Taj Mahal

2000

Experience the waning days of the Grand Moguls as you strategize to build palaces, control regions, and amass commodities. Be the prince with the most influence to win!

90
minutes

2 - 5
player(s)

12+

Medium

About the game

Taj Mahal is a captivating, strategic board game that transports you back to the 18th century, to the grandeur of the Mughal Empire. The game skillfully blends historical elements with strategic gameplay, making it a unique experience that stands out in the world of board games.

The game is set in the splendor of India, where you, as a court member of the Mughal Emperor, aim to garner influence and power. The game board is a beautiful depiction of the Indian subcontinent, divided into twelve provinces. Each province contains a palace where court members can exert their influence to gain rewards and increase their standing.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

In the board game ‘Taj Mahal’, there are several components included. Each component plays a significant role in the gameplay and contributes to the overall gaming experience.

1. Game Board: The game board is the main component of the game and is designed to represent the map of India. It features several provinces and paths connecting them. Players move their pieces on the game board to try and exert their influence over different provinces.

2. Province Tiles: There are 12 province tiles in the game. These tiles are placed on the game board, one in each province. When a province is scored, the player with the most influence in that province wins the province tile, which provides bonus points at the end of the game.

3. Player Pieces: Each player has a set of pieces in their chosen color. These pieces are used to exert influence in different provinces on the game board and to keep track of the player’s score.

4. Cards: There are 100 cards in the game. These cards represent various resources and are used to exert influence in the provinces. Players collect these cards and use them strategically to gain an advantage in the game.

5. Palaces: There are 12 palaces in the game. When a player wins a province, they can choose to build a palace there. The palace increases the influence of the player in that province and provides additional points when scoring.

6. Commodities: Commodities are represented by cards. Players can collect commodity cards and use them to gain additional points. There are five types of commodities: Gold, Silver, Spice, Silk, and Ivory.

7. Bonus Chips: There are 12 bonus chips in the game. These chips provide additional points to the players when scoring. Players can win bonus chips by having the majority of influence in a province.

8. Influence Markers: These markers are used to keep track of the influence of each player in the provinces. The player with the most influence markers in a province takes control of that province.

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

Taj Mahal is a strategic game where players take on the roles of 17th century Indian princes, seeking to gain influence and wealth. The setup process involves several steps:

Step 1: Unfold the Game Board

Begin by unfolding the game board and placing it in the center of the table where it is accessible to all players.

Step 2: Place Province Tiles

There are 12 province tiles, each representing a different region of India. These tiles should be shuffled and then placed face up in the 12 spaces on the board. The names on the tiles should match the names on the board.

Step 3: Place Bonus Tiles

Each province has two matching bonus tiles. Shuffle these and place them face down in two piles next to the game board. Then reveal the top tile of each pile and place them on the corresponding province spaces on the board.

Step 4: Set up the Draw Pile

The game includes a deck of 100 cards. Shuffle these and place them as a draw pile next to the board. Reveal the top six cards and arrange them in a row face up next to the draw pile.

Step 5: Distribute Player Pieces

Each player chooses a color and takes the 12 palaces, 2 scoring markers, and 8 influence markers of that color. One scoring marker is placed on the 0/50 space of the scoring track around the edge of the board, and the other is placed next to the player’s influence markers.

Step 6: Distribute Starting Resources

Each player begins the game with 6 cards from the draw pile. Players should keep their cards hidden from each other.

Step 7: Randomly Determine Starting Player

The starting player is determined randomly. Give this player the start player token. This player will take the first turn when the game begins.

After these steps are completed, you are ready to begin playing Taj Mahal.

Game flow Round and round we go

The game of ‘Taj Mahal’ involves strategy, negotiation, and careful management of resources as players vie for control over various provinces and commodities in India. The game proceeds in a series of rounds until all the provinces have been claimed.

