How to Play

Pax Porfiriana

1-6 players 120-120 min 7.6 Board Game Geek Rating

Players are Mexican businessmen during Porfirio Díaz's dictatorship, building empires through ranches, mines, rails, and banks while using bandits and lawsuits against opponents. Each turn involves performing actions, managing market cards, and collecting income based on assets. Victory comes from toppling Díaz through coup, revolution, succession, or U.S. annexation; otherwise, the wealthiest player wins.

Published 2012

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

Create the deck

Build deck of 12 saga tiles per player

Seed the board

Add 6 saga tiles minus the number of players to seed locations on the board

Choose distribution method

Card distribution can be random or proportional based on player preference

Distribute starting money

First player takes 3 money, second player takes 4, and so on

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

Take actions

Perform 4 actions using action markers

Manage hand size

Maintain hand limit of 4 saga tiles plus or minus modifications from cards

Manage tableau

Limited to Jarlboard spots plus Ventures where you have influence tokens

Invest action

Draw and refresh the market for free, or buy a card without refreshing

Play a saga tile

If you have a Longship in a Post at the listed location with no rival Longships present, you may replace and establish the Saga Tile or resolve an Event

Use card abilities

Activate abilities on venture posts where you have a follower and an unexhausted longship

Journey action

Move 1 unexhausted longship up to 3 steps

Parley action

Available in places where you are alone or have more longships than rivals

Jarldom influence action

Take influence action related to Jarldom

Theocracy influence action

Take influence action related to Theocracy

Rus influence action

Take influence action related to Rus