Lords of Waterdeep Rules Reference
Lords of Waterdeep is a strategy board game set in the Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms universe. Players take on the roles of secret Lords vying for control of Waterdeep, the City of Splendors. You recruit Adventurers to complete Quests, build new establishments, and use Intrigue to gain the upper hand against your rivals. Your Lord identity is secret, granting bonus VP for completing certain types of Quests.
Objective
Score the most Victory Points (VP) by completing Quests, constructing Buildings, playing Intrigue cards, and fulfilling your Lord's secret bonus conditions.
How to Play
The game is played over 8 rounds. Each round, players take turns placing 1 Agent at a time on an unoccupied action space and immediately taking that action. After placing an Agent, a player may complete 1 Quest. When all Agents are assigned, Agents at Waterdeep Harbor are reassigned, then the round ends and all Agents return to their pools.
Tips for New Players
- Remember your Lord: Check your Lord card early and focus on Quests that match your bonus. +4 VP per matching Quest adds up quickly.
- Starting Gold varies by seat: The first player gets 4 Gold, second gets 5, third gets 6, etc. Later players start with more Gold to offset going later.
- Use Waterdeep Harbor: It is powerful because you play an Intrigue card immediately AND your Agent gets reassigned to another action space at end of round -- effectively getting two actions.
- Build early: Purchasing Buildings generates ongoing Owner benefits when other players use them. Early buildings pay off more over the course of the game.
- Complete Plot Quests early: Their ongoing benefits compound over the game. The sooner you complete them, the more value you get.
- Castle Waterdeep for First Player: The Castle Waterdeep action space is the only way to get the First Player marker. Going first can be crucial for securing key action spaces.
- VP tokens on Building tiles: At the start of each round, 1 VP token is placed on each unsold Building in Builder's Hall. These accumulate and are scored when purchased.
- Must take actions: You cannot pass if you have Agents available. You must assign an Agent each turn.
- One Quest per turn: You can complete only 1 Quest per turn, even if you reassign from Waterdeep Harbor.
- Harbor reassignment: When reassigning from Waterdeep Harbor, you cannot place your Agent on another Waterdeep Harbor space.
- Round 5 extra Agent: At the start of Round 5, ALL players gain an additional Agent from near the rounds track. Plan for the extra action.
- Mandatory Quest timing: If you have a Mandatory Quest, you MUST complete it before any other Quests. Try to avoid being targeted or keep flexible resources.
- Owner benefit only for others: You do NOT gain the Owner benefit when you use your own Building -- only when another player uses it.