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Rebirth

44 questions players ask about Rebirth, answered in plain words and graded by where the answer comes from. See also the full rulebook.

Updated 2026-10-30.

  • Setup and Components
  • Placing and Scoring Tiles
  • Castles and Cathedrals
  • Mission Cards and Final Scoring
  • Resolving Ties
  • Ireland: Public Missions and Round Towers

Setup and Components

How do you set up a 3-player game, and does it differ from 4 players?

Several experienced players agree; the publisher reply does not itself rule, and the rulebook's printed wording conflicts.

  • njshaw2 · Community · 2024-10-13
  • Ross_B · Community · 2024-10-14
  • ikoni · Community · 2024-10-10

Three players use the full map and all 36 of their tiles; nothing is covered and no tiles are removed. Only 2 players cover part of the map, and only 4 players remove tiles. The printed rulebook text lists the box-removal under the 3-player line, but community players, counting tiles per player count, treat that as applying to 4 players.

How many tiles does each player remove in a four-player game?

Players worked this out from the setup arithmetic; the rulebook's printed removal list is under the 3-player line, so no official ruling confirms it.

  • njshaw2 · Community · 2026-01-04
  • qwertymartin · Community · 2024-12-24
  • SaltyHorse · Community · 2024-10-09
  • EuropeMasters · Community · 2026-09-10
  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Setup

Each player removes nine fixed tiles: three food farms, three energy farms, and one each of the 2-, 3- and 4-house settlements. Then each player sets aside two random tiles in Scotland (leaving 25) or four in Ireland (leaving 23). Tiles are removed only in 4-player games.

In a 2-player game, do the covered spaces count for missions or compete as a dummy player?

Several experienced players agree; no official ruling.

  • ericamick2 · Community · 2026-08-11
  • qwertymartin · Community · 2025-07-17
  • njshaw2 · Community · 2025-03-28

No — covered spaces are ignored. The spare tiles placed on the map are only a blocker, so they do not score, compete for majorities or count toward mission cards.

Can you look at the two tiles you set aside in Scotland?

The rulebook states this directly.

  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Setup
  • jerry2554 · Community · 2025-02-28
  • tilouboy · Community · 2026-09-10

Yes — the rules say you can look at them at any time. They are simply not used that game, so you know which two tiles you will never get.

Can you look at the four tiles you set aside in Ireland during the game?

Inferred from the setup wording and one community post; no official ruling says you may not look.

  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Setup
  • EuropeMasters · Community · 2026-09-29

Probably not — the rulebook has you look at the four tiles only at setup, then shuffle them face down and keep them separate, so they are meant to stay unknown. A tile you draw from a Round Tower is seen when you place it.

What are the spare blank tiles for?

A publisher account answered this directly on BGG.

  • harryapart · Publisher · 2026-09-21
  • qwertymartin · Community · 2026-09-21
  • Traquan · Community · 2025-04-15
  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Components

They are spares to replace a lost or damaged tile; no rule gives them a role in play. The publisher said they are just spares, though players are free to use them creatively as house rules.

What counts as your supply?

The rulebook states this directly.

  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Setup
  • ssmith71710 · Community · 2025-01-24

Your supply is the face-down pool you draw from at the end of each turn: everything not set aside at setup. In Ireland the set-aside tiles only come back through Round Tower bonuses.

Do you draw your next tile at random?

The rulebook states this directly.

  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Turn Summary
  • Doujou · Community · 2025-01-18
  • Jubbly · Community · 2025-01-19

Yes — you place the tile in your hand, score it, then draw a random tile from your face-down supply for next turn.

When does the game end and how many turns does each player get?

The rulebook states this directly.

  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Final Scoring
  • ericamick2 · Community · 2026-09-10
  • EuropeMasters · Community · 2026-09-10

The game ends once every player has placed all the tiles from their supply, whatever the player count. In Ireland up to four extra turns can come from second-tile Round Towers.

Placing and Scoring Tiles

Can a food or energy farm go on a blank space even if its matching icon spaces are free?

A publisher account answered this directly on BGG.

  • harryapart · Publisher · 2026-06-01
  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · 1. Placing Tiles
  • qwertymartin · Community · 2026-05-30

Yes — a farm can go on a matching icon space or any blank space, at any time. The page-2 overview wording is not a restriction.

Can a farm tile go on the other farm type's space?

The rulebook states this directly.

  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · 1. Placing Tiles
  • ericamick2 · Community · 2024-12-24

Only when no matching or blank space is left. Then an energy farm may use a food farm space, and a food farm may use an energy farm space.

Does a single farm tile with no neighbours score a point?

The rulebook states this directly.

  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · 2. Scoring Tiles
  • qwertymartin · Community · 2026-06-02
  • ericamick2 · Community · 2026-06-02

Yes — you score 1 point per tile in the cluster you create or extend, counting the one you placed, so a lone tile scores 1. Clusters are same type and same colour only.

Does a six-tile farm count as one farm or two for 'most farms' missions?

Several experienced players agree; no official ruling.

