Objective: Be the player who has the fewest unused building pieces remaining at the end of the game. Essentially, you want to outmaneuver your opponent by strategically placing your buildings and capturing territory.

Components:

• Game board depicting a walled city with a central cathedral space

• Two sets of colored building pieces in different shapes and sizes (one set per player)

• Rulebook (might be included within the game board or packaging)
  

Setup:

1. Unfold the Game Board: Open the travel case and unfold the game board to reveal the city layout with the central cathedral space marked.

2. Choose Your Color: Each player selects a set of colored building pieces.

3. Neutral Cathedral: Place the single, neutral-colored cathedral piece (if included) in the central cathedral space on the board.  This piece is not owned by any player and can be used strategically during gameplay.
   

Gameplay:

The game is played in turns. Here's what happens on each turn:

• Taking Turns: Players take turns in a clockwise direction.

• Playing a Building: On your turn, you must choose one of your unplayed building pieces and place it on any vacant space on the game board.  The buildings must be placed entirely within a single square on the board and cannot overlap other pieces.

• First Player Advantage (Optional):  In some versions of the game, the first player might get an additional bonus action on their first turn, such as claiming a captured territory immediately after placing their building.  Double-check the rulebook for any such variations.
  

Capturing Territory:

This is where the strategic element comes in. You can capture territory by surrounding areas that meet these conditions:

• Enclosed Area:  The area you want to capture must be completely enclosed by your buildings (and/or the neutral cathedral piece) on all sides. Diagonal connections don't count, only buildings touching side-by-side.

• Opponent's or Neutral Buildings: The enclosed area can contain your opponent's buildings or the neutral cathedral piece, but not a combination of both. If the area only contains your own buildings, you cannot capture it.

• Maximum One Opponent Building:  The enclosed area can have a maximum of one building belonging to your opponent.  If there are two or more opponent buildings or the cathedral and an opponent's building, capturing is not possible.

• Claiming Captured Territory:  When you successfully surround an area meeting the conditions above, you can declare your intention to capture it.

• Removing Captured Buildings:  If territory is captured, remove any captured buildings (opponent's or neutral cathedral) from the board. The captured buildings are returned to their respective owner's supply to be used later in the game.
  

Important Notes:

• You cannot capture territory during the turn you place your first building piece.  This gives both players a chance to establish their initial positions.

• The cathedral piece, if included, can be used strategically to help enclose areas for capturing territory, but it cannot be captured itself.

• Once a building is placed, it cannot be moved during the game.
  

End of the Game:

The game ends when neither player can place any more of their building pieces because all the available spaces on the board are occupied.

• Counting Unused Pieces:  Each player counts the number of their building pieces remaining unplayed.

• The Winner: The player with the fewest unused building pieces wins the game! They are the most strategic builder who managed to capture the most territory and limit their opponent's options.
  

Additional Notes:

• Cathedral Wood is a simple yet strategic game that can be enjoyed by players of all ages.

• The travel-sized board and pieces make it perfect for on-the-go entertainment.

• Some versions might include variations in rules, such as the first player bonus or minor tweaks to capturing territory conditions.  Always check the included rulebook for specifics.