT: The normal rules for moving do not apply here.
Move the Centurion in the same way as your worker and use the action of the space you move the Centurion to. The normal rules for moving apply (see Moving Your Worker, above).

Credits

Author: João Quintela Martins
Illustration: Matteo Piana
Graphic design: Gil d'Orey
German edition — Translation: Lisa Prohaska; Editing: Frank Thuro

Questions about this game: [email protected] — www.mebo.pt

MEBO Games Lda., Rua dos Bem Lembrados, 141 - Manique, 2645-471 Alcabideche, Portugal.

Thanks to everyone who playtested this game: Alexandre Abreu, André Dias, André Goucha, André Martins, André Santos, André Tavares, Ângela Ribeiro, António Paiva, António Pimentel, António Silva, António Sousa Lara, Aurora Coelho, Bruno Maciel, Bruno Ribeiro, Carlos Martins, Carlos Ramos, Carlos Meinedo, Carolina Magalhães Dias, Citie Lo, Daniel Alexandre, David Rodrigues, David Ventura, Diogo Barros, Fábio Lima, Francisco Maia, Francisco Martins, Gilberto Magalhães, Guilherme Costa, Hugo Marinho, Joana Martins, Joana Pimentel, Jean-Mario Ribeiro, João Pedro Martins, João Monteiro, João Pimentel, João Tiago, João Troviscal Costa, José Ferreira, Luís Santos, Mafalda Soares, Marina Fonseca, Miguel Conceição, Miguel Costa, Miguel Lourenço, Miguel Ribeiro, Nazaré Gonçalves, Orlando Sá, Patricia Oliveira, Pedro Coelho, Pedro Felício, Pedro Silva, Pedro Soares, Rachel Viegas, Ricardo Jorge Gomes, Rita Jesus, Rui Duarte, Salvador Martins, Sérgio Carvalho, Tânia Manjolhinha, Tatiana Tygana, Telmo Leal, Tiago Martins, Vital Lacerda und Vitor Escalona.