  • ericamick2 · Community · 2025-03-23
  • mekane · Community · 2025-03-25

One farm. A contiguous group is a single group and cannot be split for mission cards.

When does a settlement tile's influence score points?

The rulebook states this directly.

  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Settlements
  • Bearcat89 · Community · 2025-01-13
  • googlaby · Community · 2025-01-08

Only for a one-space settlement (immediately) or an incomplete settlement at game end. Larger completed settlements score by comparing influence when the last space fills.

If a port settlement tile completes the settlement, do you score the port twice?

The rulebook states this directly.

  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Settlements
  • Triggersten · Community · 2026-01-02
  • lacxox · Community · 2026-01-02

No — the port gives 1 point when you place on it. If it is also the last space of the settlement, the settlement scoring is additional and separate.

Do cathedral and castle spaces count as occupied spaces for majorities?

A publisher account answered this directly on BGG.

  • harryapart · Publisher · 2024-10-09
  • harryapart · Publisher · 2026-05-11
  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · 1. Placing Tiles
  • qwertymartin · Community · 2025-11-29
  • Einsiedler · Community · 2026-09-08

No — only spaces holding a player's farm or settlement tile are occupied. Castle and cathedral spaces belong to nobody, and controlling a castle does not make its space count.

How is a tie in a settlement resolved?

The rulebook states the tie rule directly.

  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Settlements
  • patcon · Community · 2025-04-30

The player who completed the settlement loses ties, and remaining ties go to players in clockwise order from that player. Who placed first does not matter.

Can you delay scoring a completed Public Mission?

A publisher account answered this directly on BGG.

  • harryapart · Publisher · 2026-07-14
  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Public Mission Cards

No — you check and score a public mission when you place the tile that completes it. You cannot hold it back, for example to double it later with a marker.

Can you score several Public Missions in one turn?

The rulebook states this directly.

  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Public Mission Cards
  • qwertymartin · Community · 2026-07-12

Yes — after placing a tile you check every public mission, and each you now satisfy (once per card per player) scores.

Castles and Cathedrals

When I place next to an empty castle or cathedral space, do I take the token?

A publisher account answered this directly on BGG.

  • harryapart · Publisher · 2024-10-11
  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Castles
  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Cathedrals

Yes. The first tile next to a castle puts your castle there, and you take over later by having more adjacent tiles. Next to a cathedral you place your cathedral and draw a mission card.

How is castle control decided when players have equal adjacent tiles?

The rulebook states this directly.

  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Castles
  • jazzbjorn · Community · 2026-01-11
  • qwertymartin · Community · 2026-01-11
  • Jubbly · Community · 2024-11-06

Only the number of adjacent tiles counts, not the houses. On a tie, more energy and food farms next to the castle wins. If still tied, the player placing the tile loses, so the holder keeps the castle.

When do you draw a Mission Card?

The rulebook states this directly.

  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Cathedrals
  • qwertymartin · Community · 2024-12-07

The first time you place a tile next to a cathedral space, you stack your cathedral there and draw one card. Each cathedral space gives you a card once, up to 8 in total.

Does the order of cathedral tokens on a space matter?

A publisher account answered this directly on BGG.

  • harryapart · Publisher · 2024-10-09

No — the order of players' cathedral tokens in a space has no effect on anything.

Do you need the castle to score a mission about spaces next to it?

A publisher account answered this directly on BGG.

  • harryapart · Publisher · 2026-07-15
  • qwertymartin · Community · 2026-07-15
  • qwertymartin · Community · 2026-07-15

No — such a mission only compares your occupied adjacent spaces with other players'; owning the castle is not required.

Mission Cards and Final Scoring

How many points is the Cathedral bonus card worth?

A publisher account answered this directly on BGG.

  • harryapart · Publisher · 2024-10-09
  • harryapart · Publisher · 2024-11-11
  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Final Scoring
  • harryapart · Publisher · 2026-05-11

A flat 3 points at the end of game when you reveal your mission cards, with no condition. It is not per cathedral.

Does a tie satisfy a 'most spaces' mission card?

A publisher account answered this directly on BGG.

  • harryapart · Publisher · 2026-09-09
  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Final Scoring
  • qwertymartin · Community · 2026-07-15
  • patcon · Community · 2025-04-20

Yes — ties count, so you need at least as many as every other player, not a strict majority. Castle tie-breakers do not apply to missions.

Does a tie at zero score a 'most' mission?

A publisher account ruled that a player who has not met the card's requirement does not score it.

  • harryapart · Publisher · 2025-01-03
  • CreativeTechy · Community · 2025-01-19
  • Zetecua · Community · 2025-12-29

No — a zero count does not satisfy the card, so you need at least one qualifying space or settlement even if everyone is tied at zero.

Do castle or cathedral spaces count as occupied or adjacent spaces for mission cards?

A publisher account answered this directly on BGG.

  • harryapart · Publisher · 2024-10-09
  • Einsiedler · Community · 2026-09-08
  • g4bor · Community · 2025-01-25
  • tool · Community · 2024-12-23

No — only spaces holding a player's tile count. Castle and cathedral spaces never count as occupied or adjacent spaces.

