How to Play Marco Polo II: Dice, Jade, Contracts & Travel
Marco Polo II: In the Service of the Khan is a standalone dice-placement game about building an economy while traveling outward from Beijing. Contracts provide resources and rewards; travel opens city powers and end-game opportunities.
Roll your dice each round
At the start of the round, roll your personal dice. Their values determine the strength or cost of many actions.
Place dice on action spaces
On your turn, place the required number of dice onto one action space. If another player already occupies that space, the normal occupation cost applies.
Gain goods, jade and money
Market-style actions provide pepper, silk, gold, camels, coins and jade. Jade is an important additional currency/resource in Marco Polo II and is required by several actions, routes and contracts.
Take and complete contracts
Contracts require specific combinations of goods. Once fulfilled, discard or resolve the required resources and gain the printed reward, which can include money, movement, goods or other benefits.
Travel from Beijing
Pay the route’s movement costs to move across Asia. Reaching cities and placing trading posts unlocks immediate and recurring benefits.
Use city actions
Some large cities provide action spaces that become available only after you establish a trading post there. These can create strong local engines.
Character powers break normal rules
Every character has a major asymmetric ability. Read it before the first round because it should influence your entire economic and travel plan.
Game end
After the final round, score destination/travel goals, contract-related bonuses and the other final categories in the Marco Polo II rulebook.