Official Cathedral Rules

Last Updated on February 20, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Cathedral Wood, also known as Cathedral: The Family Game, offers a strategic and portable challenge for two players. Here’s a breakdown of the gameplay:

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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 reveal the city layout with the central cathedral space.
2. Choose Your Color: Each player selects a set of colored building pieces.
3. Neutral Cathedral: Place the 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:

1. Taking Turns: Players take turns in a clockwise direction.
2. Playing a Building: On your turn, choose one of your unplayed building pieces and place it on any vacant space on the game board. Buildings must fit entirely within a single square on the board and cannot overlap other pieces.
3. First Player Advantage (Optional): In some versions, the first player may get an additional bonus action, such as claiming a captured territory immediately after placing their building. Double-check the rulebook for any such variations.

Capturing Territory:

You capture territory by surrounding areas that meet these conditions:

1. 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, and only side-by-side buildings matter.
2. 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 buildings, you cannot capture it.
3. Maximum One Opponent Building: The enclosed area can have a maximum of one opponent’s building. If there are two or more opponent buildings or the cathedral and an opponent’s building, capturing is not possible.

Claiming Captured Territory:
Once you successfully surround an area that meets the conditions above, declare your intention to capture it.

Removing Captured Buildings:
If you capture territory, remove any captured buildings (opponent’s or neutral cathedral) from the board. Return the captured buildings 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.
• Use the cathedral piece, if included, strategically to help enclose areas for capturing territory, but you cannot capture it itself.
• Once placed, buildings cannot be moved during the game.

End of the Game:

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

1. Counting Unused Pieces: Each player counts the number of unplayed building pieces remaining.
2. 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 enjoyed by players of all ages. The travel-sized board and pieces make it perfect for on-the-go entertainment. Some versions might include rule variations, such as the first player bonus or minor tweaks to capturing territory conditions. Always check the included rulebook for specifics. So, gather your opponent, choose your building colors, and see who can become the master strategist in Cathedral Wood!