Lords of Waterdeep
Lords of Waterdeep Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Game Components
- How to Win
- Setup
- Sequence of Play
- Ending the Game
- Appendix 1: Buildings
- Basic Buildings
- Advanced Buildings
- Dragon Tower
- Fetlock Court
- The Golden Horn
- Helmstar Warehouse
- Heroes’ Garden
- House of Good Spirits
- House of Heroes
- House of the Moon
- House of Wonder
- Jesters’ Court
- New Olamn
- Northgate
- The Palace of Waterdeep
- The Skulkway
- Smuggler’s Dock
- Spires of the Morning
- The Stone House
- The Three Pearls
- The Tower of Luck
- Tower of the Order
- The Waymoot
- The Yawning Portal
- The Zoarstar
- Appendix 2: Agents
- Appendix 3: Lords of Waterdeep
- Appendix 4: Clarifications
- Glossary
- Rules Reference
Introduction
Welcome to Waterdeep, the City of Splendors!
You are a Lord of Waterdeep, one of the secret rulers of this great city. Through your Agents, you recruit Adventurers to complete Quests and advance your agendas.
The Lords of Waterdeep all have the safety of their city at heart, but each one is also laying his or her own plans! Through backdoor dealings, mercenaries, and plain old bribery, can you guide the city to become the greatest Lord of Waterdeep?
Game Components
- Game board
- Rulebook
- Storage tray
- 5 player mats
- 100 Adventurer cubes:
- 25 Clerics (white)
- 25 Fighters (orange)
- 25 Rogues (black)
- 25 Wizards (purple)
- 33 wooden pieces:
- 5 score markers
- 25 Agents (5 of each color)
- 1 Ambassador
- 1 Lieutenant
- 1 First Player marker
- 121 cards:
- 11 Lord of Waterdeep cards
- 50 Intrigue cards
- 60 Quest cards
- 170 die-cut pieces:
- 24 Building tiles
- 45 Building control markers
- (9 of each color)
- 60 Gold tokens
- 50 1-Gold tokens
- 10 5-Gold tokens
- 36 Victory Point tokens
- 5 100 VP tokens
How to Win
The Lords of Waterdeep™ game is played in eight rounds. The player with the most Victory Points at the end of the final round is the winner.
Setup
Before you can start playing, you’ll need to spend a bit of time setting up the game.
Game Board
The game board represents the various Wards of the city of Waterdeep.
A track near the bottom edge of the board marks the passage of rounds, while another along the outside edge is used to track players’ scores.
Unfold and place the game board in the center of the play area within easy reach of all players.
Agents
As a Lord of Waterdeep, you assign your Agents to further your interests in the city. There are 5 different colors of these wooden pieces, which represent various secret societies.
Each player chooses a color and takes Agents of that color. These form your pool of Agents. Place them on the “Agent Pool” area of your player mat.
The number of Agents in your pool depends on the number of players, as shown in the table below.
| Number Of Players | Agents per Player |
|---|---|
| 2 | 4 |
| 3 | 3 |
| 4 | 2 |
| 5 | 2 |
Each player also places 1 more Agent of his or her color near the Round 5 space of the rounds track. That Agent will be available for use on that round. A sixth (gray) space is included for use in future expansions
In addition, the game contains 2 neutral Agent pieces: the Ambassador and the Lieutenant. These Agents do not begin play under anyone’s control but can be added to a player’s pool through game effects.
Score Markers
Each player has a circular wooden piece that matches the color of his or her Agents. Place these score markers on the scoring track in the space labeled “0.”
Counters representing 100 Victory Points (VP) are provided to mark when a score marker passes the “0” space in play.
Player Mats
Each player takes a player mat that matches his or her Agents’ color. This helps keep track of various game resources.
Agent Pool: Here is where you keep Agents that you have not yet assigned (see “Assign Agent” on page 8). At the end of the round, all of your assigned Agents return to your pool.
Tavern: This area holds the Adventurers you have hired until you use them to complete Quests. You also store Gold in your Tavern.
Completed Quests: Whenever you complete a Quest, you place its card in the “Completed Quests” area of your player mat. Rules for completing Quests start on page 10.
Adventurers
Your Agents hire various Adventurers, whether noble heroes or mere mercenaries, to accomplish various tasks.
There are four kinds of Adventurers, represented by wooden cubes: Clerics (white), Fighters (orange), Rogues (black), and Wizards (purple). Different Quests require different kinds of Adventurers to complete.
Along with Gold (see below), these cubes form the supply. Place them to the side of the game board, within easy reach of all players.
If there aren’t enough of a particular Adventurer type in the supply to hire, you can hire only as many as are available.
Other Pieces
The Lords of Waterdeep game includes several kinds of pieces, described below.
Building Control Markers
Each player has a number of die-cut tokens to indicate ownership of Buildings he or she has purchased. These tokens match the color of the player’s Agents.
Gold
Nothing comes cheaply in Waterdeep. Your Agents need plenty of cash to grease the wheels. Gold is used to buy Buildings, to complete many Quests, and to pay for other game effects.
Gold is represented by die-cut tokens, in denominations of 1 and 5 Gold. These also form part of the supply, which should be within easy reach of all players.