Do incomplete settlements count for settlement mission cards?

A publisher account answered this directly on BGG.

  • harryapart · Publisher · 2026-08-03
  • harryapart · Publisher · 2026-08-05
  • qwertymartin · Community · 2024-12-21
  • snth · Community · 2024-12-22

It depends on the card. Medium Settlements Ownership says fully occupy, so only completed settlements count. Per the publisher, other settlement cards count incomplete ones, and presence is compared with each other player, ties included.

Do incomplete settlements score at game end?

A publisher account answered this directly on BGG.

  • harryapart · Publisher · 2026-07-30
  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Final Scoring

Yes. Each settlement tile in an unfinished settlement scores as if alone in a small settlement, so you get points equal to your influence there.

Does the Longest Coastline mission allow chains that leave the shore?

Several experienced players agree; no official ruling.

  • ericamick2 · Community · 2025-05-18
  • JamesT · Community · 2025-05-18
  • Stubentiger · Community · 2025-06-07
  • EuropeMasters · Community · 2026-08-23

No — spaces must form an unbroken shoreline run, so a chain through the interior or separate pieces does not count.

Does Occupy 4 Adjacent Coastal Spaces need one group?

Several experienced players agree; no official ruling.

  • ericamick2 · Community · 2026-08-23
  • EuropeMasters · Community · 2026-08-23
  • qwertymartin · Community · 2026-10-03

Yes — one uninterrupted shoreline group of four. Separate shoreline pieces do not combine.

Which spaces count for the English Border mission?

Several experienced players agree; no official ruling.

  • peltazoid · Community · 2026-07-10
  • qwertymartin · Community · 2026-07-10

Only the five farm or settlement spaces along the England border on the map. The castle space on that border does not count.

For the Ireland 'link 4 castles' mission, must the castles be yours?

The rulebook states this directly.

  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Public Mission Cards
  • qwertymartin · Community · 2026-07-05
  • peltazoid · Community · 2026-07-05
  • qwertymartin · Community · 2026-10-03

No — control is irrelevant. You need one connected group of your tiles touching four castles; the chain cannot pass through a castle space.

Resolving Ties

In a settlement tie, who loses?

The rulebook states this directly.

  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Resolving Ties
  • invervegas · Community · 2026-03-26
  • cannoneer · Community · 2025-12-23

The player who completed the settlement loses all ties, then further ties go clockwise from that player.

How many points do two players get in a Sprawling Settlement?

The rulebook states this directly.

  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · 2. Scoring Tiles

If only 2 players are represented in a Sprawling Settlement (Ireland), the player with the most Influence scores 12 + 5 = 17 and the other scores 8.

Ireland: Public Missions and Round Towers

How does the Ireland 'four contiguous coastline spaces' mission work?

Based on limited discussion; no official ruling.

  • ericamick2 · Community · 2024-11-13
  • snth · Community · 2024-11-14

You need one connected group of four coastline spaces; scattered spaces do not count, and castles do not count as those spaces.

Can the doubling marker go on a mission completed this turn?

A publisher account answered this directly on BGG.

  • harryapart · Publisher · 2026-07-14
  • harryapart · Publisher · 2026-07-14
  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Round Tower Bonuses
  • clownfeet · Community · 2024-11-05
  • qwertymartin · Community · 2026-09-30

No — it goes only on a public mission you have not completed. Once placed it stays for the rest of the game.

With a second-tile tower, do I score the first tile before placing the second?

A publisher account answered this directly on BGG.

  • harryapart · Publisher · 2026-08-26
  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Round Tower Bonuses
  • ericamick2 · Community · 2026-08-26

Yes — place and score the first tile, then draw one of the four set-aside tiles at random, place it and score it normally.

Can I get more than one second-tile bonus in a turn?

The rulebook states this directly.

  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Round Tower Bonuses
  • peltazoid · Community · 2026-08-10

No — it triggers once per turn; a second such tower the same turn gives nothing but your normal points.

Can I use the same Round Tower more than once?

The rulebook states this directly.

  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Round Towers
  • meepleraptor · Community · 2025-02-04
  • kamomillatee · Community · 2024-11-05

No — each player may activate each tower once per game, though other players can activate it too.

What if the draw-3 tower finds fewer than three tiles?

The rulebook states this directly.

  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Round Tower Bonuses
  • peltazoid · Community · 2026-09-29

Draw as many as are available, keep one, and shuffle the others back into your supply.

Do both 3-point towers pay?

The rulebook states this directly.

  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Round Tower Bonuses
  • qwertymartin · Community · 2026-09-30

Yes — 3 points for being next to one, 6 for both.

What is needed for the 13-point bonus?

The rulebook states this directly.

  • Rebirth rulebook · Rulebook · Round Tower Bonuses
  • qwertymartin · Community · 2026-09-30
  • flahr · Community · 2025-12-21

Occupy a space adjacent to all three of those Round Towers.