How to Add Orleans: The Plague Expansion to Your Base Game
By Capstone Games - Evolving Gameplay | Published: 2026-11-03
Category: How-to Guides
Learn how to integrate Orleans: The Plague Expansion into your base game, from setup to first play. Get practical tips and avoid common mistakes.
Quick answer
To add Orleans: The Plague Expansion to your base game, integrate the new event tiles and plague doctor rules during setup, then follow the expansion's event phase each round. Start with the recommended beginner variant for your first play.
What the Plague Expansion changes in your base game
The Plague Expansion introduces a new event deck that brings hardship to Orleans. Each event card triggers immediate effects, such as losing followers or gaining plague tokens. The expansion also adds a plague doctor token that can mitigate some effects, but its help is limited. These changes make the game more challenging and thematic, but they also add complexity. For your first game with the expansion, consider using the suggested setup that reduces the frequency of events.
When to skip the expansion for a smoother first play
If your group is still learning the base game, adding the Plague Expansion right away can overwhelm new players. The expansion assumes familiarity with the core mechanics, especially the event phase and resource management. Play at least one full game of base Orleans before introducing the plague. Also, if you prefer a less punishing experience, the expansion's events can be brutal; you might want to use only a subset of the event cards or play without the plague doctor to ease in.
Step-by-step setup and first play
- Prepare the base game as usual: Set up the Orleans base game according to its rulebook, including the board, goods, and follower bag. Do not add expansion components yet. Double-check that all base game components are in place before mixing in expansion parts.
- Shuffle the plague event cards: Take the plague event deck from the expansion and shuffle it thoroughly. Place it face down near the board where all players can reach it. Keep the event deck separate from other decks to avoid confusion during play.
- Place the plague doctor token: Put the plague doctor token on its designated space on the board or near the event deck, as indicated in the expansion rules. Ensure the token is visible and accessible to all players.
- Choose a starting event variant: For your first game, use the recommended beginner variant: draw only one event card per round instead of the standard number. This reduces the impact of bad luck. Agree on the variant before starting so everyone knows what to expect.
- Integrate the event phase: During each round's event phase, reveal the top card of the plague deck and resolve its effects immediately. Then, players may use the plague doctor if eligible. Announce the event card clearly and resolve effects in order to avoid missed steps.
- Review plague doctor usage: The plague doctor can be used once per round to cancel or reduce one event's effect. Decide together when to use it, as it is a shared resource. Track whether the plague doctor has been used each round with a token or marker.
Product facts
- Orleans: The Plague Expansion: The expansion includes plague event cards and a plague doctor token that provides limited relief. These components add a layer of risk and mitigation that you must incorporate into your setup and turn planning.
Orleans: The Plague Expansion
