Welcome to the enchanting realm of Everdell, a captivating board game that transports you to a captivating world of woodland creatures and flourishing landscapes. Immerse yourself in the intricate tapestry of nature as you embark on a journey to build your own flourishing city amidst the majestic evertrees. In this realm of strategy and creativity, every choice you make shapes the destiny of your burgeoning civilization.
As the game unfolds, you’ll gather resources, construct magnificent buildings, and attract a diverse cast of worker creatures to your city. Each turn presents a wealth of strategic decisions, from the placement of your workers to the timing of your building projects. The harmonious balance of different resources ensures that every move you make has far-reaching consequences. Whether you prioritize resource production, expansion, or the acquisition of special abilities, your decisions will determine the path your city takes toward prosperity.
In the vibrant world of Everdell, the seasons play a pivotal role in your strategic choices. As Spring arrives, new possibilities emerge, offering opportunities for growth and expansion. Summer brings forth a bounty of resources, fueling your city’s progress. The gentle breeze of Autumn provides a time for reflection and preparation, while the icy grasp of Winter tests the resilience of your civilization. As the seasons shift, so too must your strategies adapt to the ever-changing demands of the forest.
Foundation and Set-Up
Components
- 1 Game board
- 8 Player boards
- 54 Worker meeples (6 per player, 6 neutral)
- 8 Destination cards
- 24 Event cards
- 24 Critter cards
- 95 Resource tokens
- 1 Turn order marker
- 1 First player marker
- 1 Rulebook
Object of the Game
To build the most beautiful city in Everdell, a vibrant forest world inhabited by a variety of creatures. Players take on the role of leaders of a woodland faction, gathering resources, expanding their city, and fulfilling their destiny.
Set-Up
- Place the board in the center of the table.
- Shuffle the Destination cards and place them face down in a pile.
- Shuffle the Event cards and place them face down in a pile.
- Place the Critter cards face up on the designated spaces on the board.
- Distribute the resource tokens to the appropriate spaces on the board.
- Each player chooses a player board and places it in front of them.
- Each player receives 6 worker meeples.
- Place the neutral worker meeples on the board in the designated spaces.
- Choose a first player and give them the first player marker.
- Start the game!
Resource Management
Overview
In Everdell, managing resources is crucial to building a thriving woodland civilization. Resources come in various types, each with its unique purpose.
Resources
| Resource | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Wood | Used to construct buildings and workers |
| Resin | Used to create special cards and pay for worker placement |
| Berries | Used to feed workers and generate points |
| Pebbles | Used to pay for card costs and upgrade buildings |
| Cards | Provide special abilities, resources, and victory points |
Managing Resources
To manage resources effectively, players should employ the following strategies:
- Prioritize resource production: Construct buildings and play cards that focus on generating resources.
- Plan resource consumption: Anticipate future resource needs and avoid overspending or underproducing.
- Balance resource allocation: Distribute resources wisely among workers, buildings, and cards to maximize efficiency.
- Use cards strategically: Many cards provide unique resource generation or management abilities. Use them to supplement your resource production.
- Upgrade buildings and workers: Upgrades can increase resource production and reduce consumption.
- Trade and interact with other players: Engage in trading or sharing resources with others to supplement your own supply.
Building Your Everdell
Constructing your Everdell is the cornerstone of the game. Each player starts with a starting glade and builds their city by placing buildings, workers, and resources.
5. Buildings
Buildings are the heart of Everdell. They provide various benefits, such as production, storage, and special abilities. Each building has a cost and a level requirement, and players can construct them only if they meet these criteria:
| Building Level | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Berry, 1 Twig |
| 2 | 2 Berries, 2 Twigs, 1 Resin |
| 3 | 3 Berries, 3 Twigs, 2 Resins |
| 4 | 4 Berries, 4 Twigs, 3 Resins, 1 Crystal |
There are 24 distinct buildings in Everdell, each with unique abilities that can greatly impact gameplay. Some buildings, like the Market, can generate resources, while others, like the Naturalist, provide bonuses to specific card types. Buildings are the backbone of your Everdell, and choosing wisely can significantly enhance your strategy.
Expanding Your Dwelling
As you progress in Everdell, you’ll need to expand your dwelling to accommodate your growing population. This requires gathering resources and constructing new rooms.
There are six types of rooms you can build:
| Room | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Worker’s Cottage | 2 Wood, 1 Resin | Provides 1 worker |
| Berry Bush | 2 Wood, 1 Stone | Produces 1 berry each season |
| Gatherer’s Hut | 3 Wood, 2 Resin | Allows you to gather 1 additional resource per turn |
| Stone Pit | 3 Wood, 2 Stone | Produces 1 stone each season |
| Trading Post | 4 Wood, 3 Stone, 1 Resin | Allows you to trade resources with other players |
| Temple | 5 Wood, 4 Stone, 2 Resin | Provides 1 sacred grove card each season, which can be used to purchase special abilities |
To build a room, you’ll need to collect the required resources and then play the room card from your hand. Each room card has a unique effect that can benefit your civilization.