Victory Points
As you complete Quests, you score Victory Points (VP). Unpurchased Buildings accumulate VP over time, represented by die-cut tokens. As well, some Buildings and other game effects provide VP.
Place 3 Victory Point tokens on each space of the rounds track.
Buildings
The game board contains 9 basic Buildings, each of which has one or more action spaces to which Agents can be assigned. See “Assign Agent” on page 8 for more information.
There are also spaces for Building tiles, which players can purchase and put into play.
To start the game, draw 3 Building tiles and place them face up in each of the 3 spaces in Builder’s Hall.
The remaining face-down Building tiles form a stack, placed in the labeled space on the game board near Builder’s Hall.
Reading a Building
Each Building, whether printed on the game board or a tile in Builder’s Hall, contains the same kinds of information. See “Assign Agent” on page 8 for more information.
Name: You can look up more detailed information about the Building by finding its name in Appendix 1: Buildings beginning on page 12.
Cost: The amount of Gold needed to purchase the Building. For example, Helmstar Warehouse costs 3 Gold.
Instructions: The resources that Building provides, which might be Adventurers, Gold, Victory Points, card draws, or other things. For example, Helmstar Warehouse provides 2 Rogues and 2 Gold.
Owner: The player who purchased the Building gains the stated benefit when any other player assigns an Agent to that Building (1 Rogue, in the case of Helmstar Warehouse).
Cards
Cards represent the tasks that Adventurers perform in your service, your sneaky manipulations, and secret victory conditions.
Lord Cards
The city of Waterdeep is secretly administered by powerful individuals known as the Lords of Waterdeep. Eleven Lord of Waterdeep cards (“Lord cards” for short) represent these hidden personalities.
Shuffle the Lord cards and deal 1 card face down to each player. Keep this card face down—your identity is a secret to your opponents.
Return the remaining Lord cards to the box, face down. They won’t be used for the rest of the game.
Whenever a player must draw a card from an empty deck, shuffle all the cards in the respective discard pile to form a new deck and place them face down in the appropriate space of the game board. Do not shuffle any completed Quest cards back into the Quest deck.
Each Lord card grants bonus VP for meeting certain conditions, as described in its rules text. For example, Khelben Arunsun grants bonus VP for completing Arcana Quests and Warfare Quests.
Appendix 3: Lords of Waterdeep on page 20 summarizes the various Lords’ abilities.
Quest Cards
As a Lord of Waterdeep, you advance your interests by completing Quests, represented by Quest cards. See “Complete Quest” on page 10 for more about acquiring and completing Quests.
Shuffle the Quest cards and deal 2 cards face up to each player. These cards form each player’s active Quests.
Next, place 1 face-up Quest card in each of the 4 spaces of Cliffwatch Inn. The rest of the face-down Quest cards form the Quest deck. Place the deck in the labeled space on the game board near Cliffwatch Inn.
Intrigue Cards
Intrigue cards let you secretly manipulate others to advance your ends. But be careful—your fellow Lords of Waterdeep are also skilled in intrigue!
Shuffle the Intrigue cards and deal 2 cards face down to each player. Keep these cards hidden from your opponents. See “Play Intrigue Card” on page 9 for more information.
The rest of the face-down Intrigue cards form the Intrigue deck. Place the deck in the labeled space on the game board near Waterdeep Harbor.
Start Play
The player who has most recently been to another city goes first. Give that player the First Player marker.
The starting player gets 4 Gold. The player to his or her left gets 5 Gold, and so on. Each player receives 1 more Gold than the player to his or her right until all players have received starting Gold.
Sequence of Play
The Lords of Waterdeep game is played in rounds. During each round, players take turns in which they assign their Agents to various tasks.
The game ends after 8 rounds have passed. The player with the most VP at the end of the eighth round is the winner.
Start of Round
The rounds track on the game board starts out with 3 VP tokens on each round space, as shown in the setup instructions. The VP tokens also serve to mark which round it is.
At the start of each round, remove the 3 VP tokens from that round’s space and place 1 VP token on each face-up Building in Builder’s Hall.
When Purchased/Start of Round: Some Building tiles have special instructions to be followed when the Building is purchased and at the start of each round. If any of those Buildings are in play, follow the start-of-round instructions for each.
(See Appendix 1: Buildings on page 12 for descriptions of these effects.)
Once all start-of-round effects are complete, players take turns in order.
Start of Round 5: Each player takes the extra Agent piece of his or her color from the space near the rounds track and adds it to his or her pool. The extra Agent is available for the rest of the game.
Actions in a Turn
Each player takes turns, one at a time, starting with the player who has the First Player marker and proceeding to that player’s left.
During your turn, if you have Agents available to assign, you take one or both of the following actions.
- Assign Agent
- Complete Quest
Assign Agent
If you have any Agents in your pool, you assign 1 of them. To assign an Agent, place it on any unoccupied action space of a Building, whether a basic Building or one that has been put into play. You cannot place an Agent on an action space that contains another Agent (yours or another player’s) or on Buildings that are not yet in play.
When you assign an Agent, follow the instructions for that action space. You take that action just once.
You cannot choose to pass your turn. If you have Agents available, you must assign 1 of them. (In the unlikely event that you cannot take an action on your turn, you must pass.)
If you have no more Agents available to assign, you can no longer take turns that round. For the rest of the round, play skips to the next player in order who still has available Agents.
