Influence Cards - General - If an action card containing various actions (e.g., two expansions, three borders) is played, when are the actions scored: right after implementing each action or, as indicated in the game rules, at the end of the turn?
The consequences of playing an action card become effective immediately after each implemented action: the score is marked on the scoring track at the end of the turn.
End of the Game - In case of a tie, who is the winner?
According to the game rules, the player who has the most ducats is the winner. If the tying players also have the same amount of ducats, they share the victory.
End of the Game - It may happen that some (or even all) players have no gold at the end of the game. This situation only becomes interesting if one player has gold and all others don't – can a player with 0 gold have the second most amount of gold?
A player who doesn’t have ducats at all doesn’t have the most or second most ducats either.
End of the Game - When the last card is drawn from the action deck, the players – one by one – still play their cards. If the king token is reached during this phase, does the game end immediately or do the players finish playing their cards?
In this case, the game ends immediately.
General Questions - Does the neutral party also count as a player?
No. The neutral party only places game pieces.
General Questions - In a 2-player game, does the neutral color also score victory points if this color receives Domains during the game?
The “neutral player” does not receive points.
Influence Card Action “Alliance” - Is it possible to cancel an alliance?
Alliances are effective until the game ends.
Influence Card Action “Alliance” - What happens if the border marker between two allies is rotated 90 degrees?
The alliance continues. Rotating a border marker 90 degrees is only a reminder. If this reminder is removed by the a third player's expansion, another border marker between the allied Domains is rotated 90 degrees. If the border between two allied Domains is completely removed, it is on you to remember that these Domains are allied. Therefore, an expansion isn’t allowed in this case either.
Influence Card – Action “Deserter” - Do I have to be able to place a deserted knight, or is it only required that my opponent remove the knight, while it is optional for me to place the knight?
You can only perform the action “Deserter” if you’re able to place the deserted knight.
Influence Card – Action “Deserter” - If, after playing a Deserter card, I place the deserted knight on a forest territory in one of my Domains, do I also have to pay one ducat?
Yes.
Influence Card – Action “Deserter” - In a 2-player game, may I play the Deserter against the neutral player?
Yes.
Influence Card – Action “Deserter” - May a Deserter only be played against an opponent’s Domain?
Yes. According to the game rules, a Domain is defined as an area that is completely surrounded by borders and contains one castle.
Influence Card – Action “Deserter” - May I play a Deserter or an expansion card against my own Domains (which often would make a lot of sense during the final phase)?
No.
Influence Card – Action “Deserter” - May I play the Deserter card if I no longer have an own knight in my Domain?
No. The game rule does not allow this.
Influence Card – Action “Place Borders” - It is not allowed to place borders within Domains. Does this also apply for areas that are surrounded by borders but do not have a castle?
These “areas” are usually called “neutral zones.” You may place borders inside neutral zones, but it makes no sense and has no effect either.
Influence Card – Action “Place Border” - If I choose the action “Place borders,” do I have to place border markers on all borders depicted on the map?
No, you can also omit some.
Influence Card – Action “Place Border” - May the action “Place borders” also be used to annex parts of a neutral zone?
No, that’s only possible with the action “Expand your Domain.”
Influence Card – Action “Place Knights” - According to the game rules, “an extra gold” must be paid when placing a knight on forest territories. Does “gold” mean a ducat?
One copper colored ducat must be paid. It happens to be a mistake that the rule refers to gold in this case.
Influence Card – Action “Place Knights” - If I play a “2 Knights” action card, may I build only one knight?
Yes, you may build only one knight.
Influence Card – Action “Place Knights” - Why do I have to pay a ducat for a knight on a forest? I can’t see any advantage I could get from a knight on a forest.
It serves the purpose of providing the game with more strategic variety: when you build a castle, having to pay for the knight obliges you to check whether there are cost-effective neighboring places for knights.
Influence Cards - General - May I use a multiple-expansion / multiple-knight action card for exactly one or for various of my Domains (the latter meaning that I may split up the actions)?
The multiple-expansion card must be used for exactly one Domain (although you may expand at two different places in a Domain, by one space each); the multiple-knight card actions may also be split up.
Starting Set-up - What happens if a castle cannot be placed because of the distance rule?
If it is impossible to observe the distance of six territories demanded by the rule, the distance is reduced to five territories for this particular castle. The rule demanding a distance of six territories still applies - if possible - to the other players' castles.
This rule applies to the players’ castles as well as to the neutral player’s castles used in the 2-player game.
Starting Set-up - What’s the meaning of the neutral castles in the 2-player variant?
The neutral castles in the 2-player variant serve the purpose of restricting the space for the two players.