Round Structure:

Each round in Taj Mahal is broken down into four distinct phases:

Travel Phase: During this phase, the Maharajah (the leading player) selects a new province to visit. The selected province will be the one contested during the round.
Draw Phase: In the draw phase, players draw new cards from the deck to refill their hand. The number of cards drawn depends on the player’s position in the turn order.
Auction Phase: The auction phase is the core of the game. Players use their cards to bid for influence over the province. This is done by playing cards from their hand, one at a time, in a clockwise direction. The auction continues until all players pass consecutively.
Scoring Phase: After the auction, players score points based on their influence over the province, the commodities they collected, and any bonuses they earned. The player with the most points in a province claims it.

Player Actions:

Players take actions during the Auction and Scoring phases of the game:

Auction Phase Actions: The players participate in an auction to win the province. They can play an influence card, play a combination of cards, pass their turn, or withdraw from the auction. When a player withdraws, they claim a palace in the province, a commodity, or a bonus depending on the cards they played.
Scoring Phase Actions: During the scoring phase, players do not perform actions. Instead, they calculate and note down their scores based on their influence over the province, the number of palaces they have, and the commodities they have collected.

The game continues in this manner, round after round, until all the provinces on the board have been claimed. At that point, the game ends, and the player with the highest total score wins.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

In the board game Taj Mahal, each player’s turn is divided into a series of actions and strategic choices that influence the overall gameplay. Below is a detailed breakdown of what happens during a player’s turn.

1. Starting the Round:

At the beginning of each round, the active player draws a province card from the deck and places it on the corresponding province on the game board. This card determines where the next palace will be built.

2. Playing Cards:

Players can choose to play cards from their hand during their turn. Each card represents a different court member and has its own unique abilities. By playing these cards, players can increase their influence in the court and gain various bonuses.

General: A player who plays the most generals gains the military token.
Monk: The player who plays the most monks gains the religion token.
Vizier: The player who plays the most viziers gains the politics token.
Princess: The player who plays a princess can take any one token of their choice.

3. Making a Bid:

Players can also choose to make a bid during their turn. Bidding is done by placing one’s elephants on the board. The player who has the most elephants in a province at the end of a round wins the bid and gets to build their palace there.

4. Withdrawing from the Round:

A player can choose to withdraw from the round at any point during their turn. When a player withdraws, they stop participating in the round, but they gain any tokens they’ve earned so far and can use these tokens to score points or to gain special abilities.

5. Ending the Turn:

A player’s turn ends after they have either made a bid, played a card, or withdrawn from the round. The next player then takes their turn, and the round continues until all players have withdrawn.

Understanding and strategically implementing these actions during a player’s turn in Taj Mahal can greatly impact the outcome of the game. By smartly playing cards, making calculated bids, and knowing when to withdraw, players can gain a significant edge over their opponents.

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

The game of ‘Taj Mahal’ ends after the twelfth and final province has been visited. Players must carefully strategize their moves throughout the game, as their actions in each round will have a significant impact on their overall success.

Ending the Game

When the twelfth province is visited, the game comes to an end. At this point, all players must cease their actions and prepare for final scoring. Note that if the game ends prematurely due to a player’s action, all players will still proceed to scoring.

Victory Conditions

In ‘Taj Mahal’, victory is determined by the number of points a player has accumulated throughout the game. These points can be obtained in several ways:

By winning a palace in a province
By winning a bonus for a connection of two or more provinces
By gaining bonus points from special abilities of the court cards

Preparation for Final Scoring

Before final scoring, players should evaluate their boards and ensure that they have accounted for all points. The following steps must be taken:

Players must count the number of palaces they have in each province.
Players must calculate the points for connections between provinces.
Players must add up any points gained from special abilities of the court cards.

Final Scoring

For final scoring, points are calculated as follows:

Each palace a player has in a province is worth one point.
Each connection between two provinces is worth two points.
Each point gained from a special ability of a court card is worth the value specified on the card.

The player with the highest total points after final scoring is the winner of the game. In the event of a tie, the player who has the most leftover cards in their hand is the winner.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

The scoring system in ‘Taj Mahal’ is quite intricate, rewarding players for a variety of achievements throughout the game. Points are awarded at the end of each round, and at the end of the game for various accomplishments.

