Friesematenten: Die Schattenmänner Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Game Information
• About This Expansion
• Setup
• The Wooden Markers
• Sequence of Play – Overview
  • 1. Refill the Exchange
  • 2. Play Action and Influence cards
  • 3. Auction cards
  • 4. Production and income
  • End of the game
• Overview of All Card Symbols
  • Card types
  • General symbols
  • Special symbols

Game Information

• Players: 2-4 people
• Age: from 12 years
• Duration: approx. 45 minutes
• Contents: 60 playing cards, 40 wooden markers

About This Expansion

Friesematenten – Die Schattenmänner can only be played in combination with the base set, Friesematenten. This rulebook summarizes the basic rules, sets out the rules for the new elements of the expansion, and gives an overview of all symbols on the cards of Set 1 and Set 2. To play Friesematenten you definitely need the rulebook from Set 1.

Setup

The setup and preparation are carried out as in the base game. All cards from Set 1 and Set 2 are shuffled together; each player needs 15 cards. These cards form the draw pile and the Exchange. Remaining cards are returned to the box and are not used in this game.

Author's tip on assembling the card deck: The game can be played with any combination of cards. However, care should be taken that enough victory points are in play.

For experienced players, this variant is recommended: each player is dealt 30 cards and chooses 15 of them to come into play. The chosen cards of each player are shuffled and form the draw pile for that game.

Each player receives 60 €. The rest of the money is set aside as the bank. The wooden markers are placed next to the bank as well. They are needed during the game (see "The Wooden Markers").

The Wooden Markers

Friesematenten – Die Schattenmänner adds 40 wooden markers to the game. The number of markers is unlimited. If the wooden markers run out, they can be replaced or supplemented by any other markers.

Markers can influence various card values (for example victory points, production value, minimum bid) and card properties. Markers can also be used to use certain action cards several times.

When a card with markers changes owner, the markers stay on the card.

How do markers come into play?

1. At the auction

   Some cards show the auction symbol at the top of the text box. The number after it indicates how many markers the player takes from the general supply and places on this card, directly after winning the card at auction and placing it in their empire.

   Example: If a player wins this card, they place it in their empire and put 2 markers on it.

2. Through production

   Besides money, the production value of a factory can also include markers. These are placed on the corresponding factory during Phase 4 "Production and Income".

   Example: During production, the player receives 1 marker for this factory, which they place on the card.

3. Through actions

   Various action and influence cards allow players to bring markers into play, remove them, or move them.

How are the markers used?

1. Modifying card values

   Some cards change their values depending on the number of markers on them. This can affect the victory points the card is worth, but also its production or its minimum bid. Some cards can also be destroyed by placing a marker on them.

2. Using action cards several times

   If there are markers on an action card, the card can be used several times. When an action card is used, the card is not removed from the game; instead, one marker is returned from the card to the general supply.

   If a player has the opportunity, they may use an action card several times within a round. If there are no markers left on an action card, it can be used one more time and is then removed from the game.

   Example: The player uses "Fata Morgana" in Phase 2 to remove a card from the Exchange. For using the action card, they return one marker lying on it to the supply. They can then use the card two more times – once for the remaining marker and once for the card itself.

   FATA MORGANA (action card)

   Card text: Remove one card lying in the Exchange from the game.

Sequence of Play – Overview

The sequence of play does not change compared with the base game. The game runs over several rounds, each with the following 4 phases:

1. Refill the Exchange
2. Play Action and Influence cards
3. Auction cards
4. Production and income

1. Refill the Exchange

The number of cards in the Exchange is refilled at the start of the round. Cards not auctioned in the previous round are moved up toward the draw pile.

Cards with the symbol shown in the Symbols section (a stack of cards) can be played during this phase.

2. Play Action and Influence cards

Starting with the starting player, all players take turns in order and may play as many of their unused Action and Influence cards lying in their empire as they wish. If an action card has markers on it, the card may also be used several times (see "The Wooden Markers").

The phase ends when every player has had one opportunity to use their Action and Influence cards.

3. Auction cards

Starting with the card closest to the draw pile, the cards in the Exchange are auctioned one after another. A card not auctioned stays in the Exchange and is offered again in the following round. If it again finds no buyer, it goes to the discard pile.

The phase ends when every card has been offered once.

Cards with the gavel symbol can be played during this phase.

4. Production and income

Each player receives a base income (30 €) plus the income from their factories.

Cards with the money bag symbol can be played during this phase.

End of the game

The game ends immediately if, after Phase 3, at least one player has 40 or more victory points lying in their empire. Otherwise, the game ends after the auction phase that follows the second time the draw pile is empty.

The player with the most victory points wins.

Overview of All Card Symbols

The overview covers the cards of Set 1 and Set 2. It shows the four card types, then the general symbols, the special symbols, and the symbols for when action and influence cards may be played.

Card types

• Factories (red cards)
• Status Symbols (yellow cards)
• Influence Cards (blue cards)
• Action Cards (green cards)

The overview also contains a card-by-card grid of card art for Set 1 and Set 2. That grid is an image of the card faces, with no separate text rules, so it is not reproduced here; the rules for every card are printed on the cards themselves.

General symbols

• Minimum bid (green banknote symbol): The amount that must be bid by the first player at minimum. If a player wins a card with a negative minimum bid, they receive the corresponding amount from the bank.
• Marker when won (+1 with marker icon): The number of markers placed on the card when a player wins it from the Exchange and places it in their empire.
• Victory points (crown symbol): The number of victory points the card is worth at the end of the game. Victory points shown in red are negative and are subtracted from the total.
• Star: Shown mainly on victory points to indicate that the value is variable and depends on various factors, which are described in the card's text.

Special symbols

Factories:

• Production value (factory symbol): Shows what the owner receives as income from this factory in Phase 4 (money and/or markers).

Influence cards:

• Bound to a player (symbol of a figure beside a card): While this card is bound to a player, that player uses the card's function.
• Bound to a card (symbol of a card with a link): While this card is bound to another card, the described function applies. If that other card is removed (from the game or to another player), the bound influence card is removed with it.

Action and influence cards:

Playable in certain phases: A symbol at the bottom edge of the card shows in which phase the card can be used. A card without a symbol can only be played immediately after it is won at auction or in Phase 2 "Play Action and Influence cards".

• Stack of cards symbol: Can be played at any time in Phase 1 "Refill the Exchange".
• Gavel symbol: Can be played at any time in Phase 3 "Auction cards".
• Money bag symbol: Can be played at any time in Phase 4 "Production and income".
• Lightning symbol – "Playable at any time": The card can be played at any time in the game.
• Lightning with red cross – "Restricted play": The card cannot be played immediately after it is won at auction, but only in Phase 2 "Play Action and Influence cards".