Who goes first in Kleiner Drache Wirbelwind?
Zoch English rules in multilingual booklet
The player with the sunniest smile may choose who starts.
Rule details
The smile criterion chooses who may nominate the starter; that person is not automatically the first player.
Players take turns; the English rules do not specify a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
When all weather tiles have been revealed, turn them face down, mix them and continue playing. This does not select a new starter.
The game is cooperative: the players win or lose together, rather than comparing individual final scores.
The rules list 1–5 players. With one player, there is no first-player choice to make; no separate solo opening procedure is given.
Source & edition
- Kleiner Drache Wirbelwind: official multilingual rules, English sectionZoch Verlag · PDF page7, Set-up: sunniest-smile chooser, Course of the Game: play in turn and weather refresh continues; PDF/printed page6 native title/player count; PDF page9 later turns; PDF page10 cooperative ending/article/imprint. PDF7–10 have no visible printed page numbers. · Checked 2026-09-26Printed page references: 6
Image: © Zoch Verlag and any cover-art licensors or artists (precise ownership not stated on product page) · Zoch Verlag
If your rules call for a random choice, use the player picker.
If there’s a tie
The rulebook doesn’t say. If you need a tie-break, pick a player at random.
More starting rules
Browse available game rulesFree game-night tools: score keeper · turn timer · dice roller · all tools
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