Several basic Buildings have special rules, as described here. For detailed descriptions of all Buildings’ effects, see Appendix 1: Buildings on page 12.
Builder’s Hall
Builder’s Hall allows you to purchase Building tiles, which add new potential actions to the game.
Whenever you assign an Agent to Builder’s Hall, choose one of the face-up Buildings available for purchase and pay its Gold cost. You immediately score any VP for that Building and place its tile in one of the open spots on the board. Place one of your control markers on that tile to show you are the owner.
After you purchase a Building, immediately draw the top tile of the Building stack and place it face-up on the vacated space.
Owner Benefit: Once a new Building is in play, it is available for anyone to assign an Agent to, just like any other Building on the game board. However, when someone other than the owner assigns an Agent to that Building’s action space, the owner gains the benefit described in the tile’s “Owner” line.
Cliffwatch Inn
Cliffwatch Inn has three action spaces instead of the usual one. You can assign more than 1 of your Agents to Cliffwatch Inn if it still has an open action space (but you still can’t assign more than 1 Agent per turn).
Acquiring Quests: At the start of the game, this Building contains 4 face-up Quest cards. Assigning an Agent to Cliffwatch Inn is the usual way to get new Quests. However, each action space has a different effect.
You can choose any of the available action spaces when you assign an Agent to Cliffwatch Inn.
Whenever you take a face-up Quest card, immediately replace it with a new card from the Quest deck.
Action Spaces:
- Take 1 face-up Quest card from the available Quests, and take 2 Gold from the supply and place it in your Tavern.
- Take 1 face-up Quest card and draw 1 Intrigue card.
- Discard the face-up Quest cards from the available Quests. Draw and place 4 new Quest cards from the Quest deck, and then take 1 of the new face-up Quest cards.
Waterdeep Harbor
Waterdeep Harbor has three action spaces instead of the usual one. You can assign more than 1 of your Agents to Waterdeep Harbor if it still has an open action space (but you still can’t assign more than 1 Agent per turn).
Assigning an Agent to one of those spaces has two effects.
-
Play Intrigue Card: By assigning an Agent to one of the action spaces on Waterdeep Harbor, you play a single Intrigue card from your hand. If you have no Intrigue cards, you cannot assign an Agent to Waterdeep Harbor.
When you play an Intrigue card, you follow its instructions immediately. Its effect takes place just once. For example, Lack of Faith forces each opponent to remove 1 Cleric from his or her Tavern if possible. If an opponent has more than 1 Cleric, you cannot force that player to remove additional Clerics with this card.
An Intrigue card can be an attack, a utility, or a Mandatory Quest.
Attack: Attack cards hinder or penalize opponents, often helping you in the process. For example, Lack of Faith is an attack that removes another player’s Cleric.
Utility: These cards do something beneficial. For example, Call in a Favor lets you take resources of your choice from the supply.
Mandatory Quest: You can force an opponent to undertake a minor but pressing task before finishing other Quests.
See “Mandatory Quests” on page 11 for more information.
-
Reassign Agent: After all Agents have been assigned in the round, each player with an Agent in Waterdeep Harbor reassigns that Agent to another action space. In effect, that player takes an additional turn with that Agent.
Players reassign Agents in order, starting with the action space numbered “1.” You cannot reassign an Agent to Waterdeep Harbor.
Some game effects also allow players to reassign Agents during play.
Complete Quest
After assigning an Agent, you may complete one Quest. Each Quest card specifies how many and what kind of Adventurers are needed to complete it. Often you need to spend Gold as well.
You don’t have to complete a Quest if you don’t want to. You cannot complete more than one Quest on your turn.
To complete a Quest, remove the required Adventurers and Gold from your Tavern. Return those tokens to the supply. Then collect the specified reward.
Regardless of how many Agents you assign or reassign on your turn, you can complete only one Quest that turn.
Reading a Quest Card
Quest Type: There are five different types of Quests: Arcana, Commerce, Piety, Skullduggery, and Warfare. A Quest’s type provides an idea of what sort of Adventurers are most important to completing it.
| Quest Type | Adventurer |
|---|---|
| Arcana | Wizard |
| Piety | Cleric |
| Skullduggery | Rogue |
| Warfare | Fighter |
| Commerce | Any + Gold |
Different Lords of Waterdeep score bonus VP for completing Quests of particular types. For example, Khelben Arunsun scores 4 bonus VP for each Arcana Quest and each Warfare Quest that player completes.
Requires: Each Quest card requires certain resources (Adventurers and Gold) to complete, shown on the “Requires” line by symbols.
For example, Spy on the House of Light requires 3 Fighters, 2 Rogues, and 2 Gold to complete.
Reward: A completed Quest provides a reward to the player who completes it, shown on the “Reward” line. Rewards usually include VP and might include other things, such as Adventurers, Gold, or cards. If a reward includes Adventurers or Gold, take the appropriate pieces from the supply and place them in your Tavern.
For example, Spy on the House of Light grants a reward of 6 VP and 6 Gold. You immediately collect the Gold and advance your score marker 6 spaces along the scoring track as soon as you complete the Quest.
Quests provide a reward just once, when you complete them. After you collect the reward, turn the Quest card face down and place it on the “Completed Quests” area of your player mat.
