ALTUN HA

INTRODUCTION
Card Bidding & Building Game for 2-4+ players. 
Theme based on the Belize Mayan Ruins of Altun Ha, occupied and 
built up between 200 BC and 900 AD before it was abandoned, probably due 
to a combination of overpopulation, drought, famine, social unrest, and 
civil war. 

WINNING
The player with the most Scoring points at the end of the game wins. 

SCORING POINTS
Use paper and pencil to keep track of scoring. 

GAME END
The game ends immediately in any turn in which the Priest King is unable to 
Feed his people in Farming Phase. 

POPULATION
Use paper and pencil to keep track of the current Population Level. 

CALENDAR TOKEN
This is used to keep track of Turn order within a round. 

PRIEST KING TOKEN
This is awarded to the player who won the most recent bid. 

THE DECK 
Players share a common deck. 
There are 3 types of cards: 
1. Bid Cards (also used for Building)
2. Trade Cards
3. Maya God Cards (Wild Cards)

SETUP
Shuffle the deck. 
Each player is dealt 5 cards. 
One random player is given the Calendar Token. 
Population Level starts at 2. 
No one starts in possession of the Priest King Token. 

ROUND SEQUENCE
Each Round is divided into 8 Phases: 
Calendar Phase
Population Phase
Draw Phase
Trade Phase
Bid Phase
Farm Phase
Build Phase
Cycle Phase

CALENDAR PHASE
The player with  the Calendar token passes it to the player to his right. 

POPULATION PHASE
The Population Level increases by 1.  Record the new Level. 

DRAW PHASE
Each player is dealt 2 Cards from the deck. 
If the deck runs out, shuffle the discard and draw from it.  

TRADE PHASE
Each player may play one Trade card from his hand. 
The player with the Calendar Token plays first and then 
proceed Clockwise. 

BID PHASE
All players must bid zero to two Bid cards from their hands. 
God cards can be used as Bid cards with a value of 7. 
Bidding is simultaneous: Players reveal their Bid cards at the same time. 
The player with the highest value bid (combined value if 2 cards played) 
wins the bid and takes possession of the Priest King Token. 
All bid cards are discarded. 
If there is a tie, the next lowest bid wins. 
If there is no next lowest bid card the player with fewer Scoring Points wins. 
If still tied, the turn ends immediately and start a new turn. 

FARMING PHASE
The Priest King must discard 1 or 2 Bid cards with a combined value equaling or 
exceeding the Population level. 
If unable to do so, the game ends immediately and the current Priest King loses 
13 Scoring Points. 
God Cards can be used as Bid Cards with a value = 7. 

BUILD PHASE
The Priest King may play up to 2 Bid cards:
Bid cards used in this way are referred to as Build cards.  
A Bid card of value 1 is placed by itself face-up in the middle of the table and is 
considered the first Stage of a new Temple. 
Higher level Bid cards can be added onto already existing Temples.  They are 
placed staggered on the top of a Temple with a level 1 less than the card being placed. 
Examples: a level 2 card is placed on top of a level 1 card; or a level 6 card is 
placed on top of a level 5 card. 
The Priest King gains Scoring points equal to the value of the cards he places. 
If unable to build, he loses 7 Scoring Points. 
God cards can be used as Wild Build cards with a value of 1-8 as the 
Priest King Desires. 

CYCLE PHASE
Max hand is 5 cards. 
Players discard excess cards. 

CARD LIST NOTATION
B = Bid Cards 
T = Trade Cards
M = Maya God Cards 


ALTUN HA COMMON DECK CARD LIST
Name:			Type:	Count	Value:	Notes: 
Plaza			B	13	1	-
Base			B	13	2	-
Stage			B	11	3	-
Stairs			B	9	4	-
Façade			B	7	5	-
Steps			B	5	6	-
Platform		B	3	7	-
Altar			B	1	8	-
Stone			T	1	-	Draw 3 Cards
Salt			T	1	-	Draw 1 Card & Look at Opponents Hand
Maize			T	1	-	Use to Pay any amount in Farm Phase
Cocoa			T	1	-	Steal 1 Random card from Opponents Hand
Ceramics		T	1	-	Look at next 5 cards in deck & take one
Honey			T	1	-	Opponent must Discard 2 Random Cards
Feathers		T	1	-	Target Opponent loses 5 Scoring Points
Textiles		T	1	-	All Opponents lose 1 Scoring Point Each
Pyrite			T	1	-	Steal 3 Scoring Points from target Opponent
Obsidian		T	1	-	Gain 5 Scoring Points
Jade			T	1	-	Use to automatically Win in Bid Phase
Codex			T	1	-	Look at next 10 Cards in Deck
Sun God			M	1	-	-
Moon Goddess		M	1	-	-
Hero Twins		M	1	-	-
Maize God		M	1	-	-
Death Gods		M	1	-	-
Rain Gods		M	1	-	-





LINKS
Altun Ha	Mayans