National Economy Mecenat Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Cover Quick Reference
• For Those Who Own the Previous Game
  • Victory Point Tokens
  • Variable Construction Cost
• Components
• Game Setup
  • Setup, continued
• Flow of the Game
• What You Can Do on Your Turn
  • How to Read a Card
• About Workers
  • When Newly Hiring
• Household and Supply
  • About Exchanging Money
• The Important Function: "Build a Building"
• End of Round
  • End of Round Flowchart
• End of the Game
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Card Functions
  • Quarry (採石場)
  • Mine (鉱山)
  • School (学校)
  • Carpenter (大工)
  • Carpenter (for 3-4 players)
  • Stall (露店)
  • Market (市場)
  • High School (高等学校)
  • Supermarket (スーパーマーケット)
  • University (大学)
  • Department Store (百貨店)
• Solo Rules
  • Preparation
  • Changes to the Rules

Cover Quick Reference

Collecting cards of a category (synergy hints):

• Collect "Consumer Goods" (消費財) - e.g. Sightseeing Ranch, Fish Farm.
• Collect "Victory Points" (勝利点) - e.g. Cathedral, Accounting Office.
• Collect "Agriculture" (農業) - e.g. Food Factory, Botanical Garden.
• Collect "Industry" (工業) - e.g. Export Port, Industrial Park.
• Collect "Facility" (施設) - e.g. Construction Company, Investment Bank.

Round	Wage	Building	Function
1	2	Quarry, School, Carpenter, Mine	See the building cards
2	2	Stall	Discard 1 card to gain a total of $6
3	3	Market	Discard 2 cards to gain a total of $12
4	3	High School	Increase workers to 4
5	3	Supermarket	Discard 3 cards to gain a total of $18
6	4	University	Increase workers to 5

For Those Who Own the Previous Game

This game is a new National Economy that adds two rules, Victory Point Tokens and Variable Construction Cost, and renews all the cards. If you have played "National Economy", you can start right away after reading just these two pages.

During setup, gather the Victory Point tokens (small green cards) in the Supply.

Note: This is not an expansion set. "National Economy Mecenat" is designed to be played on its own. Mixing it with the cards of the previous game is not recommended.

Victory Point Tokens

You obtain these by using "Vegetable Garden", "Research Institute" and "Miyadaiku (Master Carpenter)". At the end of the game they count as points. Every 3 tokens give 10 points, and tokens that do not make a set of 3 give 1 point each.

Tokens	Points	Tokens	Points
1	1	4	11
2	2	5	12
3	10	6	20 ...

Variable Construction Cost

Some buildings become cheaper to build when a condition is met. These have a green arrow on the construction cost at the upper left. The condition and the amount of reduction differ per building.

If you are playing National Economy for the first time, read the following pages.

Components

• Money cards: $1 x14, $2 x18, $5 x10, $10 x14
• Worker cards: 5 each in 4 colours, 20 total
• Initial public workplace cards: 6
• Building cards: 73
• Consumer goods cards: 22
• Victory Point tokens: 20
• Round cards: 9
• Start Player card: 1
• Unpaid wage cards: 13
• Rulebook: 1

Game Setup

1. Each player chooses a colour and receives 2 worker cards.
2. Place the initial public workplace cards* face up in the centre of the table.
3. Shuffle the building cards face down to make the draw pile. Leave space next to it for the discard pile.**
4. Stack the round cards face down in round order (Round 1 on top).
5. Each player makes their own building area in front of them.
6. Place money, Victory Point tokens, unpaid wage cards and the remaining worker cards in the Supply.
7. Stack the consumer goods cards into a pile.
8. Separately from the Supply, make a place for money called the Household (家計). (At first nothing is placed there.)

* Use 1 each of Quarry, Mine and School, and Carpenters according to the number of players. Return unused Carpenter cards to the box.

** When the draw pile runs out, shuffle the discard pile when you next draw a card and build the draw pile again.

Setup, continued

• Decide the seating order and the Start Player in a fair way, and give that player the Start Player card.
• Starting from the Start Player and going clockwise, give players $5, $6, $7 and $8 respectively. (This is for 4 players. With 2 or 3 players, give the Start Player $5, the next player $6, and so on, one dollar more each.)
• Each player draws 3 cards from the building card pile as their hand.

The game is now ready.

Flow of the Game

The game proceeds in the following order.

