Mexica

Overview

Mexica is an area-majority and action-point game set in the founding of Tenochtitlan. Players use action points to move their Pilli Mexica figure, construct canals to divide the island into districts, found districts by placing district markers, and build temples to establish majorities. The game is played in two scoring periods. Points are awarded for having the most temples (and second/third most) in founded districts. The player with the most prestige points wins.

Components

• 1 game board (island grid with lake border)
• 4 Pilli Mexica figures (player pawns)
• Canals (plastic water pieces)
• Temples in 4 player colors (values 1 and 2)
• District markers with required sizes
• Action point tokens
• Prestige point track
• Bridges

Setup

1. Place the board in the center. Place the district markers beside the board sorted by required area.
2. Each player takes their Pilli Mexica figure, temples, and bridges.
3. The first period begins: lay out the first set of district markers (showing required areas).
4. All players place their Pilli Mexica on the starting space.
5. The first player for the second period is the player with the fewest prestige points after the first scoring.

Turn Structure

The game plays over two periods. Each period ends when all district markers for that period have been placed and scored. On your turn, you have 6 action points to spend on any combination of actions.

Actions

Action	Cost
Move Pilli Mexica 1 space on land	1 AP
Construct a canal (1 section)	1 AP
Found a district	1 AP
Build a temple (value 1)	1 AP
Build a temple (value 2)	2 AP
Construct a bridge	2 AP
Move your Pilli Mexica to a canal/bridge and travel along it	0 AP (entry costs 1 AP, travel is free)
Use the Teleport Pool	5 AP
Spend an Action Point token	0 AP (use saved AP)

Movement

• Moving on foot costs 1 AP per space.
• You may enter canals and travel along connected waterways for free (but entering a canal costs 1 AP).
• A bridge connects two land spaces over a canal.
• The Teleport Pool allows you to teleport your Pilli Mexica to any empty land space for 5 AP.

Constructing Canals

• Place canal pieces to create waterways dividing the island.
• Canals help define district boundaries. Districts are enclosed areas of land surrounded by canals and/or the lake edge.
• You may only construct canals in spaces adjacent to your Pilli Mexica.

Founding Districts

• When a fully enclosed area of land matches the size shown on an available district marker, any player whose Pilli Mexica is in that area can found it by placing the marker.
• Founding costs 1 AP.
• The district’s required size is the exact number of land spaces it must contain.

Building Temples

• Temples represent your influence in a district.
• Build temples in the district where your Pilli Mexica stands.
• Temple value 1 costs 1 AP; temple value 2 costs 2 AP.

Bridges

• A bridge costs 2 AP to build.
• Place a bridge over a canal to connect two land areas.
• Bridges allow movement across canals.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Scoring Periods

At the end of each period, score all founded districts:

For each founded district, players compare their total temple values in that district:

• 1st place: Receives prestige points based on district size (larger districts = more points)
• 2nd place: Receives fewer points
• 3rd place: Receives even fewer points (in 3-4 player games)

If tied, players share the combined points equally (rounded down).

Unfounded districts at the end of a period are not scored.

End of Game

After the second scoring period, the player with the most prestige points wins. Ties go to the player with more remaining action point tokens.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Players can save unspent action points as tokens for future turns.
• You cannot move through a space occupied by another Pilli Mexica.
• You may build temples and canals only adjacent to or in the same space as your Pilli Mexica.
• The island edge (lake) counts as a boundary for district formation.
• A district must match the exact required size on its marker.
• If you displace an opposing Pilli Mexica by founding a district that leaves them with no valid location, special rules apply.
• Canals cannot be removed once placed.
• In a 2-player game, each player gets 7 action points per turn instead of 6.

Player Reference

Action points per turn: 6 (7 in 2-player game)

Key costs: Move 1 space = 1 AP

Canal section = 1 AP

Found district = 1 AP

Temple(1) = 1 AP

Temple(2) = 2 AP

Bridge = 2 AP

Teleport = 5 AP

Canal travel: Enter canal = 1 AP, then travel along water for free

Scoring: Compare temple values per district; 1st/2nd/3rd get points scaled to district size

Two periods: Score after each period; most prestige points total wins