Mandatory Quests
Some Intrigue cards are Mandatory Quests, which you play on opponents to hinder their plans.
When you play an Intrigue card with a Mandatory Quest, choose an opponent and place the card face up in front of that player. That player cannot complete any other Quests until he or she has completed the Mandatory Quest.
For example, Stamp Out Cultists requires 1 Cleric, 1 Fighter, and 1 Rogue to complete and provides a reward of 2 VP.
When a Mandatory Quest is completed, place the card in the Intrigue discard pile.
Plot Quests
A few Quests have the notation “Plot Quest,” which indicates that they are especially important to successfully managing Waterdeep
Plot Quests have ongoing effects in addition to providing rewards. For example, Recover the Magister’s Orb has a one-time reward of 6 VP. However, it also grants an ongoing effect: Once per round, you can assign 1 Agent to a space containing an opponent’s Agent.
You can quickly identify a Plot Quest by looking at the name on its card. The name of a Plot Quest is a different color from those of ordinary Quest cards.
When you complete a Plot Quest, place its card face up near your player mat to remind you of the ongoing effect.
End of Round
When all Agents at Waterdeep Harbor have been reassigned, the round ends.
At the end of the round, all players return all their Agents to their pools. The player with the First Player marker begins the next round.
Ending the Game
The game ends after 8 rounds of play. At the end of the eighth round, perform final scoring for each player.
Final Scoring
Each player counts up VP and advances his or her scoring marker accordingly.
| Each Adventurer in your Tavern | 1 VP |
| Every 2 Gold in your Tavern (rounding down) | 1 VP |
| Lord card | As specified by the card |
The player with the most VP after final scoring is the winner. In the event of a tie, the player with the most Gold wins.
Appendix 1: Buildings
This section lists the various Buildings that players can assign their Agents to. The game board has nine basic Buildings, and ten additional spaces are provided for Buildings that players purchase during the game.
Basic Buildings
These Buildings are always available to assign Agents to (as long as they have unoccupied action spaces).
Aurora’s Realms Shop
Aurora’s Realms Shops acquire goods from every corner of Faerûn. This branch is just one of six in the city.
Location: Trades Ward
Action: Take 4 Gold from the supply and place it in your Tavern.
Blackstaff Tower
Blackstaff Tower is home to the archmage Khelben Blackstaff and his apprentices.
Location: Castle Ward
Action: Take 1 Wizard from the supply and place it in your Tavern.
Builder’s Hall
The headquarters for the Guild of Stonecutters, Masons, Potters, & Tile-makers is the first stop for anyone wishing to add to the great city of Waterdeep.
Location: South Ward
Start of Round: Place 1 VP token from the rounds track on each Building tile available for purchase.
Action: Choose 1 Building, pay its cost in Gold, and put it into play under your control. (Place one of your control markers on the Building tile to identify the owner.) Score any VP for the newly purchased Building. Then draw a new Building tile and place it face up in the vacated space.
Castle Waterdeep
This mighty stronghold on top of Mount Waterdeep can be seen from nearly every corner of the city.
Location: Castle Ward
Action: Take the First Player marker, and draw 1 Intrigue card.
Cliffwatch Inn
The proprietor of this rambling tavern knows a wealth of tales. The inn’s cellars are rumored to connect to the city sewers and Undermountain.
Location: North Ward
Action: Take 1 face-up Quest card from Cliffwatch Inn. As well, take 2 Gold from the supply and place it in your Tavern.
Action: Take 1 face-up Quest card from Cliffwatch Inn, and draw 1 Intrigue card.
Action: Discard all the face-up Quest cards from Cliffwatch Inn. Draw new Quests from the Quest deck, and place them face up in the open spaces. Then take 1 face-up Quest card from Cliffwatch Inn.
Field of Triumph
Exciting spectacles of martial skill are staged in this enormous open-air stadium.
Location: Sea Ward
Action: Take 2 Fighters from the supply and place them in your Tavern.
The Grinning Lion Tavern
This tavern is adorned with battle trophies from all ends of Faerûn, but every one is a fake.
Location: North Ward
Action: Take 2 Rogues from the supply and place them in your Tavern.
Waterdeep Harbor
Waterdeep gets both its name and its wealth from this deep-water basin.
Location: Dock Ward
Action: Play 1 Intrigue card from your hand.
Reassign Agent: After all Agents have been assigned in the round, each player with an Agent in Waterdeep Harbor reassigns that Agent to another action space. Start with the Agent in the action space numbered “1,” and proceed in numerical order.
Advanced Buildings
The 24 Building tiles represent advanced Buildings that players can purchase. Up to 3 Building tiles are face-up and available for purchase at Builder’s Hall at any time.
Each Building description includes some background information, including the city Ward in which it is traditionally located. This location does not restrict where you can place the Building tile on the game board.
Owner: When a player other than the owner assigns an Agent to this Building, the owner immediately gains the benefit stated on the “Owner” line. Place any Adventurers or Gold gained in this way in the owner’s Tavern.
Caravan Court
Caravans arrive frequently at this open-air plaza, and with them able-bodied warriors looking for work.
Location: South Ward
Cost: 4 Gold
When Purchased and at Start of Round: Place 2 Fighters on this space.
