How To Play: Gutenberg

Overview

If you love books, ink stains, and outsmarting your friends, then Gutenberg is your jam! I’ve played this board game more times than I’ve spilled coffee on my player mat. In this guide, I’ll give you a clear outline of the rules (no confusing jargon, promise) and share the best strategies for winning. By the end, you’ll know exactly How To Play gutenberg—and how to beat your pals.

What’s in the box

• 1 Game Board
• 4 Player Screens
• 4 Player Boards
• 8 Initiative Markers
• 40 Player Markers
• 48 Order Cards
• 56 Patronage Cards
• 60 Specialty Tiles
• 24 Gear Tiles
• 12 Bonus Tiles
• 37 Ink Cubes
• 32 Type Tiles
• 1 Round Marker
• 1 First Player Marker
• 1 Bag
• 4 Reference Sheets
• 1 Rulebook

How To Play Gutenberg: Rules Summary

Setup

1. First, give each player a player board, ink tokens, gears, and markers.
2. Next, shuffle the order and patron cards, then place them on the table.
3. Then, place the skill tiles and resource cubes nearby for easy reach.
4. Finally, pick a starting player (oldest, wildest hair, or best fake mustache—all good methods) and hand them the first player marker.

Gameplay

1. During each round, players secretly plan actions by placing initiative markers behind their screen. This part feels like plotting world domination, but with ink.
2. Reveal your markers at the same time. Now, take turns choosing actions such as grabbing orders, buying ink, upgrading your press, or learning new skills.
3. After actions, each player works to fulfill orders by matching ink colors and using their press upgrades. Skills may give you an advantage or snag you some extra points.
4. Don’t forget to refill the offer displays. If you do, the cardboard police come for you (just kidding, but seriously, refill them!).

Winning

1. Play for six rounds. Count up your victory points from completed orders, skills, and upgrades at the end.
2. The player with the most victory points wins. If there’s a tie, go by the number of completed orders. If you still tie, you must duel with printing press noises (well, or share the win).

Special Rules & Conditions

1. Remember, you can only complete orders if you have enough ink and the required upgrades.
2. Some patron cards offer secret objectives for bonus points if you meet them by the end of the game.
3. If you ever run out of ink or gears, tough luck—manage resources wisely to avoid disappointment and muttering under your breath for the rest of the game.

So that’s how you play! Trust me, once you get rolling, you’ll be printing orders faster than you can say ‘How To Play gutenberg.’

Best Gutenberg Strategies

Mastering the Art of Ink and Resource Management in Gutenberg

Plan Your Moves Carefully

Ink doesn’t grow on trees. My friends and I learned fast that you must plan ahead. Each order needs a special set of inks and resources. If you run out, you scramble. So being stingy helps.

1. Track which inks are most needed for your next orders.
2. Don’t hoard fancy colors unless you’re sure you’ll use them soon.
3. Pick upgrades that help produce or store ink efficiently.

Trade and Convert Smartly

I once made the mistake of ignoring trades. But using trades can save the day. Swapping inks or turning resources into what you need wins games.

1. Keep an eye on what your rivals might need and beat them to the punch.
2. Convert lower-value inks only when there’s real benefit.

Balance Between Orders and Stock

When thinking about how to play gutenberg, always balance your orders and resource stock. Too many orders, no ink? You stall out. Too much ink, no orders? You waste space.

1. Fill orders that use up your surplus ink first.
2. Plan one turn ahead so you never get caught empty-handed.

Supercharge Your Press: Winning with Printing Press Upgrades

Know What Each Upgrade Does

First, you must learn how every press upgrade changes your abilities. Some give you extra ink, while some let you take more actions each round. Knowing your options helps you make better choices.

Upgrade Early and Often

Time matters. Early upgrades pay off more because you use them the whole game. Try these moves:

1. Grab upgrades before others can.
2. Pick upgrades that fit your orders.
3. Avoid random upgrading—have a plan!

Adapt to Your Opponents

Watch what others do. If someone likes a certain upgrade, block them! Marshaling your upgrades well is a key part of How To Play gutenberg like a champ.

Mastering Order Timing: The Real Secret in Gutenberg

Order timing often separates okay players from champions in Gutenberg. You see, I used to rush and grab any order. My friends laughed as I ended up with scraps. Now, I time my moves. Let me show you how.

1. Watch Your Opponents

1. Notice which orders they might grab next.
2. Delay your choice to mess up their plans.

2. Keep Flexible Options

1. Collect resources for two possible orders.
2. Swap if someone steals your first choice.

3. Finish Orders at the Right Time

1. Sometimes, wait a round to finish for bigger rewards.
2. Complete easy orders first if you need a boost.

With these tips, plus your own clever tricks, you’ll soon rule the presses and tell your friends, “That’s how to play Gutenberg!”

Ink-Stained Victories Await!

If you follow these tips, you’ll be calling yourself the master printer of Gutenberg in no time. My friends now glare at me when I claim the most lucrative orders with a single smug grin. Remember, good resource planning, smart upgrades, and nailing the perfect timing on orders are all part of the game. If you mess up, just say you were going for the ‘artistic chaos’ strategy—worked for me once! Play often, try new moves, and soon people will be asking you how to play Gutenberg. Cheers, and happy printing!

Want to know what we think of Gutenberg? Read our detailed review of Gutenberg here