Ronda El 
Rule Question
In the upcoming new edition of El Grande, should there be a variant or rule added to help players who fall behind early in the game, making it possible for less experienced or unlucky players to catch up and remain in contention until the end?
Rulesplainer
The main discussion centers on whether El Grande should include catch-up or “rubberbanding” mechanics (such as increasing points per round, like in Blood Rage) to give hope to players lagging behind. Some argue that variants like this could make the game more accessible, keep all players motivated, and help newbies enjoy the experience – especially since it’s discouraging when you’re so far behind there’s no hope to win. Others push back, saying that artificial catch-up mechanics reduce the impact of player skill and undermine the game’s core strategic depth; they feel El Grande works well as-is, rewarding consistent good play from start to finish and already featuring subtle opportunities to catch up. The consensus is that while many players don’t want such a change in the base game, there is little harm in providing an optional variant module or expansion for groups that prefer a less punishing experience, especially for new or casual players. Most agree that house rules or optional modules are fine, as long as they remain optional and don’t replace the core rules. Ultimately, El Grande’s appeal lies in its skill-based gameplay and tension; but a variant for easier comebacks could exist as an optional add-on for those who want it, without changing what makes the original special.
Rule Question
If a player does not have a region with at least two caballeros, are they still affected by the “2 Stack” action card, and can they remove caballeros from regions containing just one? Also, can players remove caballeros from the King’s region or Castillo?
Rulesplainer
The consensus is that, even if a player does not have any region with two or more caballeros, they must still follow the card’s effect by choosing a region where they have one caballero, removing what they can. This approach follows the principle of “do as much as you can,” matching the intent of older rules and likely being an omission in the Big Box edition’s manual. Additionally, caballeros may not be removed from the King’s region or the Castillo by this card, as the general rules prohibit movement from these areas unless a card specifically overrides them. Even though the Big Box edition might not state these restrictions explicitly, most players interpret the intention to be the same as in previous editions. Therefore, players comply with the effect as much as their board state allows and always respect the unique status of the King’s region and Castillo regarding movement and removal.
2 Stack: Your fellow players must remove 2 of their own caballeros…
Rule Question
If a player exceeds 100 points on the scoring track, do you stop at 100, loop back to 1, or continue counting? Additionally, is it normal for multiple players to surpass 100 points in a 5-player game, and what might cause unusually high scores?
Rulesplainer
The scoring track is not a hard limit—players can score more than 100 points. If a player goes over 100, simply continue counting by adding 100 to their new total (e.g., 112 = passed 100 and reached 12 again). It’s possible for multiple players to get over 100 points, especially in games with experienced players, but it is not typical. Unusually high scores for several players often indicate a potential misinterpretation of action cards or improper shuffling (such as drawing too many “Score all regions” cards early on). The standard game should have around 100 points total divided among all players per scoring round. Only score the regions indicated by the scoring cards, and ensure you aren’t playing an extra round on fleur de lis—just score, don’t play a new round. Misunderstandings about cards (like “Score 6-region” cards) or poor shuffling with a new deck are the most likely culprits for excessive scores.
Rule Question
The main questions are: Can you use a veto card to cancel another player’s veto? If you do, does the original action continue fully or only partially? Also, can you veto your own special action after you’ve started it (for example, to stop others from benefiting)?
Rulesplainer
The consensus is that there is significant confusion about how the veto card works, especially regarding timing and partial vs. full negation of actions. While some interpret the rules (and unofficial clarifications) to allow partial vetoes during an action or even vetoing a veto, this is not clearly or consistently explained in officially published rules, and a number of users express reservations about these interpretations. According to both the original and big box edition rules, you can use the veto during the execution of a special action, and some interpret this as allowing partial interruption – for instance, stopping an action partway through, with only parts after the veto being canceled. There is also mention that a veto cannot be undone and, based on some interpretations, one veto can cancel another, causing the original action to proceed as normal. However, there is pushback against this level of flexibility: at least a few players recommend treating vetoes as “all or nothing” unless clarified officially by the designer, saying partial vetoes are against the spirit of the game. Regarding vetoing your own action, the general agreement is that since special actions are always optional (you don’t have to do them when you choose them), the situation of vetoing your own action shouldn’t arise or be necessary.
Rule Question
What are the differences between the standard map and the 2-3 player map in the 2023 edition of El Grande, and how does scoring work on that side?
Rulesplainer
The new 2023 edition of El Grande features a double-sided board, with one side specifically designed for games with 2 or 3 players. The main change on this 2-3 player map is that each region’s scoreboard shows only two scoring positions instead of the usual three. This means that for every scoring round, only the top two players in each region receive points, and there is no score for third place. There are no significant changes to the regions themselves, just this adjustment in the scoring system. There is also discussion about using a “dummy” third color for 2-player games, as described in the rules. However, most players agree that El Grande plays best with 4 or 5, and that the experience at 2 players is generally not recommended. If you want a 2-player area control game, there are other titles better suited for that player count. But if you want to try the 2-player variant, just remember: on the 2-3 player map, only the top two ranks in each region score points.
