From the source rules
Who goes first in Periodic: A Game of The Elements?
Genius Games English base rules
Whoever touched calcium carbonate most recently starts.
Rule details
The rulebook gives chalk and seashells as examples. Play proceeds clockwise from the selected player.
Distribute starting Energy by turn order: 3, 4, 5, 3 and 4 tokens for the first through fifth players, as applicable. The first three players begin at 0 on the Academic Track; the fourth and fifth begin at 2.
Source & edition
- Periodic: A Game of The Elements: Genius Games rulesGenius Games · Game Summary; Game Setup steps 9–11; Gameplay; credits · Checked 2026-09-23Printed page references: 1, 2, 3, 4Cited PDF pages: 2, 3, 4, 5, 12
Image: © Genius Games · Genius Games
If there’s a tie
The rulebook doesn’t say.
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