1. The Start Player places 1 worker card on a workplace and uses its function.
2. Going clockwise, the next player places 1 worker card on a workplace and uses its function.
3. Repeat the above. When all players have used all of their worker cards, the round ends.
4. Round end processing: each player pays money equal to the wage times the number of workers they own to the Household. If you do not have enough money you must sell buildings (see later). Also here, any player with 6 or more cards in hand chooses cards to discard until they have 5 cards.
5. Flip the round card and place it face up in the public workplaces. When you finish round 9, the game ends.

What You Can Do on Your Turn

What you can do on your turn is very simple. You just place 1 worker from your hand (stock) on a workplace of your choice and use its function.

After using a workplace function, it is the turn of the next player clockwise.

When you have used up all your workers, you can do nothing more that round. From then on your turn is skipped. When all players have used all of their workers, the round ends.

How to Read a Card

1. Construction cost and name
2. Function
3. Asset value (selling price)
4. Category icon

About Workers

Workers are used to make a workplace function. With some exceptions such as the Mine, only 1 worker can be placed on a workplace per round.

At the start of the game each player is given 2 worker cards. You can add more by using workplaces such as the School.

Each player can have at most 5 workers.

When Newly Hiring

When you hire a new worker, add it to your stock on its back side, "In Training" (研修中). Wages are incurred for it, but it cannot work. At the start of the next round it is turned face up, and only then can it be used as a worker.

Household and Supply

In this game there are two places for money, the "Household" and the "Supply", and they are very important elements. They may look the same, but note that they have completely different functions.

Supply: The place where money outside the game is kept. When you sell buildings at round end, you receive money from here. Other than that, money never moves out of the Supply.

Household: The shared place for money that circulates within the game. Wages paid to workers are placed in the Household. You can obtain money from here through the functions of workplaces such as the Stall.

About Exchanging Money

You can exchange money at any time during the game. However, be careful that the total amount of the players' held money and of the Supply and Household does not change.

The Important Function: "Build a Building"

Build 1 building

When you use the "Build a building" workplace, you can "construct" a building card from your hand and put it in your own area. This is owned by the player who built it and can be used only by that player (other players cannot place workers on it). Also, at the end of the game the asset value counts as points.

When constructing a building, you must discard as many cards from your hand as are written in the cost field of the card. You can freely choose which cards to discard. Building cards and consumer goods cards are both fine.

Discarded building cards go face up to the discard pile, and discarded consumer goods cards are returned to the consumer goods pile.

End of Round

When the round ends, first each player returns their workers to their stock.

Pay money equal to the wage written on the round card times the number of workers to the Household.

If you do not have enough money, you "sell" buildings you own. A sold building is moved to the public workplaces in the centre of the table, and you take money equal to its asset value (the number at the bottom of the card) from the Supply. A sold building can be used by anyone from the next round.

Wages must be paid. If you do not have enough money even after letting go of all sellable buildings, you pay what you can, and receive 1 Unpaid Wage card for every $1 of shortfall.

Turn over the top round card and place it face up in the public workplaces, then start the next round from the Start Player.

When the end of round processing of the 9th round is completed, the game ends.

You cannot sell a building if you have enough money.

End of Round Flowchart

1. Each player returns their workers to their stock.
2. Players with 6 or more cards in hand choose cards to discard so that they have 5 cards.*
3. Pay (wage x number of workers) to the Household.*
   • If you had enough money: Round ends.
   • If you did not have enough: sell your own buildings by moving them to the public workplaces and take money equal to the asset value from the Supply.
     • If you now have enough money: Round ends.
     • If you still do not have enough: take 1 Unpaid Wage card per $1 of shortfall. Round ends.
4. Flip a round card and place it in the shared workplaces. Start the next round from the Start Player. The game ends after round 9.

* When applying the rules strictly, do these in order starting from the Start Player.

End of the Game

After the end of round processing of the 9th round, calculate the score in the following order.

1. Add the asset values of the buildings in your area to your score as they are.
2. If a building in your area has a function described as "at game end" (終了時), calculate the bonus points and add them to your score.
3. Add 1 point per $1 of money you hold.
4. For every 3 Victory Point tokens add 10 points; tokens that do not make a set of 3 add 1 point each.
5. Subtract 3 points per Unpaid Wage card.

Add all these up; the player with the highest score wins.

