Saint Petersburg

2004

Experience the grandeur of Czarist Russia in Saint Petersburg, a strategic board game. Collect cards, manage resources, and outwit rivals to grow your influence!

60
minutes

2 - 4
player(s)

10+

Medium

About the game

Saint Petersburg is a captivating board game that transports you to the bustling city of Saint Petersburg during Russia’s industrial and cultural expansion. This game masterfully blends elements of history, economics, and strategy. As a player, you will immerse yourself in a world of imperial aspirations and strategic city planning, aiming to rise above your competitors and create the most prosperous version of the city.

The game is set in the early 18th century, with the city of Saint Petersburg still under construction. You play as a wealthy investor, hoping to capitalize on the city’s rapid growth. The game board depicts a simplified city grid, with spaces for buildings, workers, and various forms of currency. The goal is to generate the most victory points by the end of the game, which can be achieved by investing in buildings, recruiting workers, and advancing in society.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Saint Petersburg is a popular board game filled with various components that contribute to the gameplay. Here are the components included in the game and their respective functions:

1. Game Board: The game board is the main component of the game. It’s where the players place their cards and track their scores. It’s divided into four different sections, each representing a different phase of the game: Worker Phase, Building Phase, Aristocrat Phase, and Trading Phase.

2. Rubles: Rubles are the currency used in the game. Players use rubles to purchase cards and pay for other game actions. At the end of the game, the player with the most rubles is the winner.

3. Cards: There are four types of cards in the game: Worker Cards, Building Cards, Aristocrat Cards, and Trading Cards. Each type corresponds to a different phase on the game board.

Worker Cards: These cards are used during the Worker Phase. They provide players with a steady income of rubles.
Building Cards: Used during the Building Phase, these cards give players special abilities and bonuses, which can help them gain an edge over their opponents.
Aristocrat Cards: Aristocrat Cards are used during the Aristocrat Phase. They provide victory points, which are crucial for winning the game.
Trading Cards: During the Trading Phase, these cards allow players to trade rubles for other resources, such as additional cards.

4. Player Tokens: Each player gets a set of tokens in their chosen color. These tokens are used to track the players’ progress on the scoring track, which circles the game board.

5. Scoring Track: The Scoring Track is located around the edge of the game board. Players move their tokens along the track as they earn victory points. The player whose token is furthest along the track at the end of the game is the winner.

6. Phase Marker: The Phase Marker is used to keep track of which phase the game is currently in. It is moved to the next phase after all players have taken their turn during the current phase.

7. Start Player Marker: The Start Player Marker is passed to the next player at the start of each new round. This player will be the first to take their turn during each phase of the new round.

Each component of Saint Petersburg plays a crucial role in the gameplay, making the game exciting and engaging for all players.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Saint Petersburg is a strategic board game that requires careful planning and efficient resource management. The following guide will walk you through the initial setup of the game, including player roles, board placement, initial resources, and random elements.

Firstly, player roles in Saint Petersburg are not specific characters but rather the players themselves, acting as wealthy Russian aristocrats. The goal of each player is to build the most prosperous and influential city.

Board placement:

Place the game board in the center of the table, making sure that all players have easy access to it.
Sort the cards into four separate decks based on their backs (worker, building, aristocrat, and exchange cards) and place them face down in their respective spaces on the board.
Place the rouble notes next to the game board within reach of all players. This will form the bank.

Initial resources:

Each player receives a player board and 25 roubles from the bank.
Shuffle the worker deck and place the top eight cards face up on the game board in the designated area.
The starting player is determined at random, and is given the starting player marker.

Random elements:

The game introduces randomness through the deck of cards. Each round, new cards are drawn from the deck and placed on the board. These cards represent buildings, workers, aristocrats, and exchange cards. The availability of these cards can significantly alter a player’s strategy.
The turn order is also a potential random element, as the starting player for each round can change based on the gameplay.

To start the game, the starting player takes the first turn by either buying a face up card from the game board or passing their turn. The game then continues in a clockwise direction.

Game flow Round and round we go

Saint Petersburg is a board game with a unique structure that revolves around economic strategy. Players take turns purchasing cards, which represent buildings and workers, to build their city and earn points. The game is divided into rounds and phases with specific actions to perform at each stage.

Game Setup:

Each player receives 25 Rubles to start the game.
The deck of cards is shuffled and placed on the table.
Four cards are drawn and placed face-up on the table.

Gameplay:

The game is broken down into rounds, each consisting of four phases: Workers, Buildings, Aristocrats, and Trading.

1. Workers Phase:

During the Workers phase, players have the option to purchase worker cards using their Rubles. These cards provide an income during subsequent turns.

