How to Play

Rajas of the Ganges

2-4 players 45-75 min 7.7 Board Game Geek Rating

In this 16th century Mogul Empire game, players assume roles of Indian nobles competing to develop prosperous provinces. Using dice and worker placement mechanics, you strategically expand estates while managing karma. Victory comes through accumulating wealth and fame points, racing to become the most legendary ruler through tactical decisions and careful resource management.

Published 2017

Get Ready

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

Create standard two-player setup

Arrange the game board and components as you would for a two-player game

Remove Automa's unused components

Leave these items in the box as the Automa doesn't need them:

Handle Navaratna version

If playing this version, choose a brown tile for yourself and remove 2 tiles per color

Prepare the Automa deck

Shuffle the Automa deck and place it near the board with the blue side facing up

Determine first player

Randomly choose who takes the first turn

Arrange province tiles

Place the province tiles in twelve stacks and arrange them in a 3 x 4 grid

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

Alternate turns

Take your actions alternating with the Automa as in a normal game

Draw Automa card

When it's the Automa's turn, draw a card from the Automa deck and look at the red side to determine the action

Execute Build action

Place the Automa's worker, then look at the blue side of the top remaining card to determine which province tile to discard (Automa receives no fame at this moment)

Execute Market action

Look at the blue side of the top remaining card and place the Automa's worker on the indicated market (Automa receives no money at this moment)

Execute River action

Place the Automa's worker, then look at the blue side of the top remaining card to move the ship forward the indicated number of steps (Automa receives no bonus)

Execute Palace action

Look at the blue side of the top remaining card and place the Automa's worker in the indicated palace room

Execute Balcony action

Look at the blue side of the top remaining card and place the Automa's worker on the indicated balcony space

Handle occupied spaces

If the Automa cannot place its worker because the space is occupied, discard the top card and check the next card until placement is possible

Reshuffle when empty

Each time the Automa deck runs out, reshuffle it

Update Automa's progress at round end

Once the last Automa worker is placed, look at the red side of the current Automa card and move the Automa's fame and money markers the indicated amount

Select difficulty level

Choose between easy (green), medium (orange), or hard (red) for the Automa's progress

Grant new workers

The Automa receives new workers and river progress; ignore all other rewards on the fame and money tracks

Delay new worker availability

If the Automa gains a new worker at the end of its turn during marker progress, new workers are only available in the next turn

Winning

How to claim victory.

Trigger victory condition first

If you are first to meet the victory condition, draw a card and apply the fame and money points at your chosen difficulty level one final time

Determine winner

Calculate the winner according to the standard game rules

Handle Automa winning first

If the Automa activates the victory condition first (only checked after placing its last worker) and you are second player in turn order, you may place your last worker before determining the winner