If multiple players tie for the highest score:

1. If the Start Player is among them, that player wins.
2. If not, the one whose turn order is closest to the Start Player wins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What if the money in the Supply runs out? A: Substitute it with something else. The Supply money, Unpaid Wage cards, Victory Point tokens and consumer goods cards in the pile are treated as unlimited.

Q: What if the building cards run out? A: When you next try to draw a card, shuffle the discard pile and rebuild the draw pile.

Q: I cannot draw a card because there are no building cards in the draw pile or the discard pile. A: Even after reshuffling the discard pile, if the draw pile is short, draw consumer goods cards instead for the missing amount.

Q: Where do I discard consumer goods cards? A: Return them to the consumer goods pile.

Q: Can I use only part of a building's function? A: Apply all of the function. If you cannot apply even part of it, you cannot use that building.

Q: Can workers be placed on all buildings? A: Buildings with a padlock icon at the lower right do not have workers placed on them. These only have effect by being owned.

Q: How much can I get if I sell a building? A: You take money equal to the asset value (the number at the bottom centre of the card) from the Supply. Note that it is not the construction cost (the number at the upper left).

Q: Does a sold building become a discarded card? A: No. It is moved to the centre of the table and becomes a public workplace.

Q: Can I sell as many buildings as I like? A: You can sell buildings only when you do not have enough money to pay wages. You may freely choose which buildings to sell in which combination, but you must not sell more than necessary.

Example: You are $20 short in paying wages. You own buildings worth $10, $18 and $20.

• O: Sell the $20 building and get $20.
• O: Sell the $10 and $18 buildings and get $28.
• X: Sell the $10 and $20 buildings and get $30.
• X: Sell the $18 and $20 buildings and get $38.

The last two are not allowed, because selling only the $20 building would already be enough money.

Card Functions

Refer to these when you are unsure during the game.

Quarry (採石場)

"Card" here means the top card of the building card pile. If you already held the Start Player card, the Start Player card does not move and stays where it is.

Mine (鉱山)

You can place a worker card here even if a worker card is already placed. The same player may use it multiple times.

School (学校)

Take 1 of your own coloured workers from your stock. At that time, put it face down as "In Training". At the next round it is turned face up and can be used as a worker. Wages are also incurred for workers in training.

Carpenter (大工)

You can put a card from your hand into your area (build). The cost can be paid with building cards or consumer goods cards. Building cards are discarded face up, and consumer goods cards are returned to the consumer goods pile.

Carpenter (for 3-4 players)

Depending on the number of players, place these cards in the initial public workplaces.

Stall (露店)

Discarded cards are face up. Also, it cannot be used if there is less than $6 in the Household. With 1-2 players it can be used only once per round.

Market (市場)

It cannot be used if there is less than $12 in the Household. With 1-2 players it can be used only once per round.

High School (高等学校)

Your workers become 4; that is, 2 workers are added if you have 2, 1 is added if you have 3. It cannot be used when you have 4 or more workers.

Supermarket (スーパーマーケット)

It cannot be used if there is less than $18 in the Household. With 1-2 players it can be used only once per round.

University (大学)

Your workers become 5. It cannot be used when you already have 5 or more workers.

Department Store (百貨店)

It cannot be used if there is less than $24 in the Household. With 1-2 players it can be used only once per round.

Vocational School (専門学校)

Increase your workers by 1. The added worker does not become "In Training" and can work from that round immediately.

Expo (万博)

It cannot be used if there is less than $30 in the Household. With 1-2 players it can be used only once per round.

Vegetable Garden (菜園)

Take 2 consumer goods cards and 1 Victory Point token. Consumer goods can be discarded as the cost when building a shop or a factory. Victory Point tokens are scored at the end.

Ironworks (鉄工所)

Draw 2 building cards. To use this building, you must first have placed your worker on the Mine.

Lottery (宝くじ)

Take $20 from the Household and return $10 to the Household, so you net $10. It cannot be used if there is less than $20 in the Household.

Amusement Park (遊園地)

It cannot be used if there is less than $25 in the Household.

Potato Field (芋畑)

If you have 2 cards in hand draw 1; 1 card, draw 2; 0 cards, draw 3. It cannot be used if you have 3 or more cards in hand.

Sightseeing Ranch (観光牧場)

Count the number of consumer goods in your hand and take $4 from the Household for each one; you do not have to discard anything. It cannot be used if the money in the Household is less than that amount.

