From the publisher’s rulebook
Who goes first in Dale of Merchants?
Snowdale Design English original game, ©2021
Whoever woke earliest today starts. For consecutive games, one of the previous game's losers starts the next game.
Rule details
Turns proceed clockwise, with an action phase followed by cleanup.
The consecutive-game instruction does not specify how to choose between multiple losing players.
This answer covers the original game's regular rules. Tournament rules and the later anniversary edition are separate.
Source & edition
- Dale of Merchants: Snowdale Design rulesSnowdale Design · Game setup, upper right of printed page 7; Turn overview on page 8; team rules; credits · Checked 2026-09-23Printed page references: cover, 3, 6–9, 14–15
Image: © Snowdale Design; Sami Laakso · Snowdale Design
If there’s a tie
The rulebook doesn’t say.
More starting rules
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