Action: Take all Fighters from this space and place them in your Tavern.
Owner: Take 1 Fighter from the supply and place it in your Tavern.
Dragon Tower
The secretive wizard Maaril lives in this sinister tower.
Location: Sea Ward
Cost: 3 Gold
Action: Take 1 Wizard from the supply and place it in your Tavern, and draw 1 Intrigue card.
Owner: Draw 1 Intrigue card.
Fetlock Court
Just north of Castle Waterdeep, this courtyard is a staging area for the City Guard’s mounted patrols as well as an impromptu concert hall for practicing bards.
Location: Castle Ward
Cost: 8 Gold
Action: Take 2 Fighters and 1 Wizard from the supply and place them in your Tavern.
Owner: Take 1 Fighter or 1 Wizard from the supply and place it in your Tavern.
The Golden Horn
In this gambling hall, the grand prize is a golden horn filled with mysterious riches.
Location: Trades Ward
Cost: 4 Gold
When Purchased and at Start of Round: Take 4 Gold from the supply and place it on this space.
Action: Take all Gold from this space and place it in your Tavern.
Owner: Take 2 Gold from the supply and place it in your Tavern.
Helmstar Warehouse
This seemingly legitimate business is home to one of the most successful fences in Waterdeep, Chuldan Helmstar.
Location: Dock Ward
Cost: 3 Gold
Action: Take 2 Rogues and 2 Gold from the supply and place them in your Tavern.
Owner: Take 1 Rogue from the supply and place it in your Tavern.
Heroes’ Garden
You can always find adventurers in this public park, retelling the stories of their exploits.
Location: Sea Ward
Cost: 4 Gold
Action: Take 1 face-up Quest card from Cliffwatch Inn. You may immediately complete that Quest. If you do, you score 4 bonus VP in addition to the Quest reward. (You do not score the bonus VP if you complete the Quest later on.)
Owner: Score 2 VP.
House of Good Spirits
The rumors of a hidden dragon’s hoard draws adventurers to this inn, but they stay for the drinks.
Location: South Ward
Cost: 3 Gold
Action: Take 1 Fighter and one Adventurer of any type from the supply and place them in your Tavern.
Owner: Take 1 Fighter from the supply and place it in your Tavern.
House of Heroes
The largest shrine in Waterdeep is dedicated to Tempus, the Lord of Battle.
Location: Sea Ward
Cost: 8 Gold
Action: Take 1 Cleric and 2 Fighters from the supply and place them in your Tavern.
Owner: Take 1 Cleric or 1 Fighter from the supply and place it in your Tavern.
House of the Moon
This gilded temple attracts pilgrims in search of Selûne’s grace and power.
Location: Sea Ward
Cost: 3 Gold
Action: Take 1 Cleric from the supply and place it in your Tavern, and take 1 faceup Quest card from Cliffwatch Inn.
Owner: Take 2 Gold from the supply and place it in your Tavern.
House of Wonder
This ornate tower is dedicated to Mystra, the goddess of magic.
Location: Sea Ward
Cost: 4 Gold
Action: Spend 2 Gold, and then take 2 Adventurers from the supply and place them in your Tavern. These Adventurers can be only Clerics or Wizards.
Owner: Take 2 Gold from the supply and place it in your Tavern.
Jesters’ Court
Once a place where jugglers and comics performed, this alley between the Street of Silks and the Street of Silver has taken a more dangerous turn.
Location: Castle Ward
Cost: 4 Gold
When Purchased and at Start of Round: Place 2 Rogues on this space.
Action: Take all Rogues from this space and place them in your Tavern.
Owner: Take 1 Rogue from the supply and place it in your Tavern.
New Olamn
This college is one of the best places to learn the bardic arts and is famous throughout the Sword Coast.
Location: Castle Ward
Cost: 8 Gold
Action: Take 2 Rogues and 1 Wizard from the supply and place them in your Tavern.
Owner: Take 1 Rogue or 1 Wizard from the supply and place it in your Tavern.
Northgate
All trade between Waterdeep and the mining town of Mirabar inevitably flows through the Northgate.
Location: North Ward
Cost: 3 Gold
Action: Take 1 Adventurer of any type and 2 Gold from the supply and place them in your Tavern.
Owner: Score 2 VP.
The Palace of Waterdeep
This white marble palace stands as a shining symbol of the Lords’ Rule and is home to many embassies.
Location: Castle Ward
Cost: 4 Gold
Action: Take the Ambassador piece and place it with your unused Agents. At the start of the next round, before any other player takes a turn, assign the Ambassador. See “Advanced Buildings” on page 22 for further clarifications.
Owner: Score 2 VP.
The Skulkway
Smugglers used this short alleyway to move goods under the noses of the City Guard.
Location: Sea Ward
Cost: 4 Gold
Action: Take 1 Fighter, 1 Rogue, and 2 Gold from the supply and place them in your Tavern.
Owner: Take 1 Fighter or 1 Rogue from the supply and place it in your Tavern.
Smuggler’s Dock
This is the private dock of the suspected Lord of Waterdeep, Mirt the Moneylender.
Location: Castle Ward
Cost: 4 Gold
Action: Spend 2 Gold, and then take 4 Adventurers from the supply and place them in your Tavern. These Adventurers can be only Fighters or Rogues.
