Istanbul
Overview
Players lead a merchant and four assistants through a 4x4 grid of bazaar locations. To perform an action at a location, your merchant must leave behind or pick up an assistant. The goal is to be the first to collect 5 rubies (6 in a 2-player game). Rubies are obtained from various locations by paying goods, coins, or completing other requirements.
Components
- 16 Place tiles (form a 4x4 grid)
- 5 Wheelbarrows (player boards) with goods indicators
- 5 sets of Wheelbarrow extensions (3 per player)
- Rubies
- 2 Dice
- Mail indicators
- Coins (Lira): 1 (30x), 5 (15x), 10 (12x)
- Bonus cards (26)
- Mosque tiles (16)
- Demand tiles (10: 5 dark, 5 light)
- Governor (purple) and Smuggler (black) tokens
- Starting player marker
- Per player: 1 Merchant disc, 5 Assistants, 1 Family member, 4 Goods indicators
Setup
- Lay out 16 Place tiles in a 4x4 grid (use “Short paths” layout for first game).
- Randomly determine start player (gets 2 Lira); each subsequent player clockwise gets 1 more Lira.
- Each player draws 1 Bonus card.
- Stack your 4 Assistants with Merchant on top; place on Fountain (Place 7).
- Place Family members on Police Station (Place 12).
- Place rubies and extensions on appropriate places.
- Roll dice to place Governor and Smuggler on random tiles.
- Set up Mosque tiles, Market demand tiles, Mail indicators, etc.
2-player special: Place neutral Merchant discs on Mosques 14/15 and Gemstone Dealer 16. Need 6 rubies to win.
Turn Structure
On your turn, execute these phases in order:
1. Movement
Move your Merchant stack 1 or 2 Places (orthogonally, not diagonally). Must end on a different Place.
- If your Assistant is at the target: Pick them up (add to bottom of stack).
- If no Assistant is there: Leave one from the bottom of your stack. If you have none to leave, your turn ends immediately (exception: Fountain).
2. Encounters with Other Merchants
Pay 2 Lira to each other Merchant at the target Place. If you cannot or will not pay, your turn ends. Exception: no payment required at the Fountain.
3. Action
Carry out the action of the target Place.
4. Encounters with Family Members, Governor, Smuggler
- Other Family members: Catch them, send to Police Station. Receive 1 Bonus card or 3 Lira per catch.
- Governor: May draw 1 Bonus card (pay 2 Lira or discard 1 card). Roll dice to relocate Governor.
- Smuggler: May gain 1 good of choice (pay 2 Lira or 1 good). Roll dice to relocate Smuggler.
Actions
Place Actions
| # |
Place |
Action |
| 1 |
Wainwright |
Pay 7 Lira for a Wheelbarrow extension. 3rd extension = 1 Ruby. |
| 2-4 |
Warehouses (Fabric/Spice/Fruit) |
Fill the corresponding good to maximum. |
| 5 |
Post Office |
Receive resources shown on 4 uncovered spaces. Move leftmost Mail indicator down. |
| 6 |
Caravansary |
Take 2 Bonus cards, discard 1. May take from discard pile. |
| 7 |
Fountain |
Return any number of Assistants to your stack. No assistant needed. No merchant payment. |
| 8 |
Black Market |
Gain 1 red/yellow/green good. Roll dice: 7-8 = +1 blue, 9-10 = +2 blue, 11-12 = +3 blue. |
| 9 |
Tea House |
Announce a number 3-12, roll dice. Meet/exceed = take that many Lira. Fail = take 2 Lira. |
| 10/11 |
Large/Small Market |
Sell 1-5 depicted goods for Lira per the table. Rotate demand tile. |
| 12 |
Police Station |
Send Family member to any Place; carry out that Place’s action (no encounters). |
| 13 |
Sultan’s Palace |
Deliver required goods to earn next Ruby. Cost increases each time. |
| 14/15 |
Small/Great Mosque |
Acquire Mosque tile (need depicted goods, pay 1). Both tiles from one Mosque = 1 Ruby. |
| 16 |
Gemstone Dealer |
Pay Lira equal to largest uncovered number on track. Take next Ruby. |
Mosque Tile Abilities
| Color |
Ability |
| Red |
At Tea House/Black Market: turn 1 die to “4” or re-roll both dice. |
| Blue |
Immediately gain 5th Assistant. |
| Green |
At Warehouses: pay 2 Lira for 1 extra good of any type. |
| Yellow |
Once per turn: pay 2 Lira to return 1 Assistant to your stack. |
Scoring / Victory Conditions
- First player to collect 5 Rubies (6 in 2-player) triggers game end.
- Complete the current round, then each player may use leftover Bonus cards for goods/money.
- Most Rubies wins. Tiebreakers: most Lira, then most goods, then most Bonus cards.
Ruby Sources
- Wainwright: complete 3rd Wheelbarrow extension
- Sultan’s Palace: deliver goods
- Each Mosque: collect both tiles from one Mosque
- Gemstone Dealer: pay increasing Lira
- Some Bonus cards
Special Rules & Edge Cases
- You cannot stay at the same Place (must move 1 or 2).
- If you cannot leave an Assistant and are not at the Fountain, your turn ends after movement.
- At the Fountain, you do not need an Assistant and do not pay other Merchants.
- Bonus cards may be played at any time during your turn (before, during, or after actions, with restrictions noted on cards).
- In 2-player games, neutral Merchants cost 2 Lira to the supply and are then relocated by dice roll.
- 2 players: need 6 rubies. 3-5 players: need 5 rubies.
Player Reference
| Rubies Needed |
2 players: 6 |
3-5 players: 5 |
| Ruby Source |
Cost |
| Wainwright |
3 extensions (7 Lira each = 21 total) |
| Sultan’s Palace |
Increasing goods |
| Mosques (x2) |
Goods for tiles |
| Gemstone Dealer |
Increasing Lira |
Turn order: Move (1-2 spaces) -> Pay merchants -> Action -> Encounters