Illuminati

Overview

Illuminati is a card game of conspiracy and world domination. Each player starts with a secret Illuminati society and builds a Power Structure by taking control of various Groups. Players win by controlling enough Groups or fulfilling their Illuminati’s Special Goal. Negotiation, bribery, and backstabbing are central to gameplay.

Components

8 Illuminati cards (dark-backed)
85 Group cards
17 Special cards
160 Money tokens (representing megabucks/MB)
2 Dice
8 Reference sheets/dossiers

Setup

Remove the 8 Illuminati cards (dark backs). Place face-down; each player draws one and places it face-up.
Each player draws their Illuminati’s indicated Income from the bank, placing it on the card.
Shuffle remaining cards (Groups + Specials). Place face-down in center.
Turn 4 cards face-up as uncontrolled Groups. If Specials appear, bury them and draw new ones.
Highest roller of 2 dice plays first. Play proceeds counter-clockwise.

Turn Structure

Collect Income: Each Group collects its listed Income from the bank onto its card.
Draw a Card: Group cards go face-up as uncontrolled Groups. Special cards are kept (face-up or face-down, player’s choice).
Take 2 Actions: Attack, transfer money, or move a Group.
Take Free Actions: Do not count against the 2-action limit.
Transfer Money: Move money between adjacent Group treasuries.
Use Illuminati Ability: Special abilities (e.g., Gnomes of Zurich redistribute money; Bermuda Triangle reorganizes Power Structure).
Add Targets: If fewer than 3 uncontrolled Groups remain, draw until there are 3. Discard any Specials drawn.

Alternative: Skip all actions and free actions to collect 5 MB for your Illuminati treasury.

Actions

Attack to Control

Target: Any Group except another Illuminati or one you already control.
Attacking Group must have a free outward-pointing arrow.
Roll 2 dice: succeed if roll <= (attacker’s Power - target’s Resistance).
Alignment modifiers: +4 per identical alignment, -4 per opposite alignment.
Position bonus: Target gets +10 Resistance if adjacent to its Illuminati, +5 if one away, +2 if two away.
Money: Attacker spends from attacking Group and Illuminati treasuries (+1 Power per MB). Defender spends from defending Group treasury (+2 Resistance per MB) or Illuminati treasury (+1 per MB).
11 or 12 always fails.
Success: Target joins attacker’s Power Structure. Half its treasury transfers; rest goes to bank.

Attack to Neutralize

Same as Attack to Control, but:
Target must be controlled by another player.
Attacker gets +6 bonus.
No open control arrow needed.
Success: Target and subordinates become uncontrolled. All money returned to bank.

Attack to Destroy

Same as Attack to Control, but:
Roll against Power - Power (not Resistance).
Alignment bonuses/penalties reversed (+4 for opposite, -4 for identical).
No open control arrow needed.
Success: Target goes to dead pile. Subordinates become uncontrolled.
May destroy your own Groups (closeness bonus does not apply).
Groups with no Power cannot be destroyed (except by Whispering Campaign).

Interference

Any player may spend MB from their Illuminati treasury to help or oppose any attack (+/- 1 per MB).
Privileged Attacks: Discard any Special card to prevent interference. Costs 5 MB for Bavarian Illuminati’s special ability.

Other Actions

Transfer Money: Move money between adjacent Groups (2 free transfers per turn; additional as regular actions).
Move a Group: Reorganize your Power Structure by moving a Group to a different vacant control arrow.

Free Actions

Dropping a Group (returning to uncontrolled area)
Aiding an attack with transferable power
Giving away Special cards or money
Using Special cards (except Bribery)

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Basic Goal (same for all players)

Control a certain number of Groups (varies by player count – see reference card). Illuminati card does not count.

Special Goal (unique per Illuminati)

Each Illuminati has a specific objective. Win by meeting it at the end of any turn.

Shared Victory

If two or more players meet their Goals simultaneously, they share the victory.

Elimination

A player is eliminated if, after their third turn, they control no Groups except their Illuminati. Exception: Servants of Cthulhu destroying their last Group to achieve their Special Goal still win.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

Power Structure arrows: Inward arrow connects to master’s outward arrow. Groups with no outward arrows cannot control others.
Transferable Power: Second number (e.g., 5/2). Can aid attacks by Groups in same Power Structure. No Group may participate in more than one attack per turn (except UFOs).
Cards may not overlap in Power Structure. If overlaps occur when capturing, rearrange or drop excess Groups.
Deals: Groups, Specials, and money can be traded/gifted. Cash transfers only between Illuminati treasuries. Immediate exchanges are binding; future promises are not.
No throwing the game: Cannot simply give enough Groups for another player to win.
Special cards: Single-use. Can be discarded to make an attack Privileged. Two Specials can be discarded to abolish Privilege.
Fanatic alignment: Opposite to all other Fanatics. Criminal has no opposite. Media gets +4 to control or destroy other Media.
IRS special: Owner taxes each opponent 2 MB on their income phase.
Post Office special: Costs 1 MB per turn to control.

Player Reference

9 Alignments

Attack Modifiers Summary