Owner: Take 2 Gold from the supply and place it in your Tavern.
Spires of the Morning
Eight golden spires adorn this walled garden temple dedicated to the god of the dawn.
Location: Castle Ward
Cost: 4 Gold
When Purchased and at Start of Round: Place 1 Cleric on this space. Action: Take all Clerics from this space and place them in your Tavern.
Owner: Score 2 VP
The Stone House
The home of the Carpenters’, Roofers’, and Plaisterers’ Guild, which has grown extremely rich from nobles’ efforts to upstage their neighbors’ villas.
Location: South Ward
Cost: 4 Gold
Action: Take 1 Gold from the supply for each Building tile in play.
Owner: Take 2 Gold from the supply and place it in your Tavern.
The Three Pearls
This expensive nightclub is named for its original purchase price: three black pearls torn from a dancer’s outfit.
Location: Dock Ward
Cost: 4 Gold
Action: Return 2 of your Adventurers of any type to the supply. Then take 3 Adventurers of any type from the supply and place them in your Tavern.
Owner: Take 2 Gold from the supply and place it in your Tavern.
The Tower of Luck
Donations to Tymora from those who survived the depths of Undermountain quickly paid for the construction of this temple.
Location: Sea Ward
Cost: 8 Gold
Action: Take 1 Cleric and 2 Rogues from the supply and place them in your Tavern.
Owner: Take 1 Cleric or 1 Rogue from the supply and place it in your Tavern.
Tower of the Order
This impressive structure is the headquarters of the Watchful Order of Magists & Protectors.
Location: Castle Ward
Cost: 4 Gold
When Purchased and at Start of Round: Place 1 Wizard on this space.
Action: Take all Wizards from this space and place them in your Tavern.
Owner: Draw 1 Intrigue card.
The Waymoot
Simply speak your destination to this sign and the way will be shown to you.
Location: South Ward
Cost: 4 Gold
When Purchased and at Start of Round: Place 3 VP tokens on this space.
Action: Remove all VP tokens from this space and score that many VP, and take 1 face-up Quest card from Cliffwatch Inn.
Owner: Score 2 VP.
The Yawning Portal
This famous inn, featuring the only known public entry to Undermountain, attracts adventurers of every sort.
Location: Castle Ward
Cost: 4 Gold
Action: Take 2 Adventurers of any type from the supply and place them in your Tavern.
Owner: Take 1 Adventurer of any type from the supply and place it in your Tavern.
The Zoarstar
The Zoarstar houses the Scriveners’, Scribes’, and Clerks’ Guild, and is a destination for anyone needing contracts or other documents.
Location: Trades Ward
Cost: 8 Gold
Action: Choose a space containing an opponent’s Agent. You use that space’s action as though you had assigned an Agent to it.
Owner: Score 2 VP.
Appendix 2: Agents
The Lords of Waterdeep employ Agents of various organizations to accomplish their ends. These Agents correspond to player colors in the game.
City Guard
Waterdeep is defended by its own army of soldiers, who patrol the city and the surrounding countryside. The City Guard also provides bodyguards for Piergeiron the Paladinson and for visiting dignitaries.
Harpers
The Harpers were founded ages ago by elven leaders, with the counsel of the legendary wizard Elminster. This secret society fights for individual freedom while balancing the needs of civilization and nature.
Knights of the Shield
Posing as a consortium of merchants and nobles, the Knights of the Shield in fact deal in information. The organization’s influence stretches along the Sword Coast and far inland.
Red Sashes
Vigilantes who protect the poorest parts of Waterdeep, the Red Sashes are masters of intrigue. They hide those who need to escape and find those who wish to stay hidden.
Silverstars
These devoted champions of the moon goddess, Selûne, tirelessly work for freedom and peace, even between longstanding enemies. They despise slavery and abhor the undead.
Appendix 3: Lords of Waterdeep
The Lords of Waterdeep form a secret council that has ruled the city of Waterdeep for centuries. In public, they are always masked and cloaked to disguise any details that could identify them. They are drawn from all elements of society: merchants, nobles, wizards, and common laborers.
In the Lords of Waterdeep game, these secret masters are represented by cards. The Lords’ identities are kept hidden until the end of the game, when final scoring occurs. Each Lord of Waterdeep has a personal agenda, represented by bonus VP awarded for completing specific objectives.
BRIANNE BYNDRAETH
The widow of a crime boss who was also a Lord of Waterdeep, Brianne has close ties to the wizard Randulaith, a member of the city's social elite.
At the end of the game, you score 4 VP for each Arcana Quest and each Skullduggery Quest you completed.
CALADORN CASSALANTER
Seen by many as the layabout son of a noble family, Caladorn has quietly taken control of the ships that protect Waterdeep's coast.
At the end of the game, you score 4 VP for each Skullduggery Quest and each Warfare Quest you completed.
DURNAN THE WANDERER
A retired adventurer, Durnan owns the Yawning Portal, a tavern that stands above an entrance to Undermountain.
At the end of the game, you score 4 VP for each Commerce Quest and each Warfare Quest you completed.
KYRIANI AGRIVAR
A mischievous half-drow, Kyriani is a master of manipulation who has come to terms with her dual heritage of good and evil.
