Maharaja Palace Building in India FAQ 
Maharaja: The Game of Palace Building in India - Frequently asked questions
Intro
First revision by Ricardo Christe, July 21, 2004
Original text file created on June 29, 2004
Wiki version using Ricardo's file page faq v2 created June 10, 2011 by JeffyJeff
The following are answers to common questions that may appear during the course of play.
Answers come from Ulrich Blennemann of Phalanx Games, and thus should be considered the official interpretation of the relevant rules.
Some questions have appeared as Articles in Raja's BoardGameGeek entry Maharaja: The Game of Palace Building in India.
Other questions appear here for the first time. Most were edited for clarity. In each case I went for Blennemann's answer/confirmation only.
Questions specifically mentioning the Builder character sometimes function as examples regarding other characters.
Many thanks for all BGG users who have contributed to the greater enjoyment of this gem of a game with their questions, opinions and comments. Special thanks go to Kane Klenko and Ulrich Blennemann for their continual support. This FAQ is dedicated to everyone who posted something in this game's forums.
Same player 2 hours in one village and travel costs?
1) Can a player own 2 houses in the same village? How much must the other players pay to
travel through?
ANSWER: Yes, a player can have 2 houses in a village. Travellers passing there must pay 1
gold per house.
Can architect pause/end movement in village?
2) May the architect pause in a village as an action is taken? May the Architect end his
movement in a village?
ANSWER: No to both questions.
[Editor's note: since Architect movement has recently been the subject of much debate in respected boardgame forums, this answer has been double-checked with RAJA author Wolfgang Kramer himself. Thanks, Kane!]
Mixing/match sub-actions?
3) A player normally chooses two actions during a turn. Can a player freely mix "parts" of
his Actions and execute them in any order? For example, after choosing "Build
Palace/House" and "Change Character" on the dial, can the player build a House, then Change
Character, and finally build the Palace?
ANSWER: Yes. You may mix parts of actions freely. But you must execute all parts to avoid
the other players getting 2 gold each.
Can you build 2 pieces from same double action in different cities?
4) There are two choices on the Action dial that function as a "double action":
- Build Palace/House
- Build Two Houses
Can you build 2 items from the same "double action" in different cities?
ANSWER: Yes. You simply have to move your Architect accordingly.
Builder character
Must action wheel be build to use?
5) The Builder rules state that its controlling player can build/move one "additional" house for free. Does the player have to choose Build House or Move House as one of his actions, in order to get this freebie?
ANSWER: No. The player who has the Builder Character can build/move a free house regardless of what his chosen actions are. It is simply a free action that can be used on every turn.
Can house for builder action come from quarry?
6) Can the "additional house" of the Builder come directly from the Quarry (Steinbruch)?
ANSWER: No. The additional house has to come from your pool.
Builder special action mandatory?
7) Is the Builder special action mandatory?
ANSWER: No. The use of character abilities/special actions is never mandatory.
What part of turn can Builder action be used?
8) Must the Builder action be the controlling player's third action?
ANSWER: No.
Characters and timing
9) Characters and timing: let's say a player who hasn't yet acted this turn is forced to choose a character with a _lower_ number than that of the current player.
For example:
Bruce has the Builder, #5. Marie is current player, with the Sadhus, #3.
As her action, she takes Bruce's character. Bruce is forced to pick one of the characters in the bank: let's say, Mogul (#1), Trader (#2) and the Saddhus (#3) just discarded.
Whatever his choice, once Marie ends her actions, Bruce ends up with a lower character number than the player with the Wandering Monk, #4, who would be next.
Question: does Bruce lose his turn? Or does he "cut in" and plays next?
ANSWER: He "cuts in" and plays next. No one can ever lose a turn.
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