Imhotep: Builder of Egypt

Overview

Players take on the roles of ancient Egyptian master builders competing over 6 rounds to transport stone blocks via ships to five construction sites (Market, Pyramids, Temple, Burial Chamber, Obelisks). Each site scores differently and at different times. The player with the most points after 6 rounds wins.

Components

120 Wooden blocks (“stones”) — 30 each in black, white, brown, gray
5 Site boards (double-sided A/B)
1 Scoring track board
8 Ship tokens (various capacities: 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-stone ships)
4 Supply sled tokens (1 per color)
21 Round cards (7 each for 2-, 3-, and 4-player games)
34 Market cards

Setup

Place the 5 site boards in the center (A side up for first games).
Place the scoring track board to the right.
Have 8 ship tokens ready above the boards.
Separate 21 round cards from 34 market cards.
Shuffle market cards; place face down as a draw pile beside the Market board.
Select the 7 round cards matching your player count (2/3/4 heads). Return the other 14 to the box.
Randomly remove 1 of the 7 round cards (without looking). Shuffle remaining 6 face down in a stack.
Each player chooses a color and takes matching supply sled token.
All stones go in a pile forming the “stone quarry.”
Each player places 1 stone on the “0/40” space of the scoring track.
Starting player gets 2 stones on their sled; 2nd player gets 3; 3rd gets 4; 4th gets 5.

Turn Structure

Round Start

Flip the top round card to reveal which 4 ships are available this round.
Place 4 new market cards face up on the Market board.

Player Turns

Players take turns starting with the start player. Each turn, perform exactly one of 4 actions. Turns continue around until all 4 ships have sailed.

End of Round

Assess the Temple (each stone visible from above = 1 point).
Return 4 ships to the pile.
Discard remaining market cards from the Market board.
Stones on site boards and supply sleds stay.
New start player = the player to the left of whoever sailed the 4th ship.

Actions

On your turn, choose exactly one:

1. Get New Stones

Take up to 3 stones of your color from the quarry onto your supply sled. Maximum sled capacity: 5 stones. Cannot take this action if sled is full or quarry is empty of your color.

2. Place 1 Stone on a Ship

Move 1 stone from your sled to any empty space on a ship that has not yet sailed. Cannot take this action if your sled is empty or no ship space is available.

3. Sail 1 Ship to a Site

Move 1 ship to a site board. Two conditions must be met:

The ship must be loaded with at least its minimum number of stones (shown at the bow).
The destination site must have an open dock (no other ship sailed there this round).

Stones are unloaded front to back (skipping empty spaces) and placed at the site. You may sail a ship even if none of your stones are on it.

Only 1 ship per site per round. One of the 5 sites will always go unvisited each round.

4. Play 1 Blue Market Card

Play a blue market card you previously collected to gain its benefit. Only 1 blue card per turn. This action replaces your normal action.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Site Scoring (A Sides)

Market: Owner of each delivered stone takes 1 face-up market card. Stones returned to quarry after taking cards.

Pyramids (immediate): Stones placed column by column, top-left first. Each stone scores the printed value on its space. Level 1 = 3x3 (9 stones); Level 2 = 2x2 (4 stones); Level 3 = 1 stone. After completion, additional stones = 1 point each.

Temple (end of each round): Stones placed left to right, then stacked upward. Each stone visible from above = 1 point. (2 players: 4 spaces per level; 3-4 players: 5 spaces per level.)

Burial Chamber (end of game): Stones placed column by column. Each connected group of same-color stones scores: 1 stone = 1 pt, 2 = 3 pts, 3 = 6 pts, 4 = 10 pts, 5 = 15 pts, each additional = +2 pts. Connected = sharing a side (not diagonal).

Obelisks (end of game): Each player stacks stones on their color space. Ranked by height:

2 players: 1st = 10 pts, 2nd = 1 pt
3 players: 1st = 12 pts, 2nd = 6 pts, 3rd = 1 pt
4 players: 1st = 15 pts, 2nd = 10 pts, 3rd = 5 pts, 4th = 1 pt

Ties: add tied positions’ points, divide evenly (round down). Must have at least 1 stone to score.

Market Cards

Card	Type	Effect
Entrance / Sarcophagus / Paved Path	Red (immediate)	Place 1 of your stones from quarry onto the named site
Pyramid / Temple / Burial / Obelisk Decoration	Green (end-game)	1 point per 3 stones (all players’) at that site
Statue (10 cards)	Purple (end-game)	1 = 1 pt, 2 = 3 pts, 3 = 6 pts, 4 = 10 pts, 5 = 15 pts, each additional = +2 pts
Lever (2)	Blue (action)	Sail a ship; choose unloading order
Hammer (2)	Blue (action)	Take 3 stones from quarry, then place 1 stone on a ship
Sail (3)	Blue (action)	Place 1 stone on a ship AND sail that ship
Chisel (3)	Blue (action)	Place 2 stones on 1 ship or 1 stone on each of 2 ships

Unused blue market cards = 1 point each at end of game.

End of Game

After 6 rounds: score Burial Chamber, then Obelisks, then Decoration and Statue cards. Highest total wins. Tiebreaker: most stones remaining on supply sled. If still tied, share the victory.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

You may sail a ship with no stones of your own color on it.
Only 4 ships are available each round; 1 of 5 sites will always go unused.
Supply sled maximum is 5 stones.
Scoring track goes to 40; if you exceed 40, continue around and remember you have looped.
Red market cards must be played immediately upon drawing.
Blue market cards replace your regular action (not in addition to it).

B-Side Variants

Each site board has a B side with modified scoring rules. Can mix A and B sides freely.

Wrath of the Pharaoh Variant

Any player who has not delivered at least 1 stone to each of the 4 building sites (Pyramid, Temple, Burial Chamber, Obelisks — Market excluded) loses 5 points at end of game.

Player Reference

Site	When Scored	Mechanism
Market	Immediately	Take 1 market card; stones returned to quarry
Pyramids	Immediately	Points per printed space value
Temple	End of round	1 point per visible stone
Burial Chamber	End of game	Connected same-color groups
Obelisks	End of game	Ranked by tower height

Connected Stones	Points
1	1
2	3
3	6
4	10
5	15
6+	+2 per additional

Starting stones: 1st player = 2, 2nd = 3, 3rd = 4, 4th = 5