At the end of the game, you score 4 VP for each Arcana Quest and each Piety Quest you completed.
KHELBEN ARUNSUN, THE BLACKSTAFF
The master of Blackstaff Tower, the accomplished wizard Khelben Is famous for founding and then abandoning numerous organizations.
At the end of the game, you score 4 VP for each Arcana Quest and each Warfare Quest you completed.
LARISSA NEATHAL
Known for her extravagant court parties and her ability to blend in anywhere, Larissa uses a courtesan façade to hide her skill at information gathering.
At the end of the game, you score 6 VP for each Building you control.
MIRT THE MONEYLENDER
To outsiders, Mirt appears to be little more than a drunk and a braggart. This disguise hides his true cunning and wit.
At the end of the game, you score 4 VP for each Commerce Quest and each Piety Quest you completed.
NINDIL JALBUCK
The real Nindil was a good-natured halfling and man of the people, who has since been replaced by a doppelganger named Hlaavin.
At the end of the game, you score 4 VP for each Piety Quest and each Skullduggery Quest you completed.
NYMARA SCHEIRON
Aggressive and fearless, the one-time thief known as "Kitten" brings pragmatism and a knowledge of the common citizen to the Lords of Waterdeep.
At the end of the game, you score 4 VP for each Commerce Quest and each Skullduggery Quest you completed.
PIERGEIRON THE PALADINSON
A deliberate and honorable man, Piergeiron often pretends to be slow of wit to lull his enemies into underestimating him.
At the end of the game, you score 4 VP for each Piety Quest and each Warfare Quest you completed.
SAMMEREZA SULPHONTIS
Known as Sammer to his friends, Sammereza is a master trade lord whose sharp eyes never miss a detail.
At the end of the game, you score 4 VP for each Arcana Quest and each Commerce Quest you completed.
Appendix 4: Clarifications
The following clarifications address certain unusual cases that may come up in a game.
Advanced Buildings
Heroes’ Garden: You cannot complete the Quest drawn at this Building if you have an uncompleted Mandatory Quest.
The Palace of Waterdeep: If you assign the Ambassador to Waterdeep Harbor, you cannot reassign it at the end of the round. (This restriction avoids memory issues.)
When you assign an Agent to the Palace of Waterdeep, the Ambassador might already be assigned to an action space. If so, you take the Ambassador from the assigned action space. This makes the action space originally occupied by the Ambassador available for assigning an Agent.
If another player assigns an Agent to the Palace of Waterdeep after you have taken the Ambassador but before you have had a chance to assign it, he or she gains no benefit from that action.
You assign the Ambassador before any other player, even if you have the First Player marker. In that event, you assign the Ambassador and then immediately assign another Agent.
If the Palace of Waterdeep leaves play, the Ambassador also leaves play. (This can make an action space available for assigning an Agent.)
Once placed, the Ambassador counts as an opponent’s Agent for all players. You do not gain the owner benefit for assigning the Ambassador to a Building you control.
The Zoarstar: When you assign an Agent to an occupied action space in Waterdeep Harbor, you reassign your Agent immediately after the opponent’s Agent in the shared space is reassigned.
Quests
Recover the Magister’s Orb: When you assign an Agent to an occupied action space in Waterdeep Harbor, you reassign your Agent immediately after the opponent’s Agent in the shared space is reassigned.
Recruit Lieutenant: The Lieutenant counts as one of your Agents.
Research Chronomancy: If you complete this Quest after reassigning an Agent from Waterdeep Harbor, you immediately assign the returned Agent. You cannot assign that Agent to Waterdeep Harbor.
Intrigue Cards
Change of Plans: You must discard one of your own uncompleted Quests. Other players who choose to discard uncompleted Quests for VP must choose one of their own.
Sample Wares: If a second Sample Wares card is played in the same turn, the second Agent cannot be assigned to a Building in Builder’s Hall that already has an Agent on it.
If someone purchases a Building that has an Agent assigned to it by this card, the purchased Building’s action space remains occupied until that Agent is removed.
Glossary
Here’s a short list of words and phrases that have special meanings in the Lords of Waterdeep game.
action space: Each Building has one or more action spaces to which players assign their Agents. When you assign an Agent to an action space, you immediately take the specified action.
Adventurer: You complete Quests by taking the required Adventurers from your Tavern. There are four kinds of Adventurers, represented by wooden cubes: Clerics, Fighters, Rogues, and Wizards.
Agent: You assign your Agents to action spaces of Buildings to use their effects. See “Assign Agent” on page 8.
Ambassador: A special Agent that you can use by assigning an Agent to the Palace of Waterdeep.
assign: You assign an Agent by placing it on an Building’s action space. See “Assign Agent” on page 8.
attack: A kind of Intrigue card that harms other players. See “Play Intrigue Card” on page 9.
Building/Building tile: The game board contains nine basic Buildings, and players can purchase other Building tiles and put them into play. Buildings contain action spaces to which Agents are assigned. See “Buildings” on page 6.
card: The Lords of Waterdeep game includes three different types of cards: Intrigue, Lord, and Quest. See “Cards” on page 7.
Intrigue card: You draw an Intrigue card by assigning an Agent to Castle Waterdeep. (Other game effects also allow you to draw Intrigue cards.) You play an Intrigue card by assigning an Agent to Waterdeep Harbor.
