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- BGG #21,810
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- 5.7
Zig-Zag
- 2–4 players
- 25 min
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- 2006
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- BGG rating
- 6.1
Master Builder
2008
Rules assistance for Master Builder
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.0/5
Rules assistant for Master Builder
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Master Builder is a board game released in 2008 for 2–4 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Wolfgang Kramer and Hartmut Witt and its main mechanics are Set Collection and Auction / Bidding.
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About the game
In Master Builder, the players are builders in a small town (represented by 3D cardboard buildings). They try to acquire building contracts, which they then attempt to complete. The contracts are gained by bidding on them. After that, the buildings must be constructed using workers. Each worker has his own specialty, and you'll need several different workers to complete a building. Initially, players hire these workers to complete the buildings. Later, these workers can leave them, sometimes because they have been lured away by other players. Master Builder is #4 in the Valley Games Modern Line.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Egmont Polska
- Valley Games, Inc.
Questions and answers
Master Builder supports 2–4 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 Master Builder is 60 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 Master Builder for ages 10 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.
Master Builder has a complexity rating of 2.0 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.
Master Builder belongs to these categories: Economic and Medieval. Its main mechanics are Set Collection and Auction / Bidding. 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 Master Builder are: Wolfgang Kramer and Hartmut Witt. 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 Master Builder as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.