Who goes first?
From the publisher’s rulebook

Who goes first in Magalon?

Ravensburger ©1998 (German summary; archived) · English

The youngest player begins the first round's faceup magic-card selection, which continues clockwise. Everyone must select a different card value. Once all cards are chosen, the player with the highest value takes the first action turn, followed by the others in descending value order.

If your rules call for a random choice, use the player picker.

Rule details

Being youngest selects who chooses a card first; it does not guarantee the first action turn.

In later rounds, the player who acted last in the previous round, with the lowest selected card, begins card selection. The others choose clockwise, and action turns again follow descending card values.

If all of a player's available card values have already been selected in a round, that player sits out the round and begins card selection in the next round.

Players may choose the order of their own permitted actions within a turn. This does not change the descending-value order of player turns.

If there’s a tie

The rulebook doesn’t say. If you need a tie-break, pick a player at random.

Source & edition

More starting rules

Browse available game rules

Games with a similar starting rule

  • Minecraft: Builders & BiomesThe player who most recently found a diamond in Minecraft starts; when in doubt, the youngest player starts.
  • Modern ArtThe youngest player holds the first auction, choosing a painting from their hand to offer for sale.
  • MonasteriumThe player who most recently visited a monastery starts; if no one has or no one remembers, the youngest player starts.
  • OrléansThe youngest player receives the Start Player Token and starts.
  • PhotosynthesisThe youngest player takes the first-player token and starts.
More starting rules about the youngest player

Found a different instruction in your edition? Send a correction with the game, edition, and source.