Lord card: Each player takes the role of a Lord of Waterdeep, represented by a Lord card. The Lord’s identity remains secret until the end of the game. Each Lord card grants bonus VP for accomplishing certain tasks.
Quest card: These cards represent Quests that players complete to score VP and earn other rewards. At the start of the game, there are 4 face-up Quest cards in Cliffwatch Inn, which players can take by assigning Agents to that Building. More Quests enter play as the game progresses.
Gold: You spend Gold to purchase Buildings, complete certain Quests, and pay for other game effects.
Lieutenant: A special Agent that you add to your pool by completing the Recruit Lieutenant Quest.
occupied/unoccupied: A space that has an Agent assigned to it is occupied. You cannot normally assign another Agent to an occupied space. You must choose an unoccupied space (one that contains no other Agents).
pool: The area where you keep your unassigned Agents. At the end of the round, all your Agents return to your pool.
Quest: You complete Quests to score Victory Points and to earn other rewards during the game. See “Complete Quest” on page 10.
active Quest: All face-up Quests in front of a player that the player has not yet completed are active Quests.
Mandatory Quest: A kind of Intrigue card that forces another player to complete a minor but pressing Quest before any others.
Plot Quest: A kind of Quest that provides an ongoing benefit as well as a reward.
reassign: After all Agents have been assigned in a round, any Agents that were assigned to Waterdeep Harbor are removed and assigned to any unoccupied action spaces. See “Waterdeep Harbor” on page 9.
reward: Upon completing a Quest, you earn the reward specified on the card. Quest rewards usually include VP and can also include other benefits. You earn the reward immediately and only once.
round: The game is played over eight rounds. During each round, players take turns assigning their Agents to action spaces on the game board and completing Quests.
supply: The supply contains Adventurers, Gold, and VP tokens available to players.
Tavern: This area holds the Adventurers you have hired until you use them to complete Quests. You also store Gold in your Tavern.
turn: During each round, players take turns. Whoever has the First Player marker goes first, then the player to his or her left, and so on. During your turn, you assign an Agent to an action space and may complete a Quest. See “Actions in a Turn” on page 8.
utility: A kind of Intrigue card that helps you. See “Play Intrigue Card” on page 9.
Victory Points (VP): You score Victory Points primarily by completing Quests. Other game effects can also provide VP.
Rules Reference
These instructions summarize the game setup and the sequence of play.
Setup
Lay out the game board.
Each player chooses a color and takes a number of that color’s Agents that depends on the number of players.
| Number of Players | Agents per Player |
|---|---|
| 2 | 4 |
| 3 | 3 |
| 4 | 2 |
| 5 | 2 |
Each player also places 1 more Agent of his or her color near the Round 5 space of the rounds track.
Each player places his or her score marker on the scoring track at the position labeled “0.”
Place the Adventurer cubes and Gold within easy reach of all players.
Place the Building stack, Quest deck, and Intrigue deck in the appropriate spaces of the gameboard.
Draw 3 Building tiles and place them face up in each of the 3 spaces in Builder’s Hall.
Each player takes a player mat.
Deal 1 Lord card face down to each player.
Deal 2 Quest cards face up to each player. Then place 1 face-up Quest card in each of the 4 spaces of Cliffwatch Inn.
Deal 2 Intrigue cards face down to each player.
Place 3 VP tokens on each space of the rounds track.
The player who has most recently been to another city goes first. Give that player the First Player marker.
The starting player gets 4 Gold. Each player receives 1 more Gold than the player to his or her right until all players have received starting Gold.
Sequence of Play
At the start of each round, remove the VP tokens from that space of the rounds track and add 1 VP token to each faceup Building in Builders’ Hall. Then resolve any start-of-round effects on Buildings in play.
(If this is the fifth round of play, each player gains one additional Agent, located near the Round 5 space.)
Each player takes turns, one at a time, starting with the player who has the First Player marker and proceeding to that player’s left.
When all the Agents have been assigned (and possibly reassigned from Waterdeep Harbor; see below), the round ends. All players’ Agents return to their pools.
The game ends after 8 rounds of play. At the end of the eighth round, perform final scoring for each player.
Actions in a Turn
During your turn, if you have Agents available to assign, you take one or both of the following actions.
- Assign Agent
- Complete Quest
Assign Agent: Place 1 Agent from your pool on an unoccupied action space of a Building. You cannot skip your turn if you have Agents available to assign.
If you have no Agents left to assign, you cannot take a turn. Play proceeds to the next player until all Agents have been assigned.
Reassign Agent: After all Agents have been assigned in the round, each player with an Agent in Waterdeep Harbor reassigns that Agent to another action space.
Players reassign Agents in order, starting with the action space numbered “1.”
Complete Quest: After assigning or reassigning an Agent, you may complete one Quest by paying specified numbers and types of Adventurers and Gold.
Final Scoring
At the end of the game, each player counts up VP and advances his or her scoring marker accordingly.
| Each Adventurer in your Tavern | 1 VP |
| Every 2 Gold in your Tavern (rounding down) | 1 VP |
| Lord card | As specified by the card |
The player with the most VP after final scoring is the winner. In the event of a tie, the player with the most Gold wins.