Card Synergies and Combos
Understanding Card Combos
In Everdell, card combinations can significantly enhance your gameplay. Understanding these combos is crucial for maximizing your potential.
Worker Placement Combos
- Produce Worker + Build Structure: Optimize your worker placement by producing a worker and immediately using it to construct a structure, earning you valuable resources and points.
- Gather Worker + Treasury Card: Combine a worker gathering resources with a treasury card that doubles the yield, boosting your economy and setting up future plays.
Building Synergies
- Nest Combo: Build nests to populate your city with creatures, triggering unique abilities and earning bonuses.
- Clearing Combo: Clear forest cards to build structures with lower costs, opening up opportunities for strategic plays.
Creature Synergies
- Synergistic Creatures: Combine creatures with complementary abilities to form powerful chains. For example, the Swan and River Turtle combo lets you draw more cards and move a worker.
- Specialty Creatures: Diversify your city by including creatures that specialize in different areas, such as resource production, card drawing, or worker placement.
Event Card Combos
- Chain Events: Use event cards that trigger additional events when played in sequence. These chains can provide substantial bonuses and alter the game’s flow significantly.
Worker Replacement Combos
- Replacing Strong Workers: Replace weak workers with stronger ones by producing a worker and then triggering an effect that replaces it. This allows you to optimize your worker pool.
Special Ability Combos
- Stacking Abilities: Combine cards with similar abilities to amplify their effects. For example, multiple cards that give you extra workers or draw cards can lead to explosive turns.
Advanced Tactics
1. Worker Placement: Consider the actions available in the Home City and Meadow before placing workers, and prioritize valuable card draw, production, and construction opportunities.
2. Card Play: Optimize card synergies by playing cards that trigger effects or combo well with others. Track the cards in the discard pile to anticipate future draws.
3. Resource Management: Balance resource production with spending to avoid bottlenecks and maintain a strong economy. Trade resources with other players when necessary.
4. City Planning: Position buildings strategically to maximize adjacency bonuses and gain access to advanced cards. Plan your city expansion to accommodate future growth and resource needs.
5. Woodland Management: Utilize the Harvest card to maximize resource production from the Woodland. Consider the timing and placement of buildings to optimize worker efficiency.
6. Event Card Timing: Pay attention to Event cards and their potential impact on the game. Activate Event cards strategically to gain a temporary advantage or mitigate potential setbacks.
7. Diplomacy: Engage in diplomacy with other players to negotiate trades or alliances. Offer resources or support in exchange for concessions or favorable conditions.
8. Adaptability: Adjust your strategy based on the evolving game state. Monitor the actions of other players and adapt your tactics to counter their strategies.
9. End-Game Planning: Focus on completing objectives and accumulating victory points in the later stages of the game. Plan your strategy to maximize your scoring potential.
10. Advanced Woodland Management: Consider the placement of buildings in the Woodland to maximize adjacency bonuses and manipulate Woodland effects. Utilize the Woodland as a strategic resource generator and for strategic positioning.
Variations
| Variation | Description |
|---|---|
| Solo Mode | Play against an automated opponent controlled by cards. |
| Co-op Mode | Team up with other players to overcome challenges and achieve a common goal. |
| Expansion Packs | Add new cards, buildings, and gameplay mechanics to enhance the base game experience. |
| Custom Rules | Modify the game rules to create unique and challenging variations, such as adding new victory conditions or changing the resource cost of buildings. |
How to Play Everdell
Everdell is a worker placement game in which players compete to build the best city in the forest. The game is played over four rounds, with each round consisting of five phases.
In the worker placement phase, players take turns placing their workers on different spaces on the game board. Each space provides a different benefit, such as allowing players to gather resources, build buildings, or recruit new inhabitants for their city.
In the event phase, players resolve any events that have been triggered by their worker placements. Events can provide bonuses, penalties, or other effects.
In the market phase, players can buy and sell cards from the market. Cards can be used to build buildings, recruit inhabitants, or gain other benefits.
In the production phase, players gather resources and produce goods. Resources can be used to build buildings and recruit inhabitants, while goods can be sold for victory points.
In the scoring phase, players score points for the buildings they have built, the inhabitants they have recruited, and the goods they have produced. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
People Also Ask About How to Play Everdell
How long does a game of Everdell take to play?
A game of Everdell typically takes between 60 and 90 minutes to play.
How many players can play Everdell?
Everdell can be played with 1 to 4 players.
What is the age range for Everdell?
Everdell is recommended for ages 10 and up.
What are the different types of cards in Everdell?
There are three types of cards in Everdell: construction cards, denizen cards, and event cards. Construction cards are used to build buildings, denizen cards are used to recruit inhabitants, and event cards provide bonuses, penalties, or other effects.
How do I win a game of Everdell?
To win a game of Everdell, you need to score the most points. Points can be scored for the buildings you have built, the inhabitants you have recruited, and the goods you have produced.
