Visual guide to placing settlements, cities, and roads on the hex board.
Instructions
Choose a game variant and your role to view the instructions.
The game is played in two stages: first the Basic Variant (without governance rules), then the Ostrom Variant (with Ostrom's design principles). Read the instructions for your role in each variant before playing.
Read the full rules overview →
Basic Variant
The core CPR game — no communication, no governance. Players draw from a shared hidden resource bank and try to survive.
Setup, running the game, managing the resource bank, and facilitating discussion.
Your goal, turn structure, how to request resources, build, and trade.
How to watch the game and track key events for the post-game discussion.
Ostrom Variant
All basic rules still apply, plus governance mechanics based on Elinor Ostrom's eight design principles: a Monitor, Town Meetings, and graduated sanctions and rewards.
Transitioning from basic, Monitor election, facilitating Town Meetings, and what not to interfere with.
New turn step, Town Meetings, sanctions and rewards, and how to Sue the Monitor.
Your special powers, responsibilities, how to report on resources, and your accountability to the group.
Additional events to track: Monitor actions, Town Meeting outcomes, and rule changes.