Mykerinos

Overview

Mykerinos is an area control and set collection game set in 1899 Egypt, where players are archaeologists sponsored by patrons to excavate regions around the pyramids. Players place cubes in excavation zones to gain control, then use influence to advance in the Museum to score points. The game plays over 4 seasons with escalating scoring.

Components

• 1 game board (excavation zones and Museum)
• Player cubes (in 4 colors)
• Patron cards (with special abilities)
• Region tiles (forming the excavation grid)
• Museum track
• Score track

Setup

1. Place the board in the center.
2. Lay out region tiles to form the excavation grid (varies by player count).
3. Each player takes their cubes.
4. Deal patron cards; each player selects patrons for the game.
5. Determine first player.

Turn Structure

The game plays over 4 seasons. Each season:

1. Excavation Phase: Players take turns placing cubes on the excavation grid.
2. Scoring Phase: Resolve each region – the player with the most cubes in a region chooses: take the region’s reward OR advance in the Museum.

Excavation

On your turn, place 1-3 cubes (depending on patron abilities) in an excavation zone adjacent to your existing cubes or in a new zone.

Region Resolution

After all cubes are placed, resolve regions one at a time:

• Winner (most cubes): Chooses between the region’s patron bonus or Museum advancement.
• Second place: Gets the option not chosen by the winner.
• Third and below: May get lesser rewards depending on region.

Actions

Placing Cubes

• Place cubes orthogonally adjacent to your existing cubes in the excavation grid.
• You may start a new group in an empty area.
• Patron abilities may allow extra placements or special actions.

Museum Advancement

Instead of taking a region’s reward, advance your marker on the Museum track. The Museum scores VP at game end based on your position.

Patron Abilities

Each patron provides unique benefits: extra cubes, bonus VP, special placement rules, or end-game scoring bonuses.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

After 4 seasons, final scoring:

Source	Points
Region rewards	As collected each season
Museum position	Based on row/column in Museum grid
Patron bonuses	End-game VP from patron cards

The player with the most VP wins.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Ties in a region are broken by the player who placed cubes there first.
• The excavation grid changes layout between seasons.
• The Museum is a grid; advancing means claiming specific cells for VP.
• 2-player rules modify the grid size and available regions.

Player Reference

Phase	Action
Place	1-3 cubes in excavation zones
Resolve	Most cubes wins: choose reward or Museum
Museum	Advance for end-game VP
Season	4 seasons total; grid changes each season
End	Total VP from regions + Museum + patrons