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Castle Combo – Quick Guide for Beginners

Redesigned insert for the Castle Combo card game, featuring a card compartment, scoring pad, and a large tray for keys and coins. Made from a precisely 3D-printed piece of black ABS plastic.

Reading time: approx. 3 minutes

The goal of the game

In Castle Combo, you acquire 9 character cards from either the castle or the village , depending on the herald's location, and place them in a 3x3 grid . Each character has an immediate ability and a scoring condition ; the player with the most points at the end wins.

Game setup

  • Number of players: 2–4
  • Age: 8 years and up
  • Playing time: 20–40 minutes
  • Components:
    • 39 castle maps (grey)
    • 39 village maps (brown)
    • 1 Herald figure (blue)
    • 52 gold coins
    • 44 keys
    • Rating block
    • Symbol overview (both sides)

Preparation:

  1. Shuffle the castle cards into a pile and place it in the center of the table.

  2. Turn over the top three cards and place them next to the pile .

  3. Repeat this with the village cards and place the herald (figure) next to them.

  4. Take 2 keys and 15 gold each.

  5. Whoever was last in a castle starts.

Gameplay

A game consists of 9 rounds, i.e., 3x3 cards.

  1. Issue a key (optional)
  2. Buy a ticket (required)
  3. Execute the card's ability (mandatory)
  4. Move the herald if a symbol (grey/brown) is shown on the card under the gold piece (mandatory).
  5. Next player's turn

1. (OPTIONAL) Take exactly 1 key for one of the following actions

  • Move the HEROLD (village ↔ castle).
  • Discard all 3 cards next to the HEROLD and draw three new cards.
    Reveal from the corresponding draw pile.

2. (MANDATORY) You must buy 1 card from the Herald series.

  • Pay the gold value to the supply in the top left corner.
  • Then place the card in your display.
  • Or you may lay the card face down, disregarding the front side, and receive 6 gold and 2 keys.

Important: The card's discount eligibility only applies to future purchases, not immediately!

Rule for placement (placing a card in your display) :

  1. Immediately place the purchased card in your display (grid).
  2. Except for the first card, you must place these adjacent (above, below, left or right).
  3. Towards the end, your layout (grid) must be exactly 3x3 cards.

3. (MANDATORY) Use their abilities, except when discounted.

  • The amount of the ability depends on your layout (grid) + this card. Except for "a neighbor" on village maps or "everyone else" on castle maps.

Important: Some cards (Village=Lumberjack, etc. | Castle=Captain, etc.) award additional points if the requirement on the card (at the very bottom) has been met.

All abilities are explained in the enclosed "Symbol Overview"!

4. (MANDATORY) Fill in the row of cards and, if necessary, move the HEROLD.

  • The purchased card shows a herald's arrow (brown/grey) on the banner.
  • Move the herald (blue figure) to the respective rows of cards (village / castle).
  • No symbol or hidden cards, the HEROLD stays where he is.
  • Always fill both card rows to three visible cards.

End of your turn: The neighbor to your left starts the turn.

End of game

The game ends as soon as you have completed your 3x3 card layouts.
Important: At the end of the game, be sure to place the remaining gold, in the specified amount, onto your cards using the coin bag, as indicated. Only then will it score points.

Rating:

  • Use the score pad and go from top left to bottom right , noting down the points.
  • Face-down cards with 0 points
  • 1 point per key
  • No points are awarded for gold that is not on a map or in a coin purse.
    Keep it to decide in case of a tie .

Please use the scoring example on the second-to-last page of the rulebook .

Victory: The one with the most points wins.

Tiebreaker: Whoever has more gold (not on cards) remaining. Otherwise, you share the victory.

Strategy tips

  • Plan several moves ahead to make the best use of bonus points.

  • Use card combinations strategically to achieve maximum scores.

  • Observe your teammates to block their best combinations.

Conclusion

Castle Combo is a fast-paced, creative strategy game that requires planning , combination skills , and tactical thinking .
Perfect for players looking for a fast-paced yet deep game.