Players take turns to buy or pass on available cards.
Once all players have passed, the remaining cards are removed and new ones are drawn for the next phase.

2. Buildings Phase:

In the Buildings phase, players can purchase building cards, which provide victory points.

Players once again take turns to buy or pass on the available cards.
Any remaining cards are removed and new ones are drawn for the next phase.

3. Aristocrats Phase:

The Aristocrats phase allows players to purchase aristocrat cards. These cards provide both income and victory points.

Players continue to take turns to buy or pass on the available cards.
The remaining cards are then removed and new ones are drawn for the final phase.

4. Trading Phase:

The Trading phase is the final phase of each round. Players can purchase trading cards that provide income, victory points, or special abilities.

Players take a final turn to buy or pass on the available cards.
All remaining cards are removed and new ones are drawn for the next round.

Game End:

The game ends when the deck of cards is exhausted. At this point, players add up their total number of victory points from buildings, aristocrats, and trading cards, as well as any remaining Rubles. The player with the most points wins the game.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

During a player’s turn in ‘Saint Petersburg’, they have a variety of actions to choose from. Each of these actions can have a significant impact on the course of the game.

1. Purchase a Card

A player can choose to buy a card from the market. This is done by paying the cost indicated on the card. The card is then placed in the player’s area on the board. Buying cards can help players gain more points, money, or other benefits. However, they must be careful not to overspend and run out of money, as this can limit their actions in future rounds.

2. Reserve a Card

A player can choose to reserve a card for later use. This is done by paying half the cost of the card (rounded up). The card is then set aside and can be bought in a later round for the remaining cost. Reserving cards can be a strategic move to prevent other players from getting a card you want, or to save money for future rounds. However, it also means that you won’t get the benefits of the card until you have paid the full cost.

3. Pass

A player can choose to pass their turn. This means they do not perform any action. Passing can be a strategic move if a player wants to save their money for later rounds, or if they do not see any cards in the market that they want to buy or reserve. However, passing also means that the player will not make any progress during that round.

4. Use a Card

A player can choose to use a card that they have bought in a previous round. This is done by turning the card face up and applying its effect. Using cards can provide players with points, money, or other benefits. However, some cards have a cost to use, so players must be careful not to run out of money.

5. Exchange a Card

A player can choose to exchange a card in their area with one in the market. This is done by paying the difference in cost between the two cards. Exchanging cards can be a strategic move to upgrade your cards or to get rid of cards that are not benefiting you. However, it also costs money, so players must be careful not to overspend.

The player’s turn ends once they have performed one of these actions. The game then proceeds to the next player’s turn. The order of play continues clockwise around the table.

The strategic choices made during a player’s turn can have a big impact on the outcome of the game. Players must balance their short-term needs with their long-term goals, while also keeping an eye on what their opponents are doing. This makes ‘Saint Petersburg’ a game of strategy and anticipation.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

The game of ‘Saint Petersburg’ ends after the completion of the End Phase of the fourth round of the Aristocrat phase. This means that players have gone through all four phases of the game: the Worker Phase, the Building Phase, the Aristocrat Phase, and the Upgrade Phase, four times each.

Before the game ends, players must ensure the following:

All active cards are visible on their tableau. This is important because some cards have effects that only activate at the end of the game.
All money and points are correctly tallied. While the game progresses, players earn money and points. Before the final scoring, it’s essential to ensure that all earned money and points are accounted for.
All upgrades have been applied. Upgrades can be purchased during the Upgrade Phase, and it’s important that all purchased upgrades have been applied to the respective cards before the final scoring.

After ensuring the above, players proceed to the Final Scoring phase. At this stage, the victory conditions are evaluated. The victory conditions in ‘Saint Petersburg’ are based on the total number of points a player has at the end of the game.

The points are calculated in the following way:

Points earned from Worker Cards: Each worker card has a specific point value, which is added to the player’s total points.
Points earned from Building Cards: Each building card also has a point value, which is added to the total points.
Points earned from Aristocrat Cards: These cards not only give points, but also provide other benefits. The points from these cards are also added to the total.
Points earned from Upgrade Cards: Upgrades can also give bonus points, which are added to the total points.
Points earned from Money: For every 10 Rubles a player has at the end of the game, they receive 1 victory point.

The player with the highest total points at the end of the game is declared the winner. In case of a tie, the player with the most Rubles wins. If there is still a tie, the winner is the player who has the most cards in their tableau.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In the board game ‘Saint Petersburg’, the scoring system is an integral part of the gameplay. Points are awarded in various ways, and there are also specific rules for breaking ties. Let’s explore these in detail.

