
- BGG rank
- BGG #83
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Paladins of the West Kingdom
- 1–4 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 3.7/5
- 2019

Rules assistance for Architects of the West Kingdom: Age of Artisans
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Architects of the West Kingdom: Age of Artisans is an expansion for Architects of the West Kingdom released in 2020 for 1–6 players, 60–80 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Shem Phillips and S J Macdonald and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Open Drafting, and Worker Placement.
In Architects of the West Kingdom: Age of Artisans, journeymen have returned to the city as master craftsmen, equipped with knowledge of new crafts and tools. The Guildhall has never been so busy! While some apprentices spend time learning new skills, others adorn the city’s buildings with everything from golden tapestries, to stained glass windows. But don’t let the shimmer of lights and fancy wares deceive you. For not all that glitters is gold. In addition to including components for an extra player, Age of Artisans adds the new Craft Cards, a dual-layered Guildhall Board, two new Player Boards and a variety of new Apprentices and Buildings. —description from the publisher
Architects of the West Kingdom: Age of Artisans supports 1–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Architects of the West Kingdom: Age of Artisans is 60–80 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Architects of the West Kingdom: Age of Artisans for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Architects of the West Kingdom: Age of Artisans has a complexity rating of 2.9 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Architects of the West Kingdom: Age of Artisans belongs to these categories: Medieval, City Building, and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Open Drafting, and Worker Placement. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Architects of the West Kingdom: Age of Artisans are: Shem Phillips and S J Macdonald. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Architects of the West Kingdom: Age of Artisans as an expansion for Architects of the West Kingdom. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Architects of the West Kingdom to use it. Check that your edition of Architects of the West Kingdom is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.