Quick answer
Set up 7 Wonders Architects by placing the three Age decks, the Wonder boards, and the Progress tokens, then add the Medals expansion for new objectives and Wonders.
What the Medals expansion adds
The 7 Wonders Architects Medals expansion introduces two new Wonders (the Colosseum of Rome and the Ziggurat of Ur) and a set of Medals that reward you for completing specific objectives during the game. It also adds new Progress tokens that can shift your strategy. This expansion is designed to integrate seamlessly with the base game, so you can add it without changing the core flow.
Step-by-step setup and play
- 1. Set up the base game: Place the three Age decks (Age I, II, III) face down in the center of the table. Give each player a Wonder board, a set of 7 resource cards, and a starting hand of 3 cards from Age I. Place the Progress tokens and the conflict tokens nearby. Make sure the Age decks are shuffled and the Wonder boards are face up so everyone can see the construction steps.
- 2. Add the Medals expansion components: If using the Medals expansion, shuffle the Medal cards and place them face up next to the Progress tokens. Replace two of the base game Wonder boards with the new Colosseum of Rome and Ziggurat of Ur boards. Add the new Progress tokens to the existing pool. Only use the Medals if all players agree; they add extra complexity and can extend playtime slightly.
- 3. Understand the turn structure: On your turn, choose one of the three face-up cards from the current Age deck. You can either add it to your Wonder (building a section), use it for its resource (gaining a permanent bonus), or discard it to gain 3 coins. After your action, refill the display to three cards. Common mistake: forgetting you can discard for coins. This is a useful option if no card helps your Wonder or resource strategy.
- 4. How Medals work: When you complete a Medal objective (e.g., build three sections of your Wonder, collect three of the same resource), take the corresponding Medal card and place it in front of you. Medals grant immediate benefits and end-game victory points. Medal objectives are public, so opponents can try to block you or race to the same goal.
- 5. End of an Age and final scoring: When all cards in an Age deck are taken, move to the next Age. After Age III ends, each player adds up their Wonder sections, Progress tokens, coins, and Medal cards. The player with the most victory points wins. Don't forget to count the Medals – they can swing the final score significantly.
Products mentioned
-
7 Wonders Architects Medals: This expansion features two new Wonders (the Colosseum of Rome and the Ziggurat of Ur), new Progress tokens and a new game element: Medals. Adding Medals gives you extra goals to pursue during the game, making each decision more impactful and rewarding.
7 Wonders Architects Medals
-
7 Wonders Architects: 7 Wonders Architects is a gateway game that still retains the strategic depth the 7 Wonders brand is so known for. The base game is easy to learn but offers enough depth to keep experienced players engaged, making it a great starting point for the series.
7 Wonders Architects
