The Red Cathedral

2020

Experience the challenge of constructing St. Basil's cathedral in The Red Cathedral - a strategic Euro board game. Optimize your resources, decorate your sections, and impress Ivan the Terrible!

80
minutes

1 - 4
player(s)

10+

Medium

About the game

The Red Cathedral is a captivating board game that transports players back to the era of Tsarist Russia, during the construction of the world-renowned St. Basil’s Cathedral. The game is set in the heart of Moscow, where you, as a master craftsman, are commissioned to take part in one of history’s most monumental architectural endeavors.

The core mechanics of The Red Cathedral revolve around resource management, strategic planning, and risk assessment. The game board is a vibrant array of building sites, each representing a section of the cathedral, and a rondel – a circular track used for actions. You’ll use dice to move around the rondel, gathering resources and executing actions to construct your portion of the cathedral.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

The Red Cathedral is a board game that revolves around the construction of Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. The game includes various components, each playing a vital role in the gameplay. Here is a list and description of each component:

1. Game Board

This is the central component of the game where all the action takes place. It’s a representation of the construction site of the cathedral. The board is divided into different sections, each representing a part of the cathedral that needs to be built. Each section has a specific cost and reward.

2. Player Boards

Each player receives a personal board that represents their workshop. The board shows the resources and tools available to the player. The player board is also where players manage their resources and plan their strategies.

3. Dice

The game includes six dice that are used to determine the resources players receive during the game. The dice are rolled and placed on the game board. The number on each die determines the amount and type of resources available for players to collect.

4. Resource Tokens

These are various types of resources represented by different colored tokens. The resources include stone, wood, metal, and gems. Players collect these resources to build the cathedral sections.

5. Cathedral Cards

These are building plans for different sections of the cathedral. Players draw these cards to know what resources they need to collect to build a part of the cathedral. Each card has a specific reward that players receive upon completion.

6. Prestige Point Tokens

These tokens represent the prestige points players earn during the game. The player with the most prestige points at the end of the game wins.

7. Tool Tokens

These tokens represent the tools players can acquire to ease their construction. Tools can be used to manipulate the dice or provide other advantages.

8. Ruble Tokens

These are the currency of the game. Players can use rubles to buy resources or tools, or to pay for other various actions during the game.

9. Delivery Tokens

These tokens are used to mark the delivery of resources to the construction site. They’re used to keep track of a player’s actions and prevent them from delivering more resources than allowed.

10. Guild Tiles

These are special tiles that give players unique abilities. By gaining the favor of different guilds, players can get special benefits that can help them during the game.

All these components interact to create a complex and engaging game where players need to strategically manage their resources, plan their actions, and outwit their opponents to construct the most sections of the cathedral and earn the most prestige points.

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

The Red Cathedral is a popular strategy board game in which players take on the roles of construction teams competing to build the most impressive section of a cathedral. Here is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to set up the game:

Step 1: Player Roles

Each player will represent a different construction team. The roles are essentially the same, with no particular special abilities for different teams. The only difference between players will be the initial resources they receive, and the order in which they play.

Step 2: Laying out the Board

Place the game board in the center of the table. The board represents the construction site of the cathedral, and it’s where the main action of the game will take place. Make sure all players can easily reach the board.

Step 3: Preparing the Resource Cards

Shuffle the resource cards and place them in a deck next to the game board. These cards represent the different types of resources that players will need to build their sections of the cathedral. Draw the top five cards from the deck and place them face up next to it.

Step 4: Distributing Initial Resources

Each player receives an initial set of resources. These resources are represented by wooden cubes of different colors. The specific resources each player starts with are determined by the player order. The first player receives 3 stone (grey cubes), the second player receives 2 stone and 1 sand (yellow cube), the third player receives 1 stone, 1 sand, and 1 wood (brown cube), and so on.

Step 5: Setting Up the Dice

Place the six colored dice in the dice bag. These dice will be used to determine the available actions each round. At the start of each round, the first player will draw three dice from the bag and roll them.

Step 6: Random Elements

Randomly decide the player order for the first round. This can be done by any method agreeable to all players, such as rolling a die, drawing straws, or simply deciding amongst yourselves.
Shuffle the cathedral cards and deal one to each player. These cards represent the section of the cathedral each player will be working on, and they provide specific building requirements and potential bonuses.
Finally, shuffle the decoration cards and deal two to each player. These cards provide additional ways to score points by adding decorations to your section of the cathedral.