Scoring During the Game:

During the game, players can earn points through the following means:

Worker Cards: Each Worker card played can generate coins, which are essential for purchasing other cards but do not contribute towards points directly.
Building Cards: Building cards, on the other hand, offer victory points. The number of points each card offers is indicated on the card itself.
Nobles: Noble cards provide a mix of points and rubles. The points from Noble cards are only scored during the Noble phase.
Trading: In the Trading phase, players can earn points by exchanging goods cards.

Scoring at the End of the Game:

At the end of the game, points are scored in the following ways:

Remaining Rubles: Players earn 1 point for every 10 rubles they have left.
Upgrade Cards: Players earn points equal to the value on the card for any upgraded Worker, Building, or Noble cards.
Trading Cards: Players score the points indicated on their Trading cards.

Tie-Breaking Rules:

In the event of a tie, the game has specific tie-breaking rules:

The player with the most rubles left is the winner.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most cards in their tableau wins.
If a tie still persists, the player who is earliest in the turn order wins.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Saint Petersburg is a unique board game that has some special rules and exceptions. Understanding these exceptions and rule clarifications can significantly enhance your gameplay.

Market Phase Exception:

In the Market Phase, players buy and play Market cards. However, a player can only play a maximum of three Market cards per turn. If a player has more than three market cards, the rest must wait until the next round.

Worker Phase Rule:

During the Worker phase, it’s important to note that the cost of a worker increases each time a new worker is purchased. This is different from other phases where the cost of the cards remains constant.

Building Phase Clarification:

In the Building phase, a player can replace an existing building with a new one. However, the player must pay the full cost of the new building, not just the difference in price. The previous building is then removed from the player’s tableau and placed back in the card deck.

Noble Phase Clarification:

During the Noble phase, players can buy and play Noble cards. However, unlike the other phases, players can buy as many Noble cards as they can afford and have space for. There’s no limit to the number of Noble cards a player can have.

End Game Scoring:

At the end of the game, players gain additional points for having majority control in different areas. However, in case of a tie for the majority, all tied players receive the full points.

Special Cards:

Observatory: When a player buys an Observatory, they can look at the top 5 cards from the deck and choose to purchase one immediately, placing the remaining cards at the bottom of the deck.
Library: Owning a Library allows a player to pay one less ruble when buying a card.
Ship: Ships provide income every round, not just during the Market Phase.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Saint Petersburg is a strategy board game that challenges players to effectively allocate resources while expanding their influence across the city. Mastering the game requires a blend of strategic planning, tactical flexibility, and a good understanding of the game’s mechanics. Here are some tips and strategies to improve your gameplay:

Advanced Strategies:

Focus on Buildings: In the early stages of the game, concentrate on acquiring buildings. These provide steady income, allowing you to invest in more lucrative assets as the game progresses.
Upgrade Wisely: Upgrading buildings can be a huge boon, providing increased benefits for a one-time cost. However, not all upgrades are equally valuable. Before making an upgrade, consider the return on investment and how it fits into your overall strategy.
Manage Your Workers: While workers are necessary for income, having too many can clog up your tableau and limit your options. Try to maintain a balance between workers and other card types.

Beginner Tips:

Understand the Scoring System: One common mistake beginners make is not fully understanding the scoring system. Take the time to learn how points are awarded and plan your strategy accordingly.
Don’t Ignore Nobles: While buildings and workers are important, don’t neglect the nobles. They may not provide immediate benefits, but their long-term value can be significant.
Plan Ahead: Try to anticipate your opponents’ moves and plan your actions accordingly. This can give you a significant advantage, especially in the later stages of the game.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Overinvesting in Workers: While workers provide a steady income, they offer few points and can limit your ability to purchase more valuable cards. Try to maintain a balance between income and points.
Ignoring Upgrades: Upgrading buildings can significantly increase your income and points, but it’s easy to overlook this aspect of the game. Keep an eye out for potential upgrades and take advantage of them when possible.
Not Adapting to the Game: Saint Petersburg can be unpredictable, and sticking to a single strategy can be detrimental. Be ready to adapt your strategy based on the cards available and the actions of your opponents.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Balance Your Portfolio: A balanced portfolio of buildings, workers, and nobles is key to long-term success. Try to diversify your assets to ensure a steady income and a strong endgame.
Use Your Money Wisely: Money can be tight in Saint Petersburg, so it’s important to spend wisely. Prioritize purchases that will provide long-term benefits, and avoid overspending on cards that won’t significantly contribute to your strategy.
Remember the Endgame: The game’s final scoring can have a significant impact on the outcome. Keep the endgame in mind when making decisions, and position yourself to take advantage of the final scoring.