Construction Company (建築会社)

Build a building that has the [Facility] icon by paying its cost, then draw 2 building cards.

Research Institute (研究所)

Take 2 building cards and 1 Victory Point token.

Food Factory (食品工場)

Discard 2 cards from your hand, then draw 4 building cards. The cost of building this building is reduced by 1 if you own a building with the [Agriculture] icon.

Brewery (醸造所)

Draw 4 consumer goods cards and place them separately from your hand. At the start of the next round add them to your hand. This is after the hand limit check.

Earth Construction (地球建設)

Build 2 buildings, paying the cost of each. If your hand becomes empty by this, draw 3 building cards. Since the 2 buildings are built at the same time, you cannot use one as the construction cost reduction condition of the other.

Petroleum Complex (石油コンビナート)

Draw 4 building cards.

Cathedral (大聖堂)

Points only; it has no function. The cost to build this building is reduced by 4 if you hold 5 or more Victory Point tokens (you do not need to discard the tokens).

Miyadaiku (Master Carpenter) (宮大工)

Pay the cost and build 1 building, then take 1 Victory Point token. This happens after construction, so the cost reduction condition of the Cathedral must be satisfied before using the Miyadaiku.

Shipyard (造船所)

Discard 3 cards from your hand, then draw 6 building cards.

Industrial Park (工業団地)

Draw 3 building cards. The cost of building this building is reduced by 1 for every [Industry] building you already own (minimum 0).

Canteen (食堂)

It cannot be used if there is less than $8 in the Household.

Prefab Builder (プレハブ工務店)

Build a building with an asset value of $10 or less for free.

Fish Farm (養殖場)

If you have no consumer goods in your hand, draw 2; if you have some, draw 3 consumer goods cards.

Old Town (旧市街)

Has 3 category icons. It has no function.

Accounting Office (会計事務所)

Cannot be used as a workplace; just by owning it, you score double points from your Victory Point tokens. For example, with 4 tokens you get 22 points instead of 11.

Graveyard (墓地)

Cannot be used as a workplace; just by owning it, you score points. The building itself is worth 8, and if its condition is met you get a further +8 points.

Export Port (輸出港)

Cannot be used as a workplace; just by owning it, you score points. The building itself is worth 24, and if its condition is met you get a further +24 points.

Railway Station (鉄道駅)

Cannot be used as a workplace; just by owning it, you score points. The building itself is worth 18, and if its condition is met you get a further +18 points. The Railway Station itself counts as a building you own.

Investment Bank (投資銀行)

Cannot be used as a workplace; just by owning it, you score points. The building itself is worth 30, and if its condition is met you get a further +30 points. The Investment Bank itself counts as an owned [Facility] building.

Botanical Garden (植物園)

Cannot be used as a workplace; just by owning it, you score points. The building itself is worth 22, and if its condition is met you get a further +22 points.

Museum (博物館)

Points only; it has no function.

Round Card (back)

The wage to be paid at the end of that round is written on it, together with the round number. Be careful: the further the rounds progress, the higher the wage becomes.

Consumer Goods (消費財)

These exist to be discarded as costs. Discarded ones are returned to the consumer goods pile. The pictures vary but there is no difference in function. If they run out, substitute them with something else. Note that consumer goods also count toward the number of cards in your hand.

Solo Rules

In a 1-player game the following changes are added to the rules.

Preparation

• Do not use the Quarry. Return it to the box.
• Before shuffling the building cards, set aside 1 each of "Vegetable Garden" and "Food Factory".
• After drawing 3 building cards as your hand, place the set-aside Food Factory on top of the draw pile.
• The first public workplaces are the set-aside Vegetable Garden and the normal initial public workplaces School, Carpenter and Mine, for a total of 4. Arrange them in order with the Vegetable Garden as the newest and the Mine as the oldest. (Oldest on one end, newest on the other; the next building is added on the newest end.)

Changes to the Rules

• The Start Player card is always held by the player and does not move.
• The public workplaces have an order. Those added later are treated as newer. Buildings the player has sold also join the row.
• The selling price of buildings is halved. If you owned them, the points at the end remain unchanged.
• Each time the player places a worker, rotate the newest public workplace not yet blocked 90 degrees sideways, making it unusable. At the end of each round, those workplaces become usable again.
• You clear the game by scoring 125 points or more at the end.