Once all these steps have been completed, the game is ready to begin. Enjoy building your section of The Red Cathedral!

Game flow Round and round we go

The Red Cathedral is a board game where players take on the role of construction teams working on the grand cathedral in Russia. The game progresses in rounds, with each round having several phases. The overall structure of the game is designed to create an exciting and strategic experience.

Game Setup:

Board Preparation: Place the game board in the center of the table and shuffle the delivery cards, placing them face down next to the board.
Player Preparation: Each player chooses a color and takes a workshop board, placing it in front of them. They also receive a starting set of resources.
Initial Cathedral Setup: Randomly place cathedral cards on the board, with each one representing a part of the cathedral to be built.

Round Structure:

Each round of ‘The Red Cathedral’ consists of several phases that players will go through in turn order. These phases are:

Action Phase: During this phase, players will perform one action from the available options: claiming a cathedral card, moving a workshop, receiving resources, or building a cathedral section. Players may also choose to pass their turn, which may be strategic depending on the current game state.
Delivery Phase: In this phase, players can deliver resources to the cathedral. This is done by playing delivery cards, which are drawn during the action phase. Delivering resources allows players to construct parts of the cathedral.
Construction Phase: This is when players use their delivered resources to construct the cathedral. Each part of the cathedral requires specific resources, which must be delivered before construction can begin. Constructing parts of the cathedral earns players victory points.
End Phase: This phase signals the end of the current round. Players check for any completed cathedral sections and score points accordingly. Then, the first player marker is passed to the next player and a new round begins.

Game End:

The game ends when all cathedral sections have been completed. At this point, players tally their final scores, adding any bonus points from completed cathedral sections and subtracting points for any incomplete sections. The player with the highest total score is declared the winner.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

The game of The Red Cathedral is filled with strategic choices and various possible actions each player can take during their turn. A player’s turn comprises of two primary phases: the Action Phase and the Delivery Phase.

Action Phase:

During the Action Phase, players can take one of three possible actions:

Claiming a Workshop: This action involves players placing one of their banners on an open workshop on the game board. Workshops allow players to perform more efficient actions, giving a strategic advantage.
Managing Resources: Players can also decide to manage their resources. This involves either moving the dice on the resource track or collecting resources. Moving the dice can influence what resources become available for collection, adding a layer of strategic decision making.
Constructing a Section of the Cathedral: If a player has the required resources, they can choose to construct a section of the cathedral. This action can earn players victory points, which are essential for winning the game.

Delivery Phase:

Following the Action Phase, the Delivery Phase begins. In this phase, players can choose to deliver resources to their claimed sections of the cathedral. Here are the actions a player can take:

Delivering Resources: Players can transport resources from their storage to their claimed sections of the cathedral. This is a crucial step towards constructing a section of the cathedral.
Constructing a Section of the Cathedral: If a player has delivered all the required resources, they can construct a section of the cathedral. This action, like in the Action Phase, can earn them victory points.

In The Red Cathedral, strategic choices are key. Players need to balance claiming workshops, managing resources, and constructing the cathedral to maximize their victory points. The ability to adapt to the changing availability of resources and the actions of other players can greatly affect the outcome of the game.

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

The Red Cathedral is a strategic board game where players are competing to construct the most impressive cathedral. The game ends when specific conditions are met, and then the final scoring takes place to determine the winner.

Game End Conditions:

The game concludes when any player finishes constructing their section of the cathedral. This means that they have completed all the levels of their construction; the base, the walls, and the dome.
Another scenario that can trigger the end of the game is when the shared construction area (the cathedral) is completely finished. This happens when all the sections of the cathedral are fully built by the players.

Once any of these conditions are met, the game enters its final phase. In this phase, the current round is completed so that all players have an equal number of turns. Then, the final scoring takes place.

Final Scoring:

After the game ends, each player scores their points as follows:

Banners: Players score points for the banners they have collected during the game. The number of points depends on the number of banners of each color a player has.
Decorations: Points are awarded for the decorations (windows and doors) that the player has installed in their section of the cathedral.
Completed Orders: For each completed order (which involves delivering resources to the construction site), the player earns points as indicated on the order card.
Workshop: Players receive points for any enhancements they’ve made to their workshop.
Prestige: Players get points for the prestige they have accumulated during the game, according to the prestige track.

