Power Token and Power Token Actions

The Bowls of Power

Each player has 12 Power tokens that are distributed (different in every faction) among three Bowls. Power actions require Power Tokens that are currently in Bowl III (check the image below). In this scenario, you have X Power at your disposal. You may use all of the Power in Bowl III regardless of the number of Power tokens in Bowls I and II. Whenever you gain Power in the game (as income, when an opponent builds Structures adjacent to you, or by advancing on the Cult tracks), you do not get new Power tokens, but rather move the existing ones from Bowl to Bowl. Also, when spending Power on a Power Action (or conversion), you do not lose the Power tokens, but move them around again (from Bowl III to Bowl I again).

Power tokens move (always in clockwise order) according to the following rules:

Gaining Power When gaining Power, proceed in the following order.

1. If there are Power tokens in Bowl I, for each 1 Power you gain move one token from Bowl I to Bowl II.

2. Once Bowl I is empty, for each 1 Power you gain move one token from Bowl II to Bowl III.

3. Once all Power tokens are in Bowl III, you cannot gain further Power. You can only spend Power tokens that are in Bowl III. Move them to Bowl I when spending them.

Power via Structures

Each Structure has a Power value. The Power value of each Structure is as depicted below:

1. The Stronghold and Sanctuary have a Power value of 3.

2. Trading houses and Temples have a Power value of 2.

3. Dwellings have a Power value of 1.

When building a Dwelling or upgrading a Structure, directly adjacent opponent’s structure may gain Power and vice versa. In order to determine the total number of Power an opponent may gain, add up the Power values of their Structures directly adjacent to your newly built Structure.

Mechanics:

1. You do not gain Power for your own Structures. Power can only be gained when an opponent builds Structures.

2. Beginning with the player to the left of the active player and in clockwise order, each affected opponent needs to decide whether to actually gain the Power or not. The price of Power Unfortunately, Power gained via Structures is not free. To gain that Power, you need to lose a number of Victory points equal to one fewer than the number of Power gained. Thus, gaining 1/2/3/4/… Power costs 0/1/2/3/… Victory points.

3. You may not end up with a negative score when losing Victory points.

4. You may not gain less Power in order to save Victory points. Either take it all or gain nothing. (Exceptions: If you have not enough Power tokens in Bowls I and II, gain as many Power as needed to move all of them to Bowl III and lose Victory points accordingly. Also, you may gain less Power to avoid a negative score).

5. You only lose Victory points when gaining Power via Structures. You do not lose any Victory points when gaining Power otherwise.

How to gain Power Tokens:

1. When an opponent builds Structures (as above mentioned)

2. As income from your Trading houses and Stronghold (and Temples if you are playing the Engineers)

3. As income from two specific Bonus Cards

4. As income from two specific Favor Tiles

5. As a one-time reward when Founding a Town and taking the specific Town tile rewarding the Power Token

6. As a one-time Cult bonus in Phase III if the specific Scoring tile is up for the current round

7. When advancing on the Cult tracks (as explained below).

Power Tokens earned from Cult tracks:

Power can also be gained on the Cult tracks of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. You gain 1/2/2/3 Power when advancing to the 3rd/5th/7th/10th space of a Cult track. You only gain this Power once when advancing to or passing by these “gates” as depicted on their levels in the Cult Track.

Power Actions:

There are two types of Power actions: Main Power Actions and Auxiliary Power Actions.

Main Power actions (on hidden tab on the right side of the game screen) may only be taken once per round – first come, first serve. Whenever taking one of these Actions, move a number of Power tokens from Bowl III to Bowl I equal to its indicated cost. Then, Power Actions that have been used in a round will be grayed out indicating that it can’t be picked for that current round.

Auxillary Power Actions can be used anytime during one’s turn. They immediately convert power tokens to varied types of resources in the game. You may do any number of Conversions as well.

Main Power Actions (can be used by factions once in every round):

1. Build a Bridge

2. Convert 3 Power Tokens for 1 Priest.

3. Convert 4 Power Tokens for 2 Workers.

4. Convert 4 Power Tokens for 7 Coins.

5. Convert 4 Power Tokens for 1 Spade.

6. Convert 6 Power Tokens for 6 Spades

Auxillary Power Action Conversion Rates:

1. 5 Power Tokens for 1 Priest.

2. 3 Power for 1 Worker.

3. Spend 1 Power for 1 Coin.

4. Convert a Priest to a Worker.

5. Convert a Worker to a Coin.