RA and Write
RA and Write Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- Scoresheet pad & 5 Pencils
- 24 Monument cards (3 each of 8 types)
- 20 Civilization cards (4 each of 5 types)
- 17 Pharaoh cards
- 20 God cards
- 20 Nile cards
- 9 Ra cards
Setup
- Give each player a scoresheet and a pencil.
- Shuffle all cards into a single deck and place it face down in the middle of the table.
- Choose a starting player at random.
Gameplay
Players take turns being the active player. The starting player goes first.
On their turn, the active player draws three cards and reveals them in the middle of the table. If a Ra card is revealed, it is set aside and replaced with another card from the deck.
The active player chooses one of the revealed cards to enter on their scoresheet, and reserves that card by placing it in front of themselves.
The other players choose any one of the remaining two cards to enter for themselves. These cards are not moved — more than one player may choose the same card.
When all players have filled in their scoresheet with their chosen card (if possible), the next player in clockwise order becomes the new active player.
Notes:
- All players should announce their choice. A player may ask all players to make their choice in clockwise order.
- All scoresheets should be easily viewable by all players throughout the course of the game.
The Scoresheet
Each card in the deck (except the Ra cards) matches a section of your scoresheet, representing different aspects of your civilization.
Each section scores points in its own way. You may need to write in the card's number, or only scribble in a mark to fill that space.
Each section has some boxes reserved for totals on the right hand side (marked with the Old Kingdom / Middle Kingdom / New Kingdom hourglass icons). You cannot use your card to fill in those boxes.
Bonus Entries
Filling certain spaces will grant you a bonus entry, allowing you to fill in a space in another section for free.
Cross out the bonus entry symbol as soon as you achieve it, and make your bonus entry immediately.
If there are no suitable spaces left on your scoresheet where you can fill in your chosen card or bonus entry, that entry is lost. You cannot save cards or bonuses to use later.
Gods
Write the card's number in any empty space on this section. You can fill the spaces in any order.
When making a bonus entry, always use the number 20.
The Gods row is split into parts, one for each Kingdom (Old Kingdom / Middle Kingdom / New Kingdom). If you fill in all three spaces of a Kingdom, add up the three numbers in the Kingdom just completed and write the result in the total box. Then, you may make a bonus entry in the Pharaohs section.
Pharaohs
Always make a mark in the leftmost empty space on this row.
When making a bonus entry, you must still follow this rule: always make a mark in the leftmost empty space.
If you make a mark in a space that has a Nile symbol, you may make a bonus entry in the Nile section.
Nile
Write the card's number in any empty space on this row. Numbers in this row must increase (or be equal) from left to right. Otherwise, you may not write in the number. You can leave spaces blank to be filled later.
When making a bonus entry, use any number (1 to 20) you choose.
The Nile row is split into four parts. If you fill in all three spaces in one part of the Nile row, you may make a bonus entry in the Civilization section.
Civilization
Make a mark in any empty space matching the Civilization type on the card. Each Civilization type has its own column.
When making a bonus entry, use any Civilization type you choose.
The Civilization section is split into lines, one for each Kingdom (Old Kingdom / Middle Kingdom / New Kingdom). If you fill in any three of the five spaces in a line, you may make a bonus entry in the Monuments section.
Monuments
Make a mark in the topmost empty space matching the Monument type on the card. Each Monument type has its own column.
When making a bonus entry, use any Monument type you choose.
If you fill in the topmost space in each of the eight Monument columns, you may make a bonus entry in any section you choose.
Gods Scoring
When a Kingdom is scored, add up the numbers in the three Gods spaces of the current Kingdom and write the result in the total box, if you have not already done so. Count any empty spaces as 0.
If your total is highest or equal highest compared to other players, you score 5 points. For 3+ players: if your total is lowest or equal lowest, you lose 5 points. If all players have the same total, you all score 0 points.
Write your score (5, 0, or -5) in the score box for the current Kingdom, on the right hand side (Old Kingdom / Middle Kingdom / New Kingdom).
Pharaohs Scoring
When a Kingdom is scored, count the number of filled spaces in your Pharaohs section.
If your total is highest or equal highest compared to other players, you score 5 points. For 3+ players: if your total is lowest or equal lowest, you lose 5 points. If all players have the same total, you all score 0 points.
Write your score (5, 0, or -5) in the score box for the current Kingdom, on the right hand side (Old Kingdom / Middle Kingdom / New Kingdom).
Nile Scoring
When a Kingdom is scored, count the total number of filled spaces in the Nile row, ignoring the actual numbers in those spaces.
Score 1 point for each filled space. The maximum score possible each round is 12 points.
Write your score (0 to 12) in the score box for the current Kingdom, on the right hand side (Old Kingdom / Middle Kingdom / New Kingdom).
Civilisation Scoring
When a Kingdom is scored, count the number of filled Civilization spaces in the line for the current Kingdom. Scoring is as follows:
| Spaces filled | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points scored | -5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 15 |
Write your score (-5 to 15) in the score box for the current Kingdom, on the right hand side (Old Kingdom / Middle Kingdom / New Kingdom).
Monuments Scoring
When a Kingdom is scored, score 1 point for each column in your Monuments section that has at least one filled space. The maximum score possible each round is 8 points.
Write your score (0 to 8) in the score box for the current Kingdom, on the right hand side (Old Kingdom / Middle Kingdom / New Kingdom).
Round End
The game is interrupted as soon as the third Ra card is revealed in a round. Any cards that have already been revealed in the current turn are kept, to be used when the game resumes. If you are the active player, pull the deck towards you as a reminder of who is currently active.
Score each section of your scoresheet for the current Kingdom. The game then resumes, beginning the next Kingdom, and the player who was currently active before scoring now continues their turn.
Game End
The game ends once all three Kingdoms are scored (after nine Ra cards overall). For each section on your scoresheet, add the totals for all three Kingdoms to give your overall total for that section.
Bonuses
You score a bonus of 10 points each for the following achievements. Circle and add up all of the bonuses you have achieved on the left hand side or at the bottom of your scoresheet.
- All nine Gods spaces are filled.
- All twelve Pharaohs spaces are filled.
- All twelve Nile spaces are filled.
- All eight Monuments columns have at least one space filled.
- A Monuments column has all three spaces filled. This allows for scoring up to eight separate bonuses.
Winner
Add up the totals from each section plus your bonus total to get your final score.
The player with the most points is the winner!
If there is a tie, the tied player with the highest single number entered in their Gods row is the winner.
If there is still a tie, the tied players will compare their second highest single number.
Credits
Game Design: Reiner Knizia
Graphic Design & Illustration: Ian O'Toole
Rulebook Editing: Joel Finch, Ric White
Production & Development: Chad Elkins
The author and publisher thank all test players for their commitment and their numerous suggestions and comments. Special thanks to: Sebastian Bleasdale, Florian Ionescu, Sebastian Gieger, Vroni Sigl, and Philipp Winter.
© Dr. Reiner Knizia, 2025. All rights reserved.