Overview

Jerusalem is an auction and area control Eurogame set in 12th-century Jerusalem during the Crusader period. Players compete to control the six key sectors of the city: the King, the Church, the Market, the Military, the Nobility, and the Tower of David. Control is gained by winning the favor of important city roles (such as the Constable) and placing Men and Barons into sectors. Revenue from controlled sectors provides resources to build towers, and the player who builds the highest tower wins.

Components

• Game board (map of Jerusalem divided into 6 sectors)
• Men tokens (workers, in player colors)
• Baron tokens (elite units, in player colors)
• Gold coins
• Tower pieces (stackable floors)
• Role cards (Constable and other city officials)
• Sector revenue cards
• Round marker

Setup

1. Place the game board in the center showing the six sectors of Jerusalem.
2. Each player takes their Men, Barons, Gold, and Tower pieces in their color.
3. Set up initial role cards and sector configurations as specified.
4. Determine first player.

Turn Structure

Each round consists of:

1. Auction Phase: Players bid to gain the favor of important city roles. Winning a role grants special powers and placement advantages.
2. Placement Phase: Players place Men and Barons into the six sectors of the city.
3. Revenue Phase: Each sector provides revenue to the player who controls it (has the most forces there). Revenue comes in the form of Men, Gold, and Tower-Points.
4. Building Phase: Players spend Tower-Points to add floors to their personal towers.

Actions

Bidding for Roles

• City roles (like the Constable) are auctioned each round.
• Players bid Gold to win roles.
• Winning a role grants special abilities for that round and may provide placement advantages in specific sectors.

Placing Forces

• Place Men and Barons from your supply into the six sectors of Jerusalem.
• Barons are more powerful than Men for determining control.
• Strategic placement is key – controlling multiple sectors provides diverse revenue streams.

Sector Control

• The player with the most forces (Men + Barons) in a sector controls it.
• Controlled sectors provide revenue:
  • Men: Additional worker tokens for future placement.
  • Gold: Currency for bidding and other actions.
  • Tower-Points: Used to build tower floors.

Tower Building

• Spend Tower-Points to add floors to your personal tower.
• The tower represents your prestige and path toward heaven.
• Tower height determines the winner at game end.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

The game lasts a set number of rounds. At the end of the game, the player whose tower is the tallest (most floors built) wins. Tower height is accumulated through Tower-Points earned from sector control across all rounds.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• The six sectors each provide different types and amounts of revenue, creating asymmetric incentives.
• Barons are stronger than Men for control purposes but are scarcer.
• Winning key roles through the auction can swing sector control dramatically.
• Gold management is critical – spending too much on auctions leaves less for other needs.
• The Tower of David sector has special significance for tower-building points.
• Multiple players competing for the same sector dilutes control benefits.

Player Reference

Sector	Revenue Type
The King	Men, Gold, Tower-Points
The Church	Men, Gold, Tower-Points
The Market	Men, Gold, Tower-Points
The Military	Men, Gold, Tower-Points
The Nobility	Men, Gold, Tower-Points
Tower of David	Men, Gold, Tower-Points

Key Numbers	Value
Sectors	6
Players	2-4
Play time	90 min
Win condition	Tallest tower