Isle of Skye - Rules Refresh

Introduction

This tutorial provides a concise overview of the rules for playing "Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King." Whether you're a returning player needing a refresher or new to the game, this guide will help you understand the key mechanics and steps involved in gameplay.

Step 1: Setup the Game

• Place the game board in the center of the table, ensuring it is oriented correctly for the number of players.
• Randomly draw four scoring tiles from the 16 available and place them in designated areas labeled A, B, C, and D.
• Position the round marker on the leftmost bowl of the round track.
• Set up a stack of coins within reach of all players.
• Each player selects a color, places their scoring marker at zero on the scoring track, and sets up their player screen.
• Each player receives a landscape tile featuring their starting castle and a discard marker.
• The youngest player starts the game and receives the starting player token.

Step 2: Understand the Game Rounds

Each game round consists of six phases:

Phase 1: Income

• Each player earns $5 for their starting castle plus $1 for each barrel of whiskey linked to their castle by road.
• From round three onward, players receive additional income based on how many players are ahead of them on the score track.

Phase 2: Draw Tiles and Set Prices

• In turn order, players draw three tiles from the bag and place them face up.
• Assign a discard token to one tile and set prices for the remaining two based on their perceived value.

Phase 3: Discard a Tile

• Reveal your screens and discard the tile marked with the discard token.

Phase 4: Buy Tiles

• Players take turns selecting tiles from others, paying the set price for the chosen tile.
• Place purchased tiles aside; any unpurchased tiles must be kept, along with the allocated prices.

Phase 5: Build Phase

• Add purchased tiles to your kingdom.
• Ensure each new tile shares at least one edge with an existing tile, matching terrain types (water, grass, mountain).
• Roads do not need to be continuous.
• If you cannot place a tile, return it to the bag.

Phase 6: End of Round Scoring

• Earn victory points based on the criteria for that round using the scoring tiles.
• Players must have at least one required feature to qualify for scoring.
• Move the round marker and pass the starting player token to the left.

Step 3: End Game Scoring

• After the final round, players receive additional points for each scroll tile in their territory.
• Identical scrolls score, and double points are awarded for scrolls in fully enclosed areas.
• Exchange gold for victory points, receiving one point for every five gold pieces.
• The player with the most victory points wins; ties are broken by gold count.

Conclusion

Following these steps will help you navigate the gameplay of "Isle of Skye" efficiently. Familiarize yourself with each phase to enhance your strategy and enjoyment of the game. For further exploration, consider practicing with friends to solidify your understanding of the mechanics!