End of Round Scoring:

At the end of each round, players score points based on the following criteria:

Region Control: The player with the most influence in a region gets the region’s bonus points.
Palaces: Each player scores 1 point for each palace they have in the region.
Commodities: Players can score points from the commodities they have collected by having a majority in one or more of the four commodities.

End of Game Scoring:

At the end of the game, points are awarded as follows:

Remaining Cards: Players receive 1 point for each remaining card in their hand.
Majorities: The player with the most palaces on the board gets 4 bonus points. The player with the second most palaces gets 2 bonus points.
Special Tiles: Players score points based on special tiles they have collected throughout the game.
Commodities: Final scoring of commodities takes place, similar to the end-of-round scoring.

Tie-Breaking Rules:

In the event of a tie, the following rules are applied in order:

The player with the most remaining cards in their hand wins.
If still tied, the player with the most palaces on the board wins.
If still tied, the player with the most special tiles wins.
If still tied, the player who went earlier in the turn order wins.

These layers of complexity in scoring add a lot of strategic depth to ‘Taj Mahal’, making it a challenging and rewarding game for board game enthusiasts.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Taj Mahal is a board game that requires strategic planning and careful maneuvering. While the game’s rules are fairly straightforward, there are a few special rules, exceptions, and clarifications that players should be aware of for a smooth gaming experience.

1. The Withdrawal Rule:

During each round of the game, players have the option to withdraw their influence markers. However, there are a couple of important points to remember:

Timing: A player can only withdraw before they have placed a card on their turn.
Scoring: When a player withdraws, they score points based on the number and type of influence markers they have on the board.

2. The Palace Rule:

Each time a player places a palace, they must remember:

Placement: Palaces can only be placed in regions where the player has an influence marker.
Scoring: Palaces score additional points at the end of the game for each region they are in.

3. The Elephant Rule:

The player who has the majority of elephants in a region at the end of a round wins the province and receives the corresponding card. However, if there is a tie, the player who placed their elephant first wins.

4. The Specialist Rule:

Specialist cards provide players with unique abilities, but they come with their own set of rules:

Usage: A player can use a Specialist card only once per round.
Timing: The Specialist card must be used immediately after it is drawn.
Replacement: After using a Specialist card, the player does not replace it until the end of the round.

5. The Princess Rule:

A Princess card allows a player to take an extra turn immediately after their current turn. However, a player is not allowed to use more than one Princess card in a single turn.

These special rules and exceptions add layers of complexity and strategy to the game of Taj Mahal. Understanding these nuances can significantly enhance a player’s gaming experience and performance.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies for ‘Taj Mahal’

Try to secure majority in at least one palace every round. This will guarantee you points and country tiles.
Manage your cards wisely. It’s better to use cards to secure the majority rather than using them in every round.
Focus on collecting different types of goods. The more diverse your collection, the more points you can get.
Pay attention to the positions of other players. Building palaces close to them can help you gain extra points.

Beginner Tips for ‘Taj Mahal’

Start by building palaces in the corners of the board. This will give you a solid base to expand from.
Don’t spend all your cards in the first few rounds. It’s important to have a good hand of cards for the later rounds.
Try to collect as many different types of goods as you can. This will help you score points.
Focus on securing the majority in one palace rather than spreading out too thin.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in ‘Taj Mahal’

Don’t ignore the power of special cards. They can turn the tide of the game in your favor.
Avoid overcommitting to a single palace. It’s better to secure the majority in multiple palaces.
Don’t neglect country tiles. They can provide a steady flow of points throughout the game.
Avoid spending all your cards early. You’ll need them for the more competitive later rounds.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay in ‘Taj Mahal’

Plan your strategy before the game starts. Know which palaces you want to control and which goods you want to collect.
Adapt to the game. If another player is securing a majority in a palace you wanted, it might be better to switch your focus elsewhere.
Manage your hand of cards effectively. Don’t use a card unless it’s going to give you a significant advantage.
Balance your resources. Don’t focus too heavily on one aspect of the game at the expense of others.