Power Grid Official Rules
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Power Grid is a complex strategy game where players compete to build and operate power plants to supply electricity to cities. Here's the original rules and how to play:
Objective
The goal is to supply electricity to the most cities by the end of the game.
Components
Game Board: Double-sided board with maps of different countries/regions.
Power Plant Cards: Representing different types of power plants (coal, oil, garbage, nuclear, and renewable).
Resource Tokens: Coal, oil, garbage, uranium.
Money: Representing Elektros (currency in the game).
City Tokens: House-shaped markers representing player ownership of cities.
Player Tokens: Used to track various elements of the game.
Summary Cards: Aiding players in understanding phases and rules.
Setup
Select a Map: Choose one side of the game board to play on.
Determine Number of Players: This affects which regions of the map are used and the number of cities each player can connect to.
Prepare the Power Plant Deck:
Remove plants numbered 13 and higher. Shuffle the remaining cards and place the 13+ cards on top.
Add the "Step 3" card to the deck and shuffle.
Place the lowest 4 plants face-up in the "actual market" and the next 4 in the "future market."
Distribute Resources: Place resource tokens on their respective market spaces based on the number of players.
Starting Money: Each player receives 50 Elektros.
Player Order: Determine randomly for the first round.
Gameplay
Power Grid is played over several rounds, each consisting of five phases:
Phase 1: Determine Player Order
Reorder players based on the number of cities connected and then on the highest power plant number. The player with the most cities goes first.
Phase 2: Auction Power Plants
Players take turns bidding on power plants in the actual market.
The starting player selects a plant and places a bid. Bidding continues until all but one player passes.
The winning bidder pays and takes the plant, drawing a new one from the deck to replace it.
Players can own a maximum of three plants.
Phase 3: Buy Resources
In player order, each player buys resources to power their plants.
Resources are bought from the resource market, where prices increase as supply decreases.
Phase 4: Build
In reverse player order, players expand their network by connecting new cities.
Pay the cost of connecting to a new city plus any additional connection costs.
Phase 5: Bureaucracy
Players power their cities by using resources and earn Elektros based on the number of cities supplied.
Adjust the resource market by refilling it based on the number of players.
Update the power plant market by discarding the highest numbered plant from the future market and drawing a new one.
Steps of the Game
The game has three distinct steps:
Step 1: Normal gameplay with a limited number of cities available for connection.
Step 2: Triggered when a player connects a certain number of cities (depending on the number of players). More cities become available.
Step 3: Triggered by the drawing of the "Step 3" card. The actual market becomes the future market, and all future plants are drawn from the deck directly.
Endgame and Winning
The game ends when a player connects a set number of cities (determined by the number of players) during Phase 4.
Players then power their cities one last time.
The player who can supply electricity to the most cities wins. In case of a tie, the player with the most money wins.
Tips and Strategies
Resource Management: Efficiently manage and buy resources at the right time to avoid shortages and high prices.
Power Plant Upgrades: Upgrade plants strategically to ensure you can power more cities as the game progresses.
Network Expansion: Plan your city connections to minimize costs and maximize future expansion potential. Power Grid is a challenging and rewarding game that requires strategic thinking and economic management. Enjoy!