The player with the highest total points is declared the winner. In case of a tie, the player who contributed the most to the shared construction area (the cathedral) wins. If there is still a tie, the player who went first at the start of the game wins.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

The scoring system in ‘The Red Cathedral’ is quite multifaceted, allowing players to earn points in numerous ways. The final score is calculated after the cathedral’s construction is finished.

Point Breakdown:

Construction Points: Players gain points for each section of the cathedral they’ve contributed to its construction. The points awarded are shown on the base of each section.
Decoration Points: Points are also awarded for each decoration that a player has added to the cathedral. Each decoration has a specific point value, which varies depending on the decoration.
Banner Points: Players can earn additional points by collecting banners. Each banner is worth a specific number of points, as indicated on the banner itself.

Tie-Breaking Rules:

If two or more players have the same score at the end of the game, the tie-breaking rules come into effect. The player with the most leftover resources (i.e., gems, coins, and construction materials) is declared the winner. If there is still a tie, the player who first placed a decoration in the cathedral wins.

End of Game:

The game ends when all the sections of the cathedral have been built. At this point, the players add up all their points from the categories mentioned above. The player with the highest total wins the game.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

The Red Cathedral is a strategic board game with a variety of unique rules and exceptions. Here are some important special rules and clarifications:

1. The Market Action

Players cannot perform the market action if all of the market spaces are filled. They may only take this action when there is at least one empty space in the market. If all of the market spaces are filled, players must wait until another player takes one of the resources, freeing up a space.

2. Workshop Expansion

The player can only expand their workshop if there are available spaces. Once all of these slots are filled with workshop cards, the player cannot expand their workshop further, even if they have enough resources.

3. Scoring Points

Players score points for completing cathedral sections, but they must remember that the scoring is based on the number of symbols that match the cathedral section’s requirement. If they do not meet these requirements, they will not score any points for that section.

4. The Workshop

The workshop can only hold a maximum of 4 resources of the same type. If a player collects a fifth resource of the same type, they must immediately return one resource of that type to the general supply.

5. Resources

During the game, players may not exchange or give resources to other players. Each player must manage their own resources independently.

6. Cathedral Orders

While players can fulfill cathedral orders in any order, they must complete the decorations in the order shown on the card. If a player completes a decoration out of order, they must correct it before continuing with their turn.

7. End Game

The game ends immediately when a player completes the cathedral, or when the bag of resources is empty at the start of a player’s turn. The player with the most points wins. If there is a tie, the player with the most leftover resources wins.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

The Red Cathedral is a strategic board game that requires careful planning, resource management, and timing. Here are some advanced strategies, beginner tips, common mistakes to avoid, and ways to optimize gameplay.

Advanced Strategies:

Plan your moves ahead of time. Consider the resources you’ll need for your next few turns and try to gather them in advance.
Pay close attention to your opponents’ strategies. If you see they are close to completing a section of the cathedral, try to complete yours first to steal the bonus points.
Use your resources wisely. Do not spend all your resources on one section of the cathedral. It’s better to have a balanced approach.
Manage your workshop effectively. The more organized your workshop, the more efficient your construction process will be.

Beginner Tips:

Understand the importance of resource management. The more efficiently you use your resources, the more quickly you can build the cathedral.
Start by focusing on the lower sections of the cathedral. They are easier to complete and will give you an early lead in points.
Don’t forget about the importance of the workshop. It can help you get extra resources and build faster.
Try to anticipate your opponents’ moves. This can help you plan your own moves and avoid surprises.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Don’t ignore your opponents. If you focus only on your own strategy, you may miss opportunities to block their moves or take advantage of their mistakes.
Avoid focusing too much on one section of the cathedral. This can leave you short of resources for other sections and slow down your progress.
Don’t forget to plan for the future. If you’re always reacting to the current situation, you won’t be prepared for what’s coming next.
Don’t underestimate the importance of the workshop. It may seem secondary to the cathedral, but a well-managed workshop can give you a significant advantage.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Keep your options open. Try to have a variety of resources available so you can adapt to changing circumstances.
Be flexible in your strategy. If your initial plan isn’t working, don’t be afraid to change course and try something different.
Make the most of your turns. Try to accomplish as much as possible with each turn, whether it’s gathering resources, building sections of the cathedral, or organizing your workshop.
Watch for opportunities to score bonus points. Completing sections of the cathedral